I have been Protestant, and Catholic, and now identify simply as Christian. I’ve watched the sometimes nasty Protestant/Catholic debate, and I am convinced that it makes the Lord weep. The two groups agree on so much, and give lip -service to ecumenicalism , but in the end, there is one small object on which they cannot agree. This small object is the Catholic host, which is distributed by the priest to recipients at every Mass. Catholics believe that this literally is “The Body of Christ”.
Protestants, on the other hand, receive communion only sometimes, and believe that the small piece of bread they consume is a memorial of our Lord.
The host is a small item, but it appears to be at the centre of the disagreement between the two major groups of Christians. At least, that is how it appears to me, a simple housewife by the sea.
Wish we could see beyond all the trivial details that man picks out and remember that we
LikeLike
So very true !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry for the incomplete post, accidentally posted it prior to completion
Was saying that wish we remember that whether Protestant or catholic we worship GOD and that should be our unifying factor.
LikeLike
Yes, I think the Lord is happy with every attempt at unity. Especially with persecution of Christians, this is the time we need to be United. United, we stand.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, Sally, Bible Christians (evangelical Protestants) disagree on many things with Roman Catholicism, including the eucharist/transubstantiation as you mention, but the most important issue we disagree on is justification. We both agree that Jesus died for our sins, but it’s then a question of HOW does a person appropriate the free gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.
Catholicism says salvation is through sacramental grace by which a person must then “cooperate with grace,” become inwardly righteous, and hopefully be at such a state of holiness to merit Heaven at the moment of their death or at least be holy enough to merit Purgatory.
Bible Christianity teaches we are all hopeless sinners with no righteousness of our own. But if we repent of our sin and place our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith alone, His perfect righteousness is imputed to us. We are justified, made righteous, by Christ alone. After we are saved, then we can follow the Lord in obedience, but not before (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The two views are not in accord. They are irreconcilable. One is right, one is wrong. They cannot both be right. Attempts to unify the two irreconcilable views helps no one.
The article below gives a good explanation of the opposing views on justification:
The Roman Catholic view on justification
https://carm.org/catholic/roman-catholic-view-justification
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Tom. This is very helpful to me .
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Sally. Have a blessed day!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And you as well ! This is the day that the Lord has made…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you! Yes it is!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jesus said “do this in MEMORY of Me”. The problem with the RCC Eucharist, it is basically telling the Catholic NOT to remember, as by this theology it is “made present”. “Memory” is the key word, we are asked to REMEMBER something which happened. A present action is not a memory yet, but this is what I see as just one of the major problems with this RCC doctrine. Hebrews 10:10-18 single handedly virtually destroys any notion of a RCC Eucharist.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right, and the word eucharist does not occur in the Bible
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Jackie, you are so right. Let us pray for people who are still caught up in the bondage of Catholicism. God bless you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sally,
Here is a link to my salvation testimony, and that of my husband and mother. All of us were Roman Catholic for many years. The most loving thing we can do is witness to Roman Catholics and pray for their salvation. Blessings…
https://giannina.wordpress.com/testimonies/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi ! Thank you so much for sharing, Cathy. God bless you !
LikeLiked by 2 people
We followers of Lord Jesus Christ are only to pray to God always in the Name of Jesus Christ. It is the only way and the most powerful way.
The words “contemplation” or “contemplative” are not mentioned in the Bible
https://bereanresearch.org/contemplative-prayer/
Information about Intercessory prayer
https://www.allaboutprayer.org/intercessory-prayer.htm
True Bible believing christians can not be united with any religion including catholicism. People adhering to catholicism claim “we serve the same God”. We don’t. Their doctrine claiming that Mary is mediatrix and that through her we can come to the Father. Both claims are not true. For Mary did not pay for our sins by shedding her blood on the cross. Lord Jesus did. Mary does not have the power over the grave by her death. Lord Jesus does.
–1Timothy 2:5KJV
For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
–John 14:6KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
The Last Supper is not communion. By communion it is understood that the Body of Christ is literally consumed. Not true
–Luke 22:19KJV
And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My Body Which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”
Catholicism is taking us away from Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour is calling us in Revelation 18:4KJV
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The women riding the beast in Revelation 17:5 is a representation of not only the catholic church but of all old eastern religions, impartation- and new age movements as they are all opposing the Bible. Thirteen words all caps.
God does give all His answers in His written Word. Lord Jesus Christ is saying “It is written” Thank You God for Your written Word to us. In Jesus Name we pray Amen
LikeLike
I believe the Lord pressed your curiosity for a reason..
You are right about Catholic communion.. and the Bible commands us to only pray to the father in Jesus name..
I know there are many Catholics who love the Lord.. but their doctrine has been twisted by forefathers..
LikeLike
Thank you, Mary Ann. Yes, I agree, many Catholics love the Lord but are not made aware that our relationship with Jesus is a personal one. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person