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How to become a Catholic
Catholic Information Network ^ | September 1995 | James Akin

Posted on 05/10/2008 1:06:02 PM PDT by annalex

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To: annalex

I am a Presbyterian who enjoys going to Mass.


41 posted on 05/10/2008 6:05:57 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: Skooz

I deny the Catholic church has done more good works than anyone. I deny it as strongly as possible. You didn't answer my questions about what Rome actually teaches. Is it correct for a church to teach its congregants that there are "other Christs" and "co-redeemers?"

Sounds like the fast track to hell, imo.

Certainly there are saved Christians among the RCC but it is in spite of Rome's teachings, not because of them.

Additionally, "good works" don't save anyone. We are called to be in service to God alone, and He will perform good works in us in order to permit us to help the least among us. But those works are the Holy Spirit in us, not our own good works, which are as "filthy rags" to God.

The only "good work" that saves anyone is Jesus Christ's work on the cross, given according to God's free, unmerited mercy alone.

Saved by grace through faith in Christ.

This is pretty basic stuff. It sounds like you may have missed a few Sunday school classes if you're a Protestant. What denomination do you belong to?

42 posted on 05/10/2008 6:06:49 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Testimony of an Ex-catholic

A much longer, but very comprehensive, testimony here:

TESTIMONY OF RICHARD BENNET (EX-CATHOLIC PRIEST)

50 Years in the 'Church' of Rome (testimony of ex R.C. priest Charles Chinquay - 1886)

Please understand that there are literally MILLIONS of Catholics "dumping Rome" and it is simply impossible to post all their testimonies. These "choice" few testimonies should more than amply illustrate WHY they and millions like them are choosing to dump Rome.

I've seen the above testimony in various manifestations time and time again, but they all fundamentally share a predeominant underpinning: a spritual hunger predicated on a feeling "this can't be it." Often these are lifelong Catholics who become disillusioned, for various reasons, with empty man-made formulaic ritual and vain repetitious prayer, and vacuous pomp-and-circumstance accouterments of the Church. Usually those who actually spend time in the Book looking for answers invariably come to the same conclusion.

The predominant issues at the forefront usually pertain to subjects such as the primacy of Peter, papal infallibility, the priesthood, infant baptism, confession, the mass, purgatory, the immaculate conception of Mary, and the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven. Over time many come to the realization that not only are these beliefs not in the Bible, they are actually contrary to the clear teaching of the Scripture. Finally the barrier against having personal convictions is broken and all doubt in their minds about the Biblical view on these subjects is erased.

The consequences of this realization are usually quite severe. Not just a mrere superficial RCC ex-communication, but a very real social ex-communication from their family. Most Catholics are Catholic because their parents were, their grandparents were, all their aunts, uncles, neices, nephews are Catholic. This is no small trifeling matter. Many that come to a Scriptural understanding about the doctrine of salvation remain in the Church despite the error riddled dogma proclaimed from Rome. They remain in the Church out of loyalty to their family. They may stay within the Church for years. They may even, as I have come to know, lead catechism classes.

But ultimately, the thing that severes the chord of binding is a decision to the raging questoin (and nagging guilt)to the question: Who was to be Lord of their life, i.e., either Jesus Christ in His Word or the Roman Catholic Church? That the Catholic Church was supreme in all matters of faith and morals is something that usually has been dyed into Catholics brains since they were children.

But succinctly put, it boils down to this:

Realization that God's Word in the Bible is absolute and without error (contrary to what had been taught that the Word is relative and that its truthfulness in many areas was to be questioned). Once the Catholic realizes that they can began to understand that the Bible could, in fact, be trusted, through the aid of reference works such as Strong's Concordance, A.T. Robertson's Word Studies, et ali, they begin to actually STUDY the Bible in order to see what it says about itself. They realize that the Bible teaches clearly that it is from God and is absolute in what it says. It is true in its history, in the promises God has made, in its prophecies, in the moral commands it gives, and in how to live the Christian life. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17).

If, then, Scripture is OF God, and God absolutely needs to be obeyed, then they can no longer "fellowship" in the RCC.

Evengelicals are not called to convice people of doctrinal error, but to share the Truth. The convincing part is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Catholics become "born-again" not overnight, but after a prolonged period of struggle, anguish and mental torment. And for many if not all, the ultimate decision is a very heartwrenching one indeed. Catholics who leave the Church do so because of the Truth, those who remain in it do so despite the truth. The Book says "seek and ye shall find, ask and it will be answered, knock and the door shall be opened."

These are not dogmatic, intellectual or pedantic excercises that the Catholic engages in, but a deeply rooted spiritual one. If one approaches the matter by asking for guidance and illumination by the Holy Spirit, the revelation WILL come. And when it does come, then a most blessed sense of relief is bestowed when all doubt and uncertainty is removed. I've heard tell so many times I can't count them, that when the final realization manifests itself, the sense of an immense burden and weight being removed from the shoulders conveys such a sense of wonderment and joy that almost everybody who describes the experience, with the virtual exclusion of nobody, becomes very emotional (and for some depending on how devout they used to be - VERY much so).

43 posted on 05/10/2008 6:11:43 PM PDT by raygun (24.14% of the Voting Age Population elected Slick (The Cigar) Willey to a second term.)
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To: Skooz
And you will see from post number 42, if you fail to agree with him, he will challenge your Faith.

Don't fall for it. It's not an worthy argument to get into. He'll just change his attack from the Catholic Church to you. You'll respond that you are indeed a good Christian, and now you've fallen into his trap.

Nothing to see here except hatred. No Christian love at all.

44 posted on 05/10/2008 6:11:59 PM PDT by Alas Babylon!
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To: PAR35; Alex Murphy
I've noticed a lot of the 'coming home' success stories tend to have had a checkered past of jumping from one belief system to another. We read about them swimming the Tiber, but I wonder how many move on to something else a few years down the road.

There was a thread a few years ago that showed that very fact. They simply switch again.

A lot of them become converts in the first place for marital "harmony" since many of them are marrying Catholics and figure it's easier to swim and risk drowning rather than try to convince their spouse of a more Scriptural perspective.

45 posted on 05/10/2008 6:12:54 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: raygun; Alex Murphy; Gamecock; Manfred the Wonder Dawg; 1000 silverlings; Quix; HarleyD; ...
Amen! Thank you for those wonderful testimonies. Those links should each be posted as a thread.

Realization that God's Word in the Bible is absolute and without error (contrary to what had been taught that the Word is relative and that its truthfulness in many areas was to be questioned). Once the Catholic realizes that they can began to understand that the Bible could, in fact, be trusted, through the aid of reference works such as Strong's Concordance, A.T. Robertson's Word Studies, et ali, they begin to actually STUDY the Bible in order to see what it says about itself. They realize that the Bible teaches clearly that it is from God and is absolute in what it says. It is true in its history, in the promises God has made, in its prophecies, in the moral commands it gives, and in how to live the Christian life. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17).

If, then, Scripture is OF God, and God absolutely needs to be obeyed, then they can no longer "fellowship" in the RCC.

AMEN!

46 posted on 05/10/2008 6:19:33 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: cyborg

I’ll keep my rosary warm.

Putting your Mom on my prayer list.


47 posted on 05/10/2008 6:21:04 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Oh for crying out loud, you didn’t even bother to READ my post, did you?


48 posted on 05/10/2008 6:21:15 PM PDT by Skooz (Any nation that would elect Hillary Clinton as its president has forfeited its right to exist.)
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To: Alas Babylon!
Nothing to see here except hatred. No Christian love at all.

I noticed. Thanks for the warning.

49 posted on 05/10/2008 6:23:54 PM PDT by Skooz (Any nation that would elect Hillary Clinton as its president has forfeited its right to exist.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

I haven’t been keeping up with the numbers, but aren’t most of the ‘coming home’ folks male? I can’t recall them touting large numbers of women making the swim.


50 posted on 05/10/2008 6:25:13 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Skooz
Oh for crying out loud, you didn’t even bother to READ my post, did you?

lol. No need to cry out loud or silently in your room alone.

I read every word of your post and I disagreed with just about every one of them.

I do not believe an institution which leads men away from Christ to "another Christ" and to a "co-redeemer" is in any way a good and Godly church. Rome needs to repent.

No king but Christ.

What Protestant denomination are you?

51 posted on 05/10/2008 6:27:31 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Skooz

I am willing to bet that Christ loves Catholics more than some who call themselves Christians.


52 posted on 05/10/2008 6:28:11 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: PAR35
Interesting. I wonder if men just don't want to fight about it. They give up and give in rather than work to convince the wife of a more Scriptural perspective.

Perhaps that goes along with the general push these days to diminish fathers as the heads of their household. Sad.

53 posted on 05/10/2008 6:29:39 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

I was not, and am not, talking about salvation by works or grace. I am not talking doctrine. I am not talking spiritual error.

I am talking strictly of the good things they have done for millions of people over the course of 2000 years. Period.

You disagree that no institution has clothed more naked, fed more hungry and housed more homeless than the Catholic Church?

Fine. Name any institution that has done more in those lines.

Go ahead. Name the institution that has fed more hungry over the past 2000 years than the Catholic Chruch.


54 posted on 05/10/2008 6:33:13 PM PDT by Skooz (Any nation that would elect Hillary Clinton as its president has forfeited its right to exist.)
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To: Alas Babylon!

I’m pretty sure him is a her.


55 posted on 05/10/2008 6:33:22 PM PDT by tiki (True Christians will not deliberately slander or misrepresent others or their beliefs)
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To: Alas Babylon!
It's a courtesy to ping someone you are discussing in a post.

Especially a post about "Christian love."

56 posted on 05/10/2008 6:34:58 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Skooz
You were the one who told the forum you were not a Catholic but some kind of "evangelical Christian."

What denomination are you a member of?

57 posted on 05/10/2008 6:36:21 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.


58 posted on 05/10/2008 6:37:36 PM PDT by Skooz (Any nation that would elect Hillary Clinton as its president has forfeited its right to exist.)
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To: Skooz
Every Protestant church on earth, and every soup kitchen, and every Salvation Army and every Goodwill have done more for men's bodies and souls than the Roman Catholic church.

There's my answer. Now please answer my question as you said you would. What Protestant denomination are you a member of?

59 posted on 05/10/2008 6:39:48 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: annalex
Unless the child can express that they except Jesus as Lord and Savior they can not be baptized and it be excepted by Jesus as done. Also it has to be full immersion
60 posted on 05/10/2008 6:43:56 PM PDT by 1Truthseeker (willfully ignorant in Greek means dumb on purpose.)
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