We're not all that different, are we?

A couple days ago I wrote about a new insight I thought I'd gotten from a particular bible verse (Hey, look who's in line ahead of us! >). I said I'd write more, and I have. This is a very brief comparison of Catholic and Baptist/evangelical non-denominational responses to the same practices, at least as I've observed them.

What Catholic (and a lot of others) Baptist, Evangelical Nondenom (and a lot of others) Hmmm... Salvation Not sure. 100% sure. Both do their best to behave as if God's coming back today. Baptism Saves you. Doesn't do anything. Both do it anyway. Communion It's Jesus, really and truly. It's matzah and grape juice, really and truly. Both do it anyway. Good works Participate in salvation. Have nothing to do with salvation. Both do them anyway. Confession Is a sacrament. Isn't a sacrament. Both ask for forgiveness from God and others. Marriage Is a sacrament. Isn't a sacrament. Both believe God permanently unites husband and wife. Intercession of the Saints All Christians can be prayer partners. Living Christians can be prayer partners. We both ask others to pray for us. Mary ditto ditto ditto Crucifix A cross without Jesus on it? Aren't you forgetting something? We serve a risen Lord. My brain hurts.

Image adapted from a post here >. Sadly interesting is that pre-Vatican II Catholics (anti-modernists?) oppose reconciliation with Protestants as stridently evangelical Protestants oppose reconciliation with Rome.

[2014-10-03]

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