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

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

Dear Greentea,
Actually other churches will tell you that their communion is a
representation and do not believe in the “Real Presence.”
My experience with attendance at other churches has been that
they are all small and therefore know “everyone”. When a new
person is there, they do all they can to welcome them to “join”
Also their service usually entails an “altar call” When I went
with my friends, I learned that many pastors were “rated” on
how many had gone up for an altar call. They ask you to join
their church
before you know any of their beliefs.
Now in a Catholic Church, there are usually so many people
it is impossible to know if you are new. Our pastor does have
a custom of asking if anyone is new to the parish or visiting from
another, but when he does not say the Mass I go to, then we
don’t really know who is new. If I can I usually say hello after
Mass and welcome them.
If I were you, I would look for someone I had seen before, intro-
duce myself and say that I was new to the parish. I would pro-
bably ask about bible studies, and/or other parish activities.
Try to immerse yourself in the worship of Mass and maybe get
some tapes or CD’s on the Mass and really learn what it is and
isn’t. catholicity.com had some that are free. You and your
fiance could both listen and it would help him to understand.
Know before you give up something precious—your faith.

 

[nicolep]

I’m terribly sorry that you felt so left out by the Catholic parishes. The reason I believe it happens is because most Catholic parishes are quite large. I try to be friendly with everyone before and after Mass. It’s difficult to know if someone is new when there are about 800 people attending each Mass. It’s much easier for the protestant communities around because most don’t have the sheer numbers. The large protestant communities haven’t been as welcoming to me in the past. They didn’t know I was new. They didn’t know that I desperately needed a hand shake. I venture to guess the Catholic parishes you attended didn’t know those things about you either.

I was raised going to a Baptist community. We went rarely and I don’t pretend to know a whole lot about their particular worship. Even when I took initiative to go myself, after about two months, I felt completely empty. Everyone paid attention to me and I felt like I was well welcomed at first. That soon died off. Then I was left feeling like someone who didn’t belong. I searched long and hard for many years for a Church. To make a long faith-search story short, I was very unhappy for about three years. The only time I talked to God during that time was to beg for death every night when I went to sleep. Every morning, I woke up. Eventually, I quit asking and realized that God had other plans for me. It was only the Holy Spirit that brought me to the Catholic Church. After an extremely difficult three years, the Catholic Church brought me to happiness. It wasn’t the people in the parish. Most of them didn’t have much to say to me at first. It took longer than I care to admit, but I began to make friends. As time wore on in the Church, I began to find family in that community. I basically forced everyone to get to know me (whether they like me or not remains to be seen)! I volunteered and got extremely involved. Just about everyone knows me in a parish with close to 5,000 members. It took being involved for people to notice. I realize that it’s probably very difficult for you to be involved while caring for your fiancé. That is an extremely noble cause by the way. I commend you. However, I do think that it’s a tough time in your life to make any major decisions…having just moved and a new marriage coming. Give yourself time. Adjust to your new life and be open to the Holy Spirit. I believe it will lead you in the right direction.

Now, if you’ve actually made it through this ridiculously long post, I commend you further! I’d be happy to discuss with you more. Feel free to click on my screen name and send me a message. May God bless you and your fiancé.

 

[littleone]

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…

Sorry but I must say this straight forward.

From what I understand of the “Word of God”, I don’t believe that you have the right to say that it is right to treat God this way, and say that God has no right to obedience (which He has the right to expect, but that He should be satisfied in taking an offering when you know the difference.

If you have children, and one of your children was asked by you not to use sexual innuendos or writing all over the walls, in your house because that is your rule or boundary set up by you and your wife/husband while the child was in your house, then you would not expect the child to say "Ok then, only while you are not here my friends and I will…when you are not here!

You see God made the ten commandments to be adhered to completely as God wills, NOT to be minimized by God’s children and used how they decided to act. And we can’t say that “but we are not God”, when God says that we are made to His likeness.
Obedience is doing what the person asks in this case God asks.
Offering is to decide what you want to offer and give it as you please.
Take for instance Cain and Able, who gave as God wanted and who offered what they could be bothered, what was the outcome?

Stay close to God and be blessed
Godbless

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, I was afraid when I first opened this thread, that I would see exactly what I’m seeing. A debate on which religion is better.

Understand one thing and learn to accept it. Not everyone is fed spiritually in the Catholic Church. Sometimes their level of faith requires a bit more fellowship with Christians, verses attending a morbid Mass and watching everyone run to their cars in order to get on their way to other things, as fast as possible.

If the Holy Spirit is leading Greentea to the Baptist Church, I say, go in peace. If Christ feeds her and her fiancé in that church and they grow closer to God as a result, Praise God. Their openness to the will of God, is what will lead them to where God wants them, not humans arguing over who’s religion is the better one.

Such debates like this, will do nothing more than dig people’s heels in, and it could even be a road block for Greentea and others to hear the call from God, to come to the Catholic Church.

Yes, there are doctrinal differences between Catholicism and the Baptist. Most of those differences are more on the human level than the spiritual level.

As the song goes, "They will know we are Christians, by our Love.’

If we can’t show love and hope for the best for Greentea and her fiancé, where nothing more than people with a religion.

Jim

 

[Jimsdun]

Well, I was afraid when I first opened this thread, that I would see exactly what I’m seeing. A debate on which religion is better.

Understand one thing and learn to accept it. Not everyone is fed spiritually in the Catholic Church. Sometimes their level of faith requires a bit more fellowship with Christians, verses attending a morbid Mass and watching everyone run to their cars in order to get on their way to other things, as fast as possible.

If the Holy Spirit is leading Greentea to the Baptist Church, I say, go in peace. If Christ feeds her and her fiancé in that church and they grow closer to God as a result, Praise God. Their openness to the will of God, is what will lead them to where God wants them, not humans arguing over who’s religion is the better one.

Such debates like this, will do nothing more than dig people’s heels in, and it could even be a road block for Greentea and others to hear the call from God, to come to the Catholic Church.

Yes, there are doctrinal differences between Catholicism and the Baptist. Most of those differences are more on the human level than the spiritual level.

As the song goes, "They will know we are Christians, by our Love.’

If we can’t show love and hope for the best for Greentea and her fiancé, where nothing more than people with a religion.

Jim

Remember too that in order to come home, some people have to leave home first. Does that make sense? Perhaps one day she will come home, but having benefitted from the journey of having to leave. Kinda like Jeff Cavins’ story.

 

[Nan_S]

If the Holy Spirit is leading Greentea to the Baptist Church, I say, go in peace. If Christ feeds her and her fiancé in that church and they grow closer to God as a result, Praise God. Their openness to the will of God, is what will lead them to where God wants them, not humans arguing over who’s religion is the better one.

If we can’t show love and hope for the best for Greentea and her fiancé, where nothing more than people with a religion.

Jim

Ardent Catholic that I am, one who could never become a Baptist myself for serious reasons, I feel I must agree with you. There was a time when I probably could have found a home in the Baptist church myself.

Early on Greentea said her fiancé was a quadriplegic. That tragic condition has many challenges, and God bless her for taking them on. Quadriplegia normally also has a serious impediment - the inability to consummate a marriage - which would prevent them from being able to marry in the Catholic church. Perhaps that inability is not a barrier to marriage in a Baptist church.

I’ve got to wonder. If a couple who is physically unable to consummate a marriage gets married in another Christian church, then decides to join or return to the Catholic church, would the Catholic priest be allowed to consecrate and officially recognize their marriage? From what I’ve seen in canon law, I fear the answer to that question would be “no.”

 

[packermann]

Well, I was afraid when I first opened this thread, that I would see exactly what I’m seeing. A debate on which religion is better.

Understand one thing and learn to accept it. Not everyone is fed spiritually in the Catholic Church. Sometimes their level of faith requires a bit more fellowship with Christians, verses attending a morbid Mass and watching everyone run to their cars in order to get on their way to other things, as fast as possible.

God in His mercy does bless Protestant communities. And I myself wasw raised Catholic, left the Church for Protestant churches, and eventually came back as a much stronger Catholic. I praise God for my experience as a Protestant, I think God used that experience to bring me to appreciate the Eucharist in a very deep way.

But, in all good conscience, I cannot encourage anyone to leave the Catholic Church. To leave the Catholic Church is objectively a mortal sin, according to Catholic teaching. I am not saying that the Op is going to hell if she leaves. If she sincerely believes that she will find God more in another church, God could have mercy on her. But I do not know her heart. None of us nows her heart. She may not even be aware of her true motives for leaving. So since none of us Catholics can know what is going on inside her, how can anyone of us encourage her to leave with our blessings? If she leaves the Church, which means leaving Christ in the Eucharist, for the wrong reasons, the she could go to hell and that would be on our conscience if she left because of us. So not only for the sake of her own soul, but for mine as well, I could not encourage her to turn away from Christ in the Eucharist. I would have to stand before God and explain why I encouraged someone to turn away from Christ in the Eucharist.

I left the Catholic Church because I thought I could get closer God in the other churches. And even though I am better Catholic now because of my Protestant experience, there was a time as as Protestant when I came very close to rejecting Christ. At that time, I even thought of suicide, and even there my Catholic upbringing saved my life. The only thing that kept me from suicide was that I was afraid the Catholic Church was right about suicide being a mortal sin.

So I am trying to not to play the game that “my Church is better
is better than yours”. God does bless Protestants, especially if they were brought up in their Protestantism and don’t know better. But that is different from a person who is a Catholic, who knows the fullness of the truth, who experienced the blessed communion of Christ in the Eucharist, and then turns away from it. A lot of times a person saying “I just was not fed” means that the person was not entertained enough.

 

[littleone]

Sorry if what I wrote seemed to be part of a fight between churches, because it was only a response to what one person stated, not the forum generally.

Personally the bible tells us that 1/3 will leave for what ever reason. However I have seen many leave who have caused much pain for others, those who left have had much anger to throw at those who stayed in the church the person left.
But those who left because they believe that God directed them to another church seemed to have left in good spirit and have kept a relationship with those still in the church.
So to me it seems that you might be able to notice who followed the leading of Our Lord.

Godbless

 

[BRB]

the inability to consummate a marriage - which would prevent them from being able to marry in the Catholic church. Perhaps that inability is not a barrier to marriage in a Baptist church.

I’ve got to wonder. If a couple who is physically unable to consummate a marriage gets married in another Christian church, then decides to join or return to the Catholic church, would the Catholic priest be allowed to consecrate and officially recognize their marriage? From what I’ve seen in canon law, I fear the answer to that question would be “no.”

Incredible. If this really is Church law on marriage … an appeal to the Pope would seem in order.

Afterall, does not the Church teach that Mary was engaged and married Joseph … with his full knowledge and consent that she had taken vow of chastity. Does the Church not recognize the Mary / Joseph union as valid by God’s rules ?

 

[BRB]

God in His mercy does bless Protestant communities. And I myself wasw raised Catholic, left the Church for Protestant churches, and eventually came back as a much stronger Catholic. I praise God for my experience as a Protestant, I think God used that experience to bring me to appreciate the Eucharist in a very deep way.

But, in all good conscience, I cannot encourage anyone to leave the Catholic Church. To leave the Catholic Church is objectively a mortal sin, according to Catholic teaching…

God sees the total picture of our lives. He uses experiences with other Christian Churches to enlarge our understanding of the Gospel.

However, Eucharist is so important … it should not be missed. Perhaps you can arrange for a Catholic friend to bring out the Eucharist to your home. This was done in early churches for the sick and shut-ins. Even today it is done in Protestant and Catholic churches.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Remember too that in order to come home, some people have to leave home first. Does that make sense? Perhaps one day she will come home, but having benefitted from the journey of having to leave. Kinda like Jeff Cavins’ story.

Exact point I was thinking about this morning.

I often watch the EWTN program, “The Journey Home.” There have been so many guest on the program, who found their way to the Catholic Church, via other religions. In all cases, the person said that Christ first opened their hearts in those other religions, and eventually the Holy Spirit guided to the Catholic Church. Many were Catholics who left but returned.

The point is, God leads and we follow, if we open our hearts to Him. If we put up human created roadblocks, we will be locked in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Jim

 

[Layman]

The Catholic Church isn’t a social club. It’s a vehicle for me to get to Heaven. I don’t go Mass to make friends, though it’s nice when it happens.

Protestant congregations tend to be smaller. Thus they can be more intimate. If you trade friendship for a greatly increased chance of getting into Heaven, you’re making a mistake.

The religion you belong to is very important. I believe the Sacraments put a charge on you. Who knows what hellish assaults we’ve avoided or survived simply by being definitively marked as part Jesus’ flock?

With other religions, especially Protestant, there is no such guarantee.

Your new friends won’t be with you at the hour of your judgement, either. Have a care.

 

[Jimsdun]

The Catholic Church isn’t a social club. It’s a vehicle for me to get to Heaven. I don’t go Mass to make friends, though it’s nice when it happens.

Your new friends won’t be with you at the hour of your judgement, either. Have a care.

My point exactly. If you want to join a church for social reasons, you might as well become a Mormon. Their members are about the friendlist people you could ever meet…

 

[InLight247]

While discussing to leave or not to leave, it is important to pay attention to the cause.

To my observation, many left the Catholic Church due to lack of true understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist. Many of us vaguely know about the “Real Presence”, but do we really know and believe it? Another common complaint is the absence of fellowship among parishioners. What can we do about it?

---

From evangelization point of view, to help the issues mentioned above, the approach is two-fold:

First, we ourselves need to reflect on the meaning and reality of the Eucharist.
We must own the knowledge of the “Real Presence” to the hearts, not just in our heads or lips.
Then we ought to help our brothers and sisters to comprehend the truth and cherish it.

Second, we have to realize that unless one joins some specific ministry in the Catholic Church, one will not enjoy the fellowship as that of the Protestants. I felt like an island for many years until I join the small church community and other ministries. Now I have many friends in the church. When we take the initiative to reach out, we will be reached.

The next question is when we see problems, shouldn’t we do all we can to change it? If we feel the coldness, why don’t we bring in some warmness?

For example, we may sit with the same people in the pew every Sunday. Why not introduce ourselves and get to know others before or after Mass? It only takes couple minutes and a hand shake. Remember that person’s name. Next time when you see him or her at the church, greet him or her by name. That is a starting point. All of us can do it. It is not hard.

Also, we always reap what we sow. If we sow kindness, we will reap kindness. If someone mentions some personal concerns, remember to pray for that person. Next time when you meet, check on him about it. This takes true caring on our part. But that is all about following Jesus, and loving our neighbors.

In some of the ministries I participate, we share around the table what we want to be prayed for before the meeting is over. I always do my best to remember their requests and ask them about it the next time. I am usually the only one doing this. People are surprised when I ask them. But I can tell they really appreciate it.

We cannot change a culture or atmosphere overnight. But with enthusiasm and action, a vision can be achieved over time.

If we have realized what is lacking in the church, are we waiting for others to do something about it? Or are we going to do something about it?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

My point exactly. If you want to join a church for social reasons, you might as well become a Mormon. Their members are about the friendlist people you could ever meet…

Fellowship is important for spiritual growth, and often, Catholic Parishes lack Christian fellowship. In fact, many Catholic Parishes have a social aspect, rather than a Christian fellowship.

I know, I use to belong to one. They had a great PTA, with their dances, Las Vegas nights, October-fest and bingo nights. But they had virtually no Christian fellowship.

Also, Pope Benedict says that faith isn’t just between you and God, it is in communion with your fellow human beings. The Church is communal, its where the word Term, Holy Communion Comes from. We don’t go to Heaven to dwell individually with God, but rather to be part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Jesus commanded that we are to love God with our entire being, but equally, we are to love one another. Shurgging off the community aspect of Church life, is the opposite of what this commandment is about.

It isn’t difficult to understand, that sometimes in Catholic parishes, this love and community, doesn’t exist. I’ve seen it, experienced it. I’ve also seen and experienced the opposite, and when you have it, its wonderful.

Without fellowship, it can be very difficult for a Christian to find the spiritual nourishment that they require at the time. I believe its then that the Holy Spirit calls them to other places, for a while.

If the Catholic Church is the one true Church in the eyes of God, then the person who follows the will of God, will but eventually be a Catholic, if they continue to grow spiritually.

If we Catholics believe this, then we wouldn’t be so defensive and often times, offensive, when a person decides to leave. They are either following God’s will, or they’re not. If they’re not, they’re probably leaving religion all together anyway, but even then, pray for them.

Jim

 

[BRB]

Another common complaint is the absence of fellowship among parishioners. What can we do about it?

---

?

You raise the key question. I think we need to recall how/why the early Church grew so fast. And we need to understand why the Mormons have been successful in their evangelism.

Clearly the Mormons make it all about family relationships. This should be the top priority of Catholics also.

What if Catholics would practice a ‘family nite’ like the Mormons do ? And, also small group fellowships in homes … like the early Christians did. To enjoy fellowship of other Christians, have potluck meals, discuss the faith, become better friends, and always to give praise the Lord.

Catholics should be ones best known for Family strength & faith … not the Mormons. But, by all means … visit a Mormon family nite if needed … to learn what has worked so well for them.

I think however we already know … its well covered in letters of Paul and in early Church history by Eusebius, etc. We have become so good [bad] at worshiping sports … we need to return to faith, morals,and family & Christian fellowship.

 

[Tigg]

While discussing to leave or not to leave, it is important to pay attention to the cause.

**To my observation, many left the Catholic Church due to lack of true understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist.** Many of us vaguely know about the “Real Presence”, but do we really know and believe it?

I believe you have absolutely hit upon the crux of this thing. I alluded to it in a previous post stating that one needed to start studying and learning their faith.

The Eucharist - the absolute core of our faith…if you do truly believe this is a sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ (a true faith that is given only by the Spirit- a faith infused into the depths of our being) then I do not believe it possible that anyone could leave the Catholic Church.

 

[onaquest]

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. But isn’t she under obligation to receive communion during the Easter season. You would also need to make a good confession but I may be adding on my own thoughts. But I’m sure it is during the Easter season.

If you decide to go that route of as little as possible. You still could go to adoration at the old dusty churches you find so unbearable. While continuing to attend the Baptist church but you could not receive their last supper service .

 

[InLight247]

Originally posted by BRB
I think we need to recall how/why the early Church grew so fast.

Yes, fellowship is important. People long for knowing other parishioners.

Recently the Evangelization Commission at our church sponsored an outdoor “Summer Social” to welcome new comers.

Our parish is booming ever since the new sanctuary was completed a few years ago. From January to June this year, 93 new families registered. This “Summer Social” is the first event Evangelization Commission sponsored since I responded to the call and took the commission chair position this spring. We have a great team. All my five committee chairs in the Commission are from my small church group. We work together so well. It is a big blessing.

For this event, we ask each old parishioner family to bring a dessert to welcome the newcomers. We did a great job with PR. This event has been announced on weekly bulletin for several weeks. It is also constantly being shown on the TV screen within the church. Color posters have been put on every glass door of the church so no one can miss it. Oral announcement has been made after every Mass. Then we sent out 93 invitation cards to the new families, followed by another invitation letter with the newcomers game contest form.
By the time we estimate they all have received both invitations, I personally made 93 phone calls and invited them to attend. For those whom I got a chance to talk to, they all sounded happy and surprised to receive such earnest invitations one after another. Some expressed their regret that due to pre-arrangements, they were either on vacation or had to go out of town that day. They all said they wished to have another chance in the future. Then I called all the leaders in the church, inviting them to support. By the time I finished one hundred some phone calls, I felt I am qualified to be a telemarketer.

Our church music director brought in some college kids to play Jazz music. Big screen was set up for the lyrics so we can all sing along. People brought in lawn chairs putting under the trees. Newcomers put on red name tags, old parishioner blue. We also invited both priests to attend. It was a very hot evening. We prepared 400 name tags. Counting afterwards, 340 people attended. While 340 out of 8000 is not many,we are happy there is a start. The positive feedbacks were tremendous. Our team is in the process of planning for future events.

I want to share this experience and encourage all of you do the same. You don’t have to be the chair person to do so. You can bring suggestions to the leaders of your parish, such as Evangelization or Family Life, etc. and go from there. Would you please consider to do so? We are all in this together. God bless!

 

[InLight247]

The Eucharist - the absolute core of our faith…if you do truly believe this is a sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ …then I do not believe it possible that anyone could leave the Catholic Church.

Yes, if we truly believe the real presence, who would want to leave the union of body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ in the Communion?