Baptist defending Catholicism

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Ok, so I am a Baptist, but learning (leaning) Catholic. I was having a conversation at work today with a traditional Baptist. I was explaining how it would be nice to have a magesterium like the Catholic Church so we wouldn’t have so many differences of opionions on the interpretation of the Bible and could have less denominations of the faith. She then said the words that I thought were only a “stereotype” of Baptists…“Catholicism is a cult.” After I picked my jaw up off of the floor, I explained to her that I was not trying to convert her, but I had to defend the Cathlolic Church as NOT being a “cult”. For crying out loud, my in-laws are Catholic and some of the most devoted Christians I know!

She was so uneducated as to the beginnings of the church and the Scriptural evidence of Christ founding His Church through Peter, she had no idea who the early church fathers were, she was completely lost about the veneration of Mary and the Saints (not worship), and it was amazing how she tried to justify her opinion based on limited scriptural knowledge. Every idea of the Catholic faith she had was completely false!

After about an hour conversation and, me, defending the Catholic Church, she finallly agreed that the Catholic Church was not a “cult”, but she didn’t believe in anything the Bible doesn’t teach. At that point, it was time to leave for the day and I left her with this thought for the weekend…The Bible, as we know it, didn’t come together until 300 years after Christ’s teachings. Who was responsible for that Bible? CATHOLICS!

I will be looking into RCIA in the near future. I have prayed that God will guide me through the Holy Spirit to His true meaning of the Church and lead me to understanding the questions I have about the Catholic faith. I guess if I am defending the Church, God is telling me to be a part of that Church! This website has enlightened me more than I could imagine, and answered many of the questions that I struggled with. To that, I say, thank you, and God Bless!
 
Thank you for defending the Truth! It is very encouraging to hear of people like you who have taken the time to understand Catholicism for what it is, and not for what other misinterpret it to be. Prayers for your continued journey!

:knight1:
 
i am a Catholic but have a had a christian journey that had involved several denominations, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian, Christian City Church
it has been my experience that many Christians have very limited understanding about their own denominations doctrine, let alone Catholic doctrine.
Many churches refer to themselves as non doctrinal, so very little in the way of doctrine exists!
All i can say is keep reading, learning & asking questions & remember the Catholic church has much respect for our Christian brothers & sisters & we do what we can to foster greater understanding & unity with them.
 
I’m happy that you are studying Catholicism, and I hope you will continue your journey in faith.
 
God bless you for your sincerity and integrity.
And we thank you for your efforts to dispel false information regarding the Catholic Church.
May God continue to guide and strengthen you…
 
Here I go, again following Trishie and the other fervent Australian Catholics! Seems they arise earlier than I.

Welcome to the forums! Since I have my own copy handy, I sincerely recommend that you have obtain a copy of Catholicism for Dummies. Bad title, but a greatly informative book. It will stand as a great reference for all who are inquiring into the Catholic faith. Once you have had a look at it, have her browse it as well.

One thing for your friend (and all “bible” Christians) to consider, is that there is not one word in the bible about a trinitarian God - One God in three persons. There is not one word about Jesus being true God and true Man. The hypostatic union is simply not mentioned - yet she believes in all of that. Might ask her why.

Christ’s peace be with you, and may the Holy Spirit lead you to Christian unity.

p.s. Invite her to a mass! They will not lock the doors once she’s inside. Honest.
 
Mark_B said:
but she didn’t believe in anything the Bible doesn’t teach.
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But she doesn’t believe a great many things that the Bible DOES teach. The primacy of Peter (Matt 16:18). The ministry of forgiveness of sins being entrusted to the Church (John 20:23). The fact that the Eucharist really IS the Body and Blood of Christ (the last half of John 6). This list could be multiplied quite a lot.
 
Mark_B said:
I guess if I am defending the Church, God is telling me to be a part of that Church!
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I’d say that you’re already on your way. The seed has been planted. It sounds like your in-laws have been good witnesses. The sincerity of practicing Catholics is one of the things that initially attracted me to the Church.

There are many negative preconceptions among the general population concerning Catholicism. I even held some myself once, though I don’t know why. As you’ve suggested, even a small amount of effort toward learning about the history of Christianity sheds a very positive light on the Catholic Church.

I agree with po18guy’s suggestion of Catholicism For Dummies. I also suggest that you purchase the Cathecism of the Catholic Church. It’s written in a way that is easy to read. And of course, you already appreciate the wealth of information offered here.
 
Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I do have the Catechism of the Catholic Church and have read about half of it so far. You are correct…there is a wealth of information in it. I am learning as much as I can, and I am trying to wrap my head around some of the more difficult dogmas (i.e. perpetual virginity of Mary, and her sinless life). I have come to accept the validity of the Eucharist, the need for confession, and purgatory, so I am well on my way to accepting the entire faith. I think RCIA is the next step.

I will continue to learn and understand through prayer and faith. I fully believe that the Holy Spirit will guide me to the truth. God Bless you all!
 
Thank you and God Speed. Through this we pray that we`ll all be unified through catholicism. This indeed is a powerful forum. In Friendship, Love and Truth.
 
Mark_B said:
Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I do have the Catechism of the Catholic Church and have read about half of it so far. You are correct…there is a wealth of information in it. I am learning as much as I can, and I am trying to wrap my head around some of the more difficult dogmas (i.e. perpetual virginity of Mary, and her sinless life). I have come to accept the validity of the Eucharist, the need for confession, and purgatory, so I am well on my way to accepting the entire faith. I think RCIA is the next step.

I will continue to learn and understand through prayer and faith. I fully believe that the Holy Spirit will guide me to the truth. God Bless you all!
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God bless Mark B…have you heard of Scott Hahn? Your story reminded me of his own conversion story. He was studying (a doctorate, I think), in a Catholic university and has not converted yet, but he was already well read about Catholicism, he ended up defending the CC among his classmates, and he was constantly asked questions by his fellow students on the faith. His story is recounted in “Rome, Sweet Home”.
 
I highly recommend John Martignoni’s talks which you can download for free here:

biblechristiansociety.com/download

Not only will you learn a lot about the faith, but you will also learn strategies and techniques to help you discuss the faith with persons like your friend.
 
As far as trying to understand the “more difficult doctrines,” don’t try at first. Just take them as “an article of faith.” As you are able to put things together, they will start to make some sense. But remember, some of these things are mysteries. That means nobody fully understands them. That’s why they call it “faith” instead of “knowledge.” Study and knowledge are important, but what brings us closer to God is faith itself.

You can always explain to others who are voicing objection to some Catholic teachings that you are just learning about them yourself, but “if they are really interested,” you could copy the relevant passages from the Catechism for them and they can read it for themselves, and then give them the phone number of the adult education ministry in your diocese (Don’t loan out your catechism, you’ll never get it back!) This way, you’re still defending the faith–you’re giving them the resources they can use to have their honest questions answered, probably better than you can at your “just learning” stage.

Humility, as well as prayer, are wonderful weapons to counteract misconceptions and hostility. They elevate the conversation between the objector and the defender to inquiry, something quite beyond an emotionally charged debate between acquaintances who each have a vested interest in promoting their side of the argument. You see that kind of conversation all the time in social situations (arguments about political positions, for example.) The person you’re speaking with may have no other opportunity to investigate the Catholic Church further, and your humility in admitting you do not understand everything but can direct them to where to get their questions answered if they like will be far more attractive to them than just a debate.

You don’t have to defend the Church all by yourself! She has provided plenty of resources for those who honestly seek.
 
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