Attending Protestant Services

[Gregory007]

Hi There; I believe that it’s good to be faithful to your church and recieve communion by your church. I believe that God will honor your heart and faith. I don’t understand why you, feel that I’m off track?
Thank You, brother for writing me.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Gregory,
Thank you for your post, though I think that you might have missed the point. I too am worshiping at a bible church, the original Bible Church (since it is through the Catholic Church God gave us the sacred texts). My original post was not so much about whether or not I should receive communion at when I visit my parents protestant congregation, but whether as a Catholic I should be visiting at all, and how attending or not attending might affect my witness to my parents and their congregation.

I believe that when Christ prayed His High Priestly prayer in John 17 that we all might be one just as He and the Father are one, and that through the witness of our unity the world would know Him (paraphrase of course) He meant it. While I affirm whole heartedly that what connects us is our rootedness(not a word) in Christ, I also affirm that Christ established Here on earth a visible means for us to know and share with the world the fullness of who He is and all of the incredible gifts He has given. That is the Catholic Church. I truly desire to be the best witness to that Truth as I can in every circumstance especially when they are uncomfortable.

As for receiving Holy Communion outside of the Catholic Church. I think that it is fitting that we refer to it as Communion. For it is, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”. Protestant denominations are not in communion with each other nor are they in communion with the Catholic Church. If, therefore, I believe that the Eucharist is source and summit of life, how can I go outside my Church receive communion with people who do not believe what the Church teaches? Especially its teachings on the very meal we would be sharing? Either Holy Communion is what it is or I am a grave idolater. So if we are not in communion why would we share this table. I gladly share the table of the Lord with those who share the whole Truth Christ gave us, not some of it, or the bits and pieces that they choose to believe.

Again thanks for your post, it was getting a bit off track!

 

[jbelokur]

Hi There; I’m a protestant christian who attends The Circle Church A Christian Church(Disiples Of Christ) Congregation.
I’m am Greek Orhodox but right now I’m a Protestant Bible Believing Christian. I do believe that it’s OK to worship in protestant churches.
Well…Because we All worship our Lord Jesus Christ. I even believe that sometimes we can share at The Lord’s Table together. In the Greek Orthodox Church this is called Economy. Economy is a special gift of The Orthodox Church were a non-orthodox can recieve Holy Communion under Special Extenuating Circumstances.
Well…In The Christian Church(Disiples Of Christ) All are invited to The Lord’s Banqueting Table. His Banner over me is love! Jesus in his great love has invited us ALL to his Banqueting Table of Love.
I believe that we are saved by Grace. We are not saved by works. We don’t have to earn his love. He loves us All Unconditionally.
He invites us All to his Holy Table.
We are saved by Grace thourgh Faith. We are saved by Jesus. I’m hoping for more love and unity among Catholics and Protestants. I’m hoping for Bridges of Hope and Unity. I want to Extend The Healing love of Jesus among Christians.
Jesus is so much in love with people. He wants to heal people and families.Man o Man, He loves us with such a Stubborn Love! He loves us so much.
It’s my hope to share Jesus love with Catholics and Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Jesus has saved us by his Grace. He has saved us by Faith in Him.
I want protestants and catholics to love each other. This will make Jesus very Happy. I’m praying for Bridges Of Hope and love Among Christians. I hope that we can Build a Beautiful Love among Christians that won’t divide us.
Please feel welcome to write this Christian, I would love to hear your thoughts.
God bless you.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Please know, I absolutely love protestants!! I was raised protestant and we also a protestant pastor. But as with my children whom I love, that love does not mean saying that every thing they do is okay and good. Some of their actions and attitudes are not good, and it is love that compels me to live in front of them a life that teaches them truth. Now please don’t read that last little bit thinking I’m calling protestants children, or that I believe myself to be more enlightened then they. But having been convinced of the truth of the Catholic Church I can not go about acting like there is nothing that separates us, or that protestants are depriving themselves of a wealth of grace Christ has given His Church for them. I too want unity, but not an artificial one that I can control, only one that God Himself through the Holy Spirit changing hearts can create.

 

[jbelokur]

Hi There; I believe that it’s good to be faithful to your church and recieve communion by your church. I believe that God will honor your heart and faith. I don’t understand why you, feel that I’m off track?
Thank You, brother for writing me.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Not you personally, I just though your response was off track of my original post which I said in the above response:
“My original post was not so much about whether or not I should receive communion at when I visit my parents protestant congregation, but whether as a Catholic I should be visiting at all, and how attending or not attending might affect my witness to my parents and their congregation.”

 

[Gregory007]

Hi There; Yes, there are churches that work for a common understanding of our shared faith in Jesus.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. The United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Episcopal Church are in communion/eucharistic sharing agreements with each other, and pastors may concelebrate with each other, as you can read here and here.

 

[jbelokur]

Hi There; I believe that it’s good to be faithful to your church and recieve communion by your church. I believe that God will honor your heart and faith. I don’t understand why you, feel that I’m off track?
Thank You, brother for writing me.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Sorry Gregory, I miss understood what you meant the first time I responded to this post. What I meant to say was thank you for getting this thread back on track. There was a host of posts lately that had nothing to do with the original topic.

 

[Louie1983]

Hello,
My wife and I were confirmed into the HCC during the Easter vigil mass of '07. My parents both pastor at a protestant Church. My dad is the “music minister” and my mother is the pastor of outreach and evangelism. Is it acceptable for me to attend their services? My dad likes for me to attend when he preaches. Which is about once a month. Obviously, I don’t recieve communion because we are not in communion. I want to show him my love and respect, though I don’t want any mixed messages to be sent to the other members who attend there that we approve of Protestantism in general by my presence. What are your thoughts?

Hi Jbelokur, Good question!

I would personally steer clear of going to protestant services, being in the Catholic church i believe for someone who is still learning the faith (talking about me) that they should remain engrossed in Catholic teaching as attending another denomination’s services may confuse one. I’ve personally been focusing all my attention in learning the faith and most importantly practising the faith! If we are to be absolutely honest with ourselves, we probably would not have any need or time to go to another service as we have sooooo much to learn and gain by learning and familiarising ourselves with the church and it’s teachings.

God bless you for trying to respect your father, but there are many ways to respect your father (which i’m sure you already do) other than turning up to his sermons to listen to him talk. I’m sure you guys must discuss this outside the services to!

 

[Gregory007]

Hi There; Well…I believe that you, can discuss differant subjects outside of services certainly.
But, I would like to see that we Christians get along and worship together once in a awhile. I feel that it’s important to build bridges of hope and unity. I will worship in Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox services to build love and understanding in the body of christ.
Jesus loves us with such a passionate love. Let’s come together and share and love.
Sincerely,
Gregory.

Hi Jbelokur, Good question!

I would personally steer clear of going to protestant services, being in the Catholic church i believe for someone who is still learning the faith (talking about me) that they should remain engrossed in Catholic teaching as attending another denomination’s services may confuse one. I’ve personally been focusing all my attention in learning the faith and most importantly practising the faith! If we are to be absolutely honest with ourselves, we probably would not have any need or time to go to another service as we have sooooo much to learn and gain by learning and familiarising ourselves with the church and it’s teachings.

God bless you for trying to respect your father, but there are many ways to respect your father (which i’m sure you already do) other than turning up to his sermons to listen to him talk. I’m sure you guys must discuss this outside the services to!

 

[GodIsGracious]

I will worship in Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox services to build love and understanding in the body of christ.
Jesus loves us with such a passionate love.

I hope you don’t take the Eucharist when you go to a Catholic Mass. And I agree we should all be united.

Become Catholic.

 

[Annie_B]

jbelokur;5210419:

Denis,
Thanks for your reply. But, to support those you quoted, would you attend a Mormon or Jehovah witnesses’ service if your relative went to one of there services? They believe in Jesus in some of the same tenants as you do, but they are obviously not the same, and do not portray the fullness of the faith which Jesus promised to His Church via the Holy Spirit. It is the same situation here, my presence can be seen as “approving” or “validating” their denomination; which I don’t. I want the best for them, which is to be in full communion with Christ through His Church, and to begin receiving all the graces He has gifted the Church with via the Sacraments most notably Holy Communion. It is for me not a lack of love, but love which drives me to be the best witness for them in every situation of the truth of the Catholic Church, and this applies even to those situations that may be sensitive and lead to hurt. Who am I? The Holy Spirit? No I don’t change hearts, but the Holy Spirit can use me and these situations to change their hearts. Now I know that you don’t think their hearts need to be changed but that is a fundamental difference between us at this point.

Grace and Peace

***all ***

who build their house on Him are wise.

Denwiles: You ROCK!

 

[JonNC]

wrong!!! All essiential Doctrines are the same!

1. All believe Jesus is God
2. All believe Bible alone
3. All believe in the Death and Ressurection of Jesus
4. All believe in the Virgin Birth
5. All believe in the Trinity
6. All believe in Salvation alone is found in Christ
   I could go on and on
   Now non essentials Doctrines, yes! their is a diffrence. JUST AS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
   Speaking in Tongues. Many Charismatic Catholics speake in tongues and many don’t believe in it. Does that divide the church? NO of course not. Same as in the Protestant Churches

On #2, it depends on what you mean by Bible alone.
May I go on and on?
7. The sacrament of Holy Baptism
8. The real presence of the body and blood in the Eucharist
9. Confession and Holy Absolution
These are essential doctrines. Agree?

Jon

 

[denwiles]

denwiles;5211808:

Denwiles: You ROCK!

Thank you. God Bless!!! I have been enjoying just sitting back and reading the post. Jesus Christ is King and Lord of all. God Bless you my Sister

 

[Louie1983]

Annie B;5224907:

Thank you. God Bless!!! I have been enjoying just sitting back and reading the post. **Jesus Christ is King and Lord of all. **

God Bless you my Sister

couldn’t have said it better my self denwiles! God bless!

 

[denwiles]

On #2, it depends on what you mean by Bible alone.
May I go on and on?
7. The sacrament of Holy Baptism
8. The real presence of the body and blood in the Eucharist
9. Confession and Holy Absolution
These are essential doctrines. Agree?

Jon

Oh my little brother in the Lord what do I do with you? LOL. NO!
Essential Doctrines

1. God made man!
2. Man sinned and was divided from God
3. God wanted a relationship with His creation, so He sent Jesus.
4. Jesus brought man and God together by His blood. Making Him the sole Mediator.
5. All who call on the Lord will be saved
6. New COVENENT!!! OLD GONE!!!
7. GOD IS LOVE-and all the prophets teachings and laws hang on this
   Why do you and many of the others make it so hard to come to God? It’s a relationship, not a religion!!!Go back to the beggining. God made man to felloship with. Period!!! Why does man have to do all these religious things now? Thats not God. Are you like all religious with your dad? Does your dad say “Son you did me wrong, so you can’t come to me and must come to me through your mother?” No!!! When you do him wrong and go to Him he excepts you and forgive you. If He is a good Father. God is the Good Father.
   Go ahead and be all religious, thats your right. Me I love and Know Jesus We talk everyday and when I do God wrong I go to Jesus. LOVELOVELOVELOVE=GOD=LOVE. Peace

 

[denwiles]

I hope you don’t take the Eucharist when you go to a Catholic Mass. And I agree we should all be united.

Become Catholic.

Isn’t the Eucharist suppose to be Jesus? And now you’re telling a protestant “Hope you didn’t take the Eucharist” Yea that sounds like God! WRONG!!! Satans says don’t partake of Jesus not God!
Jesus came to bring us back to God “Mediator” The early church Fathers were upset that people didn’t come to the Lords table. Isn’t that for God to Judge who comes and don’t?
Christianity is a LOVE relationship not a bunch of rules and regulations.
You know I was praying about all this. Jesus was God and yet the Pharisees accussed Him of Blaspheming God. Some people are so caught up in religion. No matter what one it is. The Muslims are the same way. You just can’t get them to see the truth. So my friend I will just pray and hope for you.
Prayer: God you love us so much that you gave us the most precious GIFT in all of Heaven, Earth, and the Universe your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus you said you are the good Shepherd and would leave the 99 to go after the one. Forgive us for frustrating your work and making it hard for people to come to know you with all of our rules and regulations. Your Apostle Paul said that He was not ashamed to preach the Gospel, The Cross of Jesus Christ, For is is the power of salvation unto God. I pray that right now a huge revival will break out across the lands of the Earth and multitudes will be saved. In Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God’s name amen.

 

[jbelokur]

Oh my little brother in the Lord what do I do with you? LOL. NO!
Essential Doctrines

1. God made man!
2. Man sinned and was divided from God
3. God wanted a relationship with His creation, so He sent Jesus.
4. Jesus brought man and God together by His blood. Making Him the sole Mediator.
5. All who call on the Lord will be saved
6. New COVENENT!!! OLD GONE!!!
7. GOD IS LOVE-and all the prophets teachings and laws hang on this
   Why do you and many of the others make it so hard to come to God? It’s a relationship, not a religion!!!Go back to the beggining. God made man to felloship with. Period!!! Why does man have to do all these religious things now? Thats not God. Are you like all religious with your dad? Does your dad say “Son you did me wrong, so you can’t come to me and must come to me through your mother?” No!!! When you do him wrong and go to Him he excepts you and forgive you. If He is a good Father. God is the Good Father.
   Go ahead and be all religious, thats your right. Me I love and Know Jesus We talk everyday and when I do God wrong I go to Jesus. LOVELOVELOVELOVE=GOD=LOVE. Peace

Wait I’m confused…so is “God made man” #1 or is “All believe Jesus is God” #1"???

Start your essential doctrines over. The next time I write them down to hang on my wall at home I will use a pencil…your making me waist paper.

But seriously, I can give you a different list of essential doctrines put forth by hundreds of different groups of Christians. JonNC makes a good point for if you with His #6 Baptism. If you go to Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran… They will tell you that baptism is absolutely an essential doctrine and should be administered at birth. If you go to another set of “churches” they will say it is necessary only for the believer, and if you go to another set they will say it is not necessary at all. All of these base their doctrine on baptism from scripture? What do we do here?

 

[Louie1983]

Isn’t the Eucharist suppose to be Jesus? And now you’re telling a protestant “Hope you didn’t take the Eucharist” Yea that sounds like God! WRONG!!! Satans says don’t partake of Jesus not God!
Jesus came to bring us back to God “Mediator” The early church Fathers were upset that people didn’t come to the Lords table. Isn’t that for God to Judge who comes and don’t?
Christianity is a LOVE relationship not a bunch of rules and regulations.
You know I was praying about all this. Jesus was God and yet the Pharisees accussed Him of Blaspheming God. Some people are so caught up in religion. No matter what one it is. The Muslims are the same way. You just can’t get them to see the truth. So my friend I will just pray and hope for you.
Prayer: God you love us so much that you gave us the most precious GIFT in all of Heaven, Earth, and the Universe your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus you said you are the good Shepherd and would leave the 99 to go after the one. Forgive us for frustrating your work and making it hard for people to come to know you with all of our rules and regulations. Your Apostle Paul said that He was not ashamed to preach the Gospel, The Cross of Jesus Christ, For is is the power of salvation unto God. I pray that right now a huge revival will break out across the lands of the Earth and multitudes will be saved. In Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God’s name amen.

Denwiles,

He was saying not to partake in the eucharist because YES it is Jesus!! but no-one can receive our lord in the eucharist unworthily! Catholics included! You must be in a state of grace to receive our lord in the eucharist.

Satan also encourages people to receive Jesus unworthily because this is a great sacrilege and it pleases him for people to offen God! That’s why God gave us the gift of confession!

You say the early church fathers were upset thet people didn’t come to the lord’s table, This is not because they couldn’t but because they WOULDN’T!!! If people choose not to repent then that is their choice, sad it may be. The Catholic church will never turn away someone who is truly seeking God!

Thankyou for the prayer, it was beautiful! I will be praying for you also!

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

denwiles;5231417]Oh my little brother in the Lord what do I do with you? LOL. NO!
Essential Doctrines

1. God made man!

ok I dont think anyone will argue that one with you.

1. Man sinned and was divided from God

again i think we all agree

1. God wanted a relationship with His creation, so He sent Jesus.

agree again

1. Jesus brought man and God together by His blood. Making Him the sole Mediator.

so far so good.

1. All who call on the Lord will be saved

Now we run into problem as Jesus say in the Gospel not all who call Lord Lord do I know. ( paraphrased here )

1. New COVENENT!!! OLD GONE!!!

again Jesus say not one word of the law shall pass. the Old Covenant is still in effect. Just we are not bond to the slavery by the law but freed by Christ to fulfill the Law

1. GOD IS LOVE-and all the prophets teachings and laws hang on this

ok but what does this mean?

Why do you and many of the others make it so hard to come to God? It’s a relationship, not a religion!!!Go back to the beggining. God made man to felloship with. Period!!! Why does man have to do all these religious things now? Thats not God. Are you like all religious with your dad? Does your dad say “Son you did me wrong, so you can’t come to me and must come to me through your mother?” No!!! When you do him wrong and go to Him he excepts you and forgive you. If He is a good Father. God is the Good Father.

Yes but Jesus say no one come to thr father except through Him, so It looks to me from that there is a problem with going straight to the father. Also I can not count the time in my life that my mom grandma and other have interceded for me with my dad. made it easier when I had to stand in front of him.

Go ahead and be all religious, thats your right. Me I love and Know Jesus We talk everyday and when I do God wrong I go to Jesus. LOVELOVELOVELOVE=GOD=LOVE. Peace

Do you not see that you are inventing your own religion. with its own traditions ans set of rules on what must be held as truth and how to go about things. you have already gave 2 different list of what must be believed.

 

[jbelokur]

Do you not see that you are inventing your own religion. with its own traditions ans set of rules on what must be held as truth and how to go about things. you have already gave 2 different list of what must be believed.

It all really boils down to this. I had to admit to myself as a protestant that I really didn’t have any answer why my denomination upheld certain “essentials” of the faith that are clearly taught by the fathers, but others that are equally emphasized were cast away as encumbering the true Gospel. After years of wrestling with this I had to be honest and say it all boils down to two things, personal preference, and what any individual is taught by their parents. I realized that I had become what I hated, a cafeteria Christian, picking and choosing what “tasted” best to me.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

It all really boils down to this. I had to admit to myself as a protestant that I really didn’t have any answer why my denomination upheld certain “essentials” of the faith that are clearly taught by the fathers, but others that are equally emphasized were cast away as encumbering the true Gospel. After years of wrestling with this I had to be honest and say it all boils down to two things, personal preference, and what any individual is taught by their parents. I realized that I had become what I hated, a cafeteria Christian, picking and choosing what “tasted” best to me.

I know what you mean I came to the same point as a catholic I had come to realize I could not pick and choose what I wanted to follow and what I thought was optional on my own. Now I work at bending my will to God and the Church, instead of the other way and have fond it is much easier and freeing.

 

[jbelokur]

I know what you mean I came to the same point as a catholic I had come to realize I could not pick and choose what I wanted to follow and what I thought was optional on my own. Now I work at bending my will to God and the Church, instead of the other way and have fond it is much easier and freeing.

As soon as I understood the purpose of and earthly authority, or the teaching magisterium, and the bishops it really just clicked for me.