Best friend was just "saved" and baptized in a non denominational church!

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stayathomemommy

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my best friend recently had a tramatic experience and realized she needed God. Wonderful right?? well she was invited to a Christian church, more protestant then non denominational, but i really dont know the differences. We are best friends and talk about everything so i know this was a spur of the moment thing because she told me about it after she had gone. She went there on Sunday and they Baptized her, dunking her in the water all the way. and she said the little prayer and asked Jesus into her heart.

I tried to be supportive since she grew up jewish and the fact that she has acepted Jesus Christ is wonderful.
Yet do we consider her baptism valid in the eyes of a Catholic Church if it wasnt done by a preist???

If they dont believe in original sin then does the baptism wipe it away??
I just think its so irresponsible for this church to baptise someone who they have never seen. They encouraged her to come back for bible study and church on sundays. She is really excited but right now she doesnt know what she believes and doesnt know what it is to be a Christian. I want to help her even if i dont agree with the church she has chosen.

any thoughts?
 
Yes, her baptism is presumed valid by the Catholic Church as long as the Trinitarian formula was used (you know: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”). It isn’t necessary for a Catholic priest to perform the baptism for it to be valid.

Nor is it necessary for the baptized person to have the same understanding of regenerative baptism that Catholics do. All that is required is for the person to intend to “do what the [Catholic] church does,” not believe what the Catholic Church believes. In other words, even if the Protestants involved consider the baptism to be merely symbolic, it remains a valid and effective regenerative baptism in the eyes of the Catholic Church, as long as the Trinitarian formula was followed (which it probably was).

Not to worry. And I’m glad to hear that your friend has made a commitment to Jesus!
 
Wow, going from Judaism to a baptised Christian is quite a jump. I think it’s wonderful for her mind to be open enough to just go that far.

Now that you have the Christian faith in common, perhaps you can subtly add a little Catholicism here and there? But in any case, I would foster her pursuit of Christianity.

Perhaps you could invite her to go to Mass with you? She might be open to that now.

In any case, I think it’s wonderful to welcome a new sister to Christ!! 😃

God bless!

Trish
 
Do you know about David and Rosalind Moss? Rosalind Moss went through something simular, you’ll find this if you go to the Catholic Answers home page, then seminars, then Rosalind Moss: " Rosalind Moss is a staff apologist with Catholic Answers, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Catholic faith through all forms of media. She was born and raised in a Jewish home, and in her adult years embraced Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people. Her initial conversion took her from a 15-year business career as a successful executive with corporations in New York and California to full-time Evangelical ministry, earning a master’s degree in Ministry from Talbot Theological Seminary. A series of events in the Summer of 1990 set her on a compelling course to find out if the Catholic Church is in fact the Church Christ established 2,000 years ago. After 18 years of Evangelical Protestantism, she entered the Catholic Church at Easter 1995."
There’s info there too on her books etc., I thought you might like to" introduce" her to your friend.
 
What happened to your friend is a good thing. Sometimes it takes stepping stones before a person comes home to the Catholic Church, and this just may be the first stone for your friend.

Now it’s time to counter-act any anti-Catholic baloney anyone from her new church tries to confuse her with. Talk with her about the Faith and invite her to Mass. And of course, pray for her to complete her journey. 👍
 
stayathomemommy said:
my best friend recently had a tramatic experience and realized she needed God. Wonderful right?? well she was invited to a Christian church, more protestant then non denominational, but i really dont know the differences. We are best friends and talk about everything so i know this was a spur of the moment thing because she told me about it after she had gone. She went there on Sunday and they Baptized her, dunking her in the water all the way. and she said the little prayer and asked Jesus into her heart.

I tried to be supportive since she grew up jewish and the fact that she has acepted Jesus Christ is wonderful.
Yet do we consider her baptism valid in the eyes of a Catholic Church if it wasnt done by a preist???

If they dont believe in original sin then does the baptism wipe it away??
I just think its so irresponsible for this church to baptise someone who they have never seen. They encouraged her to come back for bible study and church on sundays. She is really excited but right now she doesnt know what she believes and doesnt know what it is to be a Christian. I want to help her even if i dont agree with the church she has chosen.

any thoughts?
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There are many Jews who would agree with you on rushing to baptism, but let’s face it, there are places you can marry on just about as much notice.

Preach by your life. Be open to answer her questions, but also open to the idea that there are some extremely committed and devoted Christians at her church. Do not paint people you have never met with an uncharitable brush…you know how that feels.

Also, continue to help her cope with her traumatic experience. Ask how she’s coping, every once in awhile. When she has something to say, listen, reflect back what she’s saying and may be feeling, give her whatever suggestions you may have to offer, but insist on letting her be her own guide…or rather, letting her let the Holy Spirit be her guide. When she comes back down to level from this emotional rollercoaster, she will be thankful that you were there to hold on to.
 
THANK YOU!

I am so happy for her, truelyl i am. I just want her to learn the whole truth. This is only the beginning of her journey.
 
she should also check out Hebrew Catholics website. She will be pleasantly surprised to learn she is not alone…
 
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