what are the differences between Catholic and Protestant?

[SteveNZ]

I also see a 'HUGE' social rift that has existed and may I humbly suggested stubbornly maintained over centuries. Our cemetaries in NZ still show Catholics that side and protestants the other.

A major issue for myself is tha the Roman Catholic church has had a large amount of 'evil sinful leaders' over the centuries. So have others but folk simply left any rotten protestant church and started another church fellowship.

The point is that the Catholic church as a body have these ratbags of the past still held in honour and respect as Godfearing. Almost 'saints'. I honestly believe this is very similar to calling '..evil good..' and not doing anything about past wrongs means they are lumped with the consequences. It is very scriptural for a king/tribe to have to sort things out. I personally think the powers should stand up in the Lord and effectively state,

'We are sorry for past wrongs, these folk were evil and did not follow the way of our Lord Jesus, we ask as leaders of the organisation for both God and man to please forgive us..'.

THINK OF THE HEALING THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE.

 

[Aibrean]

One difference is that we believe God is available to ALL of us wherever we are. God is not bound up in some cup at the altar of anybody's church.

the Sacrements are a real way that God gives His grace to His people but God can also work outside the sacrements, I mean He is God afterall

And there are sacramental Protestants...like Lutherans So no, it's not a difference to ALL, just certain denominations.

 

[MrPolo]

The point is that the Catholic church as a body have these ratbags of the past still held in honour and respect as Godfearing. Almost 'saints'.

Which almost saints are ratbags?

 

[Johnny Todd]

Which almost saints are ratbags?

I would suggest a little walk down memory lane, even Catholic history doesn't try to hide some of the bad popes quotes and actions, I would say both sides have a few ratbags in their past, just that Catholicism has been around longer and lends to the fact that they have a longer list. Whether they are Catholic or Protestant they both are government run organizations and can't do and say what ever they please, or they will be closed down.

 

[Aibrean]

How are they government run?

 

[SteveNZ]

.............. Whether they are Catholic or Protestant they both are government run organizations and can't do and say what ever they please, or they will be closed down.

Hi,
What do you mean by government run?

That churches have a 'body of leaders' acting as a government for the organisation?

Or that there is some external 'government' (meaning the government of the land they are in) that controls what they can and cannot say?

 

[Nostromo19]

Do you all ever think folks spend too much time and energy agonizing over our differences instead of what binds all Christians together. I often think Jesus is sad that so many argue how many angels could fit on the head of a needle, or the meaning of apostolic succession, etc. instead of caring for the poor and saving the lost souls that surround us every day. After all, is heaven divided up by Christian sects?

 

[Nostromo19]

Do you all ever think that we spend too much time agonizing over the theological differences that divide us instead of the unifying message that unites all Christians? Who really cares how many angels fit on the head of a needle? Is heaven divided into different sects with Presbyterians and Catholics in different bins. Ridiculous and rhetorical, but food for thought.

 

[Johnny Todd]

How are they government run?

they are under the authority of the entity that can revoke their tax exempt status, no church or pastor is willing to lose their tax exempt status, so your pastor or priest is not allowed to say what canidate or party best keeps biblical requirements, soon they won't be able to directly condemn certian sins, as this will become hate crime, Its never done all at the same time, its always just a gradual decline, most never even notice it, much like Americans don't even notice how many of their freedoms have one by one been taken away, And they are none the wiser

 

[Aibrean]

they are under the authority of the entity that can revoke their tax exempt status, no church or pastor is willing to lose their tax exempt status, so your pastor or priest is not allowed to say what canidate or party best keeps biblical requirements, soon they won't be able to directly condemn certian sins, as this will become hate crime, Its never done all at the same time, its always just a gradual decline, most never even notice it, much like Americans don't even notice how many of their freedoms have one by one been taken away, And they are none the wiser

You make pretty wide assumptions. Our sermons have NEVER been political, except perhaps two weeks ago, but it wasn't addressing any certain part or making favoratisms.

You can read the whole thing here: http://bethlehem7.org/weekly sermons/October_16_2011.pdf

Here is a snippet:

The trap that Jesus avoided is the trap that ensnares you; namely confusing politics and religion. It begins with hypocrisy and the hypocrisy is that you say one thing about Jesus but believe another. You say about Jesus what is said in the Apostolic and Nicene Creeds. You say He is about taking away your sins, giving you the Holy Spirit and the hope of resurrection from the dead but what you believe in your heart is that Jesus is a political Messiah who came to make life in America better.

I hear the old Puritan saw, “America is a Christian nation.” Unless logic escapes me, that would mean Jesus is King of America. Or I hear, “Christian morality must rule our land”. That means Jesus must rule our land but of course Jesus is not here and so what must happen is that Christians must be elected and they will enforce Christian morality and that way Jesus will rule our land and we will realize our manifest destiny to be a Christian nation. But your hypocrisy is not just about politics. Sin living in you wants to make Jesus your little Jesus who does for you what you need Him to do. You need a better job and you expect Jesus to give it to you. You need improved health and Jesus to give it to you. You need a better marriage, better kids and especially a better preacher and you expect Jesus to give it to you. “Oh wretched man that I am; who will deliver me from this trap, this hypocrisy of saying one thing but believing another?”

Glad you asked. You can sidestep the political trap by listening to Jesus and to Paul. Jesus and Paul both teach you how to relate to government, any government. Governments are established by God to keep order in society and as a Christian person living in society; you owe respect and taxes to your government. And it matters not what that government is; liberal, conservative, friendly to Christians, persecuting Christians. In Paul’s day it was Rome, a government that was not friendly to our Lord or His church and still today many of our Christian brothers and sister live under governments that do not tolerate Christianity. The aim of our brethren in those nations is not to turn their nation into a Christian nation. Their aim is to respect their government, live at peace with their fellow citizens, love their neighbor by acts of kindness and when the moment is right, speak to them about the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

I hardly see the LCMS ever not "directly condemning" certain sins. The ELCA, sure...they already have done so. You just can't blanket label all churches because frankly, I am positive you haven't been to all.

Tax exemption is just a luxury. Yes, it's one they would give up because they are here to minister, as a calling from God.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

they are under the authority of the entity that can revoke their tax exempt status, no church or pastor is willing to lose their tax exempt status, so your pastor or priest is not allowed to say what canidate or party best keeps biblical requirements, soon they won't be able to directly condemn certian sins, as this will become hate crime, Its never done all at the same time, its always just a gradual decline, most never even notice it, much like Americans don't even notice how many of their freedoms have one by one been taken away, And they are none the wiser

Render unto Cesar...

Many Christians have had rights and privileges taken away; including their mortal lives; besides our Lord Jesus who submitted on our behalf to suffer and die sanctioned by the Government of the day, we remember St. John the Baptist, and all of the Apostles except St. John. Throughout history many have suffered and many have been martyred. One can also look to Christians in Muslim countries, yet one needs only to look in our own back yard. Tax exemptions, censorship, discrimination are minor in comparison to what others have, and are enduring for their faith.

"None the wiser", I think not; Scripture tells us three things; we are saved by faith; we will suffer; and we are to persevere.

May our Lord give us the strength to do so!