Quote:
Originally Posted by awareness
Jews were tortured and kill for host-nailing, or for killing Jesus all over again, by driving a nail thru the host.
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If it weren't true that would be funny.
I realize that I have defended the RCC in a minor way lately. But my defense is never of this kind of nonsense. As a whole, while I am more generous with the RCC than many (even among my current flock), it is only related to the understanding of salvation. In almost all other ways, they really do seem to be intent upon pushing it so far that they don't even have a lampstand to light the way.
But on salvation, I am convinced that they really believe in Christ, and that is the crux of salvation. No, they don't "come to faith" through some crisis that results in a line-in-the-sand "sinner's prayer." And Luther had it right when he tried to point out that salvation is more secure than they like to teach and much more secure than so many of their flock somewhat superstitiously believe.
I know some will argue that they preach a works-based salvation. And that is at least partly true. But if you come to believe, then the fact that you also did some pointless works to get there (in your own mind) doesn't change the fact of belief. Do you think that God will reject my belief because I also did some works under the mistaken thought that they were necessary to gain salvation?
I know this was not mentioned here, but I am getting a little tired of evangelicals' barely admitting that there
might be some saved people within the RCC. While there is probably more room for cultural attendance without belief within that system, I think that in the final analysis, the number who are found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be much greater than we typically want to think. If there was ever an argument
for the people despite many arguments against the system, the RCC is the poster child, with the LRC fighting tooth-and-nail to take their place.
And I still have no desire to convert to Catholicism and really shake my head at those who do. But I realize that there is a wealth of excellent theology and teaching from within the RCC. You just can't get there if you don't actually believe (IMHO).