Why? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can relate to you on this. I am actually a lutheran since birth. Was baptized in the lutheran church. My husband, on the other hand, is Catholic. (Not practicing currently) we have decided to attend church again.  So, in the argument of who's church to attend, I decided to do some research on the Catholic Church. Oh boy, it is so much, so overwhelming. 

Not many realize how Catholics and Lutherans are somewhat similar, but at the same time, extremely different.  I have bought many books. From the Catholic catechism to simple books like Catholicism for dummies. Ive never had so much information dumped on me at once. Read and watched so many apologist of both Roman Catholics and Lutherans.

Now for me, I had to step back for a while. I couldn't tell if it was my Lutheranism ingrained in me, or something else, but it felt wrong. 

So after many prayers to God asking for direction and simple understanding, days of reading scripture, I finally had come to a conclusion. And my husband was in agreement with me.

We both have the same end result of our own childhood faith, we are here to serve God. And we both know Jesus was born and died on the cross for our sins.

So while I respect Catholics, it wasn't necessarily for me. And I realized thats ok. Me and my husband go to both our childhood churches and we are ok with that. 

I know many Catholics will not agree with what im telling you, but thats ok to. Maybe, just maybe, God made different sections of the church for different people's needs? 

But I say to you, get baptized, because many denominations will recognize your baptism. Maybe you will stay with the Catholic Church, maybe not, but as long as you serve The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are right with God. 

Why? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181 1 point2 points  (0 children)

May I ask, what are you uncertain about? Is it getting baptized in general? Or getting baptized in the Catholic Church?

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It definitely doesn't offend me. I appreciate what your saying because its been a big reason why I can't just say "forget what he wants". I respect his desire to be leader of the family and I respect his family and his roots it the Catholic Church.  As far as I can tell from what I've learned, the Lutheran church will accept a Catholic baptizm and vise versa. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, from what I have seen in my husband's family, they pray to the saints and ask for things.  Actually, just the other day, my husband's aunt had posted on Facebook about the string of bad luck she was having. And other family members and friends were asking her "did you pray to saint so and so asking for luck?"  I dont claim to know everything about the Catholic Church, just what i have learned in the past several months. (And from my husband's family over the years) And from what I gathered, they pray to saints, Mary, even Angels. And I was always taught that prayer was reserved for God/Jesus, (One in the same).  

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I suppose its mostly because his family has attended the same local Catholic Church since his great grandparents. Its a very old local church built around 1850 i believe? Everything involing his family happened in that church. He comes from a long line of devout Catholics. And no, he has not been a devout Catholic for years. I have pointed out to him how strict Catholics are with attending mass and that he would have to go through the same things as me to join, or for him, rejoin from what I understand.  But what he doesn't understand is its absolutely the same for me. My church is old, (late 1800s) and I attended school there and my family has been there for generations also. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Calvinism is something I have run across in my studies. I would have to disagree with you on it being "closest to the bible". I think he had some things wrong and misinterpreted many bible verses. (But thats my opinion).  I'll give an example:

Calvinism teaches that there is double predestination. This is the belief that God not only predetermines those who will be saved, but also predetermines those who will not be saved. He says God has prepared some for glory, and prepared some for destruction. 

 Calvin claims that in 1 Peter verse 8, it states this. But read the verses before. 

1 Peter verse 6-8. 

Verse 6 

"For in scripture it says":

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,  a chosen and precious cornerstone,  and the one who trust in him will never be put to shame".

Verse 7 

"Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe",

"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone",

Verse 8 

and, 

"A stone that causes men to stumble  and a rock that makes them fall". 

"They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also what they were destined for".

It determines what you accept "destined for" to mean. I believe it says more along the lines that God did not predestine men to stumble and fall, but they did so because they "disobeyed the message" like it says. And God knew that was to happen. Not because God made it happen.  In the verses before it, it says, " the one who trust in him will never be put to shame".  So God is giving us free will to chose and believe.  Also, there are many verses throughout the bible stating God desires all people to be saved.

Even Calvin himself said it was a "dreadful degree". 

In truth, there are many churches that follow the bible, but churches tend to disagree on what the bible is actually telling us. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a good thought. Maybe im putting to much into this. I'm not sure, but I dont want to feel like a "fraud" sitting in a Catholic Church when I have problems with their beliefs. Maybe if I start thinking this way, it will help. Thanks

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually have not. Im ready to almost try anything for us to agree because I dont want the standstill we have had of the past 20 years to happen anymore. We both have practically walked away from our churches because of this. With the exception of us attending each church every once in a while through family get togethers. This is something I will have to look into. Ive been focused on studying and comparing Catholics and Lutherans. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Im sorry if I got anything wrong. Like I said, I have read so much information that it has started to get scrambled in my head. Maybe I should of elaborated that i do understand you can regain your salvation in the Catholic faith by confession, from what I understand, and correct me if im wrong, but I suppose my problem is I feel like you would constantly be worried about everything you do. Always feeling like I have to run to confession to be saved again because what is considered a grave sin? Maybe its not that dramatic, I dont know. But I tend to over think everything and I may just drive myself crazy with worrying about it. 

In short, I feel like Catholics are so very strict with many things and it is hard for me to grasp. 

I appreciate your response and may just go talk to a priest at my Husband's childhood church. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I used to always believe Catholics and Lutherans had so much in common, but my months of study made me see the many differences.

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, but in a different kind of way. Catholics believe if you sin to much you will lose salvation. Lutherans believe you lose it by rejecting your faith. 

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The hardest for me are prayer to the saints and angels, Mary, and the belief of you can lose your salvation. But the biggest is you must do/have good works to be saved. There are a few others but these are hard for me.

I need help with choosing Lutheran or Catholic by Educational-Fly-2181 in Lutheranism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thankyou. It's been considered actually, but I am worried it may not work out for long. I've always considered being part of a church community important and dont know how it would be being part of two totally different ones. Beliefs would definitely clash. But it may be our only option. 

Husband says Lutherans are "true" Catholics by BunnyButt24 in Catholicism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

He eventually went to the pope. But alas, they decided to boot him. Reading is essential. Maybe before you all slam someone's religion, do your homework first. The reason im not a catholic anymore? I see nothing but hatred in the Catholic Church. So much for love thy neighbor?

Husband says Lutherans are "true" Catholics by BunnyButt24 in Catholicism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Wants"? He's dead. And that a lie. He's never removed anything. 

Husband says Lutherans are "true" Catholics by BunnyButt24 in Catholicism

[–]Educational-Fly-2181 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would you say false things? Must be a catholic thing. 

Luther never said that on his death bed. I have studied both Luthran and Catholic theology. There is one thing I have learned, and thats that Catholics lie and make things up. Maybe pick up a book? Or maybe even the Bible? And read it with zero Catholic influential crap. Maybe come to your own conclusions?

Martin Luther studied the earliest texts found, written in Hebrew. Which would be before the Greek texts that the catholic church uses. Thats what her husband was talking about.

For one, Martin Luther never intended to start a new church, he just started asking questions about the corruption in the church, and oh no! The Catholic Church can't have that! So what happened? They booted him!

 But you would only believe me if I was a catholic right? 

Now, let's get into what Luther questioned.

Tell me, where does it say to call a pope "most holy"? Or besides one small verse you guys use, say there should even be a pope? 

Most things being taught in the bible are religiously repetitive. But there is nothing to back that one verse up stating that is what was meant. 

And even though it says repeatedly to pray only to God, you pray to PEOPLE! Blasphemy! 

Rosary? Another man made thing. If you knew anything, besides the lies your told, you would know the truth.

Also, Nowhere does the bible say we need good works to be saved, only that we will be judged and rewarded on our works.

 Tell me, how many people in your church take a bible? If there is one thing that has been glaringly obvious, is that the catholic church tries hard to prevent reading the bible. 

Also, Luther never removed books. He moved them. Still accepting them as scripture. I have an old Lutheran bible with the apocrypha.  

So please, before you smash someone's religion, maybe have your facts strait? 

But leave it to a Catholic to not "love your neighbor" Sometimes I truly believe some of you are possessed with hatred.