Evangelical Catholicism

[broach972]

This is certainly a testament to what we believe in.

Evangelical Catholicism

During the nearly twenty-seven years of his pontificate, John Paul the Great called the Church to the urgent mission of fulfilling the Great Commission in our time, a project he called the New Evangelization. This evangelical summons of John Paul continued the same call given to the Church by Pope Paul VI in the years of and after the Second Vatican Council, and now the same commitment to announcing the timeless truths of the Gospel with new ardor, new methods, and new conviction is being asked of us by Pope Benedict XVI.

By our Baptism we are called to receive the Gospel as a complete, coherent, comprehensive Way of Life and to submit our entire lives in the obedience of faith to the Lord Jesus. Everything about us must be measured and guided by the Gospel: our thoughts, words, actions, bodies, relationships, spending habits, political convictions, leisure activities, lifestyle choices, and business decisions. But this total surrender to Christ and His Gospel is not a restriction of our freedom; in fact, it is the beginning of authentic discipleship and the only path to evangelical liberty. As the Lord Jesus teaches, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31 -32).

Another way of expressing our commitment to the work of the New Evangelization is to say that we must become Evangelical Catholics. By our Baptism, we are called to be men and women of the Gospel who are Christian disciples by conviction rather than Church members by convention. Being Evangelical Catholics requires that we know the Gospel, believe the Gospel, live the Gospel, and share the Gospel with others. Becoming Evangelical Catholics is a lifelong adventure of letting go of cafeteria, casual, and cultural Catholicism by accepting the liberating truth of the Word of God and living by grace through faith in the Son of God.

All Catholics are called by their Baptism to be Evangelical Catholics, which means (in part) living according to these eight principles of Evangelical Catholicism:

1.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of all mankind, and no human person can fully understand his life or find his dignity and destiny apart from a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. It is not enough to know who Jesus is; we must know Jesus.

2.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is divine revelation, not human wisdom, and the Gospel is given to us in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition which together constitute a single divine deposit of faith transmitted authentically and authoritatively by the Bishops in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. We must surrender our private judgments in all matters of faith and morals to the sacred teaching authority of the Church's Magisterium if we are to receive the whole Gospel.

3.  The seven Sacraments of the New Covenant are divinely instituted instruments of grace given to the Church as the ordinary means of sanctification for believers. Receiving the Sacraments regularly and worthily is essential to the life of grace, and for this reason, faithful attendance at Sunday Mass every week (serious illness and necessary work aside) and regular Confession of sins are absolutely required for a life of authentic discipleship.

4. Through Word and Sacrament we are drawn by grace into a transforming union with the Lord Jesus, and having been justified by faith we are called to sanctification and equipped by the Holy Spirit for the good works of the new creation. We must, therefore, learn to live as faithful disciples and to reject whatever is contrary to the Gospel, which is the Good News of the Father's mercy and love revealed in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

5.  The sacred liturgy, through which the seven Sacraments are celebrated and the Hours of praise are prayed, makes present to us the saving mysteries of the Lord Jesus. The liturgy must therefore be celebrated in such a way that the truth of the Gospel, the beauty of sacred music, the dignity of ritual form, the solemnity of divine worship, and the fellowship of the baptized assembled to pray are kept together in organic unity.

6.  Receiving the Sacraments without receiving the Gospel leads to superstition rather than living faith, and the Church must therefore take great care to ensure that those who receive the Sacraments also receive the Gospel in its integrity and entirety. Consequently, before Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, and Marriage are administered, there must be in those who request these Sacraments clear evidence of knowledge of the Gospel and a serious intention to live the Christian life.

7.  Being a follower of Christ requires moving from being a Church member by convention to a Christian disciple by conviction. This transformation demands that we consciously accept the Gospel as the measure of our entire lives, rather than attempting to measure the Gospel by our experience. Personal knowledge of and devotion to Sacred Scripture is necessary for this transformation to occur through the obedience of faith, and there is no substitute for personal knowledge of the Bible. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.

8.  All the baptized are sent in the Great Commission to be witnesses of Christ to others and must be equipped by the Church to teach the Gospel in word and deed. An essential dimension of true discipleship is the willingness to invite others to follow the Lord Jesus and the readiness to explain His Gospel.

[Robert Pate]

broach972

Very deceptive.  The Catholic interpretation of the word "gospel" is much different than the reformation interpretation of the word "gospel." just like Catholics have a different meaning of the word "grace" than the reformation meaning of the word "grace."

The reformation word gospel means "good news"  It is not good news if you have to work your way into heaven by trying to be good enough to be acceptable. (Catholicism)
The best part about reformation theology is that it allows you to be a sinner and still be saved.  Simply because salvation is not dependent upon your attainment but his atonement.  This salvation that God has provided us in Jesus Christ took place complete outside of us, we had nothing to do with it, it is a past historical event never to be repeated.  Jesus Christ has come into the world as the new Adam and representative of the human race.  By his sinless life he has fullfilled the law.  By his death on the cross he has purchased our pardon.  In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed.  1st Corinthians 1:30.

I would say that if you want to try to save yourself by what you do, or by what you have become, then become a Catholic.  There is no guarantee of salvation because it it mostly based upon your works or your performance.  Which in my book is filthy rags.

[broach972]

broach972

Very deceptive.  The Catholic interpretation of the word "gospel" is much different than the reformation interpretation of the word "gospel." just like Catholics have a different meaning of the word "grace" than the reformation meaning of the word "grace."

The reformation word gospel means "good news"  It is not good news if you have to work your way into heaven by trying to be good enough to be acceptable. (Catholicism)
The best part about reformation theology is that it allows you to be a sinner and still be saved.  Simply because salvation is not dependent upon your attainment but his atonement.  This salvation that God has provided us in Jesus Christ took place complete outside of us, we had nothing to do with it, it is a past historical event never to be repeated.  Jesus Christ has come into the world as the new Adam and representative of the human race.  By his sinless life he has fullfilled the law.  By his death on the cross he has purchased our pardon.  In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed.  1st Corinthians 1:30.

I would say that if you want to try to save yourself by what you do, or by what you have become, then become a Catholic.  There is no guarantee of salvation because it it mostly based upon your works or your performance.  Which in my book is filthy rags.

Give it a rest Robert.  I have come to the conclusion that you just don't like anything that is different from your own worldview.  I can sit here and tell you all day that the sky is blue..but if you want to believe that it is yellow, then so be it.

[Robert Pate]

broach972

My world view has nothing to do with it.  My Biblical view has everything to do with it.

Catholicism and the Bible are not compatible.  You even admitted that yourself.  In your religion the pope is the authority.  Whatever he says is the word of God.

[broach972]

broach972

My world view has nothing to do with it.  My Biblical view has everything to do with it.

Catholicism and the Bible are not compatible.  You even admitted that yourself.  In your religion the pope is the authority.  Whatever he says is the word of God.

When in the world have I ever said that Catholicism and the Bible were not compatible??  You have absolutely lost your mind.  Robert, you have absolutely no understanding of Catholicism, much less the nature of the Papacy.  Your ignorance absolutely amazes me, and frankly, there is no use in discussing this with you.

[Johnb]

Amen Broach
By the way every survey I have seen lately puts the Catholic church in the top 3 of the fastest growing Christian churches in America.  By numers or % they are in the top 3. 

[da525382]

broach972

Very deceptive.  The Catholic interpretation of the word "gospel" is much different than the reformation interpretation of the word "gospel." just like Catholics have a different meaning of the word "grace" than the reformation meaning of the word "grace."

The reformation word gospel means "good news"  It is not good news if you have to work your way into heaven by trying to be good enough to be acceptable. (Catholicism)
The best part about reformation theology is that it allows you to be a sinner and still be saved.  Simply because salvation is not dependent upon your attainment but his atonement.  This salvation that God has provided us in Jesus Christ took place complete outside of us, we had nothing to do with it, it is a past historical event never to be repeated.  Jesus Christ has come into the world as the new Adam and representative of the human race.  By his sinless life he has fullfilled the law.  By his death on the cross he has purchased our pardon.  In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed.  1st Corinthians 1:30.

I would say that if you want to try to save yourself by what you do, or by what you have become, then become a Catholic.  There is no guarantee of salvation because it it mostly based upon your works or your performance.  Which in my book is filthy rags.

[Robert Pate]

Johnb

Jesus said, "Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and MANY there be that go that way.  Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it."  Matthew 7:13-14.

If you are following a big religious movement you may going the broad way.

[Dave...]

Pope's Address to Muslim Representatives

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=75166

"In this regard, it is always right to recall what the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council said about relations with Muslims. "The Church looks upon Muslims with respect. They worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to humanity and to whose decrees, even the hidden ones, they seek to submit themselves wholeheartedly, just as Abraham, to whom the Islamic faith readily relates itself, submitted to God. ... Although considerable dissensions and enmities between Christians and Muslims may have arisen in the course of the centuries, the Council urges all parties that, forgetting past things, they train themselves towards sincere mutual understanding and together maintain and promote social justice and moral values as well as peace and freedom for all people" (declaration "Nostra Aetate," No. 3). http://www.zenit.org/article-13757?l=english

Do you agree with the Pope, that every religion has faith in the One true God?

Who gave the Pope authority, broach? How do you know?


• "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

• "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14).

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

"If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Sixth Session, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

"If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Sixth Session, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Romans 5:17-21 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

********************
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

[broach972]

Dave,
I thought about writing a lengthy response to your post, but what good would it do.  Frankly, it would be a waste of my time.  I have addressed some of the issues you bring up in other threads.  However, I would like to quickly address some of your points.

As far as the Pope's comments on Islam are concerned, you are obviously clueless as to what he is talking about.  He is merely acknowledging the historical relationship between the three major monotheistic religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Anyone with an adequate understanding of the historical relationship between the three will understand what he is trying to state.  The god of Islam, Allah, is the god of the Jews, Yaweh.  Both religions trace their roots to Abraham.

Christianity is truly unique because it adds a "twist" to the monotheistic formula.  I think that you are twisting his words to mean something that it is not.  One must read his comments within a specific context.  Besides, what he is acknowledging is that we live on the same planet and even though we have our differences, we still have to live together.  I could go on and on...but what would be the use.  I would really suggest you do some research on your own.

As far as the verses concerning justificiation...we can sling verses at each other all day.  I have addressed this issue on other threads.

As far as Mary is concerned...I guess anyone can take one or two sentences out of context and make them sound anyway they want to.  The Church's teachings and doctrines on Mary are clear.  Besides, you might want to look up the word "intercession."  It may shed some light on the matter.  Mary has also been addressed in other threads.

I find it interesting that you never address anything written in my original post.  I guess when you have nothing to stand on or really nothing to say, people will continue to bring up the things that you posted.

[Dave...]

I'll make it simple.

"They (Muslims)worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, creator of heaven and earth..."

Do you agree with the Pope, that Muslims have faith in the One true God?

Who gave the Pope authority?

How do you know?

Please, no more excuses.

Dave