If deeds don't count, why do we have the ACTS of the Apostles, just for decoration? They did something with their calling. Judas, according to some, was judged and condemned for his betrayal of Jesus... something about his stomach blowing up,
You are saying that since we are not doing it the way you do it we are condemned to Hell. Also, the sinner's prayer is no different than the Eucheristic prayers during mass that we say in the process of preparing ourselves for Communion. "Lord I am not worthy to recieve you, but only say the word and I shall be healed." That is how Catholics acknowledge that deeds alone won't get it done,
but isn't the ACT of accepting Christ a DEED?
Isn't it a mental shift, a spiritual letting go of the self for the whole?
That DEED/ACT is significant and essential to your definition of salvation, why wouldn't obeying the 'Do unto others...' lessons be as important to a Christian God or any of the other wonderful and positive things that Jesus proposed?
All these lessons came from the earthly Jesus as Christ, why is it up to you or the Baptist doctrine to say that one deed is more worthy than another?
Catholics have the Sacraments, which are deeds - done with the proper mental and spiritual letting go - as expressions of a love of Christ and a willingness to live by his teachings.
Religious practice justifies itself by picking which scriptures support their practices.
If you love your parents, you would not do things that would bring shame or embarassment on their name. Why should that be any different when you are claiming Jesus as your joy? Jesus sat with the whores and the tax collectors when no one else would. He shone as a living example when preaching to them would only drive them away. His DEEDS were how he preached as much as his signs/miracles or words. So, I would say that deeds count for something.
Paul M
