Otherwise known as the "step on a crack" apologetic....
Posted on 12/08/2009 11:41:52 AM PST by Gamecock
I just came from a funeral service for an aunt of mine who was a staunch Catholic. I came out of that religion about 25 years ago after reading for myself what the Bible had to say. My question surrounds the actuality of salvation for all the millions who still practice Mary worship and so forth. Knowing that one cannot serve two masters, I wonder at how it is possible that the aforementioned can really experience Christ in a saving way, while they continue to believe that the church of Rome is solely responsible for their eternal welfare.
Answer:
Greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord and only Savior. Thank you for your question.
Unless a person is clearly outside the pale of the Christian faith, I do not believe that you can judge the "actuality" or "reality" of someone's salvation. You may judge the "credibility" of their faith; or you may question the "probability" of someone's salvation. You may also ask, as you have done, "how it is possible that the aforementioned can really experience Christ in a saving way."
None of us, however, can truly say that we are perfect in knowledge or practice. We are always growing both in wisdom and in the grace of God. Is it possible for someone who prays to Mary to be a true Christian? In other words, can someone who is truly saved be in error on such an issue?
Conscious compromise of God's truth can be serious and deadly, but we also see from Scripture that in his mercy God may (and does) choose to accept less than perfect understanding and obedience, even of his own people. (Indeed, isn't the salvation and the perseverance of the saints dependent upon that fact?) There will be growth in understanding and holiness, but perfection must await our going to be with Jesus or His return to take us unto himself (see 1 John 3:2).
In the Old Testament, consider Asa in 1 Kings 15. He removed the idols from the land, but he allowed the high places to remain. The high places were clearly unacceptable. But the text states that Asa was loyal to the Lord his entire life. How could this be? Had he not seriously compromised?
What about the New Testament? Consider the Corinthians. Was the church at Corinth an exemplary church? Did they not have many doctrinal problems, e.g., concerning the Lord's Supper and the doctrine of the resurrection? (See 1 Cor. 11 and 1 Cor. 15.) Did even the apostles fully understand? Even though what they wrote was protected from error, did they not grow and mature in their own understanding and obedience? Wasn't it necessary at one point, for instance, for Paul to rebuke Peter for his inconsistency? (See Gal. 2.)
My point is not to defend the doctrinal aberrations of Rome. I do not believe such is possible. I think, however, that people generally follow their leaders. They learn from them; they consider their arguments rational and coherent.
For example, consider devotion to Mary. I read Jarislov Pellikan's Mary Through the Centuries and I cannot get past page 10 before I am wondering why the author is so blind to the fallacies of his arguments. However, if I were not being so critical and I were already predisposed to the position, then his arguments would perhaps seem irrefutable. So then, we should boldly, patiently, and compassionately discuss these matters with our loved ones, praying that the Holy Spirit will grant them more understanding.
Whatever we may judge in terms of the "actuality" or "probability" or "possibility" of a person's salvation at the end of life is, in the end, academic, for God is the one who can look at the heart and only he can truly judge. (He is the One, in fact, who has chosen his elect.) "It is appointed to man once to die, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27), but "Today is the day of salvation" (Heb. 3:13). We should work, therefore, the works of him who sent us while it is light and point our neighbors and loved ones to Christ.
For myself, I too was a Roman Catholic. In the past six months, I have attended the funeral of two uncles and one aunt whom I loved very much. I had opportunity at each funeral to speak a word of testimony regarding the Savior. I stood in the pulpit of the church in which I had served mass as a young boy and in my eulogies spoke of my faith in Christ.
Was it as detailed as I wish it could have been? No, but I am thankful for the opportunity God gave. Do I believe that my family members went to heaven? For one I have hope; for the others, I have little hope. Upon what is my hope based? It is always and only grounded in Christ and the Gospel.
We may define Christianity broadly by including as Christians all who confess the Apostles' Creed. We may define Christianity narrowly by including as Christians only those who confess our particular denominational creed. We need to exercise care, because, if we are too narrow, we may find ourselves excluding someone like Augustine. On the other hand, if we are too broad, we may find ourselves including many who should be excluded.
Personally, therefore, I do not judge. I have either greater or lesser hope. For example, I have greater hope for my Roman Catholic family members who ignorantly follow their leaders without thinking. Many times I find these to be at least open to discussion regarding the Gospel. However, I have lesser hope for people who are self-consciously Roman Catholic; that is, they understand the issues yet continue in the way of the Papacy.
I recommend that you read the book Come out from among Them by John Calvin. I found it very helpful and it addresses somewhat the question that you have raised.
I hope that my answer helps. You are free to write for clarification. May our Lord bless you.
What utter bull excrement. I became a Catholic 8 years ago partially because of bull excrement like this. A very good argument could be made that to be a Christian one would have to be a Catholic.
You might want to tell sitetest that you think he's been "hitting" on Quix. I was just borrowing his explanation.
im still trying to figure out how, and i have yet to hear any refutation or true response, as to how modern day protestants of any stripe, can claim the bible as the sole rule of faith, and continue to use it and claim all these catholic claims are bogus.
I mean, come on, 2000 years ago, before there was any complete bible, there were the apostles, who appointed their successors and bishops who appointed priests who went out with NO BIBLE and preached the gospel.
These people WALKED AND TALKED WITH THE APOSTLES, AND THEIR RIGHTFUL SUCCESSORS, and aligned with Rome on all matters in dispute....showing no inclination toward sola scriptura (those that leaned that way were those who came up with the heresies the papacy had to put down)
How do you modern protestants have the arrogance to claim you and your edited 66 books only bible, claim superior knowledge of the word of God over those that were there? those that walked and talked and WERE TAUGHT BY THE APOSTLES, THEIR SUCCESSORS AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH?
What utter falsehood. I became a Catholic 8 years ago partially because of falsehood like this. A very good argument could be made that to be a Christian one would have to be a Catholic.
I thinks conforms also to the tenor of your meaning, yes?
For the sake of 1500 years of Catholics prior to the Reformation I hope so. Do you think that Martin Luther finally figured it out?
apparently your knowledge of the Assumption of Mary’s Body into Heaven is scanty.
Apostles were transported from around the world to her bedside to witness her dormition and eventually being carried to heaven by angels.
I know you don’t believe it, but if you do enough digging you will find the quotes with the Early Church Fathers.
PS. What will you say to the Blessed Virgin Mary upon the moment of your death and you find out that you didn’t believe?
The first Christian was Christ who was a Jew to get picky. To believe that Christ was the Son of God is my basic belief in Salvation. I don’t know what name to call myself.
“For the sake of 1500 years of Catholics prior to the Reformation I hope so. Do you think that Martin Luther finally figured it out?:
So you believe the Holy Spirit went MIA until Luther?
LOL!
Any other “big Perry Mason gotcha moments” there, or is that all you prepared for today?
One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Can you say that about your church?
Facts, Friend, Facts!
Thanks. Merry Christmas to you as well! :)
So there is an objective standard for "Christianity," from which one can depart? Good! Please point-out for us which group of Christians, known in the historical record, practiced, in your opinion, the full and error-free "Christianity" available after the death of the last Apostle and before October 31, 1517. No hodge-podge of denominations or mixing and matching between centuries, please. One group, evidently, was the banner- or reference-standard all of these centuries, if, in fact, "Christianity" is internally defined in a palpable way as you indicate. So, which group would that be, shown to have continuous existence from A.D. 33 and able to transmit the one and only, authentic "Christianity"?
Amen!
We’re all probably going to be surprised to learn with whom we have to share heaven. Frightening, isn’t it?
Without the Authority and Infallibility of the Catholic church given by the Holy Spirit there would be no Bible. If the Catholic church was fallible the the Bible is not worth the paper it is printed on.
Because the Protestant do not have this Authority they can take books(Luther) or add books(LDS) to Holy Scripture
(Note not everything the Catholic Church does is infallible it is only on Faith and Morals that the authority to declare infallible exists)
Otherwise known as the "step on a crack" apologetic....
Wow!
141 posts in just over 2 hours. That must be close to a record!
As a Christian, I for one hope for the salvation of all who live in good faith.
Except for the Amish. Amish guy stole my car once. I don’t trust them. :^)
***I became a Catholic 8 years ago partially because of bull excrement like this.***
That’s an interesting reason to join a religion.
I became a Christian because it’s true, not because non-adherents didn’t agree with it.
Don't know about Lutherens (sic)but there is for non-elcan Lutherans.
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