Baptist church

[Bob_Crowley]

I am Catholic and have been going to a baptist church with my girlfriend for some time. We mostly go to her church but sometimes we go to my church also. We agree on many things, although I believe that you need the church to fully understand the bible and most protestants don’t. I previously had no problem with the baptist church because the pastors would preech things that would most likely bring the people closer to God. The pastors bible translations were somewhat skewed because he would pretty much give his opinion on what the passage might have meant, but his translations were never to lead the people away from Christ. I have been going there for about 2 years and I have been noticing the pastor would talk down on other religions, not much, but enough for me to notice. For example, he would say something of the matter that Catholics don’t believe something the way it was meant in the bible and the way they(baptists) do it. Now, I have been going to a Catholic church and I have never heard them talk down on any religion and they actually embrace the protestant as the “seperated bretheren”, so I was just wondering if they do that at protestant chruches because they are trying to hide something and so that people will remain anti-catholic as so not to loose attendance or is it in their mission statement of the church. I am worried about this because we plan on marrying and she doesn’t want to raise the kids Catholic. I had no problem with that but now i’m not sure because I could only think that the baptists will teach our kids from a yound age how to hate Catholics and that their way is the only right way. Also, I don’t want them to be taught anything that is contradicting to the bible. Any help from a Catholic or Baptist that would ease my mind would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

My wife is Baptist, and I’m Catholic by choice. However we don’t have kids as we married later in life, so I don’t have that problem.

To be honest, I think you’re setting yourself up for a lot of heartbreak, unless you can get your girlfriend (future wife?) to change her mind on the Catholic Church. There are some Catholic Schools which are “ecumenical”, in that they cater for different faiths, while retaining a Catholic core, so that might be one partial solution.

I suppose my concern, if I were to have kids, would be this - my first and wisest pastor, Methodist by training, but Presbyterian by the time I met him, once said to me in his office, “I sometimes wonder if Protestants get to heaven.” I’m a bit cranky with him because he never said so publicly, and he was held in high esteem in church circles in this neck of the woods.

If he was correct, Protestants must get a shock when they find out the Catholics, whom they’ve been lying about for so long, are in fact the ones who get into heaven, and they don’t.

We can only advise you. Any decision is up to you. At least you’re both Christians.

 

[wisdomseeker]

I think the Bishops have clarified this not long ago. they advise Catholics not to marry outside the Faith. i guess the polls show that when people marry outside the Faith, they eventually lose their religion altogether. the children will be caught up in teh middle of it and ende up without any religion. if you have children that are getting contracditory teachings in the Faith can be very dangerous for them. just think of the confusion.

God bless.

have you and your girlfriend gone to talk to the priest on this?

 

[scottj]

You pass on to her the warped attitude

“the Baptist faith is really pastor-centric and they go to church only to study the Bible and as opposed to Catholics that go to church to worship the Lord”​

and that she is "worshiping the Bible"and you will endanger your relationship.

If she picks up that you are getting this perception of her and her church group from Catholics, her chances of ever respecting Catholicism will also drop drastically. Further, for allowing yourself to think these things about her, she might very likely dump you with bitter feelings.

This is not a game. It might feel like it is because this is an Internet discussion board, but this is not unrelated to the real world. Those things might feel good to say, but which do you love more: saying these things, or your girlfriend?

Now, as for reality: to many Christians, paying attention to the written Word of God is a very important form of worship. Think about it: if you believed that God went to a great deal of trouble to write a Book for you, does it not make sense that you would think God wanted you to pay attention to it? I think so.

Listening to someone you think is important is a sign of respect. God is important. It makes sense that if we think God is important, we ought to spend a great deal of time listening/reading to what He has to say to us.

For Catholics, the Eucharist is the center of worship. For many other Christians, listening to God by paying attention to what He says to us in His Book is the center of worship.

***There is nothing to be gained by getting worked up against Baptists by your Catholic friends' here who are having some fun under the livery of helping’ you – but ultimately will not have to feel the heartache they are leading you toward. ***

If your girlfriend is really important to you, there is more to this issue than `Which is better.’ There are your feelings, her feelings, and a happy, harmonious relationship of love and mutual respect.

Here is the deal: if you want your girlfriend to respect your faith, you will need to try to respect hers. Anyone who is trying to lead you to do otherwise is gratifying themselves, not helping you.

The post above makes a good point about not getting worked up against the Baptists, but also note that this poster (meaning myself) is not having “fun” when I wrote my reply. I wrote from my own personal experience. I can also offer that I have a very close friend who is Catholic and married a Baptist. I can offer from only this first hand knowledge that she has basically foregone her religion and has not accepted his. Their own personal stalemate- neither attend church. I know from having discussion with both of them that he does not respect the Catholic church and although she moderatly holds her ground, there is definite dissention between the two of them on that subject.
Also note- they are HAPPILY married in all other aspects. As my friend is unable to conceive and now in her early menopausal years, the subject of children and what religion they would be raised is moot.
Now for heresay- through superficial conversations with folks over the years, the above scenario is basically (with exception of the subject of children) what I have heard over and over again although some parties attend the church of their upbringing regularly.
This is a very touchy subject, and has been one since who knows how long.

P.S. My mother was Catholic and father was Methodist… she heard every day about how horrible all Catholics were… so it’s not just the Baptists…

Bottom line, although this is indeed the land of the internet, and you are dealing in reality with this situation- not all the opinions/advice here was offered as “fun and games” - or because the Catholic posters are “Super Catholics” who don’t want anyone Catholic to marry outside their religion. I think alot of people are just trying to tell it to you like it is, but this is YOUR life.

 

[Mark01]

Early in this thread I made a post about being a widower, and getting remarried to a Baptist woman, I left a part of the story out and I think it is important at this point to tell the rest of it. Before we married I went to my priest to discuss getting married, when I told him that she was divorced, he advised me that in order to have the Church bless my union she would have to go through the Annulment process. This did not set well with my fiancée at all, the thought was totally repulsive to her. She felt she was justified in her divorce and due to the way the Baptist interpret the Marriage and Divorce passages in the Bible she was free to remarry.

When both I and my priest explained this to her, even by going to the Bible passages she just could not believe this is what Jesus taught. Long story short we decided against what my priest advised and decided to have a small ceremony preformed by a Minister at her Moms.

At the time I really didn’t understand the implications of what I had done, as I said in my earlier post I had not really participated with my deceased wife in practicing my faith.

Since my relationship with wife #2, I went through a period of attending the Baptist Church with her and attending Bible study with her and that lead to me studying in depth my Catholic faith. I never really left the Church but I never really was there either if anyone can understand that. I’m trying desperately now to get my wife to file for an annulment and hopefully have our marriage blessed in the Church, I hope and pray each day that my wife will start the annulment process. Yes we are very much in love and have a wonderful marriage in a secular fashion. But she has stopped going to Church and I attend Mass every chance I get, and I get tears in my eyes during the Consecration of the Host because I and I alone have cut myself off from being able to partake in Communion.

I still participate in the Mass and as of yet have not decided to stop living as man and wife and each day that goes by I pray that God in his compassion will grant me forgiveness if I should die at this moment, for I live in fear of having knowingly committed a mortal sin and continue to do so. I pray for guidance and strength.

Please do not judge me, but pray for me.

 

[scottj]

Early in this thread I made a post about being a widower, and getting remarried to a Baptist woman, I left a part of the story out and I think it is important at this point to tell the rest of it. Before we married I went to my priest to discuss getting married, when I told him that she was divorced, he advised me that in order to have the Church bless my union she would have to go through the Annulment process. This did not set well with my fiancée at all, the thought was totally repulsive to her. She felt she was justified in her divorce and due to the way the Baptist interpret the Marriage and Divorce passages in the Bible she was free to remarry.

When both I and my priest explained this to her, even by going to the Bible passages she just could not believe this is what Jesus taught. Long story short we decided against what my priest advised and decided to have a small ceremony preformed by a Minister at her Moms.

At the time I really didn’t understand the implications of what I had done, as I said in my earlier post I had not really participated with my deceased wife in practicing my faith.

Since my relationship with wife #2, I went through a period of attending the Baptist Church with her and attending Bible study with her and that lead to me studying in depth my Catholic faith. I never really left the Church but I never really was there either if anyone can understand that. I’m trying desperately now to get my wife to file for an annulment and hopefully have our marriage blessed in the Church, I hope and pray each day that my wife will start the annulment process. Yes we are very much in love and have a wonderful marriage in a secular fashion. But she has stopped going to Church and I attend Mass every chance I get, and **I get tears in my eyes during the Consecration of the Host because I and I alone have cut myself off from being able to partake in Communion.**I still participate in the Mass and as of yet have not decided to stop living as man and wife and each day that goes by I pray that God in his compassion will grant me forgiveness if I should die at this moment, for I live in fear of having knowingly committed a mortal sin and continue to do so. I pray for guidance and strength.

Please do not judge me, but pray for me.

I know how you feel.
My heart goes out to you and I am praying for you AND your wife.
God Bless You Both.
Julie

 

[Darron_Steele]

The post above makes a good point about not getting worked up against the Baptists, but also note that this poster (meaning myself) is not having “fun” when I wrote my reply. …

I do not think I was talking about you.

Based on your username, I was not talking about you. I was talking to the person who started this thread.

My reply was in response to something the enamored boyfriend posted that concerned me. A number of posters have incited him to take on an attitude that can ruin his relationship if she ever detected it.

Do not take my reply to him personally. I am not interested in rebutting people or arguing with them. I was only trying to help a young man avoid getting led into making a big mistake for nothing.

He just posted something that I am sure felt good given the situation he has found himself in. He has had people on this board getting him all worked up and wanting to criticize those `darned Baptists.’ It does not help anything, but he did it here – and has gone one step closer to taking the attitude to her.

If his girlfriend had read those comments and known they came from him, I do not think she would have taken it too well. It likely would have been a relationship ending event and not on good terms. If he loves her, he would have regretted ever allowing himself to be instigated to post that or even to take on the attitude – but it would be too late.

My concern is for him. He is the person who created this thread and he asked us to help him. The only thing I am paying attention to on this thread is helping him, and now it will be helping someone else too.

 

[Darron_Steele]

Early in this thread I made a post about being a widower, and getting remarried to a Baptist woman, I left a part of the story out and I think it is important at this point to tell the rest of it. Before we married I went to my priest to discuss getting married, when I told him that she was divorced, he advised me that in order to have the Church bless my union she would have to go through the Annulment process. This did not set well with my fiancée at all, the thought was totally repulsive to her. She felt she was justified in her divorce and due to the way the Baptist interpret the Marriage and Divorce passages in the Bible she was free to remarry.

When both I and my priest explained this to her, even by going to the Bible passages she just could not believe this is what Jesus taught. Long story short we decided against what my priest advised and decided to have a small ceremony preformed by a Minister at her Moms.

At the time I really didn’t understand the implications of what I had done, as I said in my earlier post I had not really participated with my deceased wife in practicing my faith.

Since my relationship with wife #2, I went through a period of attending the Baptist Church with her and attending Bible study with her and that lead to me studying in depth my Catholic faith. I never really left the Church but I never really was there either if anyone can understand that. I’m trying desperately now to get my wife to file for an annulment and hopefully have our marriage blessed in the Church, I hope and pray each day that my wife will start the annulment process. Yes we are very much in love and have a wonderful marriage in a secular fashion. But she has stopped going to Church and I attend Mass every chance I get, and I get tears in my eyes during the Consecration of the Host because I and I alone have cut myself off from being able to partake in Communion.

I still participate in the Mass and as of yet have not decided to stop living as man and wife and each day that goes by I pray that God in his compassion will grant me forgiveness if I should die at this moment, for I live in fear of having knowingly committed a mortal sin and continue to do so. I pray for guidance and strength.

Please do not judge me, but pray for me.

This is terrible and sad.

I want to share a verse with you: Acts 10:43 says about Jesus Christ “every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins” (ASV). If you are a believer on Jesus Christ, you will have your sins forgiven. The Bible says it in no uncertain terms.

I feel bad for your pain feeling alone and not included in your Catholic congregation. However, I feel bad that you are wondering if the Lord will have mercy on you because someone presumed for himself the role of thinking he gets to exclude Christians from the Lord’s Table. In that situation, it is not going to be you who will be giving account – it will be whoever decided that they will bar some Christians from the Lord’s Table.

As for the sin of marrying someone who was divorced for an invalid reason, I do not know enough to decide based on the Scriptures whether you likely did or did not. Maybe you did and maybe you did not – but either way, it is too late to change anything. Even if you sinned by marrying her, withholding your 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 duties would only add to it, and divorcing her would only add to it.

If you are a believer on Jesus Christ, you will have your sins remitted. If someone says otherwise, do not believe them; the written Word of God says so clearly and in no uncertain terms. Do not worry.

 

[Chi_Rho_Joe]

Hey Mark01!
We are constantly tempted in this world into choosing the “right” way for our own selves instead of seeking God’s Will.
That’s a no-brainer. I do that every day Although I am trying to cut down. I ask for prayers for help in this area.
Whether it be money, fame, companionship, etc, we all think WE have the better solution. This is wrong and will lead to ruin. When we mess up, we need to seek God’s relief to our situation. That’s what His Catholic Church is for. She tells us God’s will and then the ball’s in our court: do we obey out of love for God or continue to do what we want because we have a better idea or find a better “interpretation” we’d prefer to live with! Be leary of advice from anyone who doesn’t believe in nor respect His Catholic Church. They will give you their individual interpretation as though it were somehow valid or even worse, claims to trump the Catholic Church’s teaching. I always look for the poster’s "Religion: " in the right margin to determine that poster’s “religious inclination”. There are many individual interpretations, as varied as there are Darron Steeles. Be careful.

In your delicate situation, keep in contact with your priest. If you feel the need for a 2nd opinion, go to another priest. Do not under any circumstances take the advice of non-Catholics that spew “Just love Jesus, keep on what you’re doing and everything will be o-tay!” because that’s not biblical and His Church say otherwise - there’s a little more involved. Bottom line: who do you trust to tell you the path to your salvation? Like the puzzle-master in the “Saw” movie series orders: Make your choice!

Now I’m just shooting from the hip: if the priest advises you to confess of your mortal sin and then although you still live with your wife in her “divorced” status and he says you should withhold intimate activity- at least until the annulment process completes- then that’s what you’d need to do. Nothing -or no one- is worth losing God’s friendship for eternity over. Your current spouse should understand this and subscribe to it herself. Both of you must realize that a happy marriage on earth should continue into a happy eternity with God! Because you love her, it is your duty to help her do whatever it takes to get her right with God and because she loves you, she is duty-bound to do the same. Resistance to go through a process to achieve that is an indication somebody needs to take a real long hard look at their priorities. While we’re breathing we have a chance to repent and do the right thing (hard as it may be) out of our love for God:
Hanging on that Cross, and the in-human torture prior to that, must have been excruciatingly painful but Jesus decided to go through it out of love. I don’t think any decision on this earth could possibly be harder than what He went through and I see His example of that on the Cross in addition to being the key to my salvation. But He didn’t go through it so we can have a sin-fest. He did it so when we repent we’d have a sin-less-fest on earth and continue in Heaven. Do what your wise Catholic priest(s) tell you. The Church is right. Anyone saying the counter is wrong. If the Church says do X and don’t do Y, God expects us to obey out of love. His will is exercised through His Church:

Matthew 18:18 “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I’d of course would love for it to be “just love Jesus, keep on what you’re doing and everything will be o-tay” but Scripture and His Church show that Jesus’ sacrifice isn’t just so I can party, do what I want, and throw the rest of the Bible away. All that totally devalues His supreme sacrifice.

Philippians 2:12b-13 “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”

Of course pray to Jesus for help. As you have us praying for you here on earth, ask the Saints in Heaven to pray to the Lord our God as well. St. Gengulf was in a similar situation so he can relate:

ST. GENGULF
Born: Eighth century
Patron for: Troubled marriages
Back story: Gengulf was a knight who faithfully served Pepin the Short, the mayor of the palace of Merovingian kings. He had a disastrous marriage with an unfaithful wife, and finally left her, dedicating his life to penance and almsgiving. He was reportedly assassinated by his wife’s lover as he lay sleeping.

Peace and prayers to you, bro!
Keep the faith! You’ve got God’s family, both here and in Heaven, rooting for you!

• Frank Faulken

 

[Mark01]

Thanks for the advice and prayers, I will continue to place my trust in the Church and in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and I do hope and pray that others going thru similar trials, look at my situation as an example as to what happens when we stray too far from the Shepard of the Flock.

 

[Roblox84]

I do not think I was talking about you.

Based on your username, I was not talking about you. I was talking to the person who started this thread.

My reply was in response to something the enamored boyfriend posted that concerned me. A number of posters have incited him to take on an attitude that can ruin his relationship if she ever detected it.

Do not take my reply to him personally. I am not interested in rebutting people or arguing with them. I was only trying to help a young man avoid getting led into making a big mistake for nothing.

He just posted something that I am sure felt good given the situation he has found himself in. He has had people on this board getting him all worked up and wanting to criticize those `darned Baptists.’ It does not help anything, but he did it here – and has gone one step closer to taking the attitude to her.

If his girlfriend had read those comments and known they came from him, I do not think she would have taken it too well. It likely would have been a relationship ending event and not on good terms. If he loves her, he would have regretted ever allowing himself to be instigated to post that or even to take on the attitude – but it would be too late.

My concern is for him. He is the person who created this thread and he asked us to help him. The only thing I am paying attention to on this thread is helping him, and now it will be helping someone else too.

I’m a person that speaks my mind so I did tell her what I wrote on this thread since to me all these are major concerns that I might have to deal with for a long time. I know there is a lot of criticism about baptists on this thread, but it is just enough to be an eye opener due to the fact that no one has said anything good about them on the whole catholic.com site.

To the biggest problems I see in their church is just picking out the bible verses to make them mean what the pastor wants it to mean. I mean, would anyone want to be lead astray on what the true meaning is?

 

[Darron_Steele]

I’m a person that speaks my mind so I did tell her what I wrote on this thread since to me all these are major concerns that I might have to deal with for a long time. I know there is a lot of criticism about baptists on this thread, but it is just enough to be an eye opener due to the fact that no one has said anything good about them on the whole catholic.com site.

Well, I could waste my time and try to tell you something good about Baptists – but you or someone else would just argue with me.

I would think that there would be an obvious good thing about Baptists to be said: `My girlfriend is a Baptist.’

To the biggest problems I see in their church is just picking out the bible verses to make them mean what the pastor wants it to mean. I mean, would anyone want to be lead astray on what the true meaning is?

I was under the assumption that you wanted help.

It looks like you have all the answers you want. You know everything. You expect to keep your girlfriend while you have no respect for her religious convictions. Not only do you not agree with them, you have no respect for the religious convictions she has.

Yes; you know all things. The Baptist pastor picks verses out of the Bible to make them appear to be agreeing with him. Because he does not read the entire Bible when he preaches, he is just “picking out the bible verses” – he has not studied the Bible and tried to present its teachings using just portions of Scripture.

You clearly know why Baptists do what Baptists do, and there is nothing for any of us to tell you. It does not matter if it is true or not; if it can be made to look bad, it will be your truth.

You wrote

…Now, I have been going to a Catholic church and I have never heard them talk down on any religion and they actually embrace the protestant as the “seperated bretheren”, …

but you have just bad-mouthed the Baptists in a post you made Friday about how they are “worshiping the Bible” and unedifying untrue stuff like that.

I read your opening post and I thought you wanted help. However, it looks like you are determined to disrespect your girlfriend’s faith and alienate her. She will not tolerate it forever.

If you still know everything for too long, and she dumps you, I hope the next girl you get, if any, is deemed by you worthy of your respect.

I am dead serious about trying to help you. That morning, I gave up my opportunity to eat breakfast before going to work to write that post for you.

I will be happy to help you if you are serious about keeping her. I am a former Baptist, and I am willing to help you understand things you need to know, if you will listen.

 

[Chi_Rho_Joe]

Rhoblox84 & Mark01 (and everybody too!):

Mark01

…and pray that others going thru similar trials, look at my situation as an example as to what happens when we stray too far from the Shepard of the Flock.

Yea-but…Good News!

1 Corinthians 10:13:

“God is faithful, Who will NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, but with the temptation (trial) will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

There is a tremendous comfort in it for all of us! What an awesome :bowdown:God :bowdown2:we serve!:extrahappy:
Peace, CRJ

 

[Jon_Hus]

Rob,

The quote below is in my opinion spot on (from my prespective that is). A sign of maturity not seen in a general sense on this forum is an inability for some (many actually) to see the difference between being critical of doctrine without hating the individual. Well, nothing I can do about that except point it out and maybe an inquiring mind will clear the deck of one’s mind and determine if I have a point or not.

Marrage is supposed to be a life long commitment. If this is your goal here, you should know that “love” as we invision it in western civilization will not, in contradiction to popular belief, get you through the rough spots in life. You have to love the whole person, warts and all.

Going back over some of your previous posts, I get the impression that up until the marrage issue came up, you were not much into the “church thing”. And now you are trying to get up to snuff with church teachings so that you can enter into an open debate with your GF and win. If that is the case, and I’m not trying to insult you, but if this is true, there are no doubt other areas within the whole of your relationship that also have this problem. And if this is correct, your problems are much bigger than you really know.

One of my sisters is hard core RC. Her husband has told me (without me asking mind you) that he would never be anything other than RC. What is odd about him telling me this is he told me it right after telling me he hasn’t been to mass in 15 years. Now, because I know this person very well, I know for certain that the reason he has this position because his family are all RC, his business partners are all RC and quite honestly he would be embarrased to admit that he goes to church, especally one that wasn’t RC. To him, the only manly church is the RCC. Again, not trying to insult you Rob, but you are asking a question.

The vast number of responses here are basically saying that given enough training and education on and by the RCC, anyone would join the RCC and life will be happy and good. And if the indvidual doesn’t convert, the reason is due to bad training. Well, the same could be said about any religion or belief system.

Yours truly,
Jon

Well, I could waste my time and try to tell you something good about Baptists – but you or someone else would just argue with me.

I would think that there would be an obvious good thing about Baptists to be said: `My girlfriend is a Baptist.’
I was under the assumption that you wanted help.

It looks like you have all the answers you want. You know everything. You expect to keep your girlfriend while you have no respect for her religious convictions. Not only do you not agree with them, you have no respect for the religious convictions she has.

Yes; you know all things. The Baptist pastor picks verses out of the Bible to make them appear to be agreeing with him. Because he does not read the entire Bible when he preaches, he is just “picking out the bible verses” – he has not studied the Bible and tried to present its teachings using just portions of Scripture.

You clearly know why Baptists do what Baptists do, and there is nothing for any of us to tell you. It does not matter if it is true or not; if it can be made to look bad, it will be your truth.

You wrote but you have just bad-mouthed the Baptists in a post you made Friday about how they are “worshiping the Bible” and unedifying untrue stuff like that.

I read your opening post and I thought you wanted help. However, it looks like you are determined to disrespect your girlfriend’s faith and alienate her. She will not tolerate it forever.

If you still know everything for too long, and she dumps you, I hope the next girl you get, if any, is deemed by you worthy of your respect.

I am dead serious about trying to help you. That morning, I gave up my opportunity to eat breakfast before going to work to write that post for you.

I will be happy to help you if you are serious about keeping her. I am a former Baptist, and I am willing to help you understand things you need to know, if you will listen.

 

[Mark01]

This is terrible and sad.

I want to share a verse with you: Acts 10:43 says about Jesus Christ “every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins” (ASV). If you are a believer on Jesus Christ, you will have your sins forgiven. The Bible says it in no uncertain terms.

I feel bad for your pain feeling alone and not included in your Catholic congregation. However, I feel bad that you are wondering if the Lord will have mercy on you because someone presumed for himself the role of thinking he gets to exclude Christians from the Lord’s Table. In that situation, it is not going to be you who will be giving account – it will be whoever decided that they will bar some Christians from the Lord’s Table.

As for the sin of marrying someone who was divorced for an invalid reason, I do not know enough to decide based on the Scriptures whether you likely did or did not. Maybe you did and maybe you did not – but either way, it is too late to change anything. Even if you sinned by marrying her, withholding your 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 duties would only add to it, and divorcing her would only add to it.

If you are a believer on Jesus Christ, you will have your sins remitted. If someone says otherwise, do not believe them; the written Word of God says so clearly and in no uncertain terms. Do not worry.

Thanks for your kind words Darron, though I do not feel my situation is terrible or sad, because it has brought me closer to my faith and to God.

Our God is a forgiving God, He also set down some pretty specific rules. When we choose to go against those rules, just as a good parent does, He forgives us with love and He punishes us as well.

Jesus died for us on the cross so that we can be forgiven for breaking any of the rules except those against the Holy Spirit, we still receive punishment from Holy Father for breaking his rules, this is also done out of love.

Just as David was in the book of Samuel. God forgave David, but took from him his first born son.

 

[Roblox84]

Well, I could waste my time and try to tell you something good about Baptists – but you or someone else would just argue with me.

I would think that there would be an obvious good thing about Baptists to be said: `My girlfriend is a Baptist.’
I was under the assumption that you wanted help.

It looks like you have all the answers you want. You know everything. You expect to keep your girlfriend while you have no respect for her religious convictions. Not only do you not agree with them, you have no respect for the religious convictions she has.

Yes; you know all things. The Baptist pastor picks verses out of the Bible to make them appear to be agreeing with him. Because he does not read the entire Bible when he preaches, he is just “picking out the bible verses” – he has not studied the Bible and tried to present its teachings using just portions of Scripture.

You clearly know why Baptists do what Baptists do, and there is nothing for any of us to tell you. It does not matter if it is true or not; if it can be made to look bad, it will be your truth.

You wrote but you have just bad-mouthed the Baptists in a post you made Friday about how they are “worshiping the Bible” and unedifying untrue stuff like that.

I read your opening post and I thought you wanted help. However, it looks like you are determined to disrespect your girlfriend’s faith and alienate her. She will not tolerate it forever.

If you still know everything for too long, and she dumps you, I hope the next girl you get, if any, is deemed by you worthy of your respect.

I am dead serious about trying to help you. That morning, I gave up my opportunity to eat breakfast before going to work to write that post for you.

I will be happy to help you if you are serious about keeping her. I am a former Baptist, and I am willing to help you understand things you need to know, if you will listen.

I was really in need of some help because I wanted to point out some things about my religion so hopefully one day she will be going with me to my church. But it just turns out that she is too stuck in her mindset so the only way this relationship will work is if I will go to a Baptist church all my life.

I understand that I might have come off harsh about her religion, but i’m not saying that Baptists are bad because they are very religious and are good people. Even my girlfriend said that she wouldn’t want to be with a Baptist boy because they are just too “good” and no fun, if you know what I mean.

Maybe you can shed some insight on a question I have. Baptist believe that no matter what they do they get into heaven and they think that Catholics believe the only way to get to heaven is by doing sacraments and following Jesus to the end. I am confused in this because my girl say’s that she wants the kids raised Baptist because she doesn’t want them thinking that any bad thing they do they will not get into heaven. I personally don’t think you have to do sacraments or anything like that but I also thought that the bible mentioned that faith is not good enough to get into heaven. But I may be wrong.

 

[Jon_Hus]

Maybe you can shed some insight on a question I have. Baptist believe that no matter what they do they get into heaven and they think that Catholics believe the only way to get to heaven is by doing sacraments and following Jesus to the end. I am confused in this because my girl say’s that she wants the kids raised Baptist because she doesn’t want them thinking that any bad thing they do they will not get into heaven. I personally don’t think you have to do sacraments or anything like that but I also thought that the bible mentioned that faith is not good enough to get into heaven. But I may be wrong.

As a Baptist I can answer this question. I will do that for you but I’m not going to debate with those who will no doubt follow. First, and this is important, a person isn’t going to heaven because they say they are Baptist or baptized in a Baptist church or go to a Baptist church or have family or friends that are Baptist. A person is going to heaven if and only if they confess their need and place their faith and trust in Jesus death on the cross as payment for their sin. So, Baptist believe there are some in their membership who are not truly trusting in Christ and will not reap the benifits and there are some who are trusting in Christ that are not Baptists but will reap the benifits. It all comes down to trusting in Jesus and Jesus alone for your salvation. It is all Jesus, not anything you may add to the equation. And all you are doing is simply trusting in Jesus, who loved you so much, that being God, became a man and humbled himself for you. Amazing grace! Not by works, so that no man can boast.

Same thing with the Bible, do you trust God to have revealed Himself in His infallable word or are you trusting in what someone else, regardless of how nice or sincere they are? The acid test for matters of the faith are do they hold up to Biblical scrutiny?

It is in theory easy, all you do is believe. But it is hard because we, as sinners want to help, we want to have a part in our salvation. We want some of the credit. But our loving Holy Heavenly Father has done all the work, all you need to do is accept that fact and believe. And be bold, living in the knowledge that we are not ashamed in the gospel, which is as Paul said foolishness to those who are perishing.

And Rob, Don’t just take my word for it, dig into the Scriptures with your GF and ask the hard questions. The Bible is up to it. Sorry Rob, but I’m feeling clumsy in my writing right now.

Jon

 

[Darron_Steele]

I was really in need of some help because I wanted to point out some things about my religion so hopefully one day she will be going with me to my church. But it just turns out that she is too stuck in her mindset so the only way this relationship will work is if I will go to a Baptist church all my life.

Well, my first post was an attempt to help you with that.

In some Baptist congregations, anti-Catholic rhetoric is hot, and in most, it is not. The thing you have to understand about Baptist congregations is that they are totally autonomous. They can join voluntary conventions such as the Southern Baptist Convention, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, or the American Baptist Convention – or not. They can leave these associations at will. Further, some congregations insist upon having an educated pastor; in other cases, anyone who can get sufficient numbers can start a Baptist congregation – this means someone without any real credentials to do so.

What this means in your case: your girlfriend likely has a pastor who does not know anything about church history or Catholicism. That is likely where she gets some of her notions.

I do not have enough specifics to tell you what you need to tell her. What are her misgivings about going to Catholic Mass with you? Find out, and ask her why it bothers her, and if it is some misconception, correct her.

I understand that I might have come off harsh about her religion, but i’m not saying that Baptists are bad because they are very religious and are good people. Even my girlfriend said that she wouldn’t want to be with a Baptist boy because they are just too “good” and no fun, if you know what I mean.

Great; some respect. Now we can get somewhere.

Maybe you can shed some insight on a question I have. Baptist believe that no matter what they do they get into heaven and they think that Catholics believe the only way to get to heaven is by doing sacraments and following Jesus to the end. I am confused in this because my girl say’s that she wants the kids raised Baptist because she doesn’t want them thinking that any bad thing they do they will not get into heaven. I personally don’t think you have to do sacraments or anything like that but I also thought that the bible mentioned that faith is not good enough to get into heaven. But I may be wrong.

You are not correct about what Baptists teach. They do not teach that a person can live their lives like an unbeliever and not go to Hell.

Baptists generally teach that one does not have salvation revoked on the basis of sin. They do teach that if a person is a believer on Jesus Christ – a REAL believer – s/he will act like it.

She probably does not want anyone teaching her kids that a single `boo-boo’ means they go to Hell. Needless to say, that can be very stressful to a child. Of course, Catholics technically do not actually teach that.

She is probably also under the misunderstanding that Catholics teach salvation is earned by doing various things. This misunderstanding is a very common and very serious hangup. You probably will need to explain to her at some point that Catholics teach that we depend upon the Lord’s grace to have any hope for salvation, and that the means of salvation is ultimately relying on what Jesus Christ did for us. She might need to be sitting down when you tell her this.

 

[SteveVH]

Great; some respect. Now we can get somewhere.
You are not correct about what Baptists teach. They do not teach that a person can live their lives like an unbeliever and not go to Hell.

Baptists generally teach that one does not have salvation revoked on the basis of sin. They do teach that if a person is a believer on Jesus Christ – a REAL believer – s/he will act like it.

This is a belief that I have had a hard time wrapping my mind around as a Catholic. It seems to be a circular argument. If they said they believed and led a good life then they were “Real” believers". If they said they believed and then sinned then they were not “Real” believers. In any event, after a sincere moment of belief subsequent sin cannot keep you out of heaven? It seems that whether or not someone is a real believer, in the eyes of human beings anyway, cannot actually be determined until the point of death - there is still time to fall and prove yourself not to be a “Real” believer. It also seems that the test of whether or not someone is a “Real” believer would be somewhat subjective. What does “acting” like a believer mean? Does it mean feeding the poor, clothing the naked, giving shelter to the homeless or simply being a nice, kind hearted person? I will submit that most sin occurs unseen by anyone but God. Where does that leave the Baptist who know in his heart that he has sinned (privately). Does that leave him wondering if he is a real believer? Of course as a Catholic I believe that it is precisely sin that keeps us out of heaven, therefore the need for reconciliation with God when I do sin. It aslo means “doing the will of God” not just believing. Even the demons believe.

She is probably also under the misunderstanding that Catholics teach salvation is earned by doing various things. This misunderstanding is a very common and very serious hangup. You probably will need to explain to her at some point that Catholics teach that we depend upon the Lord’s grace to have any hope for salvation, and that the means of salvation is ultimately relying on what Jesus Christ did for us. She might need to be sitting down when you tell her this.

Thank you for your fair and honest assessment in pointing out this misunderstanding. It makes me wonder how much we as Catholics misunderstand about others. Aren’t you happy that it is God who ultlimately judges us and not humans? I sure am.

God bless.

 

[Anna_Scott]

. . . . .Same thing with the Bible, do you trust God to have revealed Himself in His infallable word or are you trusting in what someone else, regardless of how nice or sincere they are? The acid test for matters of the faith are do they hold up to Biblical scrutiny?

. . . . .And Rob, Don’t just take my word for it, dig into the Scriptures with your GF and ask the hard questions. The Bible is up to it. Sorry Rob, but I’m feeling clumsy in my writing right now.

Jon

Jon,

I’m getting ready to leave, so will just comment on the issue of holding things up to Biblical scrutiny; and digging into Scriptures.

The problem is that the Baptist Ministers decide how the Scriptures are interpreted and expect their congregations to adhere to this. While claiming Scripture only, they are establishing their own traditions of interpretation. So, the congregations are mislead to believe they are following Scripture.

Ironically, reading the Bible cover-to-cover opened my eyes to false Baptist doctrines. Studying Scripture, within the context of the Bible as a whole, and within the framework of the time in which it was written, and within the framework of early Church traditions–and most importantly–through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, reveals an entirely different understanding from that obtained by grouping selective Scriptures together as proof texts for certain beliefs.

Very short passages of Scriptures are read to the congregation in the average Baptist sermon. The minister spends most of his sermon, telling the congregation what the passage means (according to the minister.) Yet, the congregation is convinced they are following only Scripture.

Anna

 

[Pixie_Dust]

As a Baptist I can answer this question. I will do that for you but I’m not going to debate with those who will no doubt follow. First, and this is important, a person isn’t going to heaven because they say they are Baptist or baptized in a Baptist church or go to a Baptist church or have family or friends that are Baptist. A person is going to heaven if and only if they confess their need and place their faith and trust in Jesus death on the cross as payment for their sin. So, Baptist believe there are some in their membership who are not truly trusting in Christ and will not reap the benifits and there are some who are trusting in Christ that are not Baptists but will reap the benifits. It all comes down to trusting in Jesus and Jesus alone for your salvation. It is all Jesus, not anything you may add to the equation. And all you are doing is simply trusting in Jesus, who loved you so much, that being God, became a man and humbled himself for you. Amazing grace! Not by works, so that no man can boast.

When I was a Baptist, I discovered that there is no Scripture passage that teaches that “trusting Christ” or “asking Him to come into my heart” leads to Heaven. The free gift of God is His Grace to follow His commands, and endure to the end. That is how we are saved.

Same thing with the Bible, do you trust God to have revealed Himself in His infallable word or are you trusting in what someone else, regardless of how nice or sincere they are? The acid test for matters of the faith are do they hold up to Biblical scrutiny?

I trust that God led the Church to determine which writings were infallible, inspired Scripture.

It is in theory easy, all you do is believe. But it is hard because we, as sinners want to help, we want to have a part in our salvation. We want some of the credit. But our loving Holy Heavenly Father has done all the work, all you need to do is accept that fact and believe. And be bold, living in the knowledge that we are not ashamed in the gospel, which is as Paul said foolishness to those who are perishing.

Believing is worthless unless it results in doing something about it. Not because “we want some of the credit” but because “it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

And Rob, Don’t just take my word for it, dig into the Scriptures with your GF and ask the hard questions. The Bible is up to it.

Digging into the Scriptures is what led me out of the Baptist Church and into the Catholic Church. Praise be to God!!!