A place for non Catholic communities

[bethndanny]

So I attend a “non denominational” Christian service with my best friend (and she attends mass with me ). I recently watched as a few members of their community were baptized. The life stories of these individuals were, well they had a rough time for a while. But here the were coming to the Lord. Where they were in their lives, it is very unlikely they could have made the leap to Catholicism. It felt to me that God met them where they were. You know? A step towards Him. Just wondering what you all think.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

So I attend a “non denominational” Christian service with my best friend (and she attends mass with me ). I recently watched as a few members of their community were baptized. The life stories of these individuals were, well they had a rough time for a while. But here the were coming to the Lord. Where they were in their lives, it is very unlikely they could have made the leap to Catholicism. It felt to me that God met them where they were. You know? A step towards Him. Just wondering what you all think.

I think this could be the case.

I watch the Journey Home every week, and many of the Catholic converts who used to have no religion made their first move to Christ in an evangelical church.

Evangelicals are all about evangelizing. In fact, some our best Catholic apologists are former evangelicals.

I think there is something to this.

 

[Steadfast]

The tendency to see conversion as a crisis event is ingrained in us.

In reality, it is far more common for it to be an on-going, life long process. It may not always involve joining new churches, but growth in intimacy with the Lord of the Church will always lead to a better and clearer church life.

 

[ralphinal]

The tendency to see conversion as a crisis event is ingrained in us.

In reality, it is far more common for it to be an on-going, life long process. It may not always involve joining new churches, but growth in intimacy with the Lord of the Church will always lead to a better and clearer church life.

I agree. I think that too many “Christians” have an idea that conversion always manifests itself in a Road to Damascus type event. In reality, that is rarely the case. Even when it is, that is just the first step of many in the journey to God.

When we look at the rest of the Apostles, they spent three years with Jesus and still did not get it. Not at first…

 

[bethndanny]

Steadfast, excellent point! And one her pastor actually made.
I agree not all faith journeys are dramatic, mine is far from. Simply baby steps to my Lord and Savior, and baby steps to the Catholic Church.

 

[bpbasilphx]

One of the most beautiful conversion stories I read was about a young woman who was seen by another not as a “sinner saved by grace”–but a seeker of truth taking her first steps towards her loving God and Father.

 

[Hisalone]

As a nonCatholic Christian I find the OP premise extremely offensive. To suggest that the faith of someone other than Catholic is a lesser faith or a faith less developed is again evidence of the arrogant heart of many.

 

[ralphinal]

As a nonCatholic Christian I find the OP premise extremely offensive. To suggest that the faith of someone other than Catholic is a lesser faith or a faith less developed is again evidence of the arrogant heart of many.

Are they suggesting that the Faith of the person is inherently less than the Faith of a Catholic or that the Faith System is less than that of the Catholic Church?

 

[Hisalone]

Are they suggesting that the Faith of the person is inherently less than the Faith of a Catholic or that the Faith System is less than that of the Catholic Church?

Both
The individual is incapable of knowing “the fullness of truth” and the faith community is made for those like themselves are not capable of knowing “the fullness of truth”

 

[ralphinal]

Both
The individual is incapable of knowing “the fullness of truth” and the faith community is made for those like themselves are not capable of knowing “the fullness of truth”

I would agree that no one is capable of knowing the Truth in its entirety while here on earth. I will also say that there are many non-Catholics who have stronger faiths than Catholics. It does go both ways. There are very devout, very holy non-Catholics and there are those who are far, far from it. At the same time, not all Catholics are the most deprived sinners, nor are we all holy.

Yes, it is not possible for the Church on earth to know or understand everything. However, as a Catholic, I hold that as my Church is the one founded by Christ, has an unbroken line to the Apostles, teaches the entire Bible as part of its theology, and holds to the teachings and beliefs of the Early Christians, it is the one that is the closest. In other words, it contains the Fullness of Truth as can be understood on earth.

I guess I am somewhere in the middle. The Catholic Church is a more complete faith than other churches but the people in it may or may not be better examples of Christian life.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**
As a nonCatholic Christian I find the OP premise extremely offensive. To suggest that the faith of someone other than Catholic is a lesser faith or a faith less developed is again evidence of the arrogant heart of many.**

**Don’t you think you have the full truth and Catholicism is a lesser faith?

If so, is this not evidence of the arrogance of your OWN heart? If it’s true of others, why would it not be true of you?

If you don’t think so, why do you remain where you are? The full, fully developed faith has to be out there SOMEWHERE.

There is no third alternative.**

 

[bethndanny]

Thank you Ralph and bpbasilphx. I do mean the faith, not necessarily the individuals within the faith. As a Catholic, I believe that my faith possesses the fullness of the truth. If I didn’t why would I be Catholic? In the same way that you, Hisalone, view your faith to be closer to the truth. There is no offense intended in my post.

 

[Peter_J]

As a nonCatholic Christian I find the OP premise extremely offensive. To suggest that the faith of someone other than Catholic is a lesser faith or a faith less developed is again evidence of the arrogant heart of many.

Hi Hisalone,

From my experience on the internet, it seems to me that there’s a lot of over-sensitivity on both sides, Catholic and Protestant. (Or perhaps I should say, on all sides, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox.)

I wouldn’t be offended if a Protestant told me that my faith was “less developed” because I’m a Catholic instead of a Protestant.