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7_Sorrows
Guest
Comgratulations on becoming Catholic!!!
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thecolorsblend
Guest
I wasn’t there and don’t know those people so I can’t say. But it wouldn’t surprise me. I get baited pretty often by Protestants about this or that Catholic doctrine. “That isn’t really biblical, you know.” Oh yeah? Did your abbreviated Bible tell you that or are you just guessing?
Not long after I was welcomed into the Church, I was invited to visit my old Southern Baptist congregation. A member of the small group pitched it as “We can hang out, get to know each other better and dialogue about our different opinions”. Honestly, how dumb does he think I am? I can see a trap coming a mile away. He was thinking of an “intervention”. Even if my priest had permitted me to go (and he didn’t because he can spot the traps too), I still wouldn’t have gone.
I can’t say if attending those things is a good idea for you. But if you go for the coffee and the company, what’s the harm? If nothing else, watching them try explaining their faith could help you better process your own faith. Even if it doesn’t, whatever, at least you can enjoy the coffee, right?
Coffee.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
yes the coffee and snacks are good. I just hope there won’t be anymore baiting. I mean, look at the ramifications of the Reformation!
I do not share her enthusiasm about Martin Luther.
thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut!
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Darryl_B
Guest
I think your protestant friend is thankful to Martin Luther for inventing the printing press? In ways I wish it were possible for Martin Luther to actually show up at one of these protestant Bible studies so that we could actually see how much the adoration subsided by the time of the closing prayer.
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Darryl_B
Guest
Thanks my friend. I am indebted to God for not giving up on me, I ignored so many signs, my ignorance was great. I am ashamed that I trusted in my own understanding for so long.Comgratulations on becoming Catholic!!!
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7_Sorrows
Guest
I know what you mean. I was a member of the Episcopal/Anglican faith communities. I realized how important it is for there to be authority. I became humble.
(I don’t think Luther invented the printing press, but the printing press certainly did help to further along the Reformation.)
po18guy
Well-known member
First, no Protestant bible study uses a complete bible. Second, Protestant bible study is private opinion and little more. Third, as you have noticed, they pride themselves on the presumed virtue and correctness of those who fomented the greatest division in the Body of Christ since the Church was founded. Fourth, these invitations (temptations) keep arriving.
This has the hallmarks of a spiritual temptation away from the Church. We know who does that. Unless you are well equipped and ready to defend your faith, I would stay away from such groups - the deck is stacked against you.
This has the hallmarks of a spiritual temptation away from the Church. We know who does that. Unless you are well equipped and ready to defend your faith, I would stay away from such groups - the deck is stacked against you.
I think the key to whether or not to join a Bible study is whether it’s sincere people trying to learn the truth (Catholic or not) or it’s something prepared just to get you to join somebody else’s faith.
I posted in the other thread about Jehovah’s Witnesses. In my involvement with them over 30 years ago they conducted “Bible studies” which were based out of a textbook and presented the Bible as it supported their beliefs. It wasn’t a neutral discussion trying to learn the truth; it was prewritten to support their conclusions. I’m guessing that some “Bible studies” by other non-Catholics are also simply to get you to join.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
yes I am sure that would be the case for 7th Day Adventists and Mormons as well as they interpret the Bible differently from mainline protestants and Catholics. in this Bible study there is not too much right now in the Old Testament that can challenge my faith, but some things might pop up when we get to the New Testament as we are doing the Bible as a complete story. however, I think it will help me confirm what I believe. I think this will be the last protestant Bible study I will be attending though. it is awkward and it is like we are suspicious of each other because of each other’s beliefs. which is sad…
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thecolorsblend
Guest
There is that to consider. My extensive amount of time doing evangelical Bible studies (from my Southern Baptist days) is that they use workbooks from Lifeway or similar outlets to study either entire books of Sacred Scripture or else study themes/ideas drawn from several scriptural sources (marriage, raising children,the ministry of Our Lord, etc).
Typically they aren’t all that scholastic; the questions posed in the study section usually reflect a presupposition of evangelical doctrine but there isn’t much investigation. If I had to put it into words, the questions aren’t “What do these passages mean?” Instead it is “What do these passages mean to you?”
That said, you can see the Protestant Effect in practice where the students draw contradictory (sometimes mutually exclusive) interpretations of the exact same scriptural sources. The end result is an unintentional endorsement of the concept of the Magisterium.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
we are using a book by Angie Smith called Seamless. We watch a video each week of her sitting in a barn somewhere in Tennessee -her hair is perfectly styled and she reflects on her life and what we learned in that weeks lesson. sometimes she has tissues and cries. I believe she is married to a member of a Christian singing group. She is pretty and is a mother of 3-4 girls. I have only watched 2 and am a little distracted since by that time I have my granddaughter and am holding her.
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sirach2v4
Guest
I attended a Bible study in a Christian Reformed Church for four years – until a new guy from that church came in and attacked what I was saying – I asked a question and he didn’t like it.
That church invited all members of the community by sending out postcard invitations. The first thing they did was to ask people about their affiliation, and there were really about half Catholics in the group. There were simply no Catholic parish study groups in our town.
I would offer this advice, not to attend a Protestant church Bible study. You never know what you’re going to run into. I was watching the “Ask the Pastor” program on the TNT Christian cable network. One of the pastors answered a question by somehow saying that there are three Gods: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Protestant approach fundamentally is to reject the authority of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church bases its doctrines on the Bible, sacred tradition, and the magisterium of the Church. All other churches have similar bases, but their Bible is different as well as are their tradition and magisterium. The late Yale Bible scholar Yaroslav Pelikan (who earned something like over 40 or 50 honorary doctorates) asserted that “scriptura” has never been “sola.” In other words, there is no intellectual honesty about saying that people believe in scripture alone–the Protestant viewpoint.
That’s the wrong starting point.
In the long run, we are supposed to evangelize the world, but we know that a lot of people will not listen to us and scripture warns about there being heresy, even in the Church.
I’m not in charge of these things, but I don’t think Catholics are educated enough about the Bible. And, in the midst of Protestants, we should have some level of expertise in apologetics, because we will always be challenged about Catholic beliefs and practices. If anyone decides to go to a Protestant study anyway, I think it’s only fair to state that you are Catholic and will put forth the Catholic point of view. You should find out, in advance, if that is OK. If not, then you shouldn’t go there, especially alone.
That church invited all members of the community by sending out postcard invitations. The first thing they did was to ask people about their affiliation, and there were really about half Catholics in the group. There were simply no Catholic parish study groups in our town.
I would offer this advice, not to attend a Protestant church Bible study. You never know what you’re going to run into. I was watching the “Ask the Pastor” program on the TNT Christian cable network. One of the pastors answered a question by somehow saying that there are three Gods: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Protestant approach fundamentally is to reject the authority of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church bases its doctrines on the Bible, sacred tradition, and the magisterium of the Church. All other churches have similar bases, but their Bible is different as well as are their tradition and magisterium. The late Yale Bible scholar Yaroslav Pelikan (who earned something like over 40 or 50 honorary doctorates) asserted that “scriptura” has never been “sola.” In other words, there is no intellectual honesty about saying that people believe in scripture alone–the Protestant viewpoint.
That’s the wrong starting point.
In the long run, we are supposed to evangelize the world, but we know that a lot of people will not listen to us and scripture warns about there being heresy, even in the Church.
I’m not in charge of these things, but I don’t think Catholics are educated enough about the Bible. And, in the midst of Protestants, we should have some level of expertise in apologetics, because we will always be challenged about Catholic beliefs and practices. If anyone decides to go to a Protestant study anyway, I think it’s only fair to state that you are Catholic and will put forth the Catholic point of view. You should find out, in advance, if that is OK. If not, then you shouldn’t go there, especially alone.
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ajcstr
Guest
I went to several Bible studies at an Anglican church. The one on Romans was the one that attracted me because of the implications on justification, etc. And I figured an Anglican church would not be a hostile environment. The Romans study was given by a parishioner and I attended one on Mark and the one on the letters of John that were given by another parishioner. Both had done formal Bible study not to give the impression that they were not educated somehow in Bible study…
Well, while I did get a lot out of the Romans study, it was an interesting alternate perspective and it did cause me to study a little harder to grasp both points of view. The particular person that led the other studies went a little over the top for me (like discussing the heresy of Mary remaining a virgin) so I stopped going at that point.
Personally, I did not feel that this was the forum to defend the faith just as I would not appreciate a person with fundamentalist beliefs coming to a Catholic bible study and debating every point. I mostly just kept my mouth shut (and did a lot of toe curling). Interestingly enough, there were others in the room that were in disagreement with some of the points that were brought out, mainly for eschatological differences. In one case a comment was directed at me directly and “my Church” with which I responded “Well you know I would disagree with what you just said” which did bring a chuckle from the other participants.
In this case nobody tried to convert me, the pastor was very cordial to me and other than the occasional heresy references I did enjoy it.
Well, while I did get a lot out of the Romans study, it was an interesting alternate perspective and it did cause me to study a little harder to grasp both points of view. The particular person that led the other studies went a little over the top for me (like discussing the heresy of Mary remaining a virgin) so I stopped going at that point.
Personally, I did not feel that this was the forum to defend the faith just as I would not appreciate a person with fundamentalist beliefs coming to a Catholic bible study and debating every point. I mostly just kept my mouth shut (and did a lot of toe curling). Interestingly enough, there were others in the room that were in disagreement with some of the points that were brought out, mainly for eschatological differences. In one case a comment was directed at me directly and “my Church” with which I responded “Well you know I would disagree with what you just said” which did bring a chuckle from the other participants.
In this case nobody tried to convert me, the pastor was very cordial to me and other than the occasional heresy references I did enjoy it.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
an Anglican Bible study might not be too bad. the one I am attending seems like mainline Protestants or evangelicals. I attend tomorrow morning so I will see what happens.
after tomorrow the next two weeks will be spent on the New Testament and I was anticipating I might hear something about Mary. I will see.
thanks for sharing about your experience.
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ajcstr
Guest
I thought so too, but it was announced on several occasions “If there is anyone here who is not saved, we have the people available here that can get you saved”.
I don’t know if that was directed at me (there were only 6-9 people there at any given night) but I tell you a little paranoia is bound to creep in.
The other thing I got confronted with is “Why is it that you are permitted to receive communion here but I am not permitted to receive communion at your church.” I have to admit I am not normally this quick with responses, but I said “With all the negative stuff you are saying about the Catholic Church, why would you even want to receive communion there?”
But I preferred the guy who just came out and challenged me personally much better then the one that just threw out the jabs during his talk. I had no problem responding one on one to challenges.
A phrase I always liked was - The Catholic Church is like a lion, you don’t have to defend it, just let it out of it’s cage and it will defend itself. The point being is there is a lot of misconception about the Church, for example the belief that Catholics think they could merit salvation. Just point them in the right direction when possible.
But the bottom line is they all have a deep love for scripture, so don’t be too hard on them!
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7_Sorrows
Guest
the Bible study was good today. I enjoyed it. no one was confrontational. we ended the Old Testament and will start the New Testament next week. I did find out 2 other women in my Bible study group that we break off into were raised in the Episcopal church. they are now other denominations.
I will share if any issues come up the next two weeks.
thanks for sharing your experiences.
I will share if any issues come up the next two weeks.
thanks for sharing your experiences.
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Graceful_Lamb
Guest
Personally, I would not attend a Protestant Bible study. Where I normally go to Bible Study is the parish I belong to, and a priest leads the Bible study.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
we have a Wednesday morning Bible study at our parish after morning Mass. it is only an hour and no day care. they study the readings for the upcoming weekday Mass. it is led by the RCIA director. our parish priest does not lead any Bible study at the moment.
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PJM
Guest
So my friend, a few questions
[1] How well [completely] do you know our Catholic Faith?
[2] Can YOU explain and provide evidence of our Catholic beliefs and practices? Can you with charity, clarity [facts] defend our beliefs?
[3] MIGHT you be risking [1] scandal to the RCC? [2] You’re faith and salvation in doing so, IF, IF you can’t answer #'s [1] & [2] positively
Being lonely is NOT the best of reasons to do this IF your not FULLY qualified to explaind and defend our beliefs and practices
PRAY about it.
If you’d like a refresher FREE OF ALL COST course on our beliefs and practices, please send me a private message.
Easter Blessings,
Patrick [PJM] here on CAF
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7_Sorrows
Guest
I feel pretty secure in my faith and able to defend it if I need to.So my friend, a few questions
[1] How well [completely] do you know our Catholic Faith?
[2] Can YOU explain and provide evidence of our Catholic beliefs and practices? Can you with charity, clarity [facts] defend our beliefs?
[3] MIGHT you be risking [1] scandal to the RCC? [2] You’re faith and salvation in doing so, IF, IF you can’t answer #'s [1] & [2] positively
Being lonely is NOT the best of reasons to do this IF your not FULLY qualified to explaind and defend our beliefs and practices
PRAY about it.
If you’d like a refresher FREE OF ALL COST course on our beliefs and practices, please send me a private message.
Easter Blessings,
Patrick [PJM] here on CAF
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