[Apologetics] Re: Your Defense of Lukewarm Christians

[Art Kelly]

Jim,

Your message in defense of lukewarm Catholics and
Protestants was so bizarre, I re-read it four times to
see if you were trying to be humorous. 

I'm still not completely sure, but I think you may be
serious.

First, God said: "So, because you are lukewarm,
neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my
mouth." (Revelation to St. John 3:16, NAB, which adds
in the notes, "Spit: literally, 'vomit.' The image is
that of a beverage that should be either hot or
cold.")

Second, contrary to your assertion, the nominal
Easter/Christmas Catholics and Protestants do NOT
contribute anything at all to the churches that they
attend once or twice a year.

The same is true of cafeteria Christians who come to
church infrequently and do not accept the doctrines of
those churches. They seek to be Christians on their
OWN terms, not the conditions laid down by Jesus.

Third, Bret, Marty, and I all made the point very
clearly that it is the bishops and priests who are at
fault for watering down the faith in an attempt to
keep from offending anyone.

If the Church made it a point to "draw a line in the
dirt" (the allusion is to William Travis at the
Alamo), the lukewarm Catholics would be spit/vomited
OUT of the Church, but they would be replaced by new
converts from other denominations.

The former lukewarm Catholics could then join one of
the Protestant denominations which advertise (This is
an actual quotation), "Open doors and open minds."

Priests and bishops should say loudly, clearly, and
often, if you want to be a Catholic, you must take up
your cross and follow Jesus.

No cafeterias.

Art  

--- jmurf80 at bellsouth.net wrote:

> Hello guys,
> 
> I normally stay out of this type of debate, but this
> topic is a continuation of the discussion we had at
> Anita's when I last visited No.Va.
> 
> I can understand all of the points you guys have
> raised, but I must disagree.  All great religious
> bodies and associations hold a principle that cannot
> be denied and must never be forgotten.
> 
> NEVER, EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY
> THE NOMINAL MEMBERS!
> 
> This is not a principle in business.  The nominal
> members of a business get shown the door.  In a
> religious body of any size at all, the nominal
> members are the essential ingredient (other than of
> course grace).  The mystical body of Christ includes
> the vast array of sinners.  Looking at the Church in
> this country in a political way, they are many times
> more important than the fervent. The very second we
> in Catholics in this country lose the nominal
> members, it's all over for us.  We are all pained
> when we hear someone say, " I was raised Catholic,
> but,"  We cringe when we hear some wishy washy
> Catholic dissent on some teaching of the Church or
> do the Judas shuffle up the isle to the parking lot
> following communion, but image a country were all of
> these people hate the visible Church.  When
> indifference changes to hate and it my well, the
> real scary stuff will soon follow.  This, I believe,
> is the strategy of the evil one.
> 
> Murf
> 
> 
> 


                           
  ART KELLY, ATM-S
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