A trying day...

[ThomasDoubter]

Hello all,

Today, I have been to a friends and had an exhausting conversation on faith. They are aware that I have refound my faith in God, but only today have I told them about my rediscovered belief in the Catholic Church, as the true path for me.

As Pentecostal believers, I knew it would not go down too well with them. I didn’t however, expect to be brow-beaten for the best part of two hours as to why the choice I have made is not the right one.

From the ‘worship’ of the Blessed Virgin and the ‘praying to dead people’, through the errors of Sacred Tradition, Papal authority and more… I had it all. I tried to offer my view on various topics where I could, but I am no apologist. Armed with a bible, my friend rattled off many scriptural examples of my being duped by a false Church. I was told that whatever had guided me back to Catholicism, was not the Holy Spirit, but a deceiving spirit. The strong inference is that I (and every Catholic for that matter) have been deceived by the devil! It was not said, but you can’t tell me it was not implied. They have said that any spirit other than the Holy Spirit is of satan.

What struck me most was the fixation with the Holy Spirit. They had obviously told me in no uncertain terms that there is nothing in scripture that allows devotion to Mary. When I asked them where it says I can pray to the Holy Spirit, I was given a list of scriptural references backing up the assertion that you can pray to the Holy Spirit exclusively. I was told ‘‘You pray to Mary and your saints, I’ll pray to the Holy Spirit. Let’s see who is listened to…’’

I have to now look up: John 16: 4-15; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and 14: 1-25; Acts 2:1-13, for starters. There are other references too. It should make for interesting reading, because I have never been aware of a passage that says you pray directly to the Holy Spirit, but I am probably wrong.

They have even said today that going to Mass is not important. They have two meetings every week in their house, where they have fellowship and prayer with others. All is centred around the Holy Spirit.

Catholic and Protestant, and never the twain shall meet, I know. I’m not interested in teaching them about my Church. I want to build my faith at this moment in time, not evangelize. But heck, they sure want me listen to them!!!

Not sure where I am going with this rambling recollection, other than I feel quite deflated this evening…

 

[Insight]

From the ‘worship’ of the Blessed Virgin…

They had obviously told me in no uncertain terms that there is nothing in scripture that allows devotion to Mary.

The following is a good explanation, just be aware that it is on a pro-Medjugorje website. The Medjugorje Apparitions are currently under Vatican investigation and are presently considered unapproved:

“The Ark of the Covenant was so Holy, that God gave specific instructions as to how It must be built. Every single detail; from the wood that must be used, to what metals to incorporate, how to carry It, how to hold It, what was to be placed in It, etc. God even warned; if It starts to tip or fall don’t touch It. We all know what happened when the Ark was being carried by the Israelites on an ox-cart and began to tilt, an Israelite put his hand on It to stabilize It, and God instantaneously struck him dead. God warned not to touch It, and He immediately defended His Vessel with severe capital punishment. God doesn’t give these exacting instructions in the Old Testament only once, but He gives them twice. The Ark possessed such incredible power, that armies who carried It before them, won their victories. When King David recovered the Ark he danced every seven steps proclaiming his joy at getting the Ark Back. He was even chastised by his wife who said he was making a fool out of himself. He told her that she didn’t understand the significance. We got the Ark back! He knew there was power there!

And if there was so much power with the Ark because It contained objects that were touched by the very Finger of God (the Jewish Decalogue known as the Ten Commandments, on two tablets that God inscribed with His Finger), how much more power is there in the Container that enclosed the actual Divine Holy Finger of God? And not just the Finger, but the Hand of God, and not just the Hand, but the entire Body of God? And how much more Holy of a Vessel would be required to carry all that Divinity? And how much more exacting and perfect construction would be required to build such a Faultless Holy Vessel? And that is what Mary is, God’s most Perfect Ark, the bearer of Himself".

DefendingMedjugorje.com/Pages/Antagonist.htm

God Bless

 

[kimmielittle]

I feel quite deflated this evening…

That’s exactly what they wanted.

:hug1::hug1:

It is not being disrespectful to sometimes politely remind others that it is YOUR Spiritual walk with God - Not theirs.

 

[Cat]

I’m sorry this was so awful for you.

My husband came out of the Assemblies of God, and it was tough enough for him when he announced that he wanted to become Baptist after he started dating me!

I would like to suggest that you get hold of some CDs by Tim Staples, who is one of the Catholic Answer apologists. He came out of the Pentecostal tradition (Assemblies of God) and he was a pastor in that denomination.

One of his strengths is being able to quote chapter and verse about almost every issue that Catholic converts face.

He’s a great speaker. He has a few books, but he’s definitely a better speaker than writer. You will be encouraged and strengthened by listening to him.

If you don’t have the money to buy the CDs, ask your parish office. We have a lady in our parish who keeps a “lending library” of books, videos, and tapes/CDs, and she lends them for free.

 

[ThomasDoubter]

Thanks for the replies.

The explanation of Mary being the new Ark is clear enough to me, and that is what is most important, afterall! As you said Kimmie, it is MY spiritual walk, not theirs.

And I will definitely be buying a CD or two from Tim Staples, by the sounds of it. Are they available on Amazon? I live in a remote location in Sweden, and the parish church is two and a half hours away.

In fact, we have a Mass once a month here, and not at all during the summer months! I often have a problem with reconciling the logistics of where I live, with the fact that NOT going to Mass every Sunday is a mortal sin…