While there are other differences, the two main or core differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches are: 1. Authority: The Catholic Church holds that Scripture and Tradition are equal authorities because both come from God - the latter is not higher than the former as you said in the video. Protestants, on the other hand, consider Scripture as the final and highest authority and consider Tradition is of lesser authority. Tradition is the teachings of the apostles that is passed own NOT in written form as Paul wrote in 2 Th. 2:15. Since it is not written what makes us sure that Tradition is reliable? The answer is we rely on Jesus promise in John 16:13 that He will send the Holy Spirit to guide the disciples in truth, including things to come. The Holy Spirit did not mute Himself or became inactive after the death of the last apostle or after the last book of NT was written - why would He? Besides Scripture and Tradition there is Magisterium or Teaching Office of the Church. Why do we need Magisterium? Scripture is neither self defined nor self-interpreted. It is not self defined because there is no single verse that informs us how many and which books belong to Scripture. It is not self interpreted because not everybody agrees on the meaning of the same passage in Scripture, even though everybody would claim under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Who are brothers and sister of Jesus mentioned in NT? They could be children of Joseph from previous marriage or he was a widower. Jacob of OT had 12 sons and 1 daughter from four different women (2 wives and 2 slaves) - they were brothers and sisters. NT never refers those brothers and sisters of Jesus as children of Mary. The other possibility is after the death of Joseph, his brother took Jesus in - this made his cousins become his brothers and sisters. Which one happened we do not know and we do not need to know. 2. Justification: How does just and righteous God justify us who are sinful/unrighteous to enter heaven? The Catholic Church teaches that our justification is by grace and is a process that includes faith and sanctification. Through justification we are made righteous through infusion of God's righteousness in us; our sins must be washed away or forgiven, because we cannot be righteous and sinner at the same time. Following the Reformers Protestants follow once-for-all justification by grace through faith alone. Through justification an exchange took place between believers and Christ, known as double imputation. The believers got Christ’ righteousness imputed on them as if that righteousness were theirs while they remain sinners or unrighteous. Christ got believers’ entire sins (past, present, future) imputed on Him as if those sins were His while He remains sinless.
I appreciate the desire to be careful and not mischaracterize the Catholic Faith, but sadly you did in almost everything you said. If you are going to speak on what Catholicism teaches then respectfully, please learn why it teaches what it teaches rather than on what you think it teaches. Catholicism does not hold Tradition above Scripture. The Sacrament of confession was not renamed to Reconciliation. Are Catholics well catechized? Many times not, but that doesn’t show that Catholicism is false or wrong. Thank you for recognizing the beauty and sacredness of Catholic Churches. A house of worship only makes sense to be a house of worship. Even unbelievers can have a spiritual moment being in a sacred space. That’s all I can remember. If you would like to have a conversation to hear kore about why Catholicism teaches what it does, would be glad to do that with you. May God Bless
While there are other differences, the two main or core differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches are:
1. Authority: The Catholic Church holds that Scripture and Tradition are equal authorities because both come from God - the latter is not higher than the former as you said in the video. Protestants, on the other hand, consider Scripture as the final and highest authority and consider Tradition is of lesser authority. Tradition is the teachings of the apostles that is passed own NOT in written form as Paul wrote in 2 Th. 2:15. Since it is not written what makes us sure that Tradition is reliable? The answer is we rely on Jesus promise in John 16:13 that He will send the Holy Spirit to guide the disciples in truth, including things to come. The Holy Spirit did not mute Himself or became inactive after the death of the last apostle or after the last book of NT was written - why would He? Besides Scripture and Tradition there is Magisterium or Teaching Office of the Church. Why do we need Magisterium? Scripture is neither self defined nor self-interpreted. It is not self defined because there is no single verse that informs us how many and which books belong to Scripture. It is not self interpreted because not everybody agrees on the meaning of the same passage in Scripture, even though everybody would claim under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Who are brothers and sister of Jesus mentioned in NT? They could be children of Joseph from previous marriage or he was a widower. Jacob of OT had 12 sons and 1 daughter from four different women (2 wives and 2 slaves) - they were brothers and sisters. NT never refers those brothers and sisters of Jesus as children of Mary. The other possibility is after the death of Joseph, his brother took Jesus in - this made his cousins become his brothers and sisters. Which one happened we do not know and we do not need to know.
2. Justification: How does just and righteous God justify us who are sinful/unrighteous to enter heaven? The Catholic Church teaches that our justification is by grace and is a process that includes faith and sanctification. Through justification we are made righteous through infusion of God's righteousness in us; our sins must be washed away or forgiven, because we cannot be righteous and sinner at the same time. Following the Reformers Protestants follow once-for-all justification by grace through faith alone. Through justification an exchange took place between believers and Christ, known as double imputation. The believers got Christ’ righteousness imputed on them as if that righteousness were theirs while they remain sinners or unrighteous. Christ got believers’ entire sins (past, present, future) imputed on Him as if those sins were His while He remains sinless.
I appreciate the desire to be careful and not mischaracterize the Catholic Faith, but sadly you did in almost everything you said. If you are going to speak on what Catholicism teaches then respectfully, please learn why it teaches what it teaches rather than on what you think it teaches.
Catholicism does not hold Tradition above Scripture.
The Sacrament of confession was not renamed to Reconciliation.
Are Catholics well catechized? Many times not, but that doesn’t show that Catholicism is false or wrong.
Thank you for recognizing the beauty and sacredness of Catholic Churches. A house of worship only makes sense to be a house of worship. Even unbelievers can have a spiritual moment being in a sacred space.
That’s all I can remember. If you would like to have a conversation to hear kore about why Catholicism teaches what it does, would be glad to do that with you.
May God Bless