Are Catholics Saved?

[Jason Wolfe]

Why or why not?

[Tim Bonney]

As in any Church/Christian denomination, if they believe in Christ, sure.

[Jason Wolfe]

[Tim Bonney]

[Jason Wolfe]

[Tim Bonney]

That's fine Jason. I thought you might have a direction you wanted to go.

I think that Roman Catholic theology can lean towards works righteousness but I also have a problem with churches that don't follow St. James when he says that "faith without works is dead."

[Tim Bonney]

Oh, and do remember Jason, I'm a Methodist if that gives you any insights as to where I'm coming from.

[Haruo]

My impression is that in the real world, Catholic teaching is not as unanimous as Catholic teaching says it is (same goes for Orthodox teaching, Eastern, Presbyterian, or otherwise). But most of the really ridiculous works righteousness teaching they are known for (x number of rosaries for sins y and z) are not really the Church's teaching so much as the "scare the hell out of them"-approach (related to Grimm fairy tales) of particular, often not very bright nor very deeply read, priests and nuns.

[Stephen Fox]

Just like the Babdiss.

I think the current Pope will be there before W.A. Criswell and Paul Pressler.

And then there are Three Christian martyrs busted in Westmnister Abbey for the 20th Century: Bonhoeffer, ML King and the Catholic Priest from El Salvador, Oscar Romero.

So yes, I'd say Romero is Saved and In Heaven.

[Tim Bonney]

Jason, the usual custom here is that we have a discussion. It is fine to ask questions but why don't you also share your opinion with us?

I'd also point out "saved" isn't the most common terminology among all Christians either. As in "are you saved?" It rings odd in the ears of many because it implies your relationship was something in the past, over and done with. Getting saved isn't something that stops once it is started. It is a continual life process not a one time "I walked the aisle and now I'm done" kind of experience.

[Jon Estes]

[Tim Bonney]

[Sandy]

I don't think that Roman Catholics have a different "gospel" than other Christians do. I do think they lean way to heavily on church tradition and ecclesiastical authority, but none of that disqualifies someone from receiving the gospel, nor does layering the practice of their faith with tradition. It makes your ministry cumbersome, and difficult to maintain.

I do not believe that grace is dispensed by a priest in sacraments, since I believe we receive grace from God directly through Christ. But having that view doesn't necessarily mean that you can't come to a saving knowledge of Christ in the Catholic church. Catholics tend to avoid evangelical style witnessing, and as a result, I think their tradition and customs can interfere with evangelism, but I do not believe that Catholics can't be saved by virtue of the fact that their doctrine is different in some ways. Their traditions are cumbersome and sometimes without specifics of origin, but that's not any more of a hindrance to conversion than Baptists who chalk up the baptism and witnessing numbers, and abandon discipleship.

[Jason Wolfe]

[Jason Wolfe]

[Tim Bonney]

[Tim Bonney]

[KeithE]

[Jon Estes]

[Tim Bonney]

[KeithE]

[Tim Bonney]

[johnfariss]

What happened to Jason? Did he bow out, or is he just busy?

If you are still around, Jason, as a Southern Baptist pastor, I agree with Tim and Keith. Don't let the fact that not everyone uses the word "saved" as you do, or altar calls confuse has a past, present, and future dimension. Having been raised in the Deep South, spent some 15 years in the Upper South, and now ministering in a "border state" where almost one one here (in Maryland) is from here, a lot that I took for granted back home was more cultural and less Biblical than I had assumed. By the way: surely you would not argue that someone who professes Christ, whether on their porch, in a conservative, evangelical church, or a Catholic one, but whose life remains unchanged is heaven-bound? I myself would not, though I would also smile when reflecting on the Bible fact that it is up to God, not me, to decide who makes "the cut" and who doesn't.

John

[Tim Bonney]

I'm sorry we haven't seen Jason back too. I was hoping to hear more on his views.

You've pointed out that a lot our language is cultural. I've noticed a lot of language and culture difference between northern and southern Methodists. Baptists split at the Civil War and didn't get back together. Methodists reunited in 1939. So northern and southern Methodists find themselves in the same denomination trying to bridge cultural differences sometimes well and sometimes not so well.