Been going to a Baptist church....and I like it

[greentea07]

I moved recently to be closer to my fiancee who is a quadriplegic. I care for him and I have a full-time job. I was a member of a parish that I adored. They were welcoming, friendly, involved in the community, and I genuinely enjoyed going to mass every week there. In searching for a new Catholic church out where I’m living now…I’ve kind of encountered the opposite. He’s come with me to mass in the past and we’ve been to masses where depite being surrounded by people, no one has even turned around to shake our hands during the “kiss of peace” (pardon me if I’m messing up that part of the mass). He is Baptist and I kind of took a break from my search and went to his church a few times and I loved it. People actually talked to me and wanted to know who I was. He attends a Bible study-ish group once a week and the young people in the group are just so friendly and lovely. The minister always delivers a sound Gosel message, their music is beautiful, and they’re very involved in helping members of their parish and community who need help. They have three different missions that they take to different parts of the world and they do a lot of community service…so I guess you get the point. It’s a really good church. My situation is such that I’m so darn busy and stressed out from working all the time and caring for my fiancee that I can’t drive sixty miles to my old parish nor can I really tolerate the spiritually-dead Catholic churches I’ve tried to tolerate out in my area. I feel spiritually satisfied participating in my fiancee’s church. I of course recognize that their communion is not the same as the Eucharist, but it is really nice to be able to fully participate in worshipping with my fiancee. I’ve always been a good Catholic, and I guess it’s just as important to me that I’m a good Christian. I know I’m supposed to change these spiritually-dead churches and get involved in transforming a church the way it should be and all that…but I just don’t have the time or energy to do it right now. Maybe when I was in college I would have and when a church is right there that I wouldn’t have to fight to change…I guess I’m just wondering…why can’t I be a part of it? And will I burn in the eternal fires of hell or something like that for not going to a Catholic church?

 

[Tonks40]

Sure you can be a part of any church you want. You seem to know about the Eucharist, but do you really know?

Do what I did when I thought about leaving the Church - learn about it more. The friendliness of other churches was appealing to me also, but when I realized that I could actually be with Jesus at every Mass, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, no matter how friendly or unfriendly the congregation was, I knew this was something that I could never, ever give up! Yeah, it was inconvenient for me at times; yes, I’ve encountered not-so-friendly people, but centering on Christ, living in Him and Him in me, was so much more important than having things be to my liking.

I pray that you learn about the Church that Christ established and that you ask the Lord for help. God Bless.

 

[_SweetPea]

They were welcoming, friendly, involved in the community, and I genuinely enjoyed going to mass every week there…

People actually talked to me and wanted to know who I was…

The minister always delivers a sound Gosel message, their music is beautiful, and they’re very involved in helping members of their parish and community who need help…

I of course recognize that their communion is not the same as the Eucharist, but it is really nice to be able to fully participate in worshipping with my fiancee.

You didn’t say anything about worshiping at your fiancee’s church. Youo talked about socializing and people talking to you and enjoying the music and feeling good about the sermon. Those are all important parts of church that we shouldn’t neglect, but they aren’t worship.

Worshiping God is for Him, not for us. We are called to die to self and live for Him. There’s nothing about feeling good or liking it involved.

To worship God, you would recognize your wants and needs then look within the boundaries of the church to find it. You might really live in a place where there is no hope that you will be ministered to the way you need. God told Lot to flee Sodom and Gemorrah because there was no one righteous but he and his family. He only saved Noah’s family in the flood because they were the only righteous people.

Don’t be Lot’s wife and look back at the Protestants and wonder if you might want to join them because you’re not being ministered to the way you want right now. Do you remember what happened to her? She died for not staying in the parameters God gave her. God will tak care of you when you do what He wants in your life.

Maybe you and your fiance need to move to an area where you can worship God and get ministered to the way you need. You aren’t living with him now are you? I hope not. I think you need some education about what the Catholic Church has that the Protestants don’t so you’ll understand why you can’t get what you are looking for in your fiancee’s church.

The Protestants have a lot of good to offer. When compared to those people and parishes that call themselves Catholic but don’t live the faith, the Protestants look like they have it better. The truth is the best of the Protestant churches is not all there is. There is more God gave us, and that is only in the Catholic Church. You should find a parish where you can learn about that and where you see all there is about faith, including worshiping the Lord throuh the Mass for no other reason than because He told us that it is how we will find salvation…Patricia

 

[wardrandolph]

First,It’s commendable,the care you give your fiance.It must difficult at times.You are showing the Love of Christ.May I suggest that you look into the CCC.#846,161,1247,847,848.I have a lot of Baptist friends and love them.May I humbly ask,Do you believe in once saved always saved?Do you believe the Eucharist is just a symbol and not the Body and Blood of our Lord?Do you believe that Baptism is just symbolism and has no effect?Do you believe in the Sacrament of Reconceliation?Do you believe in the Comunion of Saints?Please take a closer look at what you are considering.Prayers for you and your fiance.

 

[po18guy]

Adoration. Please go and spend time with Christ in the flesh. There is no other place to go. Let Him speak to your heart. Let Him grant unbelievable calm to your spirit. Pray before Him, or just sit in His presence. I don’t care if my parish is populated by trolls. I am there for Christ, and He for me.

Other faith communities are great social clubs. If you find a cold reception at your parish, pray for them. It takes time to be accepted. DW and I found that out. I seek a deeper relationship with God in Christ. There is only one place where He may be found. Read up on the Eucharist, realize that it is Christ, and that He dwells physically in no other church.

Split faith in marriages is very difficult to deal with. Be strong and know that the Baptist faith is a derivative of Catholic, and so has less. Less scripture, less Sacraments, less devotions, less history, no Apostolic succession, no communion of Saints. Of course the people are friendly and welcoming, but they unknowingly welcome you to less of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus founded one church and advised us to keep His commands. That is the least, and the best that we can do on this earth.

 

[Corki]

Since you are soon to be married, I suggest you bring this up with the priest who is doing your pre-cana counseling. Marrying someone of another faith adds additional stresses to a new marriage and it is important that you resolve in your own mind how you will deal with any emotional “pull” that might lead you from the Church.

As for the local Catholic parishes, they may not be as “spritually dead” as you assume. Some parishes are just more reserved in their style, especially during Mass itself. Get involved, get to know people, volunteer before you make a judgement.

 

[Nan_S]

I’m so glad you’ve found God in places unexpected, and so disappointed that the Catholic parishes let you down. If you are completely exhausted, I don’t think anyone will question your inability to give more so that you can find fulfillment. I’ve been to, and even been a member of, spiritually dead parishes; when it gets that bad you can try to turn them around but be sucked dry and alienate everyone in the process.

Yet I have a hard time imagining any parish that is completely “dead” all all Masses. Did you attend early masses when everyone is still asleep, or evening masses when everyone is wiped out? Or did you actively try to find the “spirit filled” masses with full choir and/or upbeat music?

---

There is one more element you need to be made aware of. It concerns your fiancee’s disability. You said he is a quadriplegic. You need to talk to his doctors about the permanence of his condition, and then to the priest about your intention to marry him. I believe that Canon Law says a priest can not perform a marriage ceremony knowing that one or the other is unable to consummate the marriage.

 

[po18guy]

I’m so glad you’ve found God in places unexpected, and so disappointed that the Catholic parishes let you down.

I think the disillusionment stems from the completely different natures of the “:services”. At mass, we are at Calvary, standing at the foot of the cross. In other churches, it can be only or mainly a praise and worship service. And, there’s the difference. The mass is somber, as it was at Calvary. However, you can eat His Body and drink His Blood at mass, and nowhere else.

Christ’s peace.

 

[InLight247]

…He’s come with me to mass in the past and we’ve been to masses where depite being surrounded by people, no one has even turned around to shake our hands during the “kiss of peace” (pardon me if I’m messing up that part of the mass). … I know I’m supposed to change these spiritually-dead churches and get involved in transforming a church the way it should be and all that…but I just don’t have the time or energy to do it right now.

From your post above, I cannot figure out why you put down such a judgmental statement that the Catholic church you went is “spiritually dead”. With the priest, the representative of Jesus, in the church, and with the Eucharist, the REAL Presence of Jesus, how could a church be spiritually dead? That is a very serious accuse.

When we get to the part of sharing peace with each other, I don’t believe if you try to shake hands with people around, they will refuse to give their hands. Did you turn around and offer your hands? Or did you just stand there and wait for others to take the initiative? You don’t need any extra time or energy to offer your hands at the “peace be with you”.

And you must know that no matter how much you like the social part, your worship in a Baptist church can never replace your Sunday obligation. You are free to go to a Baptist church, but you still have to attend Mass to fulfill your Sunday obligation if you are a baptized Catholic.

 

[Roy5]

BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, MENNONITE - DOES GOD CARE?

My heart goes out to this Catholic who has found her fiance's Baptist church so friendly and satisfying.

 Now, I know this flies in the face of traditional Catholic thinking, but does God really care whether we worship Him in a Baptist or a Catholic church? Are we saved by our theology, by the sacraments, by the Papacy or whatever? Or, are we saved by a simple childlike faith in God? That what Jesus seemed to say. And when he was asked how to inherit eternal life, how did he respond? By mentioning the Eucharist or confession or the Pope? Of course not. He said to love God and one another. And when the persistent lawyer pushed him he gave the beautful parable of the Good Samaritan and not some lecture of required doctrines to believe.

 Frankly, brothers and sisters, it's theology that too frequently messes us up. All sorts of devout Christians debate petty points of theology and overlook the main thrust of Jesus' instruction. It is to love him and others. I'm sure when we get to heaven there will be plenty of Catholics and Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists, and likely Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Who knows? Maybe some gentle and generous atheists and wicca followers and practitioners of voodoo. And we will then be able to laugh about how we thought we had known the truth about the enigmas and puzzlements of life when we actually know very little. What does the scripture say? Something about God's thoughts are not our throughts and God's ways our ways. At best we get a tiny glimpse of the deeper realities as we continue on this wonderful, miraculous and mysterious journey we call life.

 We should be attending churches where we feel closest to God. I would not choose to be a Baptist, certainly not a closed-minded, fundamentalist Baptist who thinks he has all the truth, but I'm not a Catholic who thinks I have all the truth either. It's criminal that so often dogmatic religion has led to such pomposity, pride and prejudice, and even burnings and war.

 

[_SweetPea]

Roy said “we should be attending churches where we feel closest to God.”

While I can sympathize with your good intentions in suggesting that God doesn’t like conflict and therefore wouldn’t want her to be in a place where she was conflicted, I must disagree. Conflicts arise when people follow their feelings instead of the will of God. Feelings of anger, sadness, despair, pride, happiness, contentment, elation, excitement, etc are all part of the human experience and something we can use to our benefit or our detriment. Feelings are often poor guides for morality. Would you want your neighbor stealing from you because he felt jealous or justified? I wouldn’t want this woman to leave God’s church because she felt lonely or unsupported, either.

If her relationship with this man presents no opportunities for her to live her faith, it is the relationship which must be re-evaluated, not the faith. No one wants to leave someone they have feelings for. Women and children who are abused often feel love and loyalty to the ones who hurt them and don’t want to leave them. If someone in an abusive relationship would want to stay, someone in a kind and caring relationship would want it all the more. This relationship presents many hurdles to overcome including her fiancee’s disabilities, the distance that was between them, and now their different faiths. This woman has become a care-giver for her fiancee, has moved to his town, and now is considering becoming a member of his religion. That’s a lot to take on while planning a wedding and marriage and every aspect must be evaluated on its own. Few women in love who have made the sacrifices she already has for her fiancee would be willing to make those evaluations at this time.

Telling her to do whatever feels good is the most damaging message she could be told right now. She feels like she’d go to the ends of the earth for her fiancee and she wants the very best for him. What she doesn’t realize is that having the fullness of faith is the best for both of them and is more important than a supportive social network. Once the faith is put as a priority, everything else will fall into place.

Then theology can not be a weapon, distorted to hurt others. Then true self-giving and an equality of love can exist and their desire for Christian fellowship will fall into place. They might decide to move or find a parish or start a prayer group, but that will only happen after the will of God is put as their first priority. Servinig themselves and their own feelings will only set them up for disappointment and pain…Patricia

 

[littleone]

BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, MENNONITE - DOES GOD CARE?

My heart goes out to this Catholic who has found her fiance's Baptist church so friendly and satisfying.

does God really care whether we worship Him in a Baptist or a Catholic church? Are we saved by our theology, by the sacraments, by the Papacy or whatever? Or, are we saved by a simple childlike faith in God?

**You need to read your bible I am afraid to say. I will ask you a question and if you can answer that then I will tell you what the bible tells every person. My question, -Does God want an offering or does He want obedience? **

 

[Todd_Winkels]

BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, MENNONITE - DOES GOD CARE?

My heart goes out to this Catholic who has found her fiance's Baptist church so friendly and satisfying.

 Now, I know this flies in the face of traditional Catholic thinking, but does God really care whether we worship Him in a Baptist or a Catholic church? Are we saved by our theology, by the sacraments, by the Papacy or whatever? Or, are we saved by a simple childlike faith in God? That what Jesus seemed to say. And when he was asked how to inherit eternal life, how did he respond? By mentioning the Eucharist or confession or the Pope? Of course not. He said to love God and one another. And when the persistent lawyer pushed him he gave the beautful parable of the Good Samaritan and not some lecture of required doctrines to believe.

 Frankly, brothers and sisters, it's theology that too frequently messes us up. All sorts of devout Christians debate petty points of theology and overlook the main thrust of Jesus' instruction. It is to love him and others. I'm sure when we get to heaven there will be plenty of Catholics and Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists, and likely Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Who knows? Maybe some gentle and generous atheists and wicca followers and practitioners of voodoo. And we will then be able to laugh about how we thought we had known the truth about the enigmas and puzzlements of life when we actually know very little. What does the scripture say? Something about God's thoughts are not our throughts and God's ways our ways. At best we get a tiny glimpse of the deeper realities as we continue on this wonderful, miraculous and mysterious journey we call life.

 We should be attending churches where we feel closest to God. I would not choose to be a Baptist, certainly not a closed-minded, fundamentalist Baptist who thinks he has all the truth, but I'm not a Catholic who thinks I have all the truth either. It's criminal that so often dogmatic religion has led to such pomposity, pride and prejudice, and even burnings and war.

One of the best posts I have ever read here in the forums…thanks for this.

I totally agree.

P.S. An offering and obediance is the same thing…as both envolves giving…

 

[JoeSchmeau]

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

John 6:53-55

Mass is about a LOT more than feelings.

 

[InLight247]

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

John 6:53-55

Mass is about a LOT more than feelings.

 

[greentea07]

Thank you for so many thoughtful responses. I feel that we do not have the monopoly on the living and true presence of Christ in worship. To sit in a church where people are half-asleep (at 11AM) and looking like zombies, listening to a priest delivering a homily on something that has nothing to with any of the readings of the Mass, trying to sing to music that is at best described as off-key, and knowing that no one cares to get to know you is a miserable experience. Sure you can try to say yourself, “But the real presence of Christ is here.”…but is it really? Many of you say that Mass is a lot more than feelings, and I say that Mass is a lot more than what we think we have that no one else does…because guess what? Christ IS truly present in other Christian churches. It is NOT over-rated to feel a part of a community, to be able to pray with other Christians and know that they care about you, to enjoy worship and make beautiful music with others, to learn about Scripture, and to have someone want to know you and ask you if you are ok, because you look so tired. My spirit has been calmed, and I do feel at peace with where I am right now. I truly thank everyone for their prayers and advice, and I pray that everyone experiences peace like this and the real presence of Christ wherever they worship.

 

[dabecca0105]

Well let’s be clear this is my opinion. I don’t believe that you are going to burn in hell for attending another church. Many of the Catholic Churches lack the fire and desire of the spirit. We want the priest to do all the work that is preach and we just listen. Feeling the spirit is very important and that is why many Catholics are leaving or have left the Church. We are in different places spiritually and some of us can’t be satisfied by tradition we need to feel the spirit and be touched by it. I attend a Catholic Church and praise God every day that it meets my needs. I attended a Catholic boy’ school and I will never forget that one of the priest stated to us “all of you will not remain Catholic but find a good spiritual home where you can worship God”.
So I hope that you can find a good Catholic home Church but remember a little sacrifice is nothing compared to what Jesus went through. Would you believe that some Catholics in third world countries walk 25 miles to attend mass now that is true dedication to your faith.

 

[po18guy]

BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, MENNONITE - DOES GOD CARE?

My heart goes out to this Catholic who has found her fiance's Baptist church so friendly and satisfying.

does God really care whether we worship Him in a Baptist or a Catholic church? Are we saved by our theology, by the sacraments, by the Papacy or whatever? Or, are we saved by a simple childlike faith in God?

**You need to read your bible I am afraid to say. I will ask you a question and if you can answer that then I will tell you what the bible tells every person. My question, -Does God want an offering or does He want obedience? **Problem: Christ founded one church, not 35,000 that all disagree. Yes God cares! He sacrificed His son, sending Him not to condemn, but to save. Obedience to Christ’s commands, yes, but who interprets your scripture? When you do your own, it is like being your own lawyer.

 

[po18guy]

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

John 6:53-55

Mass is about a LOT more than feelings.

Amen, Joe! We are at Calvary. We stand at the foot of the cross. We are not only saved by His blood, we drink it to have life within us! How on earth could you or I ever leave that?

Christ’s peace.

 

[Brian123]

I’ve felt some of what you are going through since returning to the church.

I need the body and blood. I need Christ and am a part of his church.

But sometimes I also want to fellowship, rub shoulders with other Catholics and sadly this is not available at my parish.

I know mass is not a social event and should never be but I go to mass alone, leave alone and sometimes just yearn for some type of community to do things together from time to time such as a meal, an activity, a day trip or a local trip - anything.

We are not an unfriendly parish but we are also not an overly warm parish.

When you get this all figured out send me a PM as I’m kinda in the same boat with many long term protestant friends inviting me to this and that which I decline because I feel guilt.