Advice for a evangelical beginning his search?

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Ok, after reading a little on justification I can hear the voice of a particular teacher/leader from my past telling a group something like “…if your works have anythng to do with gaining eternal life…then Jesus died in vain…you take away the meaning of the Cross.”. And honestly, I was clueless then, but it seems he was teaching against the Catholic Church. But understand, I’ve been taught that forever…and it is a tough thing to get my head around. I go to a Protestant web site and they quote scripture supporting their views…and I’ve read scripture here supporting the Catholic take on it…and they both seem to make sense…what am I missing?

I’m considering attending a mass this weekend…in a neighboring town…but it is a little intimidating to me…

When my oldest daughter got married, a deacon from my son-in-law’s parish helped with the service (it was a Protestant & Catholic ceremony)…and he seems like a guy that I could approach with some questions…if he’d be willing. I think I’m to the point where I need to discuss some things…

Honestly, there are a lot of things I’ve learned in the last few weeks that give me a very satifying, contented feeling just thinking about them…(the saints and Mary, for example)…

Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings.
 
dal61 said:
Ok, after reading a little on justification I can hear the voice of a particular teacher/leader from my past telling a group something like “…if your works have anythng to do with gaining eternal life…then Jesus died in vain…you take away the meaning of the Cross.”. And honestly, I was clueless then, but it seems he was teaching against the Catholic Church. But understand, I’ve been taught that forever…and it is a tough thing to get my head around. I go to a Protestant web site and they quote scripture supporting their views…and I’ve read scripture here supporting the Catholic take on it…and they both seem to make sense…what am I missing?

I’m considering attending a mass this weekend…in a neighboring town…but it is a little intimidating to me…

When my oldest daughter got married, a deacon from my son-in-law’s parish helped with the service (it was a Protestant & Catholic ceremony)…and he seems like a guy that I could approach with some questions…if he’d be willing. I think I’m to the point where I need to discuss some things…

Honestly, there are a lot of things I’ve learned in the last few weeks that give me a very satifying, contented feeling just thinking about them…(the saints and Mary, for example)…

Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings.
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Just as there is not “works salvation” - which the Catholic Church has never taught, neither is there “faith (alone) salvation.” James, in his epistle, teaches plainly and specifically that we are not justified by faith alone. Faith and works are the left and right hands of the Christian. Yet, if even Paul, who taught that we are justified by faith, also taught that love is a greater virtue than faith, where does that leave the “faith alone” believer? James addresses this exactly, as it was a topic of discussion way back then. As well, Paul’s letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6) relates faith, and the good works it should produce, as laying a foundation for eternal life. Without good works as a natural product of our faith, we have only a dead faith. Evangelizing is a work. Are we called to do that? You bet! Our faith is the tree, while our works of charity are the fruit. A tree that produces no fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.

Yet, you are not confronted with the false choice of either faith or works. It is both faith and works. Even though James wrote very little, his epistle is powerful. Those who have ears for hearing should listen, since “he who hears you hears Me.”

Look at the context in which “good works” is used in scripture, and by whom: biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=good%20works&version1=DRA&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=1

Paul wrote more relating good works to salvation than any of the other New Testament writers.

Yes, this can be an exciting and almost nerve-wracking time in your faith life. You are confronting what you have believed for much of your life. This is not a case where everything you know is wrong, but at times, it can feel uncomfortably close to it. You are following the Holy Spirit, and that is not always the most comfortable journey in this life.
 
dal61 said:
Again, thanks for all of the loving support…

Very informative, FabiusMaximus…thanks for sharing.

Our grandson was born last evening (we are so blessed)…so my attention has been diverted a little…but I’ll soon have some time to try to take advantage of some of the suggestions here.

Blessings to you.
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No problem. And congratulations on your grandson :).
Well, I just finished reading Hahn’s "Rome,Sweet Home…and boy, I am beignning to relate to a lot of what he writes about. I do want to go back and look up some of the scriptures he referenced,and maybe re-read it…The justification thing, among others, is confusing to me.
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I feel like reading this book has both encouraged me…and frightened me a little. It seems like my eyes are being opened to both the Truth…and to maybe how difficult the journey might be. It’s very hard to explain the feeling I have…having to re-assess what I have believed for such a long time…knowing that what I just read made an awful lot of sense…but also knowing what that might mean.
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I’m praying for God’s guidance…and for the strength to do His will.
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I would also recommend also reading a book in defense of Evangelicalism, so you can get both sides of the issue and see who convinces you.

Additionally, if you want a better explanation of Catholic theology, find a nice priest who can answer your questions. If you know him, even better. Or ask a Catholic friend. It’ll make it more comfortable.

When I started researching Catholicism and Orthodoxy, I went to talk to an Orthodox priest that I knew after attending his parish on a few occasions. I e-mailed him to meet to answer a few questions. He was excited to receive me, and even more, he was excited to show me around the renovations the church was making :p.

I had a very fruitful and enlightening conversation. I still lean toward Catholicism, though.
 
FabiusMaximus said:
Additionally, if you want a better explanation of Catholic theology, find a nice priest who can answer your questions. If you know him, even better. Or ask a Catholic friend. It’ll make it more comfortable.

When I started researching Catholicism and Orthodoxy, I went to talk to an Orthodox priest that I knew after attending his parish on a few occasions. I e-mailed him to meet to answer a few questions. He was excited to receive me, and even more, he was excited to show me around the renovations the church was making :p.

I had a very fruitful and enlightening conversation. I still lean toward Catholicism, though.
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I think I will email the deacon I mentioned earlier…I think it is a good idea…I’ll let you know when I hear anything from him…

Blessings.
 
dal61 said:
I think I will email the deacon I mentioned earlier…I think it is a good idea…I’ll let you know when I hear anything from him…

Blessings.
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Please do we’re all here for you :).
 
dal61 said:
pablope;9226404:
I’ll check to see if any EWTN is available on line…or maybe check you tube…

Thanks again for the words of support…

p.s. A copy of ‘The 13th Day’ arrived today…I’ll hopefully get a chance to watch it this weekend…Very kind of you…thanks.
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On EWTN, there is a live daily mass being aired…👍
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dal61 said:
pablope;9226404:
I’ll check to see if any EWTN is available on line…or maybe check you tube…

Thanks again for the words of support…

p.s. A copy of ‘The 13th Day’ arrived today…I’ll hopefully get a chance to watch it this weekend…Very kind of you…thanks.
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Just saw this thread. here is a link to EWTN’s journey home program you can watch on the computer (youtube link on the site also):

ewtn.com/tv/live/journeyhome.asp

The Journey Home is a program dedicated to conversion stories.

I apologize if someone has already mentioned this

Oh, and you can download program files from here, you can look for a speaker with the same background as yourself:

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=Journey
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AH, almost forgot this treasure trove of mp3 files (journey home programs at the bottom):

philvaz.com/apologetics/audio.htm

You may be particularly interested way down on the right about 22 from the bottom:

Bob Sungenis 1 on Justification, author of Not By Faith Alone…Scripture Alone…Bread Alone

These kept me busy for a WHILE and I probably have not hit 25% of them !!!
 
EH - one more (I like mp3’s can you tell)

Lighthouse Catholic Media

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/speakers

Stephen Ray - Finding the Fullness of the Faith is really good - he was a Baptist who discovered the Church through the Fathers

Again, i have only scratched the surface of these
 
Hey Dean I was an evangelical for thirty years before I converted to Catholicism. What finally convinced me? The Bible! I went through the Catechism and followed all the Scripture references in it, and after reading the passages in context and with an open mind, it became obvious that the Catholic Church was the most Biblical. Also, Dr. Scott Hahn gives great talks on the Scriptures and Catholicism, and really helped me understand how the Catholic church is founded in Scripture, you might want to listen to him.
 
my signature has a link on the blessed virgin mary i think you may enjoy
 
Thanks for the links! Plenty of listening/learning for me to do.

I am meeting with the priest of our local parish tomorrow afternoon…I spoke on the phone with him the other day to shedule a time to meet …and we talked for about 30 min. I’m a little nervous about this…but excited at the same time. Somebody describes it to me as being similar to skydiving…Watching others enjoy the experience… jumping out of planes and floating down to earth…then they describe to you how great it all is…you want to do it …so you read and practice and study all about it …you get on the plane and head up…you are standing there with the parachute on looking out the door…but you still have to have the nerve to make the jump. I know that just meeting with him doesn’t mean a thing, really…but it seems like a pretty big deal to me. 🙂
 
dal61 said:
Thanks for the links! Plenty of listening/learning for me to do.

I am meeting with the priest of our local parish tomorrow afternoon…I spoke on the phone with him the other day to shedule a time to meet …and we talked for about 30 min. I’m a little nervous about this…but excited at the same time. Somebody describes it to me as being similar to skydiving…Watching others enjoy the experience… jumping out of planes and floating down to earth…then they describe to you how great it all is…you want to do it …so you read and practice and study all about it …you get on the plane and head up…you are standing there with the parachute on looking out the door…but you still have to have the nerve to make the jump. I know that just meeting with him doesn’t mean a thing, really…but it seems like a pretty big deal to me. 🙂
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Hi, Dean…hope you had enjoyed the movie 13th day…👍

Have you seen the movie…Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?

Remember, towards the end…the challenges to get to the Holy Grail…first…humility…I think you have humbled yourself…you had and open mind…and studied.

The second challenge…follow Jesus…you want to follow Jesus…you taken that step…to what He wants for you.

And the last challenge…the leap of faith…across the ravine…remember how Indy closed his eyes…truly believed and took the step…I think you are on the verge to taking that step…like Indy…close your eyes…pray and believe…the Holy Grail of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ is for the taking…

And do tell us about your meeting with the priest. God bless…
 
Welcome! Please read the works of **former protestant, now Catholic, Dr. Scott Hahn. **He has a website as well.

His books include:

The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth, and Rome Sweet Home.

Internet searches/Youtube will have lots of info. and great videos on how he came to be a convert. ** He was an ordained Presbyterian minister when he realized the Mass was all about everything he had been studying for years.** His wife Kimberly converted as well.
**
Most importantly, please make an appointment to see a nearby Priest at a Catholic parish to inquire about RCIA** (Rite of Christian Initiation of adults,) and please know you are in my prayers!
I converted in 2004, and only regret that I was not raised in the Church.
God Bless You!
:heaven:Kathryn Ann
 
pablope said:
Hi, Dean…hope you had enjoyed the movie 13th day…👍

Have you seen the movie…Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?

Remember, towards the end…the challenges to get to the Holy Grail…first…humility…I think you have humbled yourself…you had and open mind…and studied.

The second challenge…follow Jesus…you want to follow Jesus…you taken that step…to what He wants for you.

And the last challenge…the leap of faith…across the ravine…remember how Indy closed his eyes…truly believed and took the step…I think you are on the verge to taking that step…like Indy…close your eyes…pray and believe…the Holy Grail of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ is for the taking…

And do tell us about your meeting with the priest. God bless…
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Great analogy w/ Indiana Jones…and I’m sorry to say that I have not had a chance to watch the 13th Day…we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and absolutely no free time…but I hope to slow down a little after this week.

A lot has happened since I’v been on this thread…I did meet with the priest…with very positive results. I just asked a lot of questions and was real patient and answered every one…It just is good to sit down and have somebody talk with you face to face. Before meeting w/ him, my wife asked ‘what are you going to talk to him about, specifically?’…and I said ‘I really don’t know…I just want to talk’…and basically that’s what we did. And he invited me back…so maybe next week I’ll give him a call.

On top of that, I attended my first mass today(well first one since Jr. high)…my granddaughter got baptized (my daughter married a Catholic guy)…As far as Mass went. it was all beautiful…and at times powerful…although I have to admit that I had a hard time knowing what was going on all the time. We were sitting with all of the other families of baptized babies…so there were lots of young ones (being very active) sitting all around us, so it was a little hard to focus…so I’d like to go back next week.

It seems like my struggle is becoming less about Church doctrine and teachings…and more about being willing to deal with friends and family’s reaction…but at some point, like you say pablope, you need to take the step…
 
dal61 said:
Great analogy w/ Indiana Jones…and I’m sorry to say that I have not had a chance to watch the 13th Day…we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and absolutely no free time…but I hope to slow down a little after this week.

A lot has happened since I’v been on this thread…I did meet with the priest…with very positive results. I just asked a lot of questions and was real patient and answered every one…It just is good to sit down and have somebody talk with you face to face. Before meeting w/ him, my wife asked ‘what are you going to talk to him about, specifically?’…and I said ‘I really don’t know…I just want to talk’…and basically that’s what we did. And he invited me back…so maybe next week I’ll give him a call.

On top of that, I attended my first mass today(well first one since Jr. high)…my granddaughter got baptized (my daughter married a Catholic guy)…As far as Mass went. it was all beautiful…and at times powerful…although I have to admit that I had a hard time knowing what was going on all the time. We were sitting with all of the other families of baptized babies…so there were lots of young ones (being very active) sitting all around us, so it was a little hard to focus…so I’d like to go back next week.

It seems like my struggle is becoming less about Church doctrine and teachings…and more about being willing to deal with friends and family’s reaction…but at some point, like you say pablope, you need to take the step…
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You will know when brother Dean and He will be with you to take that step. God’s continued blessing to you and your family.
 
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