A Catholic going to a Protestant worhsip?

[RedLetterPaul]

I am a 17 year old Catholic and my best friend is what he calls non-denominational Christian because he does not believe in denominations, he believes that we are all followers of Christ and thats what matters. But last night I went with him and his girlfriend to a " Apostolic Church"

I have been to an Alliance church and the Pastor spoke from the Bible lots and compared it to modern day things - which I thought was really cool. And they also had a rock band for the worship songs. Mass was hour and a half long.

Now this Apostolic Church was similar. They performed the Eucharist at the beginning of church but they never mentioned any of Jesus’ words when he gave the blood and body of christ. He just said it was a sacrifice for your everyday and compared it to cars and stuff. I put my hands how the usually are when I take Eucharist at my catholic church, and I was frowned upon there for doing that. Another thing was the prayers seemed really selfish… they prayed for stuff to happen quick, but in my catholic church we pray that god’s will be done and ask for help, but not demand it. During prayers I was the only one to say amen and do the sign of the cross and I received a few glances from people for that too. Personally I don’t understand why you would not do the sign of the cross or say amen, it is sacred to me and acknowledgement of your faith and proof that you are not afraid to show others of it.Then during the music people would through there arms up in the air and dance and cry. Some even were wailing around. People would scream during the songs amen, and the pastor would scream “come up to the front and feel jesus, feel his heart, reach out to god!” Most of the “church” went up, but i remained standing at my seat with my friends girlfriend. And we both agreed that the pastor seemed to push it like he was a salesman trying to trick you.

I failed to mention that they played music for an hour and a half and only talked for thirty minutes. But they never talked about anything from he Bible and I was shocked! They only talked about modern day stuff like work, and cars… again. ( They made really weird references that made no sense to me at all. … The Body of Christ was RITZ Crackers and the blood was Kirkland Cranberry Juice.

Now my questions… Is this really a service to worship God? Is this the same reason we Catholics go to church? Why don’t they acknowledge anything about the holy spirit, the trinity or the seven sacraments. My friend said they are not important but I believe they are. He also said the we worship mary over jesus… Which I know is not true!

And another question is if I continue to go to non-catholic churches am I betraying my faith? Am I betraying the Lord? I honestly feel guilt from going to protestant churches, I feel dirty. But after a catholic mass I feel clean and refreshed and I believe I can feel the holy spirit. Am I still performing in holy activities and worshipping God if I go to non-catholic churches? I am really confused at this point and probably seem dramatic so i apologize for that. I just need some clarity… Thank you

 

[1ke]

Mass was hour and a half long.

Non-Catholic churches do not have a Mass. The Mass requires a priest with valid holy orders.

They performed the Eucharist

Churches that lack valid holy orders and apostolic succession (those other than the Cathlic and Orthodox Churches) do not have a valid Eucharist.

I put my hands how the usually are when I take Eucharist at my catholic church,

Catholics may NOT receive communion in non-Catholic ecclesial communities. This is a gravely wrong act. Since you did not know this is wrong, it would not be a mortal sin. However, do not do it again.

Now my questions… Is this really a service to worship God?

I’m sure it was their sincere attempt to worship God.

Is this the same reason we Catholics go to church?

Catholic theology surrounding the Mass differs substantially from non-Catholic’s understanding of worship.

You, as a Catholic, should not be attending non-Catholic churches with regularity. If you do go occasionally-- for example to a wedding, funeral, or special occasion with a friend-- you should refrain from communion and you must also still attend Mass to fulfill your Sunday obligation.

Why don’t they acknowledge anything about the holy spirit, the trinity or the seven sacraments. My friend said they are not important but I believe they are. He also said the we worship mary over jesus… Which I know is not true!

You are correct. I am unclear as to why you go to these non-Catholic services and why your parents permit it.

And another question is if I continue to go to non-catholic churches am I betraying my faith?

You should not be attending non-Catholic churches regularly. See the papal document Ecclesia de Eucharistia.

Am I betraying the Lord? I honestly feel guilt from going to protestant churches, I feel dirty. But after a catholic mass I feel clean and refreshed and I believe I can feel the holy spirit. Am I still performing in holy activities and worshipping God if I go to non-catholic churches? I am really confused at this point and probably seem dramatic so i apologize for that. I just need some clarity… Thank you

Why are you going to these non-Catholic churches?

 

[beth40n2]

Catholics should only attend protestant or non-denominational churches on special occasions and only if they are well formed in their faith.

I am a convert of 6 years, my husband is United Methodist. I go to Mass and then to worship with him at his church. My priest suggested this to keep my marriage together as my conversion almost broke up my marriage. I am well catechized and know the Catholic faith well. I am well informed on apologetics and use this situation to witness the Catholic faith.

A person can be fooled into believing other worship services are good. No music, drama or other entertainment you find in other churches will ever replace the Eucharist, which is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The preaching does not match up with Catholic doctrine. There are many similarities, but also many difference.

Since you are only 17, if you were my son or daughter I would not allow it. You can be indoctrinated in the wrong doctrine. There are many Catholic youth rallies and activities where you can find great music and teaching.

 

[DavidJoseph]

What 1ke and beth40n2 said.

I’d like to add that not only should you not attend Protestant services regularly, but also, if you’ve been attending Protestant services INSTEAD OF Sunday Mass, that’s gravely wrong and thus requiring of confession. Missing Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is a mortal sin, and a Protestant service CAN NEVER fulfill your Sunday obligation.

 

[lampstand]

It’s probably safest not to attend, unless it’s a wedding or something like that. Just my thought. I’m sure they’re nice people, but different churches tend to have very different definitions of the meaning of worship. It’s less to worry about if you just kindly say, “No, thank you.”

 

[RedLetterPaul]

Why are you going to these non-Catholic churches?

My parents never go to church because the work all the time, They are EMS. I truly started being a Christian when i was 14 and the person who got me to go was a Social worker that I met while at a summer camp. Me and him went to a alliance church. But then sometimes when I went out to the farm I would go to catholic churches. My ONLY Christian friend in such a small city is Bret, and he is protestant. At these protestant churches there is other people my age… so it is a way to get to meet other Christians. All my other friends are of different faiths, but most are not Christian. As I said I live in a small city. My catholic church has no youth program, and this is not my parents fault. You’re answers seem to be a little extreme, I was told Gold was understanding and forgiving from the father at my local church.

 

[Defender1]

You must go to a Catholic mass every Week . A Protestant service is not a mass . Non denominational is Baptist based . You are on the right track on feeling better about going to a Catholic mass . We do not worship Mary we honor her . We ask her to pray for us in "Hail Mary " prayer . They may have had the what looked like mass but they do not believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist . Tell your friend to read John Chapter 6 from verses 30-66 . In Greek, the word to eat is “Phagon” The word to munch and naw is “Trogon” You will see the words change from “Phagon “to “Trogon” if you read the Bible in Greek . This was to put greater emphasis on the word eat . In other words we are really to eat his flesh and blood . John 6:55” For my flesh is true food and blood is true drink” In protestant churches they take it as a symbol not literal. You should not even receive Eucharist in other churches that are not Catholic because the preacher does not believe in the true presence.

 

[JRKH]

RedLetterPaul,
Sorry if some of the respnonses seem a bit strong, but really - This is the Catholic faith. There is a Sunday obligation to attend mass. That is part of the faith. Now there may be legitimate reasons for not attending and your parish priest can address these.

As for the protestant communities you have visited, the sound like prosperity Gospel mega-church types. A lot of hype but little substance, and no sacraments at all except baptism.
If you have not been able to attend mass due to your parent’s schedules, try asking around about catching a ride with someone…course you say you are 17 so do you drive? Or failing that, do you have a bike?
I have to think that you can fnid a way to get to mass somehow…

Don’t be sucked in by the “youth groups” and such that these other churches offer. You already know that they are badly misinformed about Catholics and you will not be able to change their minds…They will keep at you and try to “save you” from your error of being catholic…

This doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with some of these people individually. In one on one or one on two you can talk about you rlove for Jesus and more easily discuss what Catholics really believe.

Latly - it is obvious that you are very young in your faith (since you refered to a protestamnt service as a mass). Rather than subject yourself to a lot of anti-catholic bovine scat, hang around here and seek to know your faith in the Catholic church. Ask questions and read a lot.
We are here to help.

Peace
James

Peace
James

 

[RedLetterPaul]

Yes I can drive. I own my own vehicle but I also have two jobs and one is a production job and it requires me to work every second sunday morning. I’ll talk to my cherishes priest tomorrow. Can I talk to priests on a monday?

 

[JRKH]

Yes I can drive. I own my own vehicle but I also have two jobs and one is a production job and it requires me to work every second sunday morning. I’ll talk to my cherishes priest tomorrow. Can I talk to priests on a monday?

Sure you can talk to your priest on monday - or tuesday or … Just call the parish office and see if you can stop by and talk it over.
There may be options you hadn’t considered. You say it’s a small town. Is there only one Catholic church? How many masses and when? Is there one on Saturday night (usually about 4 or 5 o’clock)?
Where do you work? Is there another Catholic Church where you might be able to attend on those Sundays when you have to work?

Also - consider this as well. If you cannot get to mass on the Sundays you work, are there any weekday mornings when you could attend mass? I have a dispensation from my priest due to my wifes illness. If I can, I try to go to a weekday mass.

These are just some ideas that rolled off the top of my head. I’m sure that when you talk to your pastor you and he will be able to work something out. In any event you on those Sundays you do not work, you should be attending mass.

Peace
James

 

[beth40n2]

RedLetterPaul,

You might trying to invite your friends to Mass on a Sunday when you can go. It will give you the opportunity to explain your faith. If your friends know their Bible you can show them John 6 and if they say anything about the Mass as to how we do things, you can show them the book of Revelation, which most of that book describes the Mass, the white robes, incense, altar etc. which a nondenominational church does not have.

Check out scripturecatholic.com/ so that you can easily explain what we believe on subjects such as Mary, the Pope etc.

I will be praying for you.

 

[Oldtimer_7]

From a non-Catholic point of view, these churches offer what my pastor calls “worship-tainment.” A lot of Protestant churches are losing their young people to these “nondenominational” groups. The name sounds like they are trying to get back to the first century practices, but the truth is that most of them are either related to Baptist belief or Pentacostal. One of our Pentacostal churches moved to the county and opened a “worship center.” It has drawn a lot of young people from established churches. Just as the crackers and cranberry juice for Eucharist did not satisfy you, the spiritual growth you experience in such a church is ultimately unsatisfying.

 

[thequeen]

stay with your own catholic faith i am a convert who was raised in apentecostal church and i know first hand their way pof worship and it does not bring happiness like another post on here said nothing will replace the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist continue to be friends but when it comes to worship please go to mass at a catholic church that teaches the true faith

 

[PLAT]

Catholics may NOT receive communion in non-Catholic ecclesial communities. This is a gravely wrong act. Since you did not know this is wrong, it would not be a mortal sin. However, do not do it again.

I am always taught this, so I would only recieve the communion from a catholic church. But when does this rule come from? I know that the body of Jesus only exists in the Catholic Church (and Othodox?) but Like, how is this wrong, if the person ecknowledges the bread as a symbol and not transformed into the body and blood of christ by any means? Any documents if needed would be helpful.

 

[Curious_Hobbit]

I am a 17 year old Catholic and my best friend is what he calls non-denominational Christian because he does not believe in denominations, he believes that we are all followers of Christ and thats what matters. But last night I went with him and his girlfriend to a " Apostolic Church"

I have been to an Alliance church and the Pastor spoke from the Bible lots and compared it to modern day things - which I thought was really cool. And they also had a rock band for the worship songs. Mass was hour and a half long.

Now this Apostolic Church was similar. They performed the Eucharist at the beginning of church but they never mentioned any of Jesus’ words when he gave the blood and body of christ. He just said it was a sacrifice for your everyday and compared it to cars and stuff. I put my hands how the usually are when I take Eucharist at my catholic church, and I was frowned upon there for doing that. Another thing was the prayers seemed really selfish… they prayed for stuff to happen quick, but in my catholic church we pray that god’s will be done and ask for help, but not demand it. During prayers I was the only one to say amen and do the sign of the cross and I received a few glances from people for that too. Personally I don’t understand why you would not do the sign of the cross or say amen, it is sacred to me and acknowledgement of your faith and proof that you are not afraid to show others of it.Then during the music people would through there arms up in the air and dance and cry. Some even were wailing around. People would scream during the songs amen, and the pastor would scream “come up to the front and feel jesus, feel his heart, reach out to god!” Most of the “church” went up, but i remained standing at my seat with my friends girlfriend. And we both agreed that the pastor seemed to push it like he was a salesman trying to trick you.

I failed to mention that they played music for an hour and a half and only talked for thirty minutes. But they never talked about anything from he Bible and I was shocked! They only talked about modern day stuff like work, and cars… again. ( They made really weird references that made no sense to me at all. … The Body of Christ was RITZ Crackers and the blood was Kirkland Cranberry Juice.

Now my questions… Is this really a service to worship God? Is this the same reason we Catholics go to church? Why don’t they acknowledge anything about the holy spirit, the trinity or the seven sacraments. My friend said they are not important but I believe they are. He also said the we worship mary over jesus… Which I know is not true!

And another question is if I continue to go to non-catholic churches am I betraying my faith? Am I betraying the Lord? I honestly feel guilt from going to protestant churches, I feel dirty. But after a catholic mass I feel clean and refreshed and I believe I can feel the holy spirit. Am I still performing in holy activities and worshipping God if I go to non-catholic churches? I am really confused at this point and probably seem dramatic so i apologize for that. I just need some clarity… Thank you

I’ve been to a non-denominational service with a good friend and I had similar experiences. First I’d like to stress that I think the overwhelming majority of the people that are there completely sincere and they are worshiping the God they love. I saw about 3 or 4 people that I thought were exaggerating their worship by jumping and moving around kinda wild. The pastor gave a sermon on the book of Ruth and it was really good.

I DEFINITELY noticed what you were referring to about the prayer intentions. They emphasized many many times that God will ease your financial situation and help you with money. The way they talked about miracles seemed strange too. It felt like the pastor was guaranteeing miracles for anyone who wanted one. Of course I believe God can help me struggle through hard financial times and of course I believe that God performs miracles. It was just such a contrast from the Catholic view of praying that God’s knows what’s best for me and I pray for the strength to get through whatever situation God puts me in.

I know that church does “the lord’s supper” sometimes and I was just really glad they didn’t do it when I was there cause it would’ve been a little awkward for me. I still went to mass that weekend and nothing will stop me from going to mass.

 

[Catherine_k]

I’m really impressed that a 17 year old is self aware enough to join the forumn and post his concerns. That took courage … And I want to applaud him for that. As others have stated, we ( the caf community ) are here to help.
It’s not easy to stand alone while exploring one’s faith… I remember my conversion to the church… I started attending Mass at age 17, and I came from a traditional Jewish background. I mention this because I understand the loneliness the o.p. Might be facing. But a youth program or a 90 minute music program is not a reason to affiliate with a church/community. What is important is to explore and develop one’s understanding of God, who he is, what he expects from us, and how we interact with him and all of his creation.
The Catholic church has a rich history and theology… So rich that one could exhaust ones lifetime exploring it… At 17 it’s unrealstic to assume one has more than a beginning understanding if our faith. It takes time and life experience for that understanding to develop. I encourage the o.p. to give himself time to develop that understanding… And commit himself to doing the work… Prayer, mass, reading… There are very serious differences between the different Christian communities; and while we strive for unity, unfortunately we aren’t unified yet. Therefore, taking communion with them is theologically inappropriate.
While there may only be one parish in your town, I wonder if your priest can put you in contact with other parishes in the diocese that may have youth programs. Remember, there are over 1.16 billion Catholics around the world. I also wonder if there aren’t other resources online that you mght take advantage of.
You’re not alone.

 

[JonNC]

=RedLetterPaul;7532701]Now my questions… Is this really a service to worship God? Is this the same reason we Catholics go to church?

Yes to both.

Why don’t they acknowledge anything about the holy spirit, the trinity or the seven sacraments. My friend said they are not important but I believe they are. He also said the we worship mary over jesus… Which I know is not true!

By these alone, would encourage you to limit your visits there.

And another question is if I continue to go to non-catholic churches am I betraying my faith? Am I betraying the Lord? I honestly feel guilt from going to protestant churches, I feel dirty. But after a catholic mass I feel clean and refreshed and I believe I can feel the holy spirit. Am I still performing in holy activities and worshipping God if I go to non-catholic churches? I am really confused at this point and probably seem dramatic so i apologize for that. I just need some clarity… Thank you

As a Lutheran and father, I would encourage you to, as I said, limit your visits. I would further encourage you as a young Catholic to become as grounded as you can in the teachings of the Catholic Church, strengthen your faith through hearing the word and receiving the sacraments. In this way, you will be better able to evaluate what others do from a position of strength in your own faith, and that of your communion.

Jon

 

[jmcrae]

Yes I can drive. I own my own vehicle but I also have two jobs and one is a production job and it requires me to work every second sunday morning. I’ll talk to my cherishes priest tomorrow. Can I talk to priests on a monday?

You can talk to a priest any day of the week, unless it happens to be his day off.

I think it would be a good idea for you to mention to him what’s been going on, and what you’ve been seeing in all these other churches. I am sure he will have some good advice for you.