11 yr. old Pentecostal friend is inviting my 11 yr old Catholic- Christian to his church

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tgGodsway said:
No one here has denied that a parent has the right to guide their child. No one here expects a child to be able to discern any Church body. My point has flown right over our head. I don’t know about this Pentecostal Church, whether or not it is safe. some are… and some are not. Just as some Catholic Churches are safe, and some are not. If (and that is a big IF) if the holy spirit is leading this child to explore it, then allow the parents to do the same. You cannot convert the converted.
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We actually can discern that it is unsafe because we know that they can hide behind really neat messages that children like–for example, no confession, no requirment of mass, fun music.

The holy spirit isn’t calling this child, his friend is…with snacks and a band and basketball.

No, we don’t let children explore other religions. They can do that when they are 18 and out of the house. That is the only appropriate time.
 
Haven’t you read the scriptures… "there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all… " Eph. 4:5

just in case you didn’t know the Pentecostal denomination came out of the Methodist view. The Methodist are considered a more post-protestant view, meaning, they are more in line with Catholicism than the reformed protestant is.
That should make you very happy. They share a very similar view of salvation with yours.
 
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One well might have some water with mostly poison, and another well might have mostly water and some poison, but only the pure water can give life.

A Protestant can baptize, but then again, an atheist can also baptize. For that matter, a Satanist could baptize. Anyone can baptize.
 
tgGodsway said:
I was saved and filled in the Spirit in a Catholic Church when I was 21 years old. st.
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And there lies the dilemma. I have heard it said that the RCC is an adult religion. I understood the fullness of Catholicism at about 35 though raised a cradle Catholic. Pentecostal, Evangelical, “bible Only” Christians are not only lacking in the fullness of Christianity, they espouse some very serious doctrinal (read truth) flaws. The OP is concerned about the influence of a “foreign” Christianity on an 11 year old - a child whom the parents want to raise in the RCC and needs the guidance of the parents at this time in his life. It is the parents’ responsibility to make those choices for their child. The posters who have said it is the responsibility of the parents to raise their child as they see fit, are correct. Until the child is an adult and old enough to make his own decisions, I say, butt out!
 
tgGodsway: Only within the Catholic Church can you find the Christian unity you desire, and then only with faithful Catholics.

As for the OP, I’m curious how your son came to have a Pentecostal friend. I’m presuming there was no Catholic kindergarten. I would not send him to the basketball game. These Churches often start everything with strange prayers which will confuse your child. Even seeing ministers from these religions will cause confusion. They appear to be like our priests, and yet they aren’t. In general, you need to explain the differences between the religions. You could explain that the other faiths have some grumbling points with the Catholic faith, yet they want to follow Christ. Start with a basic topic like divorce and how Catholics can be civilly divorced, but not divorced in any true sense once they marry because God completes their marriage, and it is for life.
 
Thanks for your response Lara. My son and he met in kindergarten at their public school and have been friends. We also talk to his parents and they know we are Catholic and know our son is very much involved in his youth group and CYO, and re classes. Which is why it kinda upsets me they keep asking him to attend.
 
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I was baptized Catholic in infancy to non-practicing parents. When I was 10 years old, a classmate of mine, the daughter of a Church of Christ minister, invited me to her house, gave me a King James Bible and invited me to go to church with her. When my mother (who had been brought up a Methodist: it was my father’s side of the family that was Catholic) found out about it, she told me, “You were baptized Catholic. If you want to go to church, go to the Catholic church.” And she would drive me to the nearest parish on Sunday morning just in time for the 10:45 AM Mass: she would shop at the nearby supermarket while I was at Mass and pick me up after Mass. My parents also allowed me to enroll in CCD classes once I showed interest, but they did not take the initiative.

@Lara, I suspect that the son of the OP attends a public school (as I did). There are students of all religions and none in public schools. If one is a student in a public school, then it is easy to have a friend who is Pentecostal 🙂
 
1130 said:
Thanks for your response. My son and he met in kindergarten at their public school and have been friends. We also talk to his parents and they know we are Catholic and know our son is very much involved in his youth group and CYO, and re classes. Which is why it kinda upsets me they keep asking him to attend.
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Hmm, is this the desire of the parents or of the child? You may need to have a not-so-kind talk with them.

If the child is asking for the child I can understand that. He’s in the band. This is especially thrilling for him. He wants to share this experience with his good friend. That’s a totally normal thing. That’s when you sit down and talk to him about different beliefs and how we believe many similar things but they lack a few things that are important to us. Then name those things and why they are important. The reaffirm that we believe very similar things so he should always respect his friend and be joyful in their similarities.
 
Yes we have talked to him. He loves to hang out with his friend , but he also wished his friend would stop inviting him because he doesn’t want to attend his church, but also doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. I also think his friend would like my son to see him play in his youth group, but really my son is not interested . They actually just invited him again yesterday for Oct. 1
 
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1130 said:
Yes we have talked to him. He loves to hang out with his friend , but he also wished his friend would stop inviting him because he doesn’t want to attend his church, but also doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. I also think his friend would like my son to see him play in his youth group, but really my son is not interested .
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I think you need to speak with the boy’s parents. Perhaps they do not realize how much their son is pushing his friend. As a parent, I wouldn’t put it past my children to do something so bone-headed but I’d want to know.
 
Sorry yes it is both from his friend and his mom. His mom will text me to invite me, and I’ll just thank her or if we have something to do that evening, I let her know we are busy. So my sons friend will also text my son to invite him as well, but yes it’s getting to the point where I will probably have to have a talk with her
 
1130 said:
Sorry yes it is both from his friend and his mom. His mom will text me to invite me, and I’ll just thank her or if we have something to do that evening, I let her know we are busy. So my sons friend will also text my son to invite him as well, but yes it’s getting to the point where I will probably have to have a talk with her
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Yes, it sounds like you have perhaps been leading her on without meaning to. Telling people that we are busy, to some, means “please keep me in mind next time.” rather than “hey, I’m not going, get the picture.” A good friend will be respectful of your wishes.
 
Read the question carefully. My husband , I and my son do not feel comfortable letting my son attend. My son is very involved in our church. He has expressed to us he is not interested in attending their youth group because he loves his Catholic faith and his youth group
 
This kind of pathetic talk is what grieves the Spirit of God and weakens the body of Christ.
It does not serve Christ to have such judgmental, self-righteous posturing. Your attempt to de-legitimize my faith in Christ, is the same as delegitimizing Christ Himself. why? Because Jesus Christ lives in me. What you say is hurtful and shameful.
 
So then what is the problem here. Why is everyone over-analyzing this issue?
 
I debated a few people here on the Eucharist. My only point was that God’s manifest presence is available at all times and in all places for those who call upon the name of the Lord. His presence is not restricted to the practice of the Eucharist. But if you or anyone else want to narrow that down to that one practice, okay…
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Then you have no idea what the Eucharist is. I don’t think any Catholic will tell you we “restrict” Him to the sacrifice of the most holy Mass. Jesus Christ is with us always, even if one doesn’t receive Him in the Eucharist. I don’t believe we even have to “call” on Him as he knows our hearts better than we do. He will be here for us always.
 
Good for you. It is the right and duty of a parent to choose what their child(ren) are exposed to, especially faiths different than their own.
 
Yes thank you. I was speaking of “receiving Him” in a manifestation. When you partake of the Eucharist, the Lord’s supper, you receive Him, (though the Apostles never said we receive Him in the Eucharist, Catholic theologians read into the passage a receiving of Christ) but in terms of abiding in Him, yes. we do. Jn. 6:56

We receive Christ at new birth and from that point on, He never leaves us nor forsakes us. His presence is always there for us at any time.
 
The Body of Christ is not weakened by the expulsion of heretics. When Gideon made his army less in number, he made it greater in strength. It is very popular these days to take the easy route and claim that all who say “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom, but this does a disservice both to the Faithful and the Fallen.

It is the bitter medicine that gives the quickest cure.
 
No way to the church service. I don’t know if their viewpoint varies from church to church, but they used to be rabidly anti-Catholic, based on Pentecostals I have known. I see nothing wrong with basket ball if you feel reasonably sure there wont be any Pentecostal hanky panky [indoctrination] going on. Your son’s spiritual welfare is too important to take chances. Kudos to you for being cautious.
 
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