Just wanted to let you guys know, most of the posts in this thread have exemplified the character of Christ. All Christ-believing denominations make up what the scripture calls the "church" or the body of Christ. How beautiful to see many of you concentrating on making statements that UNIFY rather than divide this great "church". Theology and doctrine are important, but not so much in how we live our everyday lives. Jesus said to love people the way you want to be loved and love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and spirit. It's very clear to me that both those principles can be 100% followed regardless of the demonination or local church we choose to belong to. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding KandiceS! Married to a wonderful Christian man for 20 years on 4/26 and God is the thread that has kept us together all these years.
Hi-I decided to read your posts since I am a Christian but also a practicing Catholic married to a practicing Baptist. We attend each other's churches but I especially love the Baptist Church in Ft Myers Fl-Southern Baptist. Brad and I agree on the essential points-that you are saved throught the death of Jesus and we accept each other's beliefs in Baptism , Communion, etc. even if we don't agree. We both just attended a retreat in my church and Brad was amazed to hear the priest say that our works would not get us into Heaven. We will soon go back north but probably not to the Baptist church that Brad went to because they are not so tolerant of other's beliefs. But there are plenty of other Baptist Churches that are. Best to you, Kandice and Chris. You sure have made a good decision for yourselves. Mima
I am Missouri Synod Lutheran...each week we receive the Sacrament at our church...each week I am there and participate I receive the Body and The Blood of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...I am not Catholic. The catholic church is a christian church...it is not the only christian church.
I believe that I get to heaven entirely on the work and the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...ONLY... through HIM...not through any of my works...
I thank God for that...I could NEVER do enough works to make up for my sins.
I've been reading this thread since it showed up at the top of the list. I am not Catholic, but I attended a catholic church for quite a while. I'm very grateful for my time attending the catholic church, it taught me many things even though it wasn't right for me. My dad was Lutheran (I think Missouri Synod, very conservative branch) My mom was Baha'í. I ended up joining the Mormon church. Had someone ask me if it was hard to adjust to a new church... I said "well, they all believe in Jesus, you have go to church, study your scriptures and pray... not much difference."
All of my life I've heard different priests and preachers sniping at each other about who is right and wrong. I think God loves ALL of his children. I don't think He particularly cares how we get to Him, as long as we eventually find our way. I also think this view would make me very unpopular in many churches. I'm so happy for you that you and your husband could find a church that you could enjoy tegether. God's blessings be on you for new life together.
You and your husband have a wonderful opportunity to choose what religion you will practice your faith and share your spirituality with others. I encourage you to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance about this and not be led by emotion.
I should tell you that I too am Catholic, a "Cradle Catholic" to be precise. Through the years I have taken the opportunity to look at many religions even taking L.D.S. (Mormon) seminary through High School.
I would like to respond to some misinformation that I have read about the catholic Church: That we worship Statues; How many of us have images of family, friends and loved ones around who inspire us or just make us feel good to look at. How many of us have statues or images in our homes of animals, or the outdoors. Because we display them and enjoy how they move or inspire us does not mean that we "worship" them.
Next would be our Relationship with Mary, we aslo "revere her as the mother of Christ", and honor her for saying yes (Free Will) to become the Mother of Christ and yes we even ask for intersession with her Son Jesus Christ, just as I have seen many times in groups like this, people will look to others to pray for their requests or by somone calling their Minister to pray for their need.
I have also been told that the Catholic Church does read the Bible, this is really silly to me because the Bible is what the Mass is based on, and includes many reading from the Bible including the Gospel and the First and Second readings.
Yes, there are differences, but if we look through prayer and with a loving heart we will not find what keeps us apart but we will find understanding that will join us together.
Finally, I would like to share with you a something someone shared with me when I first moved here and did not feel welcome and was thinking about leaving the church. "I was told to look beyond the Priest and the People" and one day when going up to receive Holy Communion I did and my heart was put at peace. I was reminded that I was there to reiceve the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
God be With You and all of us as we continue on this journey.
Diana
Next would be our Relationship with Mary, we aslo "revere her as the mother of Christ", and honor her for saying yes (Free Will) to become the Mother of Christ and yes we even ask for intersession with her Son Jesus Christ, just as I have seen many times in groups like this, people will look to others to pray for their requests or by somone calling their Minister to pray for their need.
I just have to say that this is not at all the same--when non-Catholic Christians ask others to pray for them, those people are ALIVE and we do this because in Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus says "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine,I am there among them (NLT)." When you ask Mary or any other Catholic saints to intercede, you are trying to talk to a dead person--there is no biblical evidence to support that 1) they can hear you, and 2) they could intercede anyway. We are called to have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, not some middle man.
As for the original subject Kandice, CONGRATS on your wedding! And you definitely should follow your heart--just keep your eyes on Christ and keep praying about the situation, and all will be well.
For the most part, this has been a very interesting thread to read-- it's nice to see so many open minds. I'm a cradle Catholic, but first and foremost, a Christian. I believe that my religion is the best FOR ME... and I also believe that someone else might find an equally valid, yet better-fitting path for them in another church. I don't believe at the end of our lives we're going to get to the gates of heaven and be told "sorry, you were a good person but you should have gone to a different church".
Quote:
Originally Posted by FatChristy
When you ask Mary or any other Catholic saints to intercede, you are trying to talk to a dead person--there is no biblical evidence to support that 1) they can hear you, and 2) they could intercede anyway.
Re: the post above regarding praying for others/ praying to saints... well, that's one of the biggest differences in the Catholic church and others. There are millions of people around the world who believe that they do have very good evidence of saints interceding on their behalf. Whether you believe that or not is up to you- but many people find comfort in praying or "talking" to saints.
I could really get going in an intelligent, open conversation about the saints & other Catholic things... but I'll behave. I truely enjoy the chance to talk and debate about these issues, but I don't want to offend anyone here-- I don't think this is the place for those conversations!
And back to the original topic... if you've found a church that works for your family, it sounds like that's the place you should be.
Last edited by AmyMCGS; 06-25-2005 at 11:35 PM.
Reason: didn't want to seem argumentative
I hope you don't mind me interrupting, but my husband and I went through something similar, and luckily it's worked out for the both of us. My husband was raised Baptist, and I was raised Church of Christ. You wouldn't think that there would be a whole lot of difference between the two, but it was enough to cause some friction. Mainly because we are both stubborn . Neither wanted to "commit" to the others denomination. We had to sit down and agree about what our core believes were, and what we held in common between the two of us. We came to our church - a non denomination church - literally by an act of God. We were talking about a preacher that my husband liked that he hadn't seen in years, and that he would like to find out where he was preaching. Two hours later we saw his wife walking into Kroger!
My main point to all of this is that this isn't an insurmountable issue. Just like you, when I went to the non-denomination church it just felt right, like I belonged there. Even then, I felt guilty for awhile because I wasn't going to a Church of Christ church, even though I hadn't felt welcome in any of the ones I had been to in town! Go figure. Don't give up on a church because it is outside of your realm of experience. You never know...it may be the place God wants you to be. And God will tell you when you get there.
I was raised Baptist while attending Catholic school k-12. I now attend a Non-Denominational Church. The most important thing in choosing a church is wether or not you receive God's Word. Of course you can "hear" it anywhere, "receiving" it is a different thing, altogehter. You are a Christian first and foremost, the denominations are the ideas of man. Christ does not care wether you are Catholic or Protestant, as long as you serve the Lord.
As far as Praytherosary822's comment:
"you should go where you are fed the actual Body, BLood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Catholic church is the ONLY place you can get this"
Once you are a catholic...you will always be a catholic in your heart. If you must leave the catholic church for any reason, remember you can always find your way back simply by showing up.
One of the main differences between Catholics and Baptists (and other Protestants) is that in the Catholic Church we have the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, as someone else has previously stated. If you decide to leave the Church, perhaps you could go and pray before the Blessed Eucharist and explain why you are leaving Him.
The Baptists believe that it is only bread and a sweetened juice, usually either juice or cordial.
The Bible states in John 6: "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blook, you do not have life within you. ... For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.'" St. Paul goes on to say, "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ... For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." 1 Corinthians 11:27
Look to the early Church fathers and see what they believed. St. Ignatius of Antioch (around 110 AD), wrote to the Romans "I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire His Blood, which is love incorruptible."
St. John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D.): "How many of you say: I should like to see his face, his garments, his shoes. You do see him, you touch him, you eat him. He gives himself to you, not only that you may see him, but also to be your food and nourishment."
St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.): "Christ held himself in his hands when he gave his body to his disciples saying: 'This is my body.' No one partakes of this flesh before he has adored it."
Even Martin Luther realised that the Eucharist is our Lord: "Who, but the devil, hath granted such a license of wresting the words of the holy Scripture? Who ever read in the Scriptures, that my body is the same as the the sign of my body? or, that is is the same as it signifies? ... It is only then the devil, that imposeth upon us by these fanatical men... Not one of the Fathers, though so numerous, ever spoke as the Sacramentarians, not one of them ever said, It is only bread and wine, or, the body and blood of Christ is not there present." Luther's Collected Works, Wittenburg Edition, no 7, p. 391.
Wow, I never thought I'd write a book I do hope you have some food for thought
May God keep you and bless you, and may His face shine upon you and your spouse-to-be.
As far as Praytherosary822's comment:
"you should go where you are fed the actual Body, BLood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Catholic church is the ONLY place you can get this"
This is simply untrue.
Um, well not exactly. It is true that the Orthodox religions have the Eucharist but no Protestant church does. Sorry, not even the Anglicans do (I think in America after your War of Independence you call the church Epscipallions [shocking spelling] to distance yourselves from England. But a rose by any other name ... ). This ability is handed down in an unbroken line from the apostles. When the Orthodox churches broke away from the Catholic Church, they kept their Bishops, therefore keeping an unbroken line from the apostles. When the Anglicans broke away, they nominated their own Bishops, hence the succession was broken and the sacrament no longer valid.
thank you for clearing up alot moon and high c. as a catholic i really appretiate what you guys are doing. because there are a lot of misconceptions about all of this. as for the original topic. i hope that kandice has gotten some inspiration out of all of this. i'm curiouse to know how it allwent or is going.
The Baptists believe that it is only bread and a sweetened juice, usually either juice or cordial. This was the comment by High C. I would like to elaborate alittle more since I am a Baptist.
There are many differences between the Catholic and Baptist Religions. I believe as long as you believe that Christ died on the cross to save us from the sins we commit and have asked forgivness and repented of them. Believe that He will come again and recieve us unto Himself, that you are saved. I believe that you are not to take communion until you are saved. (Believe the above with all your heart mind and soul. ) I believe it does not matter what religion you are as long as you believe these facts.
Now as to the Lord's supper. Baptist's hold that the Lord's Supper is a church ordinance, to be observed as a memorial of the death of Christ. The bread represents His crucified body- wine or grape juice His shed blood on Calvary. Jesus said. "This do in remembrance of me." Paul tells the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11:24, " And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, eat: this is my body, which was broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." So the death of Christ will be commemorated until He comes the second time. We do not show the death, burial and rsurrection or ascension or glorification of our Lord. BUT HIS DEATH. Baptism is a pre-requisite to the Lord's table. We reason thus: It is an ordinance, to be observed exclusively by the members of the visible church of Christ. We believe none can be members of a visible church of Christ without baptism. (WHICH IS A PUBLIC STATEMENT OF OUR BELIEF) Now Luke 22:19 - " And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave it unto them saying, this is my body which was given for you: this do in remembrance of me" This is in simple lanquage the institution of the Lord's supper. Isn't it strange how two ordinances of the church have been the cause of so much contention. But if the devil could destroy these pictures he would eventually blot out the Christian religion. Jesus Christ instituted the church and gave it two ordinances. Baptism- a picture of His death, burial and resurrection. and the Lord's Supper- a picture of what He has done for us- to think of Him and remember Him until He comes. Both will be done away at His return.
WE DIFFER IN OUR BELIEVES, BUT THANK GOD THAT IS NOT WHAT SAVES US, THAT IS POSIBLE ONLY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS. BY ACCEPTING HIM AS LORD, REPENTING OF OUR SINS AND TRYING OUR BEST TO LIVE FOR HIM.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
. Neither wanted to "commit" to the others denomination. We had to sit down and agree about what our core believes were, and what we held in common between the two of us. We came to our church - a non denomination church - literally by an act of God. We were talking about a preacher that my husband liked that he hadn't seen in years, and that he would like to find out where he was preaching. Two hours later we saw his wife walking into Kroger! 
