Please Help

[LuxPerpetua]

Hi everyone.

I really need some advice. How would you deal with someone who is Catholic and thinks because you are Protestant that you are not worshiping God properly, have incorrect faith, and are probably not going to heaven? How do I react to this attitude with respect and love for this person? Do you know any good Scripture verses for a situation like this?

Thanks.

 

[Filia Mariae]

Hi Lux,

You should know that no good Catholic believes a Protestant is not going to heaven for being Protestant, and that such a belief contradicts Church teaching.

If you have a Catholic friend or family member who is telling you that you are doomed for being Protestant, please point out to them that their statement is in contradiction with what the Church teaches.

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Thank you, Carly. I didn't think that sounded right, but although I know a considerable amount of Catholic teaching, I wasn't sure how to address this issue with this person. The main concern was about communion--since as a Protestant I could not partake in communion in a Catholic church, which this person, as a Catholic, believes is the one true church.

 

[InquisitorKind]

Do you know any good Scripture verses for a situation like this?

No specific Scripture comes to mind, but meditation on the vast patience of the Father toward us should humble us and motivate us to be very patient and loving toward others. The book of Hosea is useful for this, along with any passage that brings focus to God's patience with us.

The other reaction is to pray for their salvation and then preach them the Gospel of Sola Fide. If this person thinks you're going to Hell because of your beliefs, they probably don't know the Gospel.

~Matt

 

[Breetai]

I've got a good verse! John 3:16. Whomever(Catholic OR Protestant) believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

 

[Heartman]

The first thing is not to launch off like a rocket ship about all that is wrong about the Catholic church. They will be drawn to Christ, not repelled from their error.

 

[LiVingSoUL]

just stay where you are...you must not be shaken by their tricks of words...remember we are in a strong foundation..
GOD,in the scriptures told us that persecutions will come and that killing the saints means to them that theyre doing the work of God..

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Thanks for the replies. The person considers herself a "Christmas and Easter Catholic" so I'm not sure how grounded she is in her own spiritual walk or in the Bible. I don't want to challenge her beliefs, but I at least want her to respect mine, and it is very hurtful to have her tell me that I cannot be saved because I cannot partake in Catholic sacraments. I'm guessing this isn't grounded in Catholic doctrine either, but am not sure.

 

[Filia Mariae]

Lux,

You should also point out to this person that the Church teaches it is a mortal sin to miss Mass for no good reason, and given that, she may not receive the Eucharist at Christmas and Easter if that is the only time she is going to Mass.

 

[sioleabha]

Something I would do, anytime she says something hurtful to you, silently repeat to yourself John 3:16 or perhaps a passage on forgiveness. Something to calm down.

ANd if she won't be dissuaded by any logic, you might try this. Whenever she brings the subject up just say something like, "Jesus loves you," and change the subject.

__________________
those who can't hear the music think the dancer is mad.
-- anonymous

 

[Phoebe]

Romans 10:9

Romans 14:1-12

 

[JVAC]

Hi everyone.

I really need some advice. How would you deal with someone who is Catholic and thinks because you are Protestant that you are not worshiping God properly, have incorrect faith, and are probably not going to heaven? How do I react to this attitude with respect and love for this person? Do you know any good Scripture verses for a situation like this?

Thanks.

Luke 12:32
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
KJV


John 1:12
12 Yet to all who recieved him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
NIV

Mark 16:16
16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.
NRSV

Also the Athanasian Creed (Quicunque Vult), a key creed of the Christian Church catholic (and is accepted by all catholic Christians, the Church of Rome included) tells us that there is salvation in the catholic Faith. That is, we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity as well as that the Lord Jesus was indeed true God and died for our salvation.

Thus we are led to conclude that those who are baptized and believe are indeed vivified into Jesus the Christ of God.

Hope this did some good for your conscience.

-James

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Awesome and thanks!

 

[pmarquette]

1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

 

[pmarquette]

Thank you, Carly.

I didn't think that sounded right, but although I know a considerable amount of Catholic teaching, I wasn't sure how to address this issue with this person.
doctrinal issuses are shooting self in the foot .... communion per baltimore cathechims is John 6.50-60 literal , hoc est corpus meum ... impartation / transubstantiation v's what is conveyed in other gospels : remembrance , covenant ...

The main concern was about communion--since as a Protestant I could not partake in communion in a Catholic church, which this person, as a Catholic, believes is the one true church.

they believe in " anointing , grace , literal change " , we do not believe in literal presence of Christ , ergo we cannot partake of RCC communion , for we partake unworthily ...

can run a search on " koinea " word transliterated " communion " and note word also means commune , communicate , fellowship , community , brethren , as well as Lord's Supper ...

or try to cite 2-3 witnesses with them contrasting gospel of John with other gospels and epistles ...

both are usually a dead end ...