catholicboy said:
only God knows that... pointless debate if you ask me. i am not saying it is a stupid question. i just think it is a non-issue...
God bless!
Aaron
I have to disagree with you there catholicboy. Matters of salvation are far from being "non-issues" they are the
only issue!
All that we do in our Christian walk is in hope and faith of salvation. Therefore, these discussions are most important!
That said, I will briefly describe the Catholic position on salvation. First of all, never has the church ever satated that any person has gone or will go to hell. The Church recognizes that it's mission is not one of judgement but one of evangelization. The Catholic belief is that protestants can indeed go to heaven. However, salvation is more difficult to attain the further from the fullness of truth one moves.
By analogy, one might be able to navigate a treacherous ravine by the light of a candle, but their chances of safe passage will be much greater by the light of the sun.
For instance, this idea of irresistable grace to which you subscribe, does in many people blind them to the importance of acting on their faith. That's not to say that these actions somehow earn them their salvation, but such acts do incur merit which helps a person to grow in sanctity and holiness. Additionally, the idea of salvation being something that cannot, once attained, be lost, blinds many to the devastating nature of sin and makes people completely unaware that the sins they continue to commit are moving them further and further away from God. Even worse, it causes many who believed they were saved, and then fall back into sin (as we all do) that they were never really saved at all!
Doctrines such as these present difficulties which lead men (and women) to sin and not seek the forgiveness Christ provided through his church in the sacrament of pennance. In these ways, man is blinded, bound, and confused about a great many things which present real danger to one's salvation.
In closing, yes, the church believes that baptized protestants can obtain salvation and die in a state of grace. However, this is an arduous task fraught with more difficulties than one fortified with the sacraments, and fullness of truth presented by the Church.
