Protostants and Catholics

[DeaconDean]

If there is to be total unity both will have to give up some of their ways , and take on beliefs they do not hold at present .

I see this as a problem since some of the RCC's teachings go countrer to wehat I believe the scriptures teach.

I will not compromise for the sake of ecumenicalism.

I do not see that as a problem since I do not believe there will be total unity this side of Heaven .

But we can still continue to grow together in our faith and practices .
We can pray together , study together , socialize together , work together etc.

We do this now. The only difference is, we cannot study together as this causes differences.

What is seem by one side as scripture taught, the other side may infer to sacred tradition.

I do not try to convert my Anglican , Methodist and Pentecostal friends to Roman Catholicism . If they ask me anything about my beliefs I just give them what I believe is the truth . My wish is for them to be good Anglicans , Methodists , and Pentecostals .

I used to do this until one very heated discussion between myself and co-worker happened.

Total unity would entail the Protestants having to accept all R.C. dogmas . That's not on the cards . So let's be Christians together , agreeing to disagree on certain matters , all the time growing closer to each other .

"Accept all RCC dogmas."

That statement alone shows that there is going to be no concession on the RCC side. We must do the changing with none on the RCC side.

So much for unity.

There can be no unity as long as one side has to do all the concessions while the other side does none!

Why not say the RCC must accept Baptist dogmas?

Because it will not happen!

So why should we abandon our beliefs and be made to accept Catholic dogmas?

Let me remind you that the first recorded major schism was between the RC and EO with each one of you throwing dirt on the other.

Lets not forget our Anabaptist forefathers the Donatists. They created quite a stir in AD 415.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[rozerz]

thankyou all for posting your side of the debate. i have no further questions but don't let me stop you discusing. i can say that the answer to my origonal question is one of many opinons. i will continue to pray that we may all be united one day.
peace to you all.

 

[Colin]

An example of the movement towards Christian unity :

The Church of Scotland ( not to be confused with the Anglican Episcopal Church of Scotland ) is a Presbyterian Church in the Calvinist tradition . Throughout most of its history it has been vehemently anti-Roman Catholic .

On Mon 31st of May , 1982 , Pope John Paul 2 went to the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh to meet the Moderator of the Church Of Scotland , Rt. Rev. Professor John McIntyre . Dr McIntyre addressed the Pope as follows :
Pope John Paul our brother in Christ , may I , as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , and on the express resolution of that Assembly , offer to you a sincere welcome to this land of ours ..... We meet today , particularly in the context and upon the foundation of the recognition that we have one Lord , one Faith , one Baptism , at a time of international tension and conflict in the Falkland Islands . You come to us as a man of peace . We join with you in prayer for a just and lasting peace , for we share a gospel which effects reconciliation between God and mankind and between nations and peoples .

So , because the people of your Church in our country have been preparing so prayerfully for your coming , our prayer also must be that your visit should bring widespread blessing and spiritual renewal . May your words bring home the challenge of the gospel to those who oppose the faith , as well as to those who have lapsed from it .

Your Holiness , though it is your own you are visiting , we in the Church of Scotland also have positive expectations of what may follow from your presence here . The history of Scotland is scarred with many occasions of religious conflict and controversy , and so from this spirit of reconciliation which informs our meeting today , we for our part , would look forward to further dialogue with your Church , not just on subjects of disagreement , but also on the joint themes on which we agree in face of a hostile world .

At a time when the forces of atheism and irreligion are so powerful we dare not fail before such a world to acknowledge the one Christ whom as Christians we all seek to serve .

As you go on your way , Your Holiness , may the God who so graciously delivered you from serious danger , keep you continually in his safe keeping . God be with you .

For those words I say Alleluia . Amen .
God bless the Church of Scotland .
God bless all , who like Dr McIntyre , are submissive to the Holy Spirit's promptings as we travel the road of Christian unity .
God bless those who hinder the movement towards Christian unity , and bring them to repentance .

" Father , may they all be one ."

 

[faceofbear]

Justified by Faith Alone, a Sermon from Dr. R.C. Sproul | Listen to Free Sermons from R.C. Sproul at Ligonier.org
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[Scottish Knight]

An example of the movement towards Christian unity :

The Church of Scotland ( not to be confused with the Anglican Episcopal Church of Scotland ) is a Presbyterian Church in the Calvinist tradition . Throughout most of its history it has been vehemently anti-Roman Catholic .

On Mon 31st of May , 1982 , Pope John Paul 2 went to the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh to meet the Moderator of the Church Of Scotland , Rt. Rev. Professor John McIntyre . Dr McIntyre addressed the Pope as follows :
Pope John Paul our brother in Christ , may I , as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , and on the express resolution of that Assembly , offer to you a sincere welcome to this land of ours ..... We meet today , particularly in the context and upon the foundation of the recognition that we have one Lord , one Faith , one Baptism , at a time of international tension and conflict in the Falkland Islands . You come to us as a man of peace . We join with you in prayer for a just and lasting peace , for we share a gospel which effects reconciliation between God and mankind and between nations and peoples .

So , because the people of your Church in our country have been preparing so prayerfully for your coming , our prayer also must be that your visit should bring widespread blessing and spiritual renewal . May your words bring home the challenge of the gospel to those who oppose the faith , as well as to those who have lapsed from it .

Your Holiness , though it is your own you are visiting , we in the Church of Scotland also have positive expectations of what may follow from your presence here . The history of Scotland is scarred with many occasions of religious conflict and controversy , and so from this spirit of reconciliation which informs our meeting today , we for our part , would look forward to further dialogue with your Church , not just on subjects of disagreement , but also on the joint themes on which we agree in face of a hostile world .

At a time when the forces of atheism and irreligion are so powerful we dare not fail before such a world to acknowledge the one Christ whom as Christians we all seek to serve .

As you go on your way , Your Holiness , may the God who so graciously delivered you from serious danger , keep you continually in his safe keeping . God be with you .

For those words I say Alleluia . Amen .
God bless the Church of Scotland .
God bless all , who like Dr McIntyre , are submissive to the Holy Spirit's promptings as we travel the road of Christian unity .
God bless those who hinder the movement towards Christian unity , and bring them to repentance .

" Father , may they all be one ."

A sad day in the history of the Kirk! Whereas I believe that there is real unity between the true believers in both the protestant and catholic churches, the theological differences between the two groups are so wide and major as to be irreconcilable . There cannot even be the beginning of reconciliation until the same authorities on doctrine is agreed upon (sola scriptura v scripture and tradition). Most of the differences boils down to this. The differences are real and can't be swept under the rug.