My heart is leaning more towards the Catholic Church lately, but Protestantism has so much beauty to it in its theology.

I also think the Protestant Reformation was a good thing, and Martin Luther was wrongfully excommunicated given the Council of Trent did correct some of the errors he pointed out in his 95 thesis.

And I fear if I become Catholic I don’t know if saying he was wrongfully excommunicated would be a heresy.

It’s I guess I want to be able defend facts; and I want to ensure in life I make the right choice for my own walk with God.

I come from a non-denom background and realized my church is schismatic and hurting the Body of Christ thus my quench for a more High Church setting or at least one that is accurate and allowed to exist such as the Protestant Denominations since they were wrongfully excommunicated and are valid.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem . . . to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” - II Chronicles 20:17

The Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites had organized “a great multitude” seeking to destroy Judah under King Jehoshaphat. But the king and his people came together to “seek the LORD” in prayer for deliverance, and God answered. “The Spirit of the LORD” spoke through Jahaziel, assuring them that “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (see II Chronicles 20:2, 4, 14–15).

Then the Lord sent what may have seemed a strange instruction. “Stand ye still,” He said. Just watch God do it! And He did. All their enemies were constrained by the Lord to fight and destroy each other, without the Israelites having to fight at all. Similarly, at the Red Sea when everything looked hopeless, “Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13). So, they did, and all Pharaoh’s armies were overthrown in the midst of the sea.

In Isaiah’s day, when Israel was tempted to call on pagan Egypt for help against pagan Assyria, God said concerning Israel’s armies, “Their strength is to sit still” (Isaiah 30:7). As the ship was being buffeted in the storm and the sailors in panic were about to flee in the lifeboat, Paul said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31). So, they stayed, and God spared every man.

There are times for action, of course, but the principle is this. When we have done all we can, and the situation seems hopeless, this is the time to sit still and trust God to work it out in His own good way. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? God specializes in things thought impossible! HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16021/

"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended." - John 16:1

PONDER THIS

What causes people to develop a grudge against God? Some possibilities are persecution, disappointment, rebuke, resentment at being rebuked, and envy at how somebody else is being blessed. The Lord Jesus knows we all have this tendency to resent God. In John 16:1-4, Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended." "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me." "But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

Jesus was saying, “I’m going to Heaven. I’m leaving you here. Don’t get offended.” If you’ve got a grudge against God, tell God about it. If you’ve got honest questions, bring them to God. Don’t come to the Lord with false expectations. You say, “Pastor, I thought it was wonderful to serve Jesus.” It is. If I had a thousand lives, I’d give every one of them to Jesus Christ. I’m not disappointed in Jesus, but I don’t want to carry a grudge because of any false expectations.

- What are examples of false expectations a person might have of God?
- What are some specific false expectations you may have of God?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time today to confess any false expectations you have of God. Ask Him to help you release these so that you won’t hold a grudge against Him. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/dont-carry-a-grudge-against-god

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” - Mark 1:35

One of the best ways to meet the Lord is to rise up early in the morning, before activities of the day can interfere. This apparently was the practice of Jesus Himself.

There are also many other occurrences in the Bible: “Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD” (Genesis 19:27). In order to set up an altar, “Jacob rose up early in the morning” (Genesis 28:18). When Moses gave the people the laws of God, he “wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill” (Exodus 24:4). Later, when he was to receive the commandments a second time, “Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto Mount Sinai” (Exodus 34:4). “Joshua rose early in the morning” to lead Israel over the Jordan and to capture Jericho, and to take Ai, “Joshua rose up early in the morning” (Joshua 3:1; 6:12; 8:10).

During the time of the Judges, Gideon “rose up early on the morrow” to prove God’s will through putting out the fleece (Judges 6:38). Hannah and Elkanah, in praying for the son who would later become Samuel, “rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD” (I Samuel 1:19).

No doubt there are justifiable exceptions, but late sleeping is in general not a good thing. “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? . . . he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Proverbs 6:9; 10:5). It is good to seek the Lord early each day. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17). “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16008/

This post is mainly for Catholics who have transitioned into Protestants. I was born and raised catholic and before I became a Protestant, I felt very restrained in Catholicism. And there were things that did not sit well with me. This was because of several reasons which I will list below

Reason 1: There is no such thing as Mortal sin and Venial sin. A sin is a sin. Either way it is breaking god’s law and disobeying him. Now in the eyes of the law, it may be different, some things are worse than others, but in god eyes a sin is a sin regardless of what sin it was

Reason 2: According to Catholics, if you commit a mortal sin, you cannot be forgiven unless you go to a priest. What doesn’t sit well with me on this is why are we going to a priest for forgiveness when we can just go directly to Jesus? It’s like asking someone to pray for you when we can just pray for ourselves. At the end of the day, we sinned against Jesus, we did not against the priest. Therefore we should be going to Jesus to forgive us. The priest is just any other man who is a sinner like any other person. I’m not saying we shouldn’t respect priests, I’m just saying It’s not necessary to go to one for forgiveness.

Reason 3: According to Catholics, if we miss mass on Sunday without a valid reason, it is considered a mortal sin. Now first of all like I said above. There is no Venial sin and Mortal sin. Sin is sin regardless of what it is. Second of all, if we just took a moment to think about this, why would god send us to hell for not going to church? Regardless of what the reason is why we didn’t go, he’s not gonna say “oh, he didn’t go to church so I’m taking his name of the book of life.” That just doesn’t make sense to me. Another thing is I feel like people misunderstand church a lot. Let me just be clear. The Holy Spirit has a vessel, and that vessel is you. If you are a true follower and worrier of Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you. The Holy Spirit doesn’t live in a church, It doesn’t live in a building. It lives inside of you. Your home could be church if you wanted it to be.

A post where people can post topics they wish for others to pray about, and where people can come and find topics and users to pray for.

"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples," "and said unto him, 'Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?'" - Matthew 11:2-3

PONDER THIS

At the beginning of Matthew 11, John was in prison and sent messengers to ask if Jesus was the promised One of God. Jesus knew John’s heart and did not mistake the moment for the man. Jesus knew John had an honest doubt—John asked an honest question, and he got an honest answer. And look at the tribute Jesus paid to John in verse 11: “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” And John the Baptist continued to serve the Lord up to the point of giving his head for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you know what real faith is? Real faith is not receiving from God what you want; real faith is accepting from God what He gives. Learn that and you won’t get offended at God. If things don’t work out like you think they should—if you’re serving God but you end up in a dungeon—just remember that God is God. He is good, and He is in control.

- How does today’s devotion remind you that you can bring your honest questions before Jesus?
- What question do you need to bring before Him today?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time today to journal and write out questions you want to ask God. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/still-good-still-in-control

“The same [a demon-possessed servant girl] followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” - Acts 16:17

Paul and Luke first witnessed to European unbelievers in Philippi and saw them wonderfully converted (v. 14), but a young soothsayer continually interrupted them, mocking and interfering. Paul cast out the controlling spirit of divination (v. 18), denying her owners their source of income. In retribution, they convinced the city leaders to have them brutally flogged and thrown into the innermost prison (v. 24).

But God had other plans. A mighty earthquake seemingly freed them, causing the jailer to prefer suicide rather than face capital charges for his offense. Paul intervened, and the jailer desperately pled, “What must I do to be saved?” (v. 30).

What would cause a Roman official in a decidedly pagan culture, who had heard little (if anything) of the truth, to abruptly turn to God for salvation? Certainly the earthquake had captured his attention, as had Paul’s behavior through his trial and abuse. But what made him think the truth was with Paul? Why did he ask for salvation from an incarcerated prisoner?

Perhaps during the trial he had heard of the slave girl’s testimony. In our text she had exclaimed, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” Was this ringing testimony, given in derision but heard nonetheless, involved in his decision?

We can’t know for sure, but we do know that this was the introduction of the gospel to Europe. Surely God’s ultimate plan can be seen in the events at Philippi that day. Even the unknowing truth from a demonic soothsayer contained lasting truth. Christians should never hesitate to declare gospel truth, for God will not allow it to go unheeded (Isaiah 55:11). JDM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16007/

Sorry for mi Bad English ;_; okay so Hi, I have a few questions. I want to become an Anglican Protestant—specifically, I am non-denominational right now. I’ve been watching TikToks about Anglican, Protestant, and Lutheran churches, as well as their lore. However, I always see comments from Catholics saying that we are heretics and stuff like that, which made me doubt Protestantism itself. I also have doubts about papal authority and some 'espinological' [ecclesiological] doubts about confessing to a priest and things like that, and whether the whole Protestant branch is heretic and wrong in its... I don't really know what heretic means and i wanna become protestant because i really like this and cw Lewis is anglican but i'm new and sadly mi tiktok fyp it's about catolicism saying anglican church was Made bye a fat obysp what whant a divorcie and the pope dint give him and why You don't follow o are catholicism

"Jesus saith unto him, 'Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'" - John 20:29

PONDER THIS

Suppose you’ve saved all your life for a vacation. The time for your trip has finally come, and you’re in Hawaii. You’re in the finest hotel. You and your spouse are celebrating without a care in the world. The weather is perfect. The food is sumptuous. You’re having a wonderful time. And let’s suppose that you’ve left your children home in the care of someone else, and one of your children is in an automobile accident while you’re in Hawaii. Would you want to know about it? Would you want somebody to get on the phone and call you and mess up your vacation? Or would you say, “Don’t bother me. We’re having a wonderful time. Yes, I understand that my child has been hurt, but I don’t want to know about it.” Every parent knows the answer, right? “Yes, I want to know. Forget the vacation.”

That’s why Jesus left Heaven. He could have said, “I just don’t want to know. I just don’t care.” But He’s a God of love. And He loved us so much that He stepped out of glory. He loved us so much that He walked the dusty shores and the streets of Nazareth and the sandy beach of Galilee. He loved us so much that He carried the cross to Golgotha and died in agony and blood. And those scars Thomas saw there in His hands say that He’s a saving God. He has paid for our sins with His own blood.

- How do the actions and work of Jesus show you how much God loves you?
- How does imagining the scenario of loving earthly parents help you see God’s love for you?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time to read John 18–20 to see how Jesus’ love for you caused Him to act. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/he-loves-you-that-much

i am a chinese，my grandfather is dying now 。for some reason all famliymember only he is a Protestantism。my father instantly want use the traditional way to do the bereavement。it is hard to change.i just want know dose anything i can do for her like Protestantism should be.i am non-religious .i konw nothing about it even i search ed some information from the internet.should i read something pray for her. Don't ask me why.i respect the religiousbeliefs. I not believe Haven or hell.i just want he die with decent.any suggestion would be helpful.

“For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;" "to make the weight for the winds; and He weigheth the waters by measure.” - Job 28:24-25

It was only discovered by scientists in modern times that air actually has weight. This passage in Job, however, written 35 or more centuries ago, indicated that the two great terrestrial fluids of air and water forming Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere are both “weighed” by God’s careful “measure” to provide the right worldwide balance of forces for life on Earth.

Another remarkable “weighing” act of God is noted in Job 37:16: “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge?” Clouds are composed of liquid drops of water, not water vapor, and water is heavier than air, so how are they “balanced” in the sky? “For He maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly” (36:27–28).

Meteorologists know that the weight of the small water droplets in the clouds is “balanced” by the “weight of the winds”—air rushing upward in response to temperature changes. Eventually, however, the droplets coalesce to form larger drops that overcome these updrafts and fall as rain. “By watering He wearieth the thick cloud” (37:11). The coalescence is probably triggered electrically in the clouds themselves, “when He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder” (28:26).

Although these verses are not couched in the jargon of modern science, they are thoroughly scientific and up to date. “Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?” (26:14). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

Well not strictly a debate but like I'm not a Protestant, through and through, but I am semi curious about Protestants and their arguments....want to have a curious discussion on sola scriptura...like I don't see how that's true and hopefully you guys can engage with me and have a discussion

When they attack you because of you not being a Catholic or Orthodox or because you do not have a degree . Remember the Pharisees thought Peter and John were uneducated. While we are not Peter or John it does not mean we dont know what we are talking about.

So I'm a catholic pretty much convinced that either catholicism or orthodoxy is the one true church, but like sort of curious regarding Protestantism? Well not enough to be convinced or anything I don't think it's true but...how do you actually believe in like sola scriptura, I know it's one of the tenets in classical Protestantism but... genuinely curious why do you think scripture alone is the only infallible truth?

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness," - II Peter 3:11

PONDER THIS

Once in Oklahoma City there was a fire in an apartment. The flames were consuming that apartment, and there was a woman who’d been carried out by a fireman and was fighting to go back into the fire. She said, “My baby is in that apartment!” They had to hold her back because she surely would have perished. One fireman volunteered to go get her baby. He went up the ladder, through the window, into that smoke-filled room, and felt his way through. He found the baby crib, reached in and picked up that little bundle, held it close to him, and came back to the window, choking through the blinding smoke. The people gave a cheer as he handed the woman the bundle. But as she pulled the blanket back, she cried, “That’s not my baby. That’s my baby's doll!”

I wonder if we’re going to come to the end of an age hugging the toys of this world when everything is going up in fire. My friend, the house, the car, and all these things—they’re not that important. What is important? The souls of men! I want to get as many to come with me as I can. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

- How can you be sure you are valuing the right things as you wait for the return of Jesus?
- How do we show others that they are more important than the “stuff” of the world?

PRACTICE THIS

Have a conversation today to let another person know how much God values him or her. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/in-the-end-what-really-matters

Question from a scared Protestant

To preface this, I’m making this same post on Catholicism, orthodoxy, and Protestant subreddits to see what your responses will be

I’ve been Protestant my whole life (19 years) and I would say I’ve been seriously following it for the past 8 or so years. Up until recently, I never really questioned my salvation. I believe that I am saved by Gods grace and his grace alone and that because Jesus died on the cross, He has washed my sins away and allowed me to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Because of Gods grace, mercy, and my love for him I follow his commandments and try to love him with all my heart, soul, and mind.

I’m not really sure what triggered it, maybe it’s seeing a lot of catholic and orthodox videos on instagram, but I started to question my salvation. Catholics and Protestants disagree on what’s necessary for salvation, and it’s made me question if I’m really going to heaven. **I’m absolutely terrified.**

I can’t fathom even spending a day not in Gods presence, let alone eternity. Obviously I’m not perfect and I sin and push God away at times, but I still repent and try to stay close to God. But I’m terrified of the idea that I might go my whole life thinking I’m living for God thinking I’m saved by his grace, and then on judgement day I’m cast into hell because I didn’t hold the same beliefs as Catholics.

Both Catholic and Protestant church’s are full of people who have dedicated they’re lives to interpreting scripture and Jesus’ teachings, yet they still disagree on what’s necessary to be saved. There have been Catholics that have converted to Protestantism and Orthodoxy and vice versa.

I’m kind of just word vomiting everything that’s been on my mind but I’m just irked by the fact that all 3 major sects of Christianity (orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism) have had millions if not billions of people dedicate they’re lives to trying to find truth, yet we still disagree.

I trust that God is perfectly just and merciful, but what if I’m wrong. Will I have wasted my life thinking I’m doing and believing what’s right just to be told “I never knew you” by God.

I’ve kind of put my life on pause for the past week or so because it’s hard to move forward not knowing if I’m saved.

I hope all Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox make it to heaven. I like to think that hell is empty, but that’s just not true. I’m not just scared for my self, but everyone. How can we move forward with life not knowing the truth? How can we move forward not knowing who has it right? Does anyone have it 100% right?

I’m just so scared. I’ve had a hard time even trying to pray because I don’t even know what to ask. I’m sure millions of people have asked God to show them the truth and ended up Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox.

I know none of this is really cohesive but I just don’t know what to believe. I don’t even know what the “right answer” would look like. I don’t really know what I’m asking I’m kind of just venting but anything would help.

Thank you and God bless!

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; 'After the glory hath He sent Me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.'” (Zechariah 2:8)

This common phrase is often used to identify an object of one’s special favor or affection. The apple of the eye, of course, is not a fruit but the pupil of the eye. It is so essential for sight that it becomes a peculiarly apt symbol for a prized possession. It is used five times in the Bible as a translation of three different Hebrew nouns, none of which refer to the actual apple fruit. In each case, however, it speaks of something highly valuable to the owner.

Three of these (Deuteronomy 32:10; Lamentations 2:18; and our text above) are in reference to the chosen people, Israel, as the apple of the eye of God Himself. God has often punished Israel for her sins and has allowed other nations to be His rod of judgment, but woe to that nation that touches the apple of His eye in this way!

That individual believers can also be so regarded by the Lord is evident from one of David’s prayers: “Shew Thy marvellous lovingkindness . . . . Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings” (Psalm 17:7-8).

To be kept by God as He would keep the very apple of His own eye requires an implicit trust in Him and His Word. In fact, His Word must become the apple of our eye! “My son, keep My words, and lay up My commandments with thee. Keep My commandments, and live; and My law as the apple of thine eye” (Proverbs 7:1-2).

There are many beautiful and appropriate figures used for God’s Word (“light,” “hammer,” “sword,” “milk,” etc.) but none more personally meaningful than this. May the Holy Scriptures, the indispensable Word of God, truly be the apple of the eye for each of us. HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16005/

So irenaeus talks about all church’s submitting to the authority of the Roman church, appealing to it being found by Peter and Paul. There seems no way around this for Protestants. And I don’t accept the argument of “well he’s not scripture” because Irenaeus was close to the apostles and Jesus than any of us ever will be, having been taught by Polycarp who knew John. Even if the Bible proved heresies existed in the early church, why should we still assume we would know better than the guy taught by a guy who was taught by a guy who knew Jesus

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." - II Peter 3:8

PONDER THIS

People who scoff at the Second Coming of Jesus are ignorant of what God has done and of what God is like. God is above and beyond time, and God doesn’t wake up by an alarm clock. Second Peter 3:8 says, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

As far as God is concerned, it’s only been a few days since Jesus left this Earth. God hasn’t forgotten. The reason Jesus is not yet come is that God has kept the door of mercy open. I believe God, in mercy, is waiting on our generation to come to Jesus, but one of these days, the Day of the Lord will come, and even now the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy. Jesus is going to come suddenly, like a thief in the night.

- How does it reframe your perspective to know the delay of Jesus’ return is a sign of mercy and not neglect?
- How should this encourage us to share Jesus with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time to thank God for His mercy. Pray and ask Him to point you to the people He wants you to share with today. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/the-delay-is-mercy

God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.".

Remember this when you get frustrated at those that will not listen to the truth of scripture and insist On worshipping idols and ignoring commandments Gods .