Christian Forums for Christians?

[rachel89]

Hi,

I

[Matthitjah]

Rachel,

Check your PM.

peace,

Dave

[Matthitjah]

Saint's,

I want to leave this open and I want to reply in a fashion that helps Rachel to understand what our focus here is.

I have privately told here that I would like her to stay and to "grow in the Knowledge of God." That's the blessing that this Ministry has been to me and because of that I have become a well grounded Christian. That's one of our goals here. The edification of the Believer.

peace,

dave

[Guest]

Amen!

Without Any Quibbles Or Qualifications And With Neither Additions Nor Subtractions

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Jesus Saves

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John 17:19

Praying!

[~candice~]

Hi Rachel

You were not booted because you are catholic . I believe the reasons were explained to you in chat, but if you want to discuss it, the best place [as per the Matt 18 mandate, and the TOS] is emailing worthychat@gmail.com

My experience here at worthy has been similar to Matthitjah's. I did not arrive here in a very healthy spiritual state, but the people here, their soft grace and berean nature, have significantly contributed to my spiritual growth. I truly hope that you can come to experience that here as well.

God bless,

Candice

[Rick-Parker]

Rachel, the biggest problems I have is the belief of Catholics that if one is not a member of the "Church" than one is not saved. That is false doctrine and is not contained anywhere in the Bible. We are saved by grace, through Christ. Our relationship is with Christ, personally, and there is no one standing in authority between me and Him. No one has the authority to forgive sin except God, through Christ.

[fromIslam2Christ]

Rachel, the biggest problems I have is the belief of Catholics that if one is not a member of the "Church" than one is not saved. That is false doctrine and is not contained anywhere in the Bible. We are saved by grace, through Christ. Our relationship is with Christ, personally, and there is no one standing in authority between me and Him. No one has the authority to forgive sin except God, through Christ.

Actually, the Catholic church doesnt teach that only Catholics are saved. They believe that protestants (that is the rest of us) are also part of the plan of salvation. And that Muslims are also part of the plan of salvation. I read it myself in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, during my RCIA classes.

1260: "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery."63 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity. (Catechism)

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.(catechism)

My two cents

I am looking for the passage about Muslims that I saw once...

[OneLight]

Whether it is on this board or anywhere else, you will find those who have sharp tongues. That is the nature of the beast, to coin a phrase. But, your question is more about if you can speak about your beliefs and compare them to another persons beliefs. That is what a discussion forum is about!

I will agree that when anyone, you or another, states that a person is not saved for a cause outside of not accepting Christ as their savior, is playing God. Personally, I try to not get into this, but at times it is necessary for defensive reasons. Am I guilty of making that claim before? Yes, but when I do, I am convicted by His Spirit and refrain from continuing.

When I personally speak about mans doctrine, it is mans doctrine I talk about, compared to His word. This doctrine is found in every church I have ever been in, including the Roman Catholic Church, which I grew up in. I was not as deep into the RCC as you are. Reason being is that I saw a contradiction between what the church was telling me and scripture. Both can not be correct, so I stuck with scripture, and separated myself from what man was telling me.

The discussion between other beliefs have been very pleasant here, in some cases. That all depends on how people word their posts. If a person chooses to use cutting remarks, the fruit that comes from such remarks will not be from His Spirit, but from another.

I have learned from scripture (Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.) to be careful and considerate when replying to another. I do hope that you remain and continue to discuss your faith compared to mine, and others. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

God Bless,

Alan

[fromIslam2Christ]

Ok the passage about Muslims and other religions in the Catechism:

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."330

842 The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:

All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .331

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."332

844 In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:

Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair.333

[Joshua-777]

Hi Rachel, My experience with the board is similar to Matthitja, and candice. When I first came to this site, though I believed I knew a lot about the bible I had many flaws I had to work on, and this site has contributed to changing my heart on a lot of area's.

It's all about love, and I'm learning that more and more each day! If we can only comprehend the love the Lord has for us! We need to share that love with each other. Our salvation is a free gift from God, we are created to be in union with Him!

Ephesians 2:8-10 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God's gift. 9 You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. 10 For we are of God's making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.