Five Questions for Protestants

I have identified five questions for my separated brothers in Christ.  The five questions relate to the following topics:

• History
• Unity
• Eucharist
• 

“Have you been saved?” 

“Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”

“Do you have absolute assurance of heaven?”

These are the kinds of questions evangelical Protestants often ask of their Catholic friends.  Last year when Pope John-Paul II passed away a young boy called Hank Hanegraaff (The Bible Answer Man) on his radio show and asked him if the Pope was in heaven.

I’ve been thinking more about “grace” since becoming a Catholic (three years) than my combined 46 years as a Protestant.  My view of people belonging to other faith traditions has changed too.  I no longer view other churches in a “binary” true/false church perspective.  I believe salvation is possible for everyone, not just those who have a true understanding of the Trinity and a proper understanding of the divinity of Christ but even Mormons, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. 

When I first became a Catholic I was of the mindset that the Catholic Church was equal with many denominations in that I determined the Catholic Church to be a “true church”.  To me a true church must proclaim the truth about a historical Jesus being both divine and human.  A true church must affirm that scripture is the inspired, inerrant word of God.  A true church must teach that Jesus really died and rose again.  A true church must teach that Jesus died for our sins.  A true church must teach that faith is necessary for our salvation.  A true church must teach that there is only one God, but ...

Hallelujah!  Kudos to Father Chris Smith!  I have been attending Mass for 25 years.  For the first time in 25 years I heard a homily on Humanae Vitae.  Yes, miracles do happen.  Pope Paul VI was proven correct.  Father Chris confirmed in his homily that everything Pope Paul predicted in Humanae Vitae has come to pass.  The widespread use of contraception has resulted in more abortions, mistreatment of women and a culture that treats women as sex objects.

Jesus gave us a valuable lesson when he socialized with the lowlifes and dregs of society. He taught us the church shouldn’t make any restrictions for those wanting to enter its doors.  Jesus told us not to judge lest we will be judged.

Liberals, however, misinterpret the words of Jesus to mean the church should accommodate all opinions, thereby opening its doctrinal doors as well.  The liberal way of attracting more people into the church is to remove any difficult “objective” moral obstacles. ...

I fully support ECT (Evangelicals and Catholics Together).  Chuck Colson and Richard John Neuhaus have joined forces to form ECT.  Through ECT, they hope to find some common ground and to join efforts in the culture war.  Unfortunately, many Protestants and Catholics have misunderstood ecumenism.  Proper ecumenism isn't ignoring the theological differences but developing a dialog to understand the faith we share and to openly discuss our differences.

My wife and I were at Mass and the priest gave a really good homily about “humility”.  He told us how God requires us to be humble.

After the service was over I told my wife.  "Today’s sermon really got to me.  I felt like he was talking directly to me.  Do you ever feel that way?"