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Being Roman Catholic.

Being Catholic.

The bible gives clear warnings against sin and sinful behaviour. There are some religious denominations that put more stress on holiness than others, but what is holiness anyway. It was clear to me growing up what a saint was. I grew up Catholic and from a very young age was taught to respect things in my religion that were holy. As a child I always felt God's presence and holiness throughout the mass, and I was taught right from wrong in a traditional family. When I was 21, I had a deeper conversion into Christianity and understood the gospel as a personal relationship or friendship with Jesus. What didn't change was my understanding of holiness. Even though I had a conversion or born again experience, I remained in the Catholic Church for a long time, and I didn't see any conflict with who I was and my Catholic identity.

My relationship with God had changed, and I experienced a new joy in the mass and praying the rosary. I knew that I had faith, and that my faith was based on the bible. If someone asked me for a theological explanation "I was born again." It can become a problem for a Catholic to have evangelical beliefs and Catholic beliefs at the same time, but looking at my conversion from a Catholic perspective is clearly right to have that kind of conversion. An awakening, or that kind of conversion in a sense can open you up to a more fuller and richer faith, and can lead you down the path to holiness.

A lot of Christians don't take their faith seriously and the Catholic church desires that Catholics convert, and repent. Of course you don't have to be a Catholic to repent, Catholics recognize the different denominations as brothers in the Lord. I'm sorry I can't give a more detailed explanation, but Protestantism gives us something that can benefit the Universal church. The Reformation divided the Church, but it also caused Christianity to spread to many other people. Yes, the Catholic Church has always insisted that the church would be one, but she has always remained open to dialogue with our brothers and sisters.

It's not that Catholics want to isolate themselves from the rest of the world or the bible, Catholicism can be a way of life for some people and not just a doctrinal stance. Belief in the bible is essential to any Christian Faith, and it is my belief that the bible is the foundation of all Christian denominations. Of course, faith is the key to a living relationship with Jesus, and it must be a real faith based on the bible. Catholics shouldn't discredit the word of God, they should learn from the examples of our Protestant brothers and sisters how to read it. For centuries the church has been divided, and this division has even caused wars. We should never see our faith as something we can conquer someone else with, especially other Christians.

We still live in a free society and I personally believe that all Christians share a commonality if our foundation is Jesus Christ. We need each other, because I believe that Christ lives in anyone who has been born again. I believe that the Holy Spirit works in this world to convince people of their sins, and to eventually bring out conversion in those whom God calls to a deeper friendship with God. This is Mike.

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