Big Question!

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I don’t understand? If she believes she can interpert the bible, with the guidence of the Holy Spirit, why can’t you? Is this being a little
hypocritical?
  1. Personal Interpertation of the Bible
    They have the right to interpert the Bible through divine inspiration. They can disagree with others becasue God means to reveal different things with them
 
be sure to give your friend a huge thank you for leading you to read and study the bible, and thank those who presented the class for their insights, and for reminding you that the Holy Spirit is the guide for interpreting scripture. you may then tell her politely that in your RCIA classes you wish to find out by what authority the Catholic Church claims that the Holy Spirit guides her in interpreting scripture and teaching faith and morals. tell her you respect her and her friends for their devotion to their faith, and you assume she extends the same respect to you and your family. I am curious, however, why when you first decided to pursue bible study you did not inquire at your own parish or diocese for a Catholic study.
 
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Vincent:
You might be interested in the Catholic-Church of Christ debate that was held four years ago in Texas.

I particularly recommend the very last speech by Fr. Callam, the Catholic debater.
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If you could please post this file in a different type of document, i do not have the specific one needed that you supply here. Also, is this the Fr. Callam who teaches at UST? Thats the only debator named Fr. Callam that I know, very brilliant and humorous man.
 
The Early Church Fathers can help immensely.
Many protestants are not aware of the vast amount of information the early christians left behind.
If they want to claim that shortly after the apostles died that the church “fell away” somehow - or lost authority - it is up to them to prove it with historical fact.
Historical facts instead support catholocism.

ccel.org/fathers2/
 
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Tanais:
If you could please post this file in a different type of document, i do not have the specific one needed that you supply here. Also, is this the Fr. Callam who teaches at UST? Thats the only debator named Fr. Callam that I know, very brilliant and humorous man.
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That’s him!

You need RealPlayer to listen to the debates. Click here to download it.
 
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asquared:
I am curious, however, why when you first decided to pursue bible study you did not inquire at your own parish or diocese for a Catholic study.
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It wasn’t a conscious decision on my part at the beginning, she invited, and I accepted. Around the third or fourth lesson, I decided I needed Catholic studies.
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e-catholic:
She sounds like a good friend. I am glad that she is happy that you are learning more about your faith. Maybe after the RCIA class you will be more comfortable discussing your beliefs with her. Perhaps she will come to see some truth in your Catholic point of view. I think that when the beliefs of “Bible only” christians are contemplated fully they unravel quickly.
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One of the first studies we did together included the end of Revelations with “I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in the book, and if anyone takes away from the words in the prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in theholy city described in this book.” She looked in my eyes with utmost sincerity and told me how concerned she was that the Catholic Church had added books to the Bible. The look on her face when I explained that we didn’t add anything, but others removed them, was priceless, and I hoped it would open her eyes a little bit. Of course, when she checked with someone at her church, they told her there was nothing **wrong **with reading those books. No concern at all that the Bible she studied with had books removed, but serious concern when she thought the Bible I used had books added.

I appreciate all of the advice from everyone! I truly am reading them all, and taking them to heart!
 
Be bold and invite her to join you at RCIA. The first several weeks as usually an “inquiry” as to the beliefs of the Catholic faith. I only make this suggestion if you know of the quaility of the RCIA program.
 
It is great this is motivating you to learn more about how to defend our faith. Keep studying and reading. We have answers to anything they claim. Don’t participate in their Bible studies. You are right about that. They just use it to convert you.
 
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StacyS:
Ok, folks. I need a lot of help!!!
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All Catholics share in the great commission from Jesus to make disciples of all nations. God desires that every single human on the planet become a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

You have been given an opportunity from God to lead your friend out of the darkness of the CoC and into the light of the Catholic Church. You have God on your side, what do you have to fear? Pray to the Holy Spirit bring forth the graces that were bestowed upon you in Confirmation, and start praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance on how to evangelize your friend.

Let your friend ask you a question, and then do your homework. If you are having a hard time understanding what the Church teaches, start a thread on the apologetics forum to help sharpen your answers. The Catholic Answers forum now has 10,000 members. You have the whole communion of Saints that you can call on for help. There is a whole army at your disposal to back you up in your mission from God!

Be not afraid.
Pope John Paul II
 
It is common for Sola Scriptura Protestants to use the verse from Revelations about adding to this book to refer to the Bible. However, what they frequently overlook is that that verse refers only to the book of Revelations. There was no New Testament in place when John wrote the book of Revelations. The canon of the New Testament was not established until the Councils of Hippo and Carthage in the late 300s. I think 394 and 397. Therefore that particular verse can’t apply to the Bible as we know it today.

Peace,
Linda
 
Greetings

I want to share this with you.
Catholics have successfully debated their faith with folks like your friend and her Church. This is true.

I worked in Ecumenism for my Diocese. I am a former Protestant and know how they teach when they believe in Sola Scriptura. To them, it is infallible teaching and Tradition means nothing. Because of this, I found you have to let them choose the playing field.

I grew up on Bible teachings as a Protestant. When I became a Catholic, the Priest who taught me (in 1955, a very wise old Irishman) seemed to know the way to reach me was with scripture. That is how he taught me. He taugtht me the Sacraments and the Church using scripture. And, we took what he read, literally. It can be done.

I went on with my studies, year after year. I read the Bible over and over. The more you read the New Testament, the more the Truth of the Catholic Church speaks to you.

So… when ever I participated in a debate, I asked if they want to discuss scripture literally or are they into interpreting scripture. If they are into interpreting the discussion is over in a matter of an hour. Church history cannot be denied.

Usually they say, literally and then as I showed proof, they started interpreting. You must bring them back to what scripture says litterally. If you go the gospel of John, for the teaching on the “bread of life”, the gospels on the last supper or Paul in I Corinthinans, and insist on holding to literal, there is no other truth than the one taught by the Church.

Tell your friend you are taking a year away from her discussions on anything religious. Then study. Learn scripture and your Catechism. You can do it in a year. Then go back and debate it with her.

I have had over 50 converts over the years by being able to do this. I have taught Bible study classes to other and now they are doing the same.

All because one little sweet Irish Priest knew how to teach a conversion class 50 years ago. I wonder how many lives he influenced besides mine?
 
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StacyS:
I’m not educated enough at this point to properly defend my faith with my friend, and I am tired of saying, “I don’t know the answer.” Can anyone help me?
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I suggest you give your Church of Christ friend a copy of Patrick Madrid’s book, Surpised by Truth 2: Fifteen Men and Women Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic. Of particular interest is Jeff Childers’s conversion story, the chapter entitled “From the Church of Christ to Christ’s Church.”
 
Thanks, again for all of the help and comments!

I have two books I had thought about lending her, either Unabridged Christianity by Mario P. Romero or Surprised by Truth (the first one). But, Todd, if the second Madrid book has a chapter from a former CoC member, that would be great! I’ll see if I can find a copy!

She is open to reading, but I may only get one shot. I wouldn’t want to miss! (Or course, she may change her mind when she finds out I didn’t read the other Howe book she gave me.)
 
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SusanL:
Under NO conditions, allow your daughter to attend their VBS…I don’t even allow my children to attend a mainstream Protestant VBS because I don’t want to confuse them…Kids don’t have the life experiences to know when someone is leading them astray.
(Just my thoughts on the matter).
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I agree Susan - very good point!

Greg
 
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StacyS:
So, my question is…How do I politely convince her to give me space while I figure this out on my own? I would hate to admit to her, at this point, that for all her trying, I am only being called back to the Catholic Church more strongly.
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Why would you hate to admit that your becoming “more Catholic”? I would be proud of it. Show her that Catholics have nothing to hide and that every single Catholic teaching stands up to the toughest scrutiny. Pretty soon you will be able to rebuke all her vain attempts to disuade you from the truth. Pretty soon you will be hitting her with all kinds of Catholic literature that she will have to answer to. You can do this in a loving way of course but the truth is too precious to keep hidden. You may lose a friend or even a family member as a result of your new found faith, but Jesus himself told us this would be the case. The truth really does cut like a sword!
Luke 12:51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
 
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StacyS:
I hope I am in the right forum for this question. If I’m not, can someone point me as to where I should post it?

Ok, folks. I need a lot of help!!!

I have a good, dear friend who is trying, quite desperately I’m afraid, to convince me to leave the Catholic Church. She is Church of Christ (strong belief in Sola Scriptura).

When my daughter started Catholic School last year, she began to ask questions about Jesus, God, and religion. Having been raised in a moderately Catholic family, I felt like I could not answer these questions adequately.

My friend suggested we Bible study together to better equip myself in these discussions with my daughter. The first few studies (which were prepared by a member of her church) seemed simple enough. However, when we hit the one on Baptism, a little warning bell went off in my head. That particular study was not very pleasant, with us…heatedly debating the topic. Again, my knowledge of the Catholic Church was quite poor. Though I knew WHAT we believe, I could not support WHY we believe it. The more studies I read through, the more I became convinced that this was a study meant to convert Catholics.

She later gave me a gift containing two books written by Joanne Howe. Ms. Howe was a nun who left the Catholic faith. I was quite taken aback. I read one book, and was really not impressed. I took two pages of notes from Catholic references disputing one paragraph from the book, and decided it wasn’t worth the effort to try to disprove the whole thing.

Now, my friend is pulling of her gloves and hitting me left and right with anti-Catholic information, and I don’t know what to do. I know, that in her heart, she is concerned for me. I know that she loves me and my family, and she believes that it is up to her to bring us to salvation.

So, my question is…How do I politely convince her to give me space while I figure this out on my own? I would hate to admit to her, at this point, that for all her trying, I am only being called back to the Catholic Church more strongly. I am reading all kinds of Catholic literature, listening to back shows of Catholic Answers, and loving every second of it. I recently went back to confession for the first time in six years after discovering I couldn’t bring myself to accept communion until I did. I have signed up for RCIA classes this year, so that I can better instruct my children in their faith. BUT, I’m not educated enough at this point to properly defend my faith with my friend, and I am tired of saying, “I don’t know the answer.” Can anyone help me?

:bigyikes: Yikes, that’s a long explaination for that question. Forgive me.
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You have received some good posts with great advice. My thoughts are to tell you to study your faith. There are many resources out there. The more you learn, the more you will love your faith. Truth is attractive.

To me, the central issue to discuss with your friend is authority. That is the key. Either we accept there is an outside authority that Christ speaks through here on earth, or we each are our own authority, which is moral relativism.
 
First, the situation you are in is quite common among Catholics who start really learning about their faith. You said in one of your posts that no one had tried to convert you before. Often, though, we don’t really notice the small attempts or we let pass the minor anti-Catholic comments especially when we don’t know enough about our faith or we buy into the anti-Catholic views out there. (A lot of Catholics, myself included in college, don’t feel comfortable standing up for their faith when attacked. We don’t want to get into an unpleasant conversation so we don’t disagree or perhaps even agree.) So when we start learning more about our faith, loving it, and defending it, the anti-Catholics gird for the fight, seeing it as a challenge of their ability. (Have you noticed that on these threads–the non-Catholics who are not interested in learning won’t give up and keep haranguing their same points?)

I think in a situation like yours, one of you is going to have to change. Either she backs off and tones down the conversion attempts for the sake of the friendship or you will need to put some distance between yourself and her (thus cooling the friendship). These situations are painful because it hurts when a friendship goes through rough times. But remember, your friend was the one who turned on the conversion rhetoric and in so doing she put you in the uncomfortable situation of having to choose between going along or standing up for your beliefs.
 
La Chiara:
I think in a situation like yours, one of you is going to have to change. Either she backs off and tones down the conversion attempts for the sake of the friendship or you will need to put some distance between yourself and her (thus cooling the friendship). These situations are painful because it hurts when a friendship goes through rough times. But remember, your friend was the one who turned on the conversion rhetoric and in so doing she put you in the uncomfortable situation of having to choose between going along or standing up for your beliefs.
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I am afraid this might be the case. Our last phone call was not very pleasant when it (as usually) turned to a religious discussion. I think it is going to have to be an off-limits topic until I have a chance to re-educate myself. I know that I am doing her, and the Catholic Church, a disservice when I, either, speak ignorantly or don’t answer at all.

RCIA, here I come!
 
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