Bible Study with a non-catholic (SDA)

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Hello. I am having a bible study with my ex-boyfriend, who is SDA. He will like to work out our relationship by reading the bible together. We have done this before and all he wanted to read was Daniel and Revelation. After about our third meeting, he told me that I asked too many questions about his religion and did not want to continue to study with me. After a month he is now back wanting to read the bible and workout our relationship. I am over the relationship but I am willing to help him if he has questions about the Catholic Church. He has visited my church a number of times but has since gone back to his bad views about the church.

So my question is which book is best to start with? I also have Catholicism for Dummies that was suggested to me on this forum. But I do not think my friend will be ready to read it just yet.

Thank you for your time and suggestions.

I hope I posted this thread in the right forum. Please forgive me if I was wrong.
 
Fab82 said:
Hello. I am having a bible study with my ex-boyfriend, who is SDA. He will like to work out our relationship by reading the bible together.
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No, what he actually wants to do is convert you from your faith to the SDA. They are notoriously anti-Catholic. This is a really bad idea.
Fab82 said:
We have done this before and all he wanted to read was Daniel and Revelation. After about our third meeting, he told me that I asked too many questions about his religion and did not want to continue to study with me. After a month he is now back wanting to read the bible and workout our relationship. I am over the relationship but I am willing to help him if he has questions about the Catholic Church. He has visited my church a number of times but has since gone back to his bad views about the church.
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Daniel and Revelation are apocalyptic literature. They must be interpreted through the correct lense-- the Magesterium of the Church. The SDA has many distorted teachings that come from these books. Again, bad idea. Those are not books to start from. Maybe the Gospels or letters of Paul, or Acts.
Fab82 said:
So my question is which book is best to start with? I also have Catholicism for Dummies that was suggested to me on this forum. But I do not think my friend will be ready to read it just yet.
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This is a really difficult undertaking. I suggest you get the Beginning Apologetics workbook series and work through it yourself. It covers many of the issues and objections you are likely to find coming from SDAs.

If you really want to do bible study, start with one of the Gospels or Acts. Get the Ignatius Bible Study books and use the detailed commentary as part of the study.
 
Or, he’s trying to get back with you. Probably also a bad idea, if he’s being deceptive about it.
 
Fab82 said:
Hello. I am having a bible study with my ex-boyfriend, who is SDA. He will like to work out our relationship by reading the bible together. We have done this before and all he wanted to read was Daniel and Revelation. After about our third meeting, he told me that I asked too many questions about his religion and did not want to continue to study with me. After a month he is now back wanting to read the bible and workout our relationship. I am over the relationship but I am willing to help him if he has questions about the Catholic Church. He has visited my church a number of times but has since gone back to his bad views about the church.

So my question is which book is best to start with? I also have Catholicism for Dummies that was suggested to me on this forum. But I do not think my friend will be ready to read it just yet.

Thank you for your time and suggestions.

I hope I posted this thread in the right forum. Please forgive me if I was wrong.
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I don’t think there is a particularly WRONG book to start with.

PERSONALLY, though, I’d start with some of Paul’s epistles, perhaps the Book of Acts.

These show the Christian faith in its very earliest stages and one can begin to see the roots of the Church that would later be known to the world as “The Catholic Church”
So for a SDA who is asking questions to a Catholic - this might be a good place to generate discussion.

Assuming he is open to discussing things. Some of your comments makes it seem like he is not.

ADVICE/WARNING: -Seems to me (and I really don’t know either of you) that he ‘may be’ trying to use this bible study as a ploy to get back into a relationship with you. It sounds like perhaps, based on how he reacted previously to open dialog about your differences in faith… that maybe he knows you will agree to meet under the presumption of a “bible study”
So just guard your heart and don’t let him use a bible study over and over again to create drama in your life. – that would be my advice.
 
Fab82 said:
Hello. I am having a bible study with my ex-boyfriend, who is SDA. He will like to work out our relationship by reading the bible together. We have done this before and all he wanted to read was Daniel and Revelation. After about our third meeting, he told me that I asked too many questions about his religion and did not want to continue to study with me. After a month he is now back wanting to read the bible and workout our relationship.
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What does he mean by “work out the relationship”? Make him be clear on this.
I am over the relationship but I am willing to help him if he has questions about the Catholic Church. He has visited my church a number of times but has since gone back to his bad views about the church.
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This has to be made crystal clear to this person…that your willingness to discuss the bible with him depends on a proper understanding that this is about bible study and NOT working out the relationship…
So my question is which book is best to start with? I also have Catholicism for Dummies that was suggested to me on this forum. But I do not think my friend will be ready to read it just yet.
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I would say the Gospels. Any person who wishes to be called Christian, needs a good foundation in the life, ministry, passion and resurrection of Christ. My personal favorite is Matthew and it might be a good jumping off point in discussions with an SDA.

But remember this - no matter what issues you get into discussing and what disagreements you have, the ultimate issue is going to revolve around “Authority”…Where does Authority reside, in “Scripture” or in “Church”…Scripture tells us “Church” and then you move into history…

I’m going to make a “prophesy” and say that shortly after you start this process he is going to become frustrated again and quit…(at least until he can run back to his pastor and get more arguments…;))

Be patient, be careful and be firm…

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
I’m going to make a “prophesy” and say that shortly after you start this process he is going to become frustrated again and quit…(at least until he can run back to his pastor and get more arguments…;))
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We are all speculating on this guy…but this isn’t that uncommon, so it is a good guess.
SDAs and JWs do seem to have a passion for converting Catholics. So he wouldn’t be the first SDA who wants to “save” a Catholic and runs back to his Pastor to get more ammunition. - Again, I don’t know the guy, we are mostly projecting onto him our past experiences.

So just be careful about allowing him to wear ya down and feel like you have to answer everything on your own and if you can’t - then somehow his religion is superior.

It sounds like you are a strong Catholic.
 
my wife is a Harvest born again. and many of her views about religion are similar to catholics. for example she believes in the trinity and that God, Jesus and Holy Ghost are “one” and are just a spirit, she also believes that those who are disobedient will burn in a lake of fire for eternity. I have struggled with these concepts within both churches, because it states in Genesis that God created man in “His” own image and likeness, just as Adam created his son in his own image and likeness. Furthermore when Christ resurrected he physically appeared to the apostles and they touched him and ate with them and ascended to his father. It is very confusing to me how they can be the same and be so different. Why would Christ be talking to himself and praying to himself in third person during his 33 years on earth. It does state God and Christ are or have as spirit but so do every person on earth and yet we have bodies.
As for the fire and brimstone, I don’t believe a loving Heavenly Father would let any of his children burn in a lake of fire and physically suffer like that for eternity. I think it would an emotional or spiritual suffering in your heart or mind. Just ask the question could you impose that on any of your own children? God has a much bigger capacity to love than we do.
 
rhanstad said:
my wife is a Harvest born again. and many of her views about religion are similar to catholics. for example she believes in the trinity and that God, Jesus and Holy Ghost are “one” and are just a spirit, she also believes that those who are disobedient will burn in a lake of fire for eternity. I have struggled with these concepts within both churches, because it states in Genesis that God created man in “His” own image and likeness, just as Adam created his son in his own image and likeness. Furthermore when Christ resurrected he physically appeared to the apostles and they touched him and ate with them and ascended to his father. It is very confusing to me how they can be the same and be so different. Why would Christ be talking to himself and praying to himself in third person during his 33 years on earth. It does state God and Christ are or have as spirit but so do every person on earth and yet we have bodies.
As for the fire and brimstone, I don’t believe a loving Heavenly Father would let any of his children burn in a lake of fire and physically suffer like that for eternity. I think it would an emotional or spiritual suffering in your heart or mind. Just ask the question could you impose that on any of your own children? God has a much bigger capacity to love than we do.
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These are interesting points and if you would like to discuss them, may I suggest starting a new thread so that we don’t highjack this one.

Peace
James
 
Thank you all so much for your comments. His father converted his mother from the Catholic Church and I believe he is trying to do the same with me. He believes because his mother is a good woman, she saw the errors in the Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit moved her. I told him I don’t know how well educated his mother was about the Church but I was educated a great deal by my church and my mother, who is a strict Catholic. He refuses to talk about his religion and when he questions me and I give him bible support he tells me I am misunderstanding. It is very frustrating and sad but, I don’t want to just walk away from him as far as his faith goes. He is always saying how confused he is but he doesn’t seem open to learning about the Catholic Church. I think I will start with Matthew.

P.S. He know I will never convert. I have stressed this to him.
 
Funny how he chose both Daniel and Revelation. Those are to books that he SDA like to use to attack the church. This is a big no-no right away. If I were you, I would learn as much catholic apologetics as possible before reading the bible with a non-catholic. Its important to learn to defend your faith. But remember, always read with patience and respect.

socrates58.blogspot.ca/ Thats a good site for apologetics.

PAX VOBIS
👍
 
Fab82 said:
Thank you all so much for your comments. His father converted his mother from the Catholic Church and I believe he is trying to do the same with me. He believes because his mother is a good woman, she saw the errors in the Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit moved her. I told him I don’t know how well educated his mother was about the Church but I was educated a great deal by my church and my mother, who is a strict Catholic.
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This was a good answer. It separates things nicely without saying anything negaive about his mom.
He refuses to talk about his religion and when he questions me and I give him bible support he tells me I am misunderstanding.
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This gets into the problem I mentioned earlier of authority. You give biblical answers and he says you misunderstand…He gives you his biblical understanding and you disagree…
So - who is right. And more importantly - who has the right to declare authoritatively which of you is right.
Sooner or later, this is where your conversation is going to end up…🤷

My big eureka moment on this matter was when I recognized two things. First is that the “Sin” in Mt 18:15 is not restricted to things like the ten commandments but would include something like “teaching a false doctrine”. I mean - before bringing up Mt 18:15-18, ask your friend if “teaching a false doctrine” is a sin…I’ll be he says yes.
Once he has agreed that teaching false doctrine (misleading the sheep) is a sin, you can show him Mt 18:15-18 and how it says that, if all else fails, “Tell it to The Church” and then to “Listen to The Church”.
From here you can move on to show him this instruction from Jesus’ own lips being implemented by reading Acts 15 and the issue in Antioch - which could not be settled locally (not even Paul himself, a Scripture expert by all accounts, could settle the matter) and the matter was kicked upstairs to “The Church” - the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

I’m not saying to spring this on him right away…but just want to give you something to maybe consider for later use - when he is ready…
It is very frustrating and sad but, I don’t want to just walk away from him as far as his faith goes. He is always saying how confused he is but he doesn’t seem open to learning about the Catholic Church.
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This is not surprising given his background. Patience is definitely necessary. Patience and prayer.
I think I will start with Matthew.
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Good choice…👍 (since it was my suggestion…;))
The main reason that I like Mt is the Sermon on the Mount. How it really speaks to “The Law” and how the principles contained in it should be applied…and even extended.
Plus it contains the “Bind and Loose” teachings and so much more…
P.S. He know I will never convert. I have stressed this to him.
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You go girl…Stick to your guns!!!
 
JRKH said:
This was a good answer. It separates things nicely without saying anything negaive about his mom.

This gets into the problem I mentioned earlier of authority. You give biblical answers and he says you misunderstand…He gives you his biblical understanding and you disagree…
So - who is right. And more importantly - who has the right to declare authoritatively which of you is right.
Sooner or later, this is where your conversation is going to end up…🤷

My big eureka moment on this matter was when I recognized two things. First is that the “Sin” in Mt 18:15 is not restricted to things like the ten commandments but would include something like “teaching a false doctrine”. I mean - before bringing up Mt 18:15-18, ask your friend if “teaching a false doctrine” is a sin…I’ll be he says yes.
Once he has agreed that teaching false doctrine (misleading the sheep) is a sin, you can show him Mt 18:15-18 and how it says that, if all else fails, “Tell it to The Church” and then to “Listen to The Church”.
From here you can move on to show him this instruction from Jesus’ own lips being implemented by reading Acts 15 and the issue in Antioch - which could not be settled locally (not even Paul himself, a Scripture expert by all accounts, could settle the matter) and the matter was kicked upstairs to “The Church” - the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

I’m not saying to spring this on him right away…but just want to give you something to maybe consider for later use - when he is ready…

This is not surprising given his background. Patience is definitely necessary. Patience and prayer.

Good choice…👍 (since it was my suggestion…;))
The main reason that I like Mt is the Sermon on the Mount. How it really speaks to “The Law” and how the principles contained in it should be applied…and even extended.
Plus it contains the “Bind and Loose” teachings and so much more…

You go girl…Stick to your guns!!!
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I am taking notes. I am so thankful for this site 🙂
 
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