Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stephen Francis on September 01, 2013, 08:12:35 AM
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"It doesn't matter if someone is Protestant or Catholic or Pentecostal or whatever; God looks at the heart. Even if somebody believes wrong things, that doesn't mean they're not a Christian. What matters is that you're sincere and your heart is right with Jesus."
Discuss.
(And, no, I don't mean shut the discussion down with one- or two-line statements like "how stupid" or "that's just heresy". I'd like to hear how people would refute such a statement above by the use of Holy Scripture, the Fathers, etc.)
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Who is that a quote from?
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Who is that a quote from?
Hundreds, if not thousands of people I've known or spoken to, and probably millions of so-called 'evangelicals'.
It's a very common opinion in the self-deterministic world of private interpretation of Scripture.
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I think the error here is exposed by showing a faulty understanding of 'with Jesus.' It is true that God will judge our hearts (how odd for a protestant to acknowledge this, which is only a step away from admitting that our works contribute to our salvation) but where they go wrong is assuming that simply because someone has a 'Christian' heart, that they are with Jesus.
Our Lord said 'if you love me, keep my commandments.'
Protestants fail in the most basic ways in loving Christ, because they fail to follow His commandments which are memorialized and incarnated in His Church.
So, the real error here is the idea that someone can be 'with Jesus' in a meaningful way and still be outside of His Church.
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Yes, but what does one say when the protestant replies,
"Our works don't matter because Jesus died once for all so past, present and future sins don't apply. We are sinners covered by the righteousness of Jesus and all we have to do is accept that."
Tricky, isn't it? It's not a correct formula but it sure is comprehensive. Theres an excuse for everything.
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It's tricky because it's dishonest. There are TONS of scriptural references to the necessity of works. I mean TONS.
You should probably head here if you haven't already: http://scripturecatholic.com/justification.html
Probably the best resource for dealing with Protestants. Even if it doesn't convert them, it will at least cause them to shut up. :p
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More from John Salza on Salvation: here (http://www.johnsalza.com/p/apologetics-101.html)
Saved by faith alone? episode here (http://viewer.dacast.com/broadcaster/20752/f/61093)
Marsha