What would you want a Catholic to know

[graysparrow]

about your Church? I am posting this in the various denominations forums, to see what I could not 'get' from each denominations or churches, because I often judge according to what I expect to find. I could ask, but again my questions could be guided by what I expect to find, so surprise me!


Well, so what's the so differnt about the Reformed Church/es... whaterver ?

 

[reformedfan]

the 5 solas

 

[tryme]

I found this website not too long ago: Just for Catholics

 

[HamletsChoice]

Jesus Christ.

 

[Proeliator]

That we dont practice cannibalism?

 

[inchristalone221]

Now now, be nice brothers

The reformed churches are the followers of such men as Luther, Calvin, and Knox who attempted to rid the Catholic church of certain abuses that had crept in by their time of life.

Here are the five solas as I would explain them to a Catholic:

1. sola scriptura- It is revealed in scripture alone (not through Papal decree, church council, etc.)
2. sola gratia- that salvation is by grace alone (and not by some good in man)
3. sola fide- through faith alone (not through sacrament, indulgence, or works)
4. solus Christus- through Christ alone (not through submission to a Roman Pope)
5. soli deo gloria- to the glory of God alone.

That is what sets us apart (I can here some of the catholics already yelling "protestante, protestante), but meh "Here I stand, for I can do no other, God help me."

 

[graysparrow]

That we dont practice cannibalism?

I already knew that...

 

[lmnop9876]

what I would want a Catholic to know:
1. We uphold the teachings of the first four ecumenical councils, including the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed & the Definition of Chalcedon, as well as the historic "Apostles' Creed" and "Athanasian Creed."
2. We believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, created as new people to good works which glorify God.
3. We believe that faith without works and repentance is dead, and works and repentance without faith are dead and useless.
4. We believe that all Christian teaching must be measured by the Bible, and must agree with the teaching of the Bible, and the Church must not teach anything that is not found in Scripture.
5. We believe that in the Lord's Supper we show forth Christ's death and the faithful are made partakers of His Body and Blood, "with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace." (westminster shorter catechism)
6. We believe that in baptism, the washing with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit signifies and seals all the benefits of the covenant of redemption, including remission of sins and spiritual regeneration.
7. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, and is both invisible (all true believers in Christ) and visible (all those who profess to be Christian, united by the Gospel, baptism, and the Lord's Supper), and that Christ is the only Head of the Church in Heaven or on Earth.
8. We believe that we cannot do anything to contribute to our salvation.
9. We believe that God in His love has chosen His people in Christ from eternity.
10. We believe that all those who God has chosen are bought with the blood of Christ, and He will certainly regenerate them by the power of His Spirit, and keep them till He calls them home.

I think that about covers what I would want all Catholics to know about Reformed Christianity.

 

[Rick Otto]

That'll take you far.
We don't have "priests" per se, no messy celibacy requirements, greatly reduced pagentry, streamlined & minimal sacrements & ceremonies... no prayer beads...
EV'rybody gets somethin' to drink at communion...better music (mostly)... free oil changes in the parking lots... (I just made that last one up! )...
whole bunch of stuff!

 

[Bulldog]

Judging by the dialogues I've participated in/seen online, I would like the commmon misconceptions, primarily of Calvinism, sola scriptura, and sola fide, to be cleared up.

 

[McWilliams]

I would want a Catholic to know:
~That our God is a God of grace! That there is noting I can do to earn brownie points with God, that all of my righteousness is as filthy rags and that whatever righteousness I might have has been imputed to me by God through Christ in His great mercy and forgiveness!
~That God's whole plan was predestined in eternity past and will come to completion as He determined, exactly when and how His word states.
~That we are to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength! He only must we serve and worship! Worship of Mary or any other person or thing is idolatry.

'This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
Mark 7:7

That our relationship with Christ is of the heart, not of anything we can do! In us there is no good thing and without Christ regeneration of our heart and life there would be no hope! Christ, through the Holy Spirit must give us a new heart. Then, with great humility and gratitude we will live for Him!