What are your thoughts on a person leaving the Catholic Church and joining a Born Again group? One of my friends who died recently had done so. It has been said to me that well at least they were still a Christian.
To a degree we are accountable for what we know. An ill-formed Catholic has few defenses against the apparent implications of certain select Scriptures. If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved! The above was the essence of Peter's preaching on the first Pentecost, yet all 3000 were also and necessarily so, baptized! Such a verse singled out and isolated, sounds reasonable and rings true. It is, but must be only one point of reference in looking at Biblical truth. It is why the authority of the Catholic Church is needed. For instance: Unless one be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This is why the Apostles baptized on that day. One must be very astute to duel with Scripture, but ultimately a teaching authority beyond Scripture itself is needed. They go hand in hand.
border collie, I'm not aware of the level of hurt or condemnation your friend received while a Catholic which contributed to his departure. God alone reads the heart. But the Church has always taught that to freely choose to leave the the Barque of Peter constitutes apostasy. It is in the hands of our just King.
Thanks Mario, I don't know why he left the Catholic church, but quite a lot were very disappointed and disillusioned with the clergy re the scandals etc. The previous comments are probably the best response.
The Church is a wreck, we shouldn't abandon ship, God also chose Judas (lots of Judas' in the Church). God knows your friend had a very hurt heart, God rest his soul...
One of our most recent converts , Sam Shamoun, has a lot of wise words about our present Church Leadership , drawing upon the Old Testament. However I would caution that the Church has always cautioned that new converts should stay silent for a period in the Church, be humble at not take leadership positions or be outspoken. This is only simple common sense. They should wait for a period of years, learning, listening, praying, before speaking. But I do love listening to Sam, I must admit. 1 Timothy 3:6 Qualifications for Overseers …5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.…
St John Vianney spoke of a suicide, which at the time was thought of as unforgivable. He said, he was saved and in purgatory for in the seconds after death, he cried out to God. St Padre Pio also spoke of the few seconds after death where we are given this chance. Only God truly knows what happens to someone who leaves the Church. He knows the prayers and Masses that will be said for this person's soul so please have a Mass said. You can message me his name and I will include them in my Divine Mercy.
Thos is wonderful Agnes. Thank you for posting. I believe this with all my heart. In fact I know it's true. All those Masses and prayers we say for our loved ones are there at the crucial moment. So important to have Masses said and to pray pray pray.
