You don't view the pope as any different than a local minister? Are you serious?

 

Absolutely. He is a leader of a church.

My minister is the leader of a church.

That's it.

Is the minister at your local church strictly a minister? Does he have another job? Did he attend schooling for 5-7 years after college to more fully understand the Word of God? Has he been preaching the Word of God for decades and conversing with similarly-educated men for that long?

 

I am not saying that your minister holds no value, just to say that there is no difference.......

 

YES

NO

YES

He is only in his 30's along the same age of the Apostles I believe.

^Because he's the head of the church.

 

And the elders and the minister of my church is the head of the church.

 

You have to understand Mustang, I don't think the Catholics have sole claim to Christ's Church. I don't believe a single denomination on this planet has sole claim to that.

 

I believe that there are members of Christ's Church in most if not all denonimations of Christianity. And there are people in each denomination that think they are members and may get surprised at the end of times.

You cannot question God and his word. You cannot play word games, Paul isn't here and wrote 13 books. And there is no mention of a Pope. The Pope said a few months ago saying something about churches that are not Catholic are False churches. He has the right to say what he wants, but needs to say it in his church, not in public.

I also have the same right, but I willnot call other religions false. I've came a long way, and if you are a member of a false religion "in my eyes," well its better than no religion at all.

 

The Pope has been several different men through the years. And they got old and died just like the Old testament prophets did that were mentioned earlier.

 

These prophets were used by God to be writers for his word. 2nd Timothy 3:16. If the Bible would mention the Pope and this is not Pter then I wouldn't feel this way. Remeber, I said "in my eyes" and I only speak for myself and no one else on this subject.

 

 

CCH and RM, the bolded hits on our PM's from a few weeks ago.

YES

NO

YES

He is only in his 30's along the same age of the Apostles I believe.

That's great. I, for one, get ticked off when people who have a day job try and provide spiritual guidance for large congregations- I believe being a minister should be a full-time job.

 

I am not sure why you mention that he is the same age as the apostles.

 

Anyways, I like starting these threads to try and foster discussion, but if you actually don't see any difference between your local minister and the Pope, I guess I am not going to get anywhere.

 

CCH and RM, the bolded hits on our PM's from a few weeks ago.

It's a can of worms that I don't feel like getting into. What it boils down to is that it is untrue to say that Catholics believe all Protestants are going to Hell.

 

Most people that I tell that to, however, prefer to still believe that we Catholics are more exclusive because that is what they have been taught to believe about Catholics. I'm saying right now that Catholics don't believe that Protestants are going to hell, but is anyone going to listen? If anyone wants to discuss it, start a thread or PM me, although I'd bet no one will, because people would rather believe the lie...

That's great. I, for one, get ticked off when people who have a day job try and provide spiritual guidance for large congregations- I believe being a minister should be a full-time job.

 

I am not sure why you mention that he is the same age as the apostles.

 

Anyways, I like starting these threads to try and foster discussion, but if you actually don't see any difference between your local minister and the Pope, I guess I am not going to get anywhere.

 

 

It's a can of worms that I don't feel like getting into. What it boils down to is that it is untrue to say that Catholics believe all Protestants are going to Hell.

 

Most people that I tell that to, however, prefer to still believe that we Catholics are more exclusive because that is what they have been taught to believe about Catholics. I'm saying right now that Catholics don't believe that Protestants are going to hell, but is anyone going to listen? If anyone wants to discuss it, start a thread or PM me, although I'd bet no one will, because people would rather believe the lie...

 

I'd be curious to know what "more exclusive" means.

As a Catholic, I can say that the pope is admired, not worshipped. He is not personally infallable, in fact, he is required to go to confession just like all other Catholics.

 

Catholics do not believe that non Catholics are going to hell. That is God's call, not any human.

I'd be curious to know what "more exclusive" means.

It is generally accepted that Protestants believe that all Christians are going to Heaven. However, it is also generally thought that Catholics do not believe that same thing- instead, people think that the Catholic view is only Catholics are going to heaven- heaven, according to many's idea of the Catholic viewpoint, is more exclusive.

 

Just to stress again- we Catholics do not believe that all non-Catholics are systematically excluded from salvation.

I have a few questions/comments.

 

1. People who disregard the authority of the Pope- do they disregard the authority of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, Elijah, etc.? According to many, their relationship with Jesus does not need a go-between. They can foster their relationship without one another.

 

2. People like to rely solely on the Bible. A lot of people rely heavily on the words of Paul in his various letters to different Christian communities. Why is this valid, if you can have a relationship with Jesus without a go between? Furthermore, if Paul's words are divinely inspired (which I do agree with) why can't the words of the Pope be divinely inspired as well? Because they are not in a book that was assembled and carefully selected by early Catholics?

 

The Priest at Mass put it greatly today. He said when Pope John Paul I became Pope, he went to the school where he was and handed out pictures of him. He asked the 1st graders if they knew who the Pope was and what he did. A little boy in the back row (who turned out to be from a Southern Baptist family) answered "The Pope is the head preacher in the world". Does anyone take argument with that idea?

 

Thoughts/comments on my very unorganized array of thoughts/comments?

 

The writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, and Paul were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Just to stress again- we Catholics do not believe that all non-Catholics are systematically excluded from salvation.

 

 

Why does it matter? It doesn't bother me what you think as long as you don't actually have the power to send me there. I've read a bunch of Catholics get upset because some Baptist told them they weren't going to Heaven. I'm sure there are some snake handlin', hemlock drinkin' little churches up the hollow that are sure I'm going to Hell because I won't do that stuff and that's fine with me that they think so. I think you should believe in whatever religious denomination you practice. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

So, you can attempt to convert me if you like. Thanks for caring enough to try. If the spirit moves me, I may try to convert you. Regardless, it doesn't matter if you're strong in your faith. I can't condemn you and I don't think you can condemn me. Why does everyone get upset?

As a Catholic, I can say that the pope is admired, not worshipped. He is not personally infallable, in fact, he is required to go to confession just like all other Catholics.

 

Catholics do not believe that non Catholics are going to hell. That is God's call, not any human.

 

:thumb:

And the elders and the minister of my church is the head of the church.

 

You have to understand Mustang, I don't think the Catholics have sole claim to Christ's Church. I don't believe a single denomination on this planet has sole claim to that.

 

I believe that there are members of Christ's Church in most if not all denonimations of Christianity. And there are people in each denomination that think they are members and may get surprised at the end of times.

 

I understand that completely. It's been my personal experience with other non-Catholic Christians that they do see the pope in a different light than local ministers, priests, preachers, etc.

And the elders and the minister of my church is the head of the church.

 

You have to understand Mustang, I don't think the Catholics have sole claim to Christ's Church. I don't believe a single denomination on this planet has sole claim to that.

 

I believe that there are members of Christ's Church in most if not all denonimations of Christianity. And there are people in each denomination that think they are members and may get surprised at the end of times.

As a Catholic I agree with you totally. I do not think that Catholics have the sole claim to Christ's Church. I do not believe that the Pope is the head of all churchs....just the Catholic churches. Each church has a pastor and that pastor is the head of that church.

Each church has a pastor and that pastor is the head of that church.

 

 

In my denomination a simple majority vote can send him packing. So, while he does lead the Church, his job is primarily a pastor and minister.

It is generally accepted that Protestants believe that all Christians are going to Heaven. However, it is also generally thought that Catholics do not believe that same thing- instead, people think that the Catholic view is only Catholics are going to heaven- heaven, according to many's idea of the Catholic viewpoint, is more exclusive.

 

Just to stress again- we Catholics do not believe that all non-Catholics are systematically excluded from salvation.

 

:thumb:

 

I'm probably going to have to disagree about what you assert is generally accepted. There are many Protestant who believe that Catholicism is a false religion and idolatry and they're going to hell. There are Catholics who get upset about that. Just like the opposite is true...there are Catholics who believe that Protestants are going to hell and salvation is impossible outside fo the Catholic faith.

 

I'm not particularly interested in getting into a discussion about what the church(es) teach and why these people believe what they do. It's irrelevant to me personally and my view is similar, if not exactly, like Pepper II stated in Post #25.