A few questions for all those of Reformed Theology who converted to Catholism?

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gmcbroom

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Hello All,
I was curious what is reformed theology? I did read wikipedia, but since it can’t legally be used as a source in college papers what sources list it that are collegically acceptable?,

What I read tended to make me think your either saved or your not. That seems pretty simplistic. That what you do may not even matter.

So if I’m right what drove you to seek catholism? I’m a catholic convert myself but I chose to start from the beginning of the church, on my faith journey and never found a good enough reason to leave it.

This isn’t a thread on reformed theology bashing or catholic bashing. I simply want to find out what drives reformed theology and why some leave it.
 
Good Question! The best place to go for Reformed Theology is to read the Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin who is the “father” of reformed theology. Some good contemporary authors are R.C. Sproul and J.I. Packer.

After a conversion experience I belonged to a Reformed congregation for a number of years but just couldn’t accept the doctrines. My fellow Christians there were wonderful people who loved Christ and I learned a lot from them. But in the end I found their beliefs stifling. I had the sense that Christianity, while difficult, should be life-giving. Instead, my wife and I both, constantly felt like we weren’t ever good enough nor ever would be. That was a drain on our lives not. And in the end I saw that several doctrines within Reformed theology defied common sense and, to boot, couldn’t be supported by Scripture. Namely, Once Saved Always Saved, Sola Scriptura, Total Depravity, Irresistible Grace, Faith alone.

I was also disappointed in the total deficiency of a satisfying answer to the problem of suffering. The only good answer was that it made our faith stronger. But no one could offer any insight into how or why. In contrast the Catholic Tradition is full of profound insights offered throughout the centuries which have given my wife and I great peace about life and Our Lord.
 
I was born and raised in the Dutch Christian Reformed tradition. A was a very devout member of that faith, but began questioning doctrines when I was a teen.

The bottom line is that the doctrines simple don’t add-up, biblically. As is with all the “Bible-believing” traditions, they base much of the doctrines on man-made traditions and concepts, i.e., Luther, Calvin, etc. Certainly not the Bible. I think anyone with an open-heart and mind, who cares enough to study their faith (bible + history), will always find their’ way out of this snare.

That all being said, I am greatful that they did good at educating me on basic Bible knowledge (of course leaving out some key points).

If you have any specific questions, please ask.
 
cavaleriesoldaa said:
I was born and raised in the Dutch Christian Reformed tradition. A was a very devout member of that faith, but began questioning doctrines when I was a teen.

The bottom line is that the doctrines simple don’t add-up, biblically. As is with all the “Bible-believing” traditions, they base much of the doctrines on man-made traditions and concepts, i.e., Luther, Calvin, etc. Certainly not the Bible. I think anyone with an open-heart and mind, who cares enough to study their faith (bible + history), will always find their’ way out of this snare.

That all being said, I am greatful that they did good at educating me on basic Bible knowledge (of course leaving out some key points).

If you have any specific questions, please ask.
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I learned much from Reformed people and believe that their faith is very genuine and devout. However, I had intellectual issues with their beliefs.

Sola Scriptura was problematic, since the Coucils formed the Bible. If the council was infallible, then why not subsequent ones? If the Councils were not infallible, then how can we trust the current protestant Bibles which exclude books that other councils accepted? If one accepts the Apocrypha, then one denies the Reformed statement of faith.

Once saved, always saved was another one that I could not intellectually assent to. What about all the verses about falling away or being separated from Christ by sin? The Bible does not teach that murderers and adulterers and thieves will go to Heaven if they were at one time baptized. It says they are damned by their works.
 
hieroglyph said:
I learned much from Reformed people and believe that their faith is very genuine and devout. However, I had intellectual issues with their beliefs.

Sola Scriptura was problematic, since the Coucils formed the Bible. If the council was infallible, then why not subsequent ones? If the Councils were not infallible, then how can we trust the current protestant Bibles which exclude books that other councils accepted? If one accepts the Apocrypha, then one denies the Reformed statement of faith.

Once saved, always saved was another one that I could not intellectually assent to. What about all the verses about falling away or being separated from Christ by sin? The Bible does not teach that murderers and adulterers and thieves will go to Heaven if they were at one time baptized. It says they are damned by their works.
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Absolutely. That was what started my journey home. I agree that they are very devout in their’ beliefs, simply grossly mis-lead. This is one of the reasons I became an Evangelist, to help right this wrong.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15
This verse is heavy on my heart when thinking of all these poor souls.
 
gmcbroom said:
Hello All,
I was curious what is reformed theology? I did read wikipedia, but since it can’t legally be used as a source in college papers what sources list it that are collegically acceptable?,

What I read tended to make me think your either saved or your not. That seems pretty simplistic. That what you do may not even matter.

So if I’m right what drove you to seek catholism? I’m a catholic convert myself but I chose to start from the beginning of the church, on my faith journey and never found a good enough reason to leave it.

This isn’t a thread on reformed theology bashing or catholic bashing. I simply want to find out what drives reformed theology and why some leave it.
Click to expand...
It would be good to watch Peter Kreeft’s conversion story on Youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEZpDRzIjzI
and or you can read about it at peterkreeft.com/topics/hauled-aboard.htm . He was a Calvinist and is now one of our foremost Catholic theologians.
 
Two major things led me to Catholicism: an honest review of the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians as shown in the writings of the Church Fathers like St. Ignatius, and the scriptural foundation of the Eucharist.
 
I have not yet become a Catholic but am starting the journey towards the Catholic church I am wanting to convert because the other churches leave so many questions unanswered, they have very set beliefs and expect an awful lot from people based only on the bible, I find that you need the history and other beliefs to balance out what the bible says,
 
Miss_Primrose said:
I have not yet become a Catholic but am starting the journey towards the Catholic church I am wanting to convert because the other churches leave so many questions unanswered, they have very set beliefs and expect an awful lot from people based only on the bible, I find that you need the history and other beliefs to balance out what the bible says,
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Feel free to contact me through this website, and I’ll help you in anyway that I can.
streetevangelization.com/springfield/
 
Miss_Primrose said:
I have not yet become a Catholic but am starting the journey towards the Catholic church I am wanting to convert because the other churches leave so many questions unanswered, they have very set beliefs and expect an awful lot from people based only on the bible, I find that you need the history and other beliefs to balance out what the bible says,
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I would recomend books by Scott Hahn and Thomas Howard.
God bless you
 
Thank you for the advice and offer of help, you will hear from me.
 
gmcbroom said:
Hello All,
I was curious what is reformed theology? I did read wikipedia, but since it can’t legally be used as a source in college papers what sources list it that are collegically acceptable?,

What I read tended to make me think your either saved or your not. That seems pretty simplistic. That what you do may not even matter.

So if I’m right what drove you to seek catholism? I’m a catholic convert myself but I chose to start from the beginning of the church, on my faith journey and never found a good enough reason to leave it.

This isn’t a thread on reformed theology bashing or catholic bashing. I simply want to find out what drives reformed theology and why some leave it.
Click to expand...
Try this website…www.calledtocommunion.com…one of my favorite conversion stories is that of David Anders…How Calvin Made me catholic…it is available at the website.
 
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