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

[jmcrae]

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?

Yes, He does. He gave us the Catholic Church, and promised St. Peter, our first Pope, that He would protect it from the gates of Hell. (Matthew 16:18-19)

No such promise was ever given to John Smythe, the founder of the Baptist 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?

All of these things together are the means of grace, which is the heart of God. To separate faith from the Church is to make a false kind of faith - the Devil’s kind of faith, which admits the facts but does not act on them.

 

[jmcrae]

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?

In the Tabernacle and on the Altar - yes - in a way that no Protestant can ever experience.

When you are feeling lonely, the best place to be is in front of the Tabernacle. All the love and understanding you will ever need is in that precious, sacred heart, that is beating in there just for you.

Accept no substitute. Human beings will fail you - Jesus never will.

 

[Jimsdun]

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?

A lot of people go to church for social reasons. If you think that making friends in church is more important than spiritual growth, then I can’t stop you.

The friendliest church that I ever visited was a Mormon church. Does that mean that I should convert to Mormonism?

“I know I’m supposed to change these spiritually-dead churches”

What makes you think that those churches are spiritually dead? In my experience, there is no correlation between a church’s spiritual health and the outgoingness of its members.

Before I converted to the Catholic faith, I had been both a Baptist and a Methodist. I know the Baptists are very friendly, but part of the reason is that they are trying to gain converts. Once you’re in, they will pretty much ignore you and will fawn over the next new person that darkens the church door. At least that has been my experience with the Baptist church.

 

[myredeemerlives]

Firstly, I’d just like to say that posting on a catholic forum for advice about whether it’s good or bad to go to a baptist church is only going to get you one answer. Catholics believe that salvation is only in the Catholic church, but truly salvation is of the Lord.

If the church is biblically following God’s word then you have nothing to fear. In fact, I totally agree with you… by their fruits you shall know them. And no, you will not go to hell for being a baptist!

 

[mary_bobo]

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.

I understand how you feel as I felt the same way when I started going to the church I now attend. That was about four years ago. I did not know anyone and nobody ever gave me a second glance. After a few weeks (could have been a couple of months) I decided to take matters into my own hands. I noticed that the same woman sat across the aisle from me each week, so when she came in and sat down about ten minutes before Mass started, I walked across the aisle and introduced myself. She seemed a little surprised, but then she mentioned that coffee and donuts were served in the parish hall after Mass and would I like to join her.

Point is, sometimes we have to take the first step. I don’t think people are intentionally cold, they just don’t notice or don’t quite know what to say. They might be hesitant to assume you are new, rather than one who usually goes to another Mass. Give it a try.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

greantea,
God bless you, for your heart is larger than many who claim to be Christian.

As a parent of an adult child with cerebral palsy, I understand what it is to look at a person beyond their disability.

Go where God leads you. If it be in the Catholic Church, praise God. If it be in the Baptist Church, praise Him still.

There are many who are more concerned in keeping you Catholic, than seeing you join another religion, even if its the Holy Spirit calling you there. They get defensive more than anything else.

If you find you are being called away from the Catholic Church right now, go in peace. Perhaps someday, you’ll return, but it may be that the Lord needs to feed you through a different church right now. However, always remain open to the Holy Spirit, because He dwells in all who call on the name of Jesus Christ, even if they’re Catholic or Baptist. Never make war on the Church you leave, but leave the door open, for someday, the Lord may lead you back.

In all, stay rooted in prayer, for there is where God will speak to you best.

God Bless
Jim

 

[lovesMary]

I can relate to your experience, since my own parish seems, though not completely spiritually dead, gravely ill. It’s hard to see the love of Christ in a seemingly unloving, uncaring parish community.

I don’t know what the answer is to this unfortunate situation. I have known many people who have left the Catholic Church because of it. They lost their beliefs because they couldn’t see evidence for them in their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were virtually ignored by the very people who were supposed to be their greatest support and comfort!

I feel the same way at times.

 

[Tigg]

I say this with much charity…you are on very dangerous ground.

There are many Protestant churches that are very anti-Catholic and actually catechize against the Church. If I were in your position, I would plead a very ardent prayer every day to the Lord and His Blessed Mother that my faith be protected and strengthened and that the Spirit would consecrate me in truth.

I would also check out and listen to apologetic tapes - Scott Hahn, Fr. Philip Scott, and the “Surprised by the Truth” series by Patrick Madrid are all good and very basic.

Perhaps you could also go for spiritual direction and above all, pray to Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist to “reveal” His presence to you. No other church has the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Precious Jesus on their altars. And socializing and fellowship is no substitute for the Lord Himself!

 

[Tigg]

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.

I certainly don’t mean to offend, but I disagree with your post as I’ve hi-lited above. Our very faith and belief system should not be contingent upon our emotions, which we should not trust. God reveals Himself to us in many ways, not the least of which is studying our faith, education and prayer!

 

[juliasmith]

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…

wrong. They are not anywhere near the same thing.

 

[juliasmith]

To the OP: please examine yourself before joining this church you are considering. A lot of what passes for worship in these churches these days plays on your emotions. They are designed to incite and excite you to an emotional response. Find out how their minister lives. Do they buy him a new car every year? Who owns the parsonage? How much of the ‘offering’ goes to the minister and how much goes to doing God’s work of feeding the poor, etc?
They are taught to be friendly so to bring in new members. (new members means more money)
Perhaps you are looking for socialization and not for a relationship with God. If it is socialization…the Baptist church is a good place to be. If you want God, stay where you are, please.

 

[BRB]

I wonder what might happen if one Sunday the local Baptist fellowship came to the Catholic church for a visit … and the next week the Catholics went to the Protestant church.

I’d venture 3:1 that more Baptists would be willing to attend the Mass, than Catholics willing to go for a visit.

Wonder if this has ever been tried … to see how H.S. would move the members ?

Isn’t it time we introduce ourselves to each other … and find out how Christ would work it all out ?

 

[jmcrae]

I wonder what might happen if one Sunday the local Baptist fellowship came to the Catholic church for a visit … and the next week the Catholics went to the Protestant church.

I’d venture 3:1 that more Baptists would be willing to attend the Mass, than Catholics willing to go for a visit.

Because the Baptists are still looking for a Church home, but the Catholics are already home and don’t need to go looking?

Isn’t it time we introduce ourselves to each other … and find out how Christ would work it all out ?

You don’t need an invitation, to come home to the Mass.

Christ has already worked it all out - He established the Catholic Church on the rock of Peter.

 

[wardrandolph]

To Myredeemer lives:“The Church”,The Holy Catholic Church does not teach we are the only people who are going to Heaven.The CCC(instruction and explanation),teaches it is possible for our separated Brothers and Sisters to go to Heaven.Please don’t make a statement about our teaching,Doctrine etc. unless you know what the church teaches.Humbly,Ward.

 

[BRB]

Because the Baptists are still looking for a Church home, but the Catholics are already home and don’t need to go looking?

:

Maybe the Baptists are not so closeminded, and are more desirous to understand Catholics firsthand.

How do you explain presence of H.S. within Protestant Churches ? Doesn’t that prove that Christ has blessed their membership ?

I feel its high time we reunify … after 400 years apart. Didn’t the Hebrews have their schism … the North Kingdom from the Southern ?

We all know Christ desires brotherhood among his flock. Will it be Protestants or Catholics that first extend the olive branch and desire unity ?

 

[jmcrae]

I feel its high time we reunify … after 400 years apart. Didn’t the Hebrews have their schism … the North Kingdom from the Southern ?

I agree. Christ established the Pope as the leader of all Christianity, so it would be fitting for all to return and be subject to him, just as the reunified Kingdom made itself subject to David.

We all know Christ desires brotherhood among his flock. Will it be Protestants or Catholics that first extend the olive branch and desire unity ?

Catholics certainly desire unity - but not at the cost of truth.

 

[BRB]

Catholics certainly desire unity - but not at the cost of truth.

Perhaps the truth test would be which group is more spirit-filled and practices Beatitudes more faithfully. Isn’t that the standard Christ would make the call on ?

 

[jmcrae]

Perhaps the truth test would be which group is more spirit-filled and practices Beatitudes more faithfully. Isn’t that the standard Christ would make the call on ?

He probably would, and if so, then the Catholic Church would win, because we are the ones who help the most poor people, and who provide immigrant resources, hospitals, schools, and community centres for people in need.

Glad-handing before and after church probably wouldn’t be the biggest factor He would look for, in being Spirit-filled.

He might think that the Rosary ladies, in their quiet way, are more “Spirit filled” than the shoutingest, stompingest Baptist preacher, because of their endless prayers for the sick and suffering, and for the conversion of sinners.

 

[BRB]

Glad-handing before and after church probably wouldn’t be the biggest factor He would look for, in being Spirit-filled.

We know every church has sheep & goats. If we could somehow get the Trinitarian churches back into unity … perhaps the goats would be horrified, and scared off for a good while.

 

[jmcrae]

We know every church has sheep & goats. If we could somehow get the Trinitarian churches back into unity … perhaps the goats would be horrified, and scared off for a good while.

I wish we could, too.

I started a new thread to share my nice experience at Mass today.

Not every Catholic church is always “unwelcoming” - including the “unwelcoming” ones.