Can I still attend Protestant church celebrations?

[triumphguy]

UBCGirl - just wait till they lovingly give you a Jack Chick comic. Then you’ll realize where they are coming from.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

UBCGirl - just wait till they lovingly give you a Jack Chick comic. Then you’ll realize where they are coming from.

Exactly.

 

[Nicea325]

After coming back to the Catholic church, I feel that it is best I no longer go to the Protestant church I was attending (an Alliance church) for church services. This is obvious, as they teach different things, and I will be busy going to Mass anyways.

But sometimes this church has Worship nights, and also Women’s Worship nights. For Worship (which I had no idea what that meant growing up as a Catholic), its really just singing - like hymns during Mass. In the time I was going to this Protestant church, they have never once sang a song that contradicted my beliefs or made me question them or made me uncomfortable. I find it quite comforting actually! There is a Worship night coming up - just singing, no church service, as a sort of celebration towards God. Would it be wrong for me to go?

And as for the Women’s night, it is half Worship (singing), and then usually two testimonies of women who have found God and the work he has done in their lives in terms of healing. I have been to one several months ago and found it to be quite rejuvenating. Would it be wrong to go to this as well?

The problem I encounter with many people, Catholic or not, at times people refuse to conform to God;moreover, they want God to conform to their own personal interests.

 

[ZoeyBdo]

Being Catholic is like being a vegetarian… every time you tell someone they want to tell you why they disagree with it.

I find it rather funny. It’s like there is fear in their eyes… that you know something they don’t and they are afraid to know what you know for fear that they are wrong.

Just kind makes you smile inside… just a little.

 

[Espero]

Not really. If you seek out you will find that many disagree on major tenets: baptism, communion, trinity, and more. Their main agreement is that they are protestant and Jesus saved them.

Maybe I am going after this wrong. There are major groups in Protestantism that agree with each other. This is why church groups can often intermix.

This is why the Trinity is not argued against. Nor is the sacrifice of Jesus. Nor is the virgin birth. Nor is the NT.

It seems as if the original poster must choose. Who are you more binding to, your church, or Christianity at large.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

Maybe I am going after this wrong. There are major groups in Protestantism that agree with each other. This is why church groups can often intermix.

This is why the Trinity is not argued against. Nor is the sacrifice of Jesus. Nor is the virgin birth. Nor is the NT.

It seems as if the original poster must choose. Who are you more binding to, your church, or Christianity at large.

You are right in the fact that they agree with each other on the basics but once you get beyond; God, Jesus, the Trinity, virgin birth and sola scriptura that is about it. The difference are there and they are very important to the people who hold to their beliefs. If they were not that important these churches would not continue to divide over these beliefs. What you believe is how you will live. I once heard someone say protestantism is a spirit that is constantly dividing.

Church groups don’t always intermix very well either. I used to work for a local interdenominational missions during my protestant years and working there is one of the things that brought me home to the Catholic church. The constant fighting over the differences over things such as: baptism, speaking in tonques, what different bible verses meant, what bible should be allowed and which shouldn’t, music, abortion, homosexuality and on and on. They may seem small but they meant a lot to them. What they believed was very important to them. The thing is Catholics can disagree on these things too but we have the Church to lead us and help answer these questions. It comes down to authority. The scriptures tell us that the church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

And by the way, those differences finally caused that missions group to divide to the point of closing, it lost so many people.

 

[CopticChristian]

Maybe I am going after this wrong. There are major groups in Protestantism that agree with each other. This is why church groups can often intermix.

This is why the Trinity is not argued against. Nor is the sacrifice of Jesus. Nor is the virgin birth. Nor is the NT.

It seems as if the original poster must choose. Who are you more binding to, your church, or Christianity at large.

You are in the process of making choices. You are differentiating Christianity with Church.

I want to choose to worship one God. I can choose Islam, Judaism or Christianity.

I don’t want to be a Muslim or Jew so I guess that leaves Christianity.

Christianity is Oriental Orthodox Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Catholilc, Roman Catholic East and West or Protestant. All the Catholics agree on 7 Sacraments.

So perhaps I want to choose Protestant. OK. There are those that are Arminian in terms of Salvation or Calvinistic in terms of Salvation. Once you recognize this you realize that these groups started at a point in time different from those that agree on 7 sacraments.

The Calvinists at the Synod of Dort declared those that are not Calvinists as heretics. Oh my…so if you choose other than Calvinistic Protestant churches then historically you are joining a heretical church according to the synod of Dort.

Well I suppose you could then choose based on infant Baptism. There are those that Baptize babies, ie Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of Nazarene and others. I may choose credo-baptist churches like Baptist, Menonite, Amish, Pentacostal and others. How can you be sure which is correct…?

Well what about the Lord’s supper. Well you will find that there are differences in the understanding and belief in Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed and all other Protestant bodies that are not easily categorized. My, my…

You could say oh well how about a non-denominational church. Well then you have joined a Protestant church that espouses either Calvinism or Arminianism that may or may not baptize babies and has some understanding and teaching of the Lord’s supper and is Protestant but calls itself non. You have joined the denomination of non. Or you could join the Evangelical Free church and then you have joined a community that sprang from the Lutheran churches of Scandinavia.

So the Bible says that the Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth, the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the mystery hidden for all ages through which the manifold wisdom of God is known, through which Gentiles are made fellow heirs with Christ. If someone transgresses and refuses to listen to me or two witnesses I should take it to the Church.

Christianity is not at odds with the Church…Christianity is according to the Bible entered into by the Church for Jew and Gentile and once you enter you are part of the body of Christ. They are not two separate issues. It is like body and soul.

 

[pablope]

Maybe I am going after this wrong. There are major groups in Protestantism that agree with each other. This is why church groups can often intermix.

This is why the Trinity is not argued against. Nor is the sacrifice of Jesus. Nor is the virgin birth. Nor is the NT.

It seems as if the original poster must choose. Who are you more binding to, your church, or Christianity at large.

The Bible gives guidance on a way to find out…let me cite some passages:

Addressing the disciples…First, from Luke…Luke 10:16 (Douay Rheims)
16 He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.

Now, how do you know someone who is preaching is from God? Is telling the Truth?

The Bible gives guidance again…Romans 10:
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g]

And from 1John 4…6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Being sent and obedience to the Apostles is important. So think about it…how will you apply those verses/passages today?

Who remains obedient to the teachings of the Apostles? Who continues to obey the Apostles?

Who are the appointed successors of the Apostles?

Well, the Early Church Fathers give us further guidance on these passages…and I will just cite the following:

Clement of Rome writes this in his Epistle to Corinth…in accordance with the passages above…

57:1 Do ye, therefore, that have laid the foundation of the sedition submit yourselves to the presbyters, and be chastised to repentance, bending the knees of your hearts.

57:2 Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the vain and haughty self-will of your tongues; for it is better that you should be small and approved in the flock of Christ, rather than that, seeming to be superior to others, ye should be cast out of his hope

59:1 But if some should be disobedient to the things spoken by him through us, let them know that they will entangle themselves in no small transgression and danger,

 

[jlhargus]

After coming back to the Catholic church, I feel that it is best I no longer go to the Protestant church I was attending (an Alliance church) for church services. This is obvious, as they teach different things, and I will be busy going to Mass anyways.

But sometimes this church has Worship nights, and also Women’s Worship nights. For Worship (which I had no idea what that meant growing up as a Catholic), its really just singing - like hymns during Mass. In the time I was going to this Protestant church, they have never once sang a song that contradicted my beliefs or made me question them or made me uncomfortable. I find it quite comforting actually! There is a Worship night coming up - just singing, no church service, as a sort of celebration towards God. Would it be wrong for me to go?

And as for the Women’s night, it is half Worship (singing), and then usually two testimonies of women who have found God and the work he has done in their lives in terms of healing. I have been to one several months ago and found it to be quite rejuvenating. Would it be wrong to go to this as well?

JL: The Protestant group to which I used to belong had Song Fests. They would invite singing groups from other denominations who wanted to come and sing. Anyone could attend they were not worship services there was no preaching. Maybe you could be a witness for your faith. Attending would depend on how strong your faith and knoweldge are.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

They are “worshiping” a God that you do not believe in if you are Catholic (does their God present Himself body, blood, soul and divinity on their altar on Sunday? NO).

That is an asinine and irresponsibly triumphalist assertion.

Protestants are Nicene Christians. As such, they do worship the same God we believe in.

Their God does not present Himself Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity on their altar on Sunday, and that’s because they don’t believe in transubstantiation and have broken apostolic succession… not because they worship a different God.

To say Protestants worship a different god does not make you some kind of uber-enthusiastic super-Catholic. It just means you’re spouting baseless, irrational, triumphalist nonsense.

No. There is only one Church, and that is the Catholic Church. The rest are splintered into the tens of thousands of ecclesial communities.

Protestant denominations are ecclesial communities, yes. But it is false that “there is only one Church, and that is the Catholic Church.” The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, the “Old Catholic Church,” and one or two others are all true churches by our definition.

I recommend you consult this link to a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Under its treatment of the fourth question you can learn about how there are true churches outside the Catholic Church.

 

[ubcgirl]

Again, thanks everyone for the replies. After careful consideration, I will not be attending the Protestant church -I am finding within the Catholic community in my area, there are plenty of things to do.

As it stands, my Protestant friend who used to bring me to her church doesn’t appear to be talking to me anymore, so I wouldn’t even have to explain why I’m not comfortable going.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

Protestant denominations are ecclesial communities, yes. But it is false that “there is only one Church, and that is the Catholic Church.” The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, the “Old Catholic Church,” and one or two others are all true churches by our definition.

I recommend you consult this link to a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Under its treatment of the fourth question you can learn about how there are true churches outside the Catholic Church.

The document you refer to calls them “sister churches,” but according to then Cardinal Ratzinger, now our Pope there is still just one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

1. "…in the proper sense, sister Churches are exclusively particular Churches (or groupings of particular Churches; for example, the Patriarchates or Metropolitan provinces) among themselves. (7) It must always be clear, when the expression sister Churches is used in this proper sense, that the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Universal Church is not sister but mother of all the particular Churches. (8)
2. One may also speak of sister Churches, in a proper sense, in reference to particular Catholic and non-catholic Churches; thus the particular Church of Rome can also be called the sister of all other particular Churches. However, as recalled above, one cannot properly say that the Catholic Church is the sister of a particular Church or group of Churches. This is not merely a question of terminology, but above all of respecting a basic truth of the Catholic faith: that of the unicity of the Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, there is but a single Church (9), and therefore the plural term Churches can refer only to particular churches.

Consequently, one should avoid, as a source of misunderstanding and theological confusion, the use of formulations such as “our two Churches,” which, if applied to the Catholic Church and the totality of Orthodox Churches (or a single Orthodox Church), imply a plurality not merely on the level of particular Churches, but also on the level of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church confessed in the Creed, whose real existence is thus obscured." Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Note on the Expression “Sister Churches”

natcath.org/NCR_Online/documents/sisterchurches.htm

 

[Diana_Catherine]

Again, thanks everyone for the replies. After careful consideration, I will not be attending the Protestant church -I am finding within the Catholic community in my area, there are plenty of things to do.

As it stands, my Protestant friend who used to bring me to her church doesn’t appear to be talking to me anymore, so I wouldn’t even have to explain why I’m not comfortable going.

I am sorry to hear that about your friend but I am glad you are finding things to do in your Catholic community.

 

[ubcgirl]

The document you refer to calls them “sister churches,” but according to then Cardinal Ratzinger, now our Pope there is still just one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

1. "…in the proper sense, sister Churches are exclusively particular Churches (or groupings of particular Churches; for example, the Patriarchates or Metropolitan provinces) among themselves. (7) It must always be clear, when the expression sister Churches is used in this proper sense, that the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Universal Church is not sister but mother of all the particular Churches. (8)
2. One may also speak of sister Churches, in a proper sense, in reference to particular Catholic and non-catholic Churches; thus the particular Church of Rome can also be called the sister of all other particular Churches. However, as recalled above, one cannot properly say that the Catholic Church is the sister of a particular Church or group of Churches. This is not merely a question of terminology, but above all of respecting a basic truth of the Catholic faith: that of the unicity of the Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, there is but a single Church (9), and therefore the plural term Churches can refer only to particular churches.

Consequently, one should avoid, as a source of misunderstanding and theological confusion, the use of formulations such as “our two Churches,” which, if applied to the Catholic Church and the totality of Orthodox Churches (or a single Orthodox Church), imply a plurality not merely on the level of particular Churches, but also on the level of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church confessed in the Creed, whose real existence is thus obscured." Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Note on the Expression “Sister Churches”

natcath.org/NCR_Online/documents/sisterchurches.htm

This is fantastic information! I am really enjoying learning about the Catholic church as an adult - there is so much to know.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Again, thanks everyone for the replies. After careful consideration, I will not be attending the Protestant church -I am finding within the Catholic community in my area, there are plenty of things to do.

May God bless you in your involvement with your new Catholic community. I’m glad you’ve been able to confidently come to a responsible decision.

As it stands, my Protestant friend who used to bring me to her church doesn’t appear to be talking to me anymore, so I wouldn’t even have to explain why I’m not comfortable going.

Aw, I’m sorry.

The document you refer to calls them “sister churches,” but according to then Cardinal Ratzinger, now our Pope there is still just one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

Doesn’t change the fact that the Eastern Orthodox Church is comprised of true churches.

These facts - that they are true churches, and that there is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church - can coexist because Catholic theology uses the word “church” in different senses.

The truth is that every diocese/eparchy is a church. Catholic Christianity calls them “particular churches,” and a community is a true church if it is organized under the leadership of a valid bishop who, along with his priests, celebrates the Eucharistic Liturgy.

You will also hear people speak of “the twenty-three Catholic churches” that comprise the Catholic Church. Obviously there are way more than twenty-three Catholic dioceses in the world, so the “churches” spoken of here are not particular churches but autonomous churches, otherwise known as “sui iuris churches.” Particular churches are organized into relatively autonomous bodies modeled on the ancient Church’s system of synods and patriarchates.

Of course, the worldwide communion of every particular church that is in communion with the Church of Rome (a.k.a. the Diocese of Rome, see how that works?) comprises the whole Catholic Church, which constitutes the true Church of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

In light of this ecclesiology, we mustn’t belittle the fact that every diocese is a church, and so is every administratively united group of particular churches.

The paragraphs you cited emphasize the importance of the fact that while the Orthodox churches (i.e. the autocephalous synods) are sister churches to their corresponding Catholic counterparts - for instance, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Antioch are sister churches - the Catholic Church proper has no “sister churches,” since the Catholic Church has no counterpart. She is the visible Church of Christ.

 

[couponfit]

After coming back to the Catholic church, I feel that it is best I no longer go to the Protestant church I was attending (an Alliance church) for church services. This is obvious, as they teach different things, and I will be busy going to Mass anyways.

But sometimes this church has Worship nights, and also Women’s Worship nights. For Worship (which I had no idea what that meant growing up as a Catholic), its really just singing - like hymns during Mass. In the time I was going to this Protestant church, they have never once sang a song that contradicted my beliefs or made me question them or made me uncomfortable. I find it quite comforting actually! There is a Worship night coming up - just singing, no church service, as a sort of celebration towards God. Would it be wrong for me to go?

And as for the Women’s night, it is half Worship (singing), and then usually two testimonies of women who have found God and the work he has done in their lives in terms of healing. I have been to one several months ago and found it to be quite rejuvenating. Would it be wrong to go to this as well?

There are 3 general ways to answer this:
1st, would be no because you are intending to congregate outside your beliefs for the purpose of worship as part of that congregation.
2nd, yes, praising god any time with any one, by singing psalms is a beautiful way of gathering together
3rd, no becaue it can confuse you as the doctrine behind the event is contradictory to that which you are still learning and growing in faith

With all this, there are times when Catholics, even priests, biships, and the pope have prayed with members of other faiths. I’ve done this many times. The generaly key is to know your faith and to identify why you want to go outside the catholic church to do this. To get my point–the catholic church is massive and offers so much in the form of prayers and ministries, that it’s hard to belive you would need to seek out prayer outside the catholic church as a issue of unavailability. Simply put theres are thousands if not tens of thousands of ministries and groups within the catholic church, which vary in so many ways, but which maintain a basic doctrine and communion with the church, it’s likely you are best served by learning more about what the church has to offer. Remember, that it’s not just your church, but the entire diocese, and there is also opus dei and the eastern rites not to mention numerous 3rd degree lay groups associated with most orders.

So why do catholics with strong faith and knowledge go outside the catholic church? Typically there’s a few reasons: 1st is for purpose of fostering community prayer and spirit, healing rifts, and creating common grounds. This is talked about and debated through vatican II documents. 2nd is probably the most common by the laity, which is because it becomes necessary for family and friendship purposes. For example, visiting my wifes brother, he really wants us to go to assemblies of god. I have no faith issues with it as my faith and doctrines are solid, and I see myself as charistmatic catholic. Not going creates conflict and family serparation on sundays which is not ideal. But please notice, that I know that there is a CCRM in the CC. But I also go to Catholic church, meaning the assemblies is a prayer service which serves simply as a way of praying at best in addition to my attendance in the CC. My experience has taught me that we should live as examples of christ in our willingness to treat everyone as a brother and child of God. If you can not enter into a church without hate or a desire you convert or argue, or even the temptation to doubt your own beliefs then you probalby should not enter another church. My experience is that I usually receive some sort of blessing when I attend any service, even non catholic.

 

[MrsE1022]

Wow, these answers are all over the place!

That said, I think I will consult with my priest before I ever think of visiting this church, and I will spend more time praying about it.

I do appreciate the replies though, everyone has slightly different views on what our church teaches, so it certainly gives me food for thought.

And THAT is the perfect decision! A lot of friends have advised me to not go to any type of protestant services, but it very hard for other people who do not have family and friends who are still protestant. I often feel uncomfortable there for sure because I know these people are wrong and do not understand the Truth. But we MUST be ecumenical. I mean the Pope does so why shouldn’t we join other Christians in prayer. If I expect my mother to accept my invitations to Mass then I better show her respect as well and evrey once in a while accept her invitation to a Sunday service or bible study.

That being said, make sure participating in these services does not become more frequent than your attendence at Catholic events. It can become harmful for you to become a frequent participant there.

 

[graceandglory]

After coming back to the Catholic church, I feel that it is best I no longer go to the Protestant church I was attending (an Alliance church) for church services. This is obvious, as they teach different things, and I will be busy going to Mass anyways.

But sometimes this church has Worship nights, and also Women’s Worship nights. For Worship (which I had no idea what that meant growing up as a Catholic), its really just singing - like hymns during Mass. In the time I was going to this Protestant church, they have never once sang a song that contradicted my beliefs or made me question them or made me uncomfortable. I find it quite comforting actually! There is a Worship night coming up - just singing, no church service, as a sort of celebration towards God. Would it be wrong for me to go?

And as for the Women’s night, it is half Worship (singing), and then usually two testimonies of women who have found God and the work he has done in their lives in terms of healing. I have been to one several months ago and found it to be quite rejuvenating. Would it be wrong to go to this as well?

I really missed “praise and worship” concert-style events, until I realized what they were, and that as long as I don’t consider it real worship but a time of Christian singing, I didn’t miss it so much. True worship is worshipping the True Presence of Christ. Adoration is falling down on bended knee before the KIng of Kings, and being stunned silent for lack of any earthly words that can truly express Who is in front of me.

That being said, you might be interested in looking for a LifeTeen Mass, which has some praise and worship songs intermixed into the mass; or getting involved with a local Catholic Charismatic prayer group.

I am a parent of teens now, so don’t feel that longing so much as I did when I first converted, but a year ago I went to a Christian concert with Twila Paris and Michael Card, and LOVED IT! I just recognized it for what it was. It was a good and uplifting time with believers who loved Jesus.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

And THAT is the perfect decision! A lot of friends have advised me to not go to any type of protestant services, but it very hard for other people who do not have family and friends who are still protestant. I often feel uncomfortable there for sure because I know these people are wrong and do not understand the Truth. But we MUST be ecumenical. I mean the Pope does so why shouldn’t we join other Christians in prayer. If I expect my mother to accept my invitations to Mass then I better show her respect as well and evrey once in a while accept her invitation to a Sunday service or bible study.

That being said, make sure participating in these services does not become more frequent than your attendence at Catholic events. It can become harmful for you to become a frequent participant there.

I have protestant family also. Some were born into protestantism and some left the Catholic church. My advice still stands to not attend a protestant service if at all possible and that is because as your last statement says, it can be dangerous. I myself used to attend an ecumenical parish that did different functions with the protestant churches in the neighborhood. Myself and others after attending some of those services kept on going and I didn’t return to the Catholic church for many, many years. A funeral or a wedding, I would but beyond that, I think the best witness is our Catholic faith lived out. That is what I saw Catholics doing while I was attending protestant churches and that devout faith I saw lived out is what brought me home.

Though, I would say I do understand it would be much harder if it was my mother inviting me.

I love this podcast from Father Z on true ecumenism.

wdtprs.com/blog/2011/02/podcazt-166-toward-a-true-ecumenism/

 

[Geaux_LSU]

My experience has taught me that we should live as examples of Christ in our willingness to treat everyone as a brother and child of God. If you can not enter into a church without hate or a desire to convert or argue, or even the temptation to doubt your own beliefs, then you probalby should not enter another church. My experience is that I usually receive some sort of blessing when I attend any service, even non catholic.