Thursday, November 6th, 2003 - Cathotestant

I will start off with the disclaimer that you may be offended by this post because you disagree with my perspective so strongly. My real intention is to explain what I believe through what God has shown me over several years of looking into the issue of Catholicism vs. Protestantism.

As I grew up and learned more about each, I constantly was torn back and forth between the two. The views and issues differ so greatly... and God is a God of absolute truth, so one of them must be correct and the other incorrect, right? I am led to think so.

After studying apologetics and criticisms of both sides, I have come to believe that neither one can be proven true, that what a certain one believes is what Christ truly intended for His Body of believers. In addition, either one COULD be true; I can honestly and logically agree to either position as a possibility of what Christ intended for His Body of believers. I cannot, however, defend either position against the criticisms of the opposition. So in some way, I find validity yet faults in both.

After coming to this conclusion, I asked God, "God I know you are a God of absolute truths. Which view of the Church is your intention? Which one is correct?" God answered differently than I expected. He said that both honor Him; He is pleased with members of both of them who seek a life and relationship with Him. I asked Him again which one is His intention; He explained that He will not reveal that to me, but that I can worship and honor Him in either church.

So where am I at now? Although parts of me believe and disagree with different parts of each denomination, an outsider looking into me would say that my beliefs are more Protestant. I say that based on my belief that God and the Holy Bible are the only things that I know without a shadow of doubt are absolutely true. In many senses, however, I would label myself a "Cathotestant" (a word I made up) because I see truths in both of them.

What it comes down to is Christ. I attend a non-denominational Christian group on campus, and I praise God that I can go there with a Catholic on my right and a Protestant on my left, and we can all worship the same God together. The only common ground we may have is Christ, but honestly, WHAT MORE DO WE NEED? We may very well all live the rest of our lives disagreeing about every procedure, doctrine, and system of beliefs. But as long as we worship the same God who gave us all the same Gospel message that the same Jesus Christ died and rose for every one of us, I say that we can all stand together in that COMMON TRUTH, that COMMON GROUND.

Jesus said, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father - that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21, italics/bold mine)

Back to Main Page