Catholic?

[Concord1968]

What are LCMS and IIRC?

LCMS = Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. IIRC = If I Recall Correctly.

 

[Albion]

I've never come across it in any other church here in the UK. Perhaps it's a US thing.

It is probably more that you don't have as big a range of denominations. Not many Lutherans, for example, or Greek Orthodox.

 

[PoppyB]

LCMS = Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. IIRC = If I Recall Correctly.

Thank you.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church

The Catholic Church has many teachings that have been handed down from the apostles but unfortunately purgatory is not one of them. The doctrine of purgatory was formulated in 1439AD at the council of Florence and ratified in 1563AD at the council of Trent. The doctrine of purgatory teaches that Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t pay for all our sins and that we must pay for them ourselves by suffering in an intermediate place between this world and heaven. I really hate to get into this subject because I don’t like to talk about it but I feel in this case it is necessary to point out these observations. First of all we should examine the actions of the Roman Church during this time period when the doctrine of purgatory was formulated. This took place when the abuse of indulgences were at an all time high. It was this abuse of indulgences where the Roman church was selling forgiveness of sin in exchange for tithes to the church that led to the reformation by Martin Luther. The doctrine of purgatory allowed the Roman church to solicit indulgences not only for the living but also for the deceased by telling their loved ones that this person is suffering in purgatory and we can pray to Mary and have this person released from purgatory so that he may enter heaven if you pay tithes to the church. I would also add that this was right in the middle of the inquisitions where the Roman church arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and in some cases even executed nonbelievers. The doctrine of purgatory was formulated by the very men who sanctioned and carried out the proceedings and sentencing of those who were charged with heresy. Honestly if you are interested in the Catholic Church I would strongly recommend the Eastern Orthodox Church. They have many similar doctrines but have kept the teachings of the apostles intact. The EO Church is an apostolic church established by the apostles themselves. I would also suggest looking into the history of the East West Schism on 1054AD. The church in Rome was actually excommunicated from the Catholic Church for their claim of papal supremacy among other reasons like the addition of the filioque to the Nicene Creed, use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist, priests celibacy and a few more disputes. Rome’s claim to papal supremacy was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. If you are interested in the truth of this matter I suggest looking into Britanica.com since they are a secular organization with an impeccable reputation for stating only the facts. Since they are a secular organization they are neither partial nor biased towards either side of the argument. Here’s a few links.

https://www.britannica.com/eventSchism-of-1054


Pentarchy | Christianity

Also do some searching on the web and see if you can find any “skeletons” in the EOC’s closet. I’ve looked and can’t find anything. I’m not an EO member, I consider myself to be a nondenominationalist with a tendency to lean towards the Orthodox teachings. They are both in line with the scriptures and early church father’s writings. I strongly suggest you give them a look and maybe talk to a few here in CF.

 

[Lost4words]

In my view members of the RC church would choose to obey the teachings of the church over the teachings of Jesus. For example the list that Major1 posted a while ago. And to me that would make me run as far as I could away from that church. Jesus has to be number one, he has to be at the heart and head of any church group, and I'm sorry but in the RC church Mary seems to be more highly honoured than her son. To me that is just plain wrong. Also the RC church won't let non-Catholics partake of the bread and wine, even though they are Christian.

A good few years ago now God spoke into my spirit and told me to pray for the RC church and I have done so. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will blow through the corridors of power and bring light into the dark places and open peoples eyes and ears to the truth and to see that they have been deceived. Now why would God tell me to do that if it that sort of prayer wasn't needed. I know there will be some who say I've done it off my own bat, so to speak, but I know and believe what God said to me.

Then you dont know Catholicism either. If you did, you would know for sure that Jesus is EVERYTHING to the faith. The Catholic mass IS Jesus. Study Catholicism properly my friend.

 

[Lost4words]

I've never come across it in any other church here in the UK. Perhaps it's a US thing.

You are wrong

 

[PoppyB]

You are wrong

Oh! Ok. Care to elucidate?

 

[PoppyB]

Then you dont know Catholicism either. If you did, you would know for sure that Jesus is EVERYTHING to the faith. The Catholic mass IS Jesus. Study Catholicism properly my friend.

You are entitled to your opinion.

 

[PoppyB]

---SE---

Where does it say in the bible that people should pray to Mary and saints?

 

[Lost4words]

Where does it say in the bible that people should pray to Mary and saints?

Mary interceded at Cana. In Revelations the Saints offered up prayers.

Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration. They were supposedly dead?

Plus, Catholicism is NOT Sola Scripture based! It relies on Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Holy Spirit, through, Apostolic succession.

 

[PoppyB]

Mary interceded at Cana. In Revelations the Saints offered up prayers.

Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration. They were supposedly dead?

Flimsy.

 

[Lost4words]

Flimsy.

For you maybe. For me, I LOVE BEING A CATHOLIC. 'THE' church, started by Jesus when he told Peter that he was 'The' rock, on which, HIS church would be built.

Protestantism is only approximately 500 years old! Catholicism goes right back to Jesus and Peter!

God bless you my friend in Christ

 

[Albion]

Mary interceded at Cana. In Revelations the Saints offered up prayers.

Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration. They were supposedly dead?

Is that it? This isn't to say that venerating the saints or some other practice absolutely cannot be justified, but it will take really being informed about the teachings of the Catholic Church and a clear explanation of the whys of it...if convincing an inquirer is the hope.

 

[PoppyB]

Is that it? This isn't to say that venerating the saints or some other practice absolutely cannot be justified, but it will take really being informed about the teachings of the Catholic Church and a clear explanation of the whys of it...if convincing an inquirer is the hope.

I read that when a pope dies, posters are put up all over Italy urging people to pray for his soul. How long must he suffer in Purgatory? And why hasn't he, of all people, attained the salvation of his soul?

 

[Augustus_33AD]

I read that when a pope dies, posters are put up all over Italy urging people to pray for his soul. How long must he suffer in Purgatory? And why hasn't he, of all people, attained the salvation of his soul?

Probably not at all because he's probably recieved the last rites and apostolic blessing.

 

[PoppyB]

Probably not at all because he's probably recieved the last rites and apostolic blessing.

So why do people feel the need to pray for his soul once he's dead? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Augustus_33AD]

So why do people feel the need to pray for his soul once he's dead? It doesn't make sense to me.

He may not have recieved the last rites and or died with pennance left and thus has to spend time being purified.

 

[klutedavid]

Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church

There were many churches in the centuries following the resurrection of the Christ. The Roman Catholic church took nearly five centuries to begin to exert it's authority over everyone else.

That the Roman Catholic church is the one true church is just not historically accurate or even true.

 

[PoppyB]

He may not have recieved the last rites and or died with pennance left and thus has to spend time being purified.

Are RCs not purified through the blood of Jesus?

 

[Augustus_33AD]

Are RCs not purified through the blood of Jesus?

Our sins are forgiven through Christ's shedding of blood at cavalry. But we believe when we sin we detract form God's glory (which is infinite) so we must give it back.