Instead of focusing on the divisive, which will hinder evangelisation, why not focus on the common beliefs, to build up one another?
Unfortunately, protestantism cannot define itself apart from Catholicism. It is by design oppositional. If protestantism was merely an affirmation of Christ this would not be an issue. Unfortunately the rejection of the Catholic Church is inherent in its being. It always will be.
Even in their worship and praise of Christ there is the backhanded slap to Catholicism. This makes it very difficult to make common cause with protestants apart from the deep and fundamental theological issues that separate us. And in today's modern world the protestant, in an attempt to generate goodwill, takes the relativistic approach of, "we have so much in common." I don't think so. We cannot forsake Truth for some nebulous notion of tactical advantage for the sake of the nonbeliever.
That’s ridiculous.
I have never in my life...56....heard my SBC preachers say diddly bout y’all
Not once.
I know about the Reformation from history not my pastors sermons.
Catholics on this forum beat all stirring crap up like y’all do
My churches over my lifetime have only questioned one Christian faith.....charismatics and tongues
I don’t mind Charismatics but most SBC preachers are suspicious
Such classic projection!
With a few exceptions, most "protestants" and other nondenominational, whoever they are, don't give a moment's thought to [Roman] Catholicism.
The churches I have attended over the years -- NO ONE make mention of "Catholicism", though I am aware some pastors and teachers do (or have).
I didn't and still wouldn't, if it wasn't being rubbed in my face everyday on the pages of FreeRepublic.
Yet I have learned, I have investigated, I have studied, digging after what truth can be found in history and comparing theological aspects even prayerfully so, for enough hours I should have at least a bachelor's degree in apologetics, by now-- I do think I've seen about all that can be said of it as far as this forum goes -- INCLUDING the sort of comments which you have just made -- dozens if not hundreds of times.
Try bringing personal testimony, instead of promotion or Romanism and then I may listen, if the sound can make it through the callouses many of your co-religionists have taken so much effort to force upon me and any of this forum who dares contend for faith in Christ and even His own Spirit that can be freely enough for from the narrow confines of the RCC.
Shoot--- it took centuries for the "magesterium" to catch on to that sort of thing much occurring, being that the same occurred without their own express written consent, and the reality of that also refuting portions of their own navel-gazing Churchianity.
Are their differences? Of course! To a non-Believer, they don't see the difference between a Roman Catholic and a Protestant. Focusing on these differences, trying to 'convert' each other, especially when human nature (the spirit of 'the world', aka Satan) takes hold, leading to anger and snide comments by both sides, takes us away from worship, allowing the Deceiver to gain a stronghold. Non-Believers see that and think that Christians don't have anything to show me; all they do is fight!
I am reminded of two Bible stories, one being the mother of Zebedees' sons, asking Jesus to have one sit on each side of Jesus in Heaven (Matt 20:20-21). The other story is what Jesus told His disciples when He sent the Apostles out to preach to Israel. (Matt 10:13-15) "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city."
Since no Protestant is likely to become Roman Catholic, nor vice versa on FR, the constant posting of items that can inflame the 'other' group, no matter which 'other' group, and since Jesus told His disciples to 'shake the dust off their sandals', if they were not received, why go on doing such things? If the Apostles had ignored Jesus' instructions, how many fewer would have heard His message? I believe that if we are presenting our position (be it P or RC) and it is rejected, then stop it. If you don't, you are further inflaming others, potentially leading to a posting war. Muslim proselytize by war, followers of Jesus should not.
As far as worship and praise of Christ, I have taken part in leading worship and I have never 'backhanded(ly) slap(ped)' Roman Catholicism, at least to the best of my knowledge. I don't understand what you mean by that.
As far as 'Truth', the problem is that the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) changed greatly from the Church of the Apostles, adopting many things from the Roman Empire and government. The RCC changed further by the time of Luther, adding concepts that were foreign to the Apostolic church. I believe that in SOME ways, the Protestant movement moved closer to the original church of the Apostles, but not in all ways so I believe that NEITHER group is fully in sync with the original Church.
The problem is that both churches were, are and will be, led by humans, with all the inherent frailties and weaknesses and SIN that comes with being human. As such, many men of God have added positively to each, yet, since no one is fully in tune with the Holy Spirit 100% of the time, they have changed doctrines, which, while on the surface are good, they may not be from the Holy Spirit and therefore, in error. Other men may have let the Holy Spirit lead for a little while, but soon took the lead themselves.
Two examples:
Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.
and more recently,
Jim Bakker, an Assemblies of God televangelist who defrauded viewers and committed adultery and tried to cover it up.
Unfortunately, there are WAY too many to list.
One need only look to the Temple in Jesus' time. Worship in the Temple had changed from Moses time, and Nehemiah's time when they rediscovered Moses' books. Undoubtedly, between then and Jesus time, many good men of God maintained the Temple. Over the centuries, 'yeast', be it error or evil, entered worship so that by Jesus time, the majority of the Pharisees were corrupt. It was so corrupt that Nicodemus, an uncorrupted Pharisee, chose to seek out Jesus in the middle of the night so as to not be seen.
The Church (RC, P, Orthodox), is far removed from the Apostolic church of the New Testament. Therefore, in my opinion, the Bible can be the only thing uncorrupted and we need to spend much time in prayer and meditation on the Bible, to ensure we understand the 'Truth'.
Even in their worship and praise of Christ there is the backhanded slap to Catholicism.
Complete BS.
Catholicsism is virtually never referenced in any of the non-Catholic churches I have ever attended.
Our pastors have far more important things to attend to than bashing others. Our source of identity is being in Christ, not by who our *enemies* are, as the Catholic church bases its identity on.
This makes it very difficult to make common cause with protestants apart from the deep and fundamental theological issues that separate us. And in today's modern world the protestant, in an attempt to generate goodwill, takes the relativistic approach of, "we have so much in common." I don't think so. We cannot forsake Truth for some nebulous notion of tactical advantage for the sake of the nonbeliever.
And it's that elitist, snotty attitude of *we're right and y;all are going to hell because you're not Catholics* that puts the dividing wall up.
Other Protestant and Evangelical denominations have no problems working together and corroborating when need be because of the unity that we have in Christ.
It's Catholicism that tells the world that they have to convert or go to hell.
It's in its very own CCC, has been pronounced as so ex cathedra by popes, and there is currently an FR thread posting the same thing.
I don't see Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, etc, churches telling others that they have to become members of their church to get to heaven.
WE PROTS abhor ADDING to 'truth'.
We'll just stick with the basics; thank you very much.
Odd. I've been a Baptist for about 40 years, and I've never heard Catholicism addressed in a sermon or in any discussion about what we believe. When asked what we believe, we go to the Bible, not to creeds or historical texts.
Even in their worship and praise of Christ there is the backhanded slap to Catholicism.
I'd love to know how singing "The Old Rugged Cross" is a "backhanded slap to Catholicism".