Dear Catholic Exchange,
Hi. I was just reading your article, Baptism Now Saves You. I got to the 2nd page and started to get a little mad and slightly defensive. You see, “Bill” I think his name was, was a born-again Christian. I am a Christian, not actually born-again, just born. Anyway, I was baptised when I was a month old or something. I go to a Reformed Church.
My point is that being baptised and doing good works is not what gets you into Heaven, and I have proof, if you believe that the Bible is true. First, I would like to direct your attention to John 14:6, which says “Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” You have to actually accept Jesus into your heart as your Savior.
Second, please go to Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one may boast.” I think that one speaks for itself. Thank you for your time.
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
You seem to be operating under the notion that baptism is the opposite of Jesus' grace, rather than what it is: a *means* of grace instituted by Jesus himself. That's why Peter (not the author of the article) says “baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21) (if you believe that the Bible is true). Catholics affirm, as much as Reformed Protestants, the truth of John 14:6 and Ephesians 2:8-9. However, they also affirm what Scripture affirms elsewhere (cf. Romans 6): that the normal way God has instituted to *apply* that grace to us is through the sacraments (in this instance, baptism).
Ironically, your position boils down to a doctrine of salvation by intellectual works. If you have to actually accept Jesus as your savior in order to be saved, then no infant or profoundly mentally disabled person will be saved since they are incapable of these works. The view of ancient Christianity is that we are called to be baptised and have such faith as we are capable of. If we are too young to have faith however, that does not keep God from granting us grace in baptism and leading us toward a mature profession of faith when the time comes. In short, the Catholic view takes grace *more* seriously and sees it as *more* fundamental than your model of intellectual-works-based righteousness.
The full biblical (and Catholic)picture of salvation is that we are saved by God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit through grace given (normatively) in the sacraments and received by faith which expresses itself in concrete acts of love. Get rid of any part of that and you've gotten rid of part of what Scripture says.
Feel free to write back if you like. Blessings on your struggles with the truth of the word of God. May they bear abundant fruit by the grace of Christ Jesus.
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
***
Editor's Note: To contact Catholic Exchange, please refer to our Contact Us page.
Please note that all email submitted to Catholic Exchange or its authors (regarding articles published at CE) become the property of Catholic Exchange and may be published in this space. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity. Names and cities of letter writers may also be published. Email addresses of viewers will not normally be published.
Dear Catholic Exchange,
Several comments in this review stereotype Protestants.
I am Protestant and I have never been in a Protestant church that didn't believe that there is a purpose in suffering or that suffering in any way meant a lack of faith. As a born again believer in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I count myself spiritually blessed for any trials or suffering that may fall on me, even when those things are painful. And I've certainly had my share.
My very best friend in the world is Catholic, and she has suffered greatly herself, and her church was not there for her. They told her that sin was why she was suffering and if she got sin out of her life she wouldn't be dealing with her pain. This has caused her to feel antagonism towards the Catholic church. Suffering is not always due to sin, albeit we suffer the consequences of sin.
This review seemed to be less about the book itself and more about trying to prove something to Protestants. As believers, we are all part of the body of Christ. Jesus wasn't Catholic. He wasn't Protestant either.
Toni Collins should consider that this book is a tool that any believer can use to help anyone “regardless of religious background – to see suffering in a different light.” It can also help a non-believer to come to faith in God. And rather than being so concerned with whether or not Protestants and Catholics see eye to eye on Purgatory, Mary, or the Eucharist, shouldn't we all be focused on bringing the message of Christ to those who are lost?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Kim Hyatt
Dear Ms. Hyatt:
I greatly appreciate your comments regarding the review of Amazing Grace For Those Who Suffer. I truly am sorry that my comments about Protestantism caused offense. You and I seem to have had very different teachers in the Protestant world and were taught very different views of suffering. For example, while I was a Protestant, I never attended a church that saw any purpose in suffering. And I've frequently heard comments about illness or financial difficulties “being born” from a lack of faith in Jesus. Never (until I was a Catholic) did I hear that God can unite our sufferings with Christ's and use them in His plan of salvation.
I'm also sorry to hear that your friend has suffered greatly and found no solace in the Catholic Church. Many Catholics, even those in ministry, have forgotten the value God places on suffering. Amazing Grace For Those Who Suffer may serve as a renewal of this treasure of the Christian faith.
Though it would not be appropriate to air your friend's particulars in this forum, it is important to realize that sin can be the cause of suffering. A thief who endures the pain of incarceration suffers because he committed sin; more personal examples can be imagined. Sometimes those in ministry are bound by conscience to point out when sin is the root of suffering. I don't imagine that this was your friend's case, but neither should we blindly criticize someone if they are pointing out truth.
I'm afraid that my comments which offended you also colored your impression of the review as a whole. The greater portion of the review certainly deals with the book itself. Any commentary about how this book can aid Protestants was born of a desire to reach out and offer comfort to people who are suffering and cannot understand why. When I personally learned how God can use my suffering to help others, I felt such joy and liberation. There was purpose and value in the pain I've experienced. Writing the review was an opportunity to share this joy with others who might never have heard of this incredible gift from God.
An interesting aspect of your letter is how our backgrounds colored what we wrote. I had no idea that hoping to “reach out a hand of friendship that may open [a Protestant's] eyes to the truth of the Catholic faith” would cause you offense. You probably had no idea that writing “Jesus wasn't Catholic” or implying that “Purgatory, Mary, [and] the Eucharist” are not part of “the message of Christ” would upset a Catholic. Let's look at why.
In Matthew 15:18, Jesus promised that He would build His church, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Since that same church was first called “Catholic” in 110 AD by Ignatius, a disciple of the Apostle John, and since the Catholic Church can trace her leaders back at least that far, we rather cringe to hear you say “Jesus wasn't Catholic.” Further, we believe that Jesus included Purgatory in His message to humanity when He spoke of forgiveness in an “age to come” (Matt 12:32), that He linked His mother Mary to the woman of Genesis 3:16 when He called her “Woman” in John 2:4 and 19:26, and that He commanded us to receive the Eucharist in Luke 22. Catholics consider these to be indispensable elements of the message of Christ.
I am thankful that though the review itself caused you distress, you could tell that Amazing Grace For Those Who Suffer is a valuable book. I hope that you'll use it to help any of your friends who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. As you said, “this book is a tool that any believer can use to help anyone — regardless of religious background — to see suffering in a different light.”
God bless you,
Toni Collins
