JP2Iloveyou Posted October 13, 2003 Posted October 13, 2003 To all my Catholic friends: I have read some things on here from you all that are disturbing to me. In many cases you criticize Protestants and tell them all the reasons why they are wrong on everything under the sun. I, for one, am uncomfortable with your approach. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the Gospel to all the world, and, if necessary, use words." How many of us on here, myself included, are the first to throw out every apologetic verse under the sun, yet lead lives in the "real world" that do not reflect Catholic theology? Take the Eucharist for example. What is the greater sin? To not know of Christ's True Presence or to know of it and not go to adore Him? Please don't misunderstand me. I know we have the full truth. I pray for my Protestant brothers and sisters to come home. I rejoice when they do. But, please, let us not be so arrogant. Otherwise, we sink down a level. An ounce of honey will attract more bees than a gallon of vinegar. This does not mean we should not explain the faith, but we must do it with Christian charity. Some are very good at this. Others, certainly myself included, need to work at this. If we are rude and insulting towards others, then we have lost all chance of converting their heart. God Bless
Paladin D Posted October 13, 2003 Posted October 13, 2003 To all my Catholic friends: I have read some things on here from you all that are disturbing to me. In many cases you criticize Protestants and tell them all the reasons why they are wrong on everything under the sun. I, for one, am uncomfortable with your approach. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the Gospel to all the world, and, if necessary, use words." How many of us on here, myself included, are the first to throw out every apologetic verse under the sun, yet lead lives in the "real world" that do not reflect Catholic theology? Take the Eucharist for example. What is the greater sin? To not know of Christ's True Presence or to know of it and not go to adore Him? Please don't misunderstand me. I know we have the full truth. I pray for my Protestant brothers and sisters to come home. I rejoice when they do. But, please, let us not be so arrogant. Otherwise, we sink down a level. An ounce of honey will attract more bees than a gallon of vinegar. This does not mean we should not explain the faith, but we must do it with Christian charity. Some are very good at this. Others, certainly myself included, need to work at this. If we are rude and insulting towards others, then we have lost all chance of converting their heart. God Bless You speak wise words. When I speak with my mom about our different views, I try doing so in a way that isn't "aggressive" or "attacking". More of like "explaining".
dUSt Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 I've pinned this topic to the top for awhile. ;)
Kiddkapps Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 :D Exactly. We're called to rebuke AND encourage in love...not just rebuke and mask that under the cover of love. I ask you...what is the point in debate if you don't bring the other person closer to CHRIST? Scripture tells us to steer clear of useless debate and I think that if we're just doing it cause we wanna thump the other person on the head or "show them wrong" or show how many paragraphs of the Catechism we can quote....some how I think we lost the meaning. If we truly believe in CHRIST, He promised us the GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL. In Christ, may our works always remain our prayer, Kidd.
Lil Red Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 Thanks for pinning this dUSt. Wise words to everyone.
littleflower+JMJ Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 (edited) Thanks for pinning this dUSt. Wise words to everyone. ya know its really weird seeing the topic title and then your name Edited by moderator: personal information ! "To all my catholic Friends" by Lit Red devil but yes, this is a great thread. we all must work for the greater glory of God. always. God bless! ~flowery~ <@> Edited May 26, 2006 by Lil Red
Lil Red Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 (edited) ya know its really weird seeing the topic title and then your name Edited by moderator: personal information ! "To all my catholic Friends" by Lil Red devil I just about did a stewart! :lol: Edited May 26, 2006 by Lil Red
jasJis Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 I just about peed my pantaloons laughing! We don't use language like that. You can say "I did a Stewart" (from Mad TV 'I think I peed a little') :D
Aloysius Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 :o i wish i had wise enough words to get a topic pinned! i think this qualifies u as ruler of the debate table! anyway, that was amesome. although it's prolly not gonna do anything cause on a Phorum, it IS kinda necessary to use words. whose gonna see your actions? (well, God of course, i just meant u cant preach 2 ppl on a Phorum by actions) anyway, it's a great comment! we need to make more peace with the protestants. if we just keep goin "Look at John Chapter 6!!!"", no matter how much it makes sense to us, they already have their own preconcieved ideas about it, it won't work. let's be civil out ther. lets not offend, but not back down from the truth. let's be a shining symbol of Christian unity and love that they'll see it and know that there's somethin important here.
Kiddkapps Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 anyway, it's a great comment! we need to make more peace with the protestants. if we just keep goin "Look at John Chapter 6!!!"", no matter how much it makes sense to us, they already have their own preconcieved ideas about it, it won't work. let's be civil out ther. lets not offend, but not back down from the truth. let's be a shining symbol of Christian unity and love that they'll see it and know that there's somethin important here. 818: "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church." 819: "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth" are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements." Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity." 820: "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time." Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me." The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.
Kiddkapps Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 CATECHISM: 822: Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike." But we must realize "that this holy objective—the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ—transcends human powers and gifts." That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit." 823: "The Church . . . is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as ‘alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God." The Church, then, is "the holy People of God," and her members are called "saints." 824: United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. "All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God." It is in the Church that "the fullness of the means of salvation" has been deposited. It is in her that "by the grace of God we acquire holiness." 825: "The Church on earth is endowed already with a sanctity that is real though imperfect." In her members perfect holiness is something yet to be acquired: "Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state—though each in his own way—are called by the Lord to that perfection of sanctity by which the Father himself is perfect."
willguy Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 kiddkapps, I love those paragraphs from the Catechism (I love the whole Catechism, but you know what I mean). Whenever people pull the "Catholics think that non-Catholics aren't saved," I pull out that section of the Catechism on them. Works like a charm. I think we all need to remember that we area all Christians and we are all one in the saved by the Grace of God and the Sacrifice of Christ. Peace all and God Bless, Willguy
emalouhow Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS POST!!!! I've been thinking this for a while and a few times I've tried to post my feelings in a couple of the debates, but I think people felt I was pointing fingers and specific people. I want to thank everyone who passionately defends the Catholic faith...you have all been an enormous inspiration to me, and have increased my desire to learn more. Let us remember to continue to love one another!! :D
Kiddkapps Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 kiddkapps, I love those paragraphs from the Catechism (I love the whole Catechism, but you know what I mean). Whenever people pull the "Catholics think that non-Catholics aren't saved," I pull out that section of the Catechism on them. Works like a charm. I think we all need to remember that we area all Christians and we are all one in the saved by the Grace of God and the Sacrifice of Christ. Peace all and God Bless, Willguy Yeah, I tend to also pull those out when people put forth the I hate Prots in the name of CHRIST and His Church arguments. It's not that I want to be preachy or beat people over the head. I'm sure there are people who read my posts or read the Kolumn about Nothing and think...this is carp she's full of shhhhh......... That's ok....as long as it's fertilizer to help you grow in CHRIST and in turn I can grow in CHRIST with my interaction with you...or help someone grow closer to HIM, then it's all good....I can be shhhhh....all day long Otherwise...it's all useless and vain. May our works always be our prayer, Kiddkapps
jmjtina Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 Great thread, Isn't the cathechism grand? You know Mormons came knocking the other day. We had a cool little chat, but I gave them the "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" phamplet. I said, "Go ahead, try to prove me wrong." Right when it was out of my mouth, I knew I SHOULDN"T have said that!!!!!! (Well, they said some things that they always say, and gave me a card to "come and know" Jesus Christ) I have made a rule of thumb to pass it out to all other religions who come knocking at my door to say, "This is what we believe in a nutshell. I encourage you to read it to see what we understand and why." You know what? They'll probably read it then instead of throwing it in the ditch! BTW, right when I gave it to them, they opened it! So, I'm praying for those two young men! We must always remember Charity! BTW, kiddkapps, i dig your column about nothing ;)
JP2Iloveyou Posted October 14, 2003 Author Posted October 14, 2003 Wow! My own topic pinned! I'm honored. :D
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