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Posted by Moderator Dear David; You wrote: That is a very good point. Over the years, I've heard many Evangelicals say that Catholicism is "too difficult" or "complicated", either doctrinally or practically or both. All those sacraments, dogmas, entailed theological discussions, different devotions, etc. They also love to claim that the Gospel is "simple", and that Christianity is supposed to be "simple". I can't recall a Bible verse which supports that, however. I seem to remember C.S. Lewis saying that there is no use in trying to have a simple religion, but can't place the quote off the top of my head (was that in _Mere Christianity_? Does anyone else know the passage I am referring to?). Truth be told, Evangelicalism is quite complicated. We could well ask any Evangelical: Are you pre-, mid- or post-trib? Are you pre- post- or amillenial? Are you KJV-Only or are other Bible translations okay? Is Christ eternally begotten of the Father or not? Is it necessary to accept Jesus as both Lord and Savior or only as Savior? Does He cleanse our sins or just cover them? Is He omnipresent or only in Heaven? Are you Calvinist or Arminian? If Calvinist, how many of the Five Points do you accept? Are you Southern Baptist, Missouri Synod Lutheran, Christian & Missionary Alliance, some other denomination or non-denominational splinter group? Fundamentalist or Pentecostal? If Pentecostal, are you Assemblies of God, Church of the Nazarene or other? Into Deliverance, Toronto Blessing, Word-Faith, etc.? Or are those heresies? Is speaking in tongues the evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit or not? Is rock music of the devil or not? Can women be preachers or not? And with what degree of theological sophistication can you defend each of those positions? The more their churches divide over minor points of doctrine, the more complicated it gets! Becoming an Evangelical may be easy enough, but then navigating ones way through the maze of theological opinions and worship practices can be difficult and confusing! : Help me on my Bible quotes but didn't Christ say something along the lines of the Yes, we just discussed that verse in an earlier post in another context. Here it is: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14) Here are some other verses which emphasize the difficulties of the Christian life: And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:23-25) And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25) "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." (Mt 10:37-39) "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified". (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) See also 2 Timothy chapter 2 and James chapter 1. Of course, Evangelicals will tell you that all this difficulty, discipline, persecution, etc. is part of living the Christian life. Which makes one question why they claim Christianity is so simple in the first place! They probably don't realize it, but their simple "Just repent and ask Jesus into your heart" gospel is something like a sales pitch. Once a person is roped in by it, they start to lay on him all the things now required of him as a Christian: Read the Bible and pray daily. Find a church, get baptized, attend regularly and tithe to support it. Tell others about Jesus, etc. (Some gospel tracts list all these things at the end, after the "sinner's prayer".) Then, once he settles down in a church, it will most likely require more things of him, such as: Don't listen to "secular" music anymore, only Christian music (and only the type we approve). Become a teetotaller and don't smoke or gamble either. Don't go social dancing, even with ones spouse! Never use profanity or tell off-color jokes. Read so many Bible chapters every day (maybe only in an approved translation). Join a specific fellowship for people like you (youth, singles, married, etc.). Get involved in a church ministry (usher, sound room, etc.). Women shouldn't wear pants or makeup, no dating, etc. If the Evangelical gospel/sales pitch were printed on a legal document, it would have lots of "fine print"! (Mind you, some of the things listed above are good; I'm not saying it is wrong to stop smoking or clean up ones language. I'm just trying to show that living a Christian life by Evangelical standards can entail a lot, and so is not quite as "simple" as they first present it!) : Another thing I've come across. From what I've read it almost seems like Luther Seems his Catholicism died from that! : I can't imagine that any human being forced to do something he didn't want to for I agree completely. Luther was an impulsive man with a serious scrupulosity problem, which turned his faith into a terrible burden. I doubt he was cut out to be a monk in the first place. Impulsive vows made "in the heat of the moment" are definitely not a good idea. In Jesu et Maria, Link: Mystical Rose Catholic Page
on 4/5/2001, 4:47 pm
+JMJ
: I've been doing a lot of studying recently and I have found something interesting.
: In several different AntiCatholic readings I kept seeing the phrase (in different
: incarnations) "difficult path to Heaven". Isn't Heaven supposed to be difficult
: to get into?
: easy road being the path to hell but the raod that leads to the Kingdom of
: my Father will be a long difficult one?
: was looking for an easy way to get out of being a monk. If you read in between
: the lines he became a monk not by choice but to fulfill a promise he made to God
: (actually to St. Anne). He then threw himself fully into his new profession saying
: (paraphrase) "if anyone ever died from being to much of a monk, then that's me".
: the rest of his life in order to fulfill a commitment made in the heat of a
: moment wouldn't try to look for anyway out. Just curious as to your thoughts.
Mystic Rose
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