mulls Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 you mean a requirement for salvation? if that's what you mean, then no. if you are in Christ you will confess Him with your mouth, not just one time in a church setting, but throughout your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 What is the purpose of an altar call? To get people to give their lives to Christ. What is the purpose of Mass? The Eucharist. In the NT it is often called "breaking of the bread". If you read through Acts, I would estimate that 100% of the "altar calls" (when people made their commitment to Christ) were outside of the "breaking of the bread". The "breaking of the bread" was what was done on the "Lord's day" (aka Sunday). As far as public profession of faith, we Catholics do that when we receive the sacrament of Confirmation. We do our inviting outside of Mass - like here in Phatmass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsFrozen Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Obviously you have not read Likos' conversion story on the Coming Home Network site. http://www.chnetwork.org/converts.htm Scroll down to Jay Damien. I just read it.. What a great conversion story! Reminds me of the amesome power of the rosary. Thanks for sharing the link. God bless. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 bump.....for the last post (including quote!) :D Be inspired...... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Thanks, Ellenita. Look at all the names on that page. One great conversion story after another! Not hte least of which is our own dear Likos, Jay Damien! And if I'm not mistaken, I think he's reported that in 2002, the Coming Home Network recorded (I believe) over 300 protestant ministers converting to Catholicism. Now that says something, doesn't it! They leave their profession, their congregation, and bring their families with them into the bark of Peter! All for love of Christ! All for Truth, which only the Church possesses in its fullness! Can I get an "Amen?!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulls Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 but when catholic priests or the laity convert out of the Church, it's because they are not admitting to a certain sin, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasJis Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 In the case of a priest, most likely yes. In the case of a lay person, the reasons are endless, but it's usually 1 of 2 things. 1> They want to do something the Church teaches as not allowed. 2> Confusion about what they think the Church teaches, (Why I fell away ) which proves the adage, 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.' ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 but when catholic priests or the laity convert out of the Church, it's because they are not admitting to a certain sin, right? All too often, when a priest leaves the Church, it's because he wants to marry, and he can only do that OUTSIDE the Church. He will abandon his vows to God, because something is luring him out. It isn't usually because he has done some deep studying and found the Church to be lacking, but because there is some external attraction drawing him away from the Church. But that is a generality. If you have any statistics, or stories of Catholic priests leaving the Church and entering another specific denomination by the hundreds in a single year, please feel free to provide it. Pax Christi. <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 if i could go back to the topic for a sec, i say that if you are not going to use an altar as it is supposed to be used and by how it is most frequently defined, you should not have one.........and you shouldn't call something an altar that is not an altar. you can call a podium, or a table, or a kneeler an "altar" until ur blue in the face, but the fact is no one ever distorted the definition of the word in such a way until the 1500's. find me early church testimony--back when the Church was still "Christ's Church" instead of the "Catholic distortion"--where people refer to an altar as the protestants here describe it. since most protestants (not all--lest i be accused of generalizing) rely solely on the Bible and every altar in the Bible that i'm aware of is a place of sacrafice, i'm surprised that they would want to apply a definition contrary to the biblical one. find me evidence in the bible or in early christian testimony that a kneeler, a bench, a table, a podium, or the front of a church was ever called an "altar" and i will stand corrected. pax christi, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrndveritatis Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Well, the main reason the Catholic Church doesn't use altar calls is because the whole concept of "getting saved" by confessing Jesus at a distinct point in one's life is a construct of Protestantism which according to the Catholic Church is not true. Rather, the Christ (and therefore the Roman Catholic Church) teaches that man must be born again by water and the Holy Spirit, i.e. by baptism. Baptism, according to Christ is essential for salvation (either baptism of blood or desire or primarily the actual sacrament). Note also that baptism does not guarantee salvation. Like St. Paul, we must work out our salvation in fear and trembling, cooperating with the grace of God to avoid deadly sins (Epistle of St. John) and to love God and one another. The altar call is unnecessary and ultimately fruitless, unless followed by baptism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 You shouldn't call something an altar that is not an altar. Actually very few protestant churches have 'an altar' so it is strange to have the phrase an 'altar call' unless it has come to be used and understood in the light of 'personal sacrifice' as in freely giving yourself to Jesus, otherwise it makes no sense. Anglican churches have an altar - it's unlikely the true meaning of the word altar would be questioned however unless of course you begin to unpick the meaning of apostolic succession.....which in turn must lead to the question of the Eucharist....which in turn must lead to......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 (edited) i noticed something about "public profession of faith" isn't that why we recite the nicene-contstantinople [EDIT: PRAY the Confiteor; same difference ]creed every Sunday? :cool: Edited January 14, 2004 by Aloysius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulls Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 how bout we just call it "the thing at the front that the pastor stands on so everybody can see him" that's all it is. nothing sacred or special about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Mulls for us it is sacred space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulls Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 nevermind, calling it an 'altar' is much more simple and time saving. i can't believe this is being bickered about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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