Would you say the same about Mormons? I'm curious, what do you think the reason for the Reformation was?
Joseph Smith invented a new religion that does not have it's basis in Christianity.
I'm curious what part of the Reformation is that you refer to? There are many complicated facets of the Reformation so I can't make a specific response to a general question.
Out of curiousity, do you believe that it's insulting for them to pronouce us anathema, say that our churches are not legitimate, or that we cannot be saved outside of the Catholic Church?
Do you know what anathema means? Do you know when it was pronounced? I have read that the Pope and the Catholic catechism does recognize non-Catholic Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ, whereas you don't want to extend the same courtesy. We have more in common than you think: Salvation through Christ, the virgin Birth of Jesus, the Triune God, etc etc as explained in the classic Christian creeds. This is why I consider my Catholic friends as brothers and sisters in Christ, as they do me. I'm pretty sure when we get to Heaven we won't be segregated by denominational affiliation, nor will we be judged on a "correct view of justification".
Jesus himself says how we will be judged in Matthew 25. Honestly, it seems that Jesus is teaching that we will be judged on our works of mercy done out of love for him, not "faith alone". As James says, "faith without works is dead". So Jesus does call us to have faith working through love.
Mat 25:33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Mat 25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
Mat 25:44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
Mat 25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
I think we will be surprised to see who is and who is not in heaven.
Joseph Smith invented a new religion that does not have it's basis in Christianity.
I'm curious what part of the Reformation is that you refer to? There are many complicated facets of the Reformation so I can't make a specific response to a general question.
Out of curiousity, do you believe that it's insulting for them to pronouce us anathema, say that our churches are not legitimate, or that we cannot be saved outside of the Catholic Church?
Do you know what anathema means? Do you know when it was pronounced? I have read that the Pope and the Catholic catechism does recognize non-Catholic Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ, whereas you don't want to extend the same courtesy. We have more in common than you think: Salvation through Christ, the virgin Birth of Jesus, the Triune God, etc etc as explained in the classic Christian creeds. This is why I consider my Catholic friends as brothers and sisters in Christ, as they do me. I'm pretty sure when we get to Heaven we won't be segregated by denominational affiliation, nor will we be judged on a "correct view of justification".
Jesus himself says how we will be judged in Matthew 25. Honestly, it seems that Jesus is teaching that we will be judged on our works of mercy done out of love for him, not "faith alone". As James says, "faith without works is dead". So Jesus does call us to have faith working through love.
Mat 25:33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Mat 25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
Mat 25:44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
Mat 25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
I think we will be surprised to see who is and who is not in heaven.
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