Tag Archives: soteriology

Sheep and Goats

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Christian Conservative has an interesting
post on predestination.
Any of my Catholic readers want to refute his points?

Breaking down predestination

There is no Christian doctrine that I’ve found to be more humiliating than “predestination”, and no topic more difficult to understand. What is predestination? It’s the belief that God not only knows in advance who is bound for heaven or hell, but He is also in control over who makes the decision to seek God out in the first place.

[Folks should check out the comments, too. There’s an imaginative fellow who seems to think that all are destined for salvation. – Funky]

Election

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Since tomorrow’s Election Day in the U.S., I thought it’d be interesting to discuss
election of a different sort. I wanted to write a lengthy post about the Elect of
God and the Rite of Election, but didn’t have time. Perhaps when the latter occurs
during the course of RCIA, I’ll give it proper coverage. In the meantime, here’s
what the Catholic Encyclopedia has to say about issues related to election. I’d
be very interested to hear Protestants comment on these articles and tell me a bit
about how their churches define election.

Elect
Justification
Salvation
General Judgment
Particular Judgment
Predestination
Grace

Point of View

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There's an interesting post on The Dawn Patrol about counterproductive evangelization. Specifically, several Catholics clumsily tried to convert her from Protestantism. I understand the reasoning, but the approach left a lot to be desired. I have a news flash for self-righteous catechism thumpers. Protestants aren't the spawn of Satan. Nor are they doomed to Hell. They are Christians like us, with whom we should work to make the world a better place, rather than treating them like heathens or pagans.

As an ex-Protestant who cares deeply about reuniting the Body of Christ, I cringe at preachy attempts to, as one friend puts it, "upgrade" Protestants. I wasn't so much won over by argument as I was by Christ-like example.

There is a flip side to this, though. Each time a Protestant tries to "free" me from my "bondage" as a Catholic, I get a step closer to beating one with a clue-by-four. The Catholic Church is not the whore of Babylon. We do not worship Mary or the saints. We do not believe works save us. We are Christians just like you. Jack Chick is a moron who spreads hateful lies.

Ya got that?!? Now…The next one of you primates…even touches me…HYA!!! *BANG*

Intolerant Family

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Unfortunately, I’ve experienced some of the familial anti-Catholicism this blogger
describes. My mom is a bitter ex-Catholic and we often get into nasty arguments
over religion. Compared the following situation, I’m quite lucky, though. My mother
and I have a loving relationship filled with plenty of healthy communication. A
good friend of mine had it worse when he converted from Judaism to Evangelical Christianity
and then to Catholicism.

Dilemma

How discouraging it was for me to learn today that not only is my mother-in-law
displeased with our conversion to Catholicism, she honestly believes we’ll be going
to hell if we persist in it.

Saved

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I forgot to mention something yesterday. Marty Minto‘s been on a bit of an anti-Catholic tirade for the last week. One of his listeners wrote in to ask if anyone who truly loved Jesus could go to Hell, even Catholics. I sent the following as part of an email to him during his broadcast.

“I was saved when Christ died for man’s sins.

I am being saved as I attempt carry my cross daily.

I hope to be saved when I face final judgment.

I love Jesus. He is my Lord and Savior. I know you feel the same way. We should work with each other, not against each other.”

He responded by saying he doesn’t think I’m saved! He said that those who are truly born again in the Spirit have assurance of salvation and to think otherwise suggests a lack of rebirth. I sent the following as a rebuttal, but he didn’t respond to all of it on-air.

Paul spoke of running a race (1 Cor 9:24), working out salvation with fear trembling (Phil 2:12), and completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions (Col 1:24). Obviously, endurance is called for.

When I say that I was saved, I mean that Christ’s sacrificial act redeemed mankind. Through baptism by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are buried with Christ and are entitled to rise with Him. Salvation is a gift. In order to be saved, however, we must actively accept that gift. Furthermore, that gift is not irrevocable. If we accept Christ one day and reject Him the next, we cannot possibly expect to be saved.

When I say that I am being saved, I mean that every day is a struggle and I know I can be led astray, lose hope, and lose faith.

When I say that I hope to be saved at the last judgment, I mean that I hope to persevere in Christ until the day I die. I pray that I will be counted among the sheep, rather than the goats. Not all who say “Lord, Lord” shall be allowed into the wedding banquet of Heaven.” I pray to be one who is.

Do I have any Evangelical Protestant readers who’d like to comment on this exchange? Anybody of any denomination want to chime in? What part of what I said is incompatible with “mere” Christianity (c.f. C.S. Lewis)?