Catholic dating Church of Christ

[cargopilot]

Many years ago, my wife’s good friend married a guy who was church of Christ. He said, “Sure, we’ll go to both churches and raise the kids Catholic, I respect your Catholic faith”, and so on. Of course, she bought it, hook, line and sinker.

Guess what, within six weeks, all ties she had to her Catholic Church, Catholic friends and family were severed. She had no say in the matter. All her kids never set foot in a Catholic Church, and they too, were prevented from having any association with “those Catholics”. Any attempt to contact my wife, or any of her other friends had to be done in complete secrecy. After a time, she more or less vanished.

I don’t have much personal experience with those in the church of Christ, but what I do have hasn’t been good.

 

[LeahInancsi]

cargopilot:

Many years ago, my wife’s good friend married a guy who was church of Christ. He said, “Sure, we’ll go to both churches and raise the kids Catholic, I respect your Catholic faith”, and so on. Of course, she bought it, hook, line and sinker.

Guess what, within six weeks, all ties she had to her Catholic Church, Catholic friends and family were severed. She had no say in the matter. All her kids never set foot in a Catholic Church, and they too, were prevented from having any association with “those Catholics”. Any attempt to contact my wife, or any of her other friends had to be done in complete secrecy. After a time, she more or less vanished.

I don’t have much personal experience with those in the church of Christ, but what I do have hasn’t been good.

This sounds more like an issue of abuse by control than a difference of religion.

There might be need for worry for her safety.

 

[LeahInancsi]

ReflectHim:

i agree with katie. to the original poster, if you feel it worth your while then you’ll go on a spiritual journey together and either agree to disagree or come to an agreement. but this is your choice, and what you feel…

even if he were muslim, skih, or jewish ya know.

Nobody knows better than the two involved.

When I was in my 20’s, I wasn’t Catholic, yet, but I don’t think I could have tolerated a religion other than Catholic or maybe Episcopal and Lutheran.

To the outsider, it would look like I’d be open to anything. In fact, I’d be more open to Judism than Church of Christ, Baptist, etc.

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

i agree with katie. to the original poster, if you feel it worth your while then you’ll go on a spiritual journey together and either agree to disagree or come to an agreement. but this is your choice, and what you feel…

even if he were muslim, skih, or jewish ya know.

Spiritual journies are good, as long as your journey does not lead youaway from the Church.

Just to be clear, we are talking Church of Christ (christian) and not Church of Christ and Later Day Saints (Mormon) right?

 

[slyboots]

OK. You all out there who are Bible Belt residents already may know this.
The Church of Christ in the Northern part of the US , so I am instructed by some who are such, are congregationists. They are also somewhat more tolerant then are those of their Southern Brethren who also reside here in the Bible Belt.
I have experience with the southern C of C as a child. I have studied it as an adult. I still have my mom’s study references and books. I had a friend who was a C of C minister of a pretty fair sized denomination who called me an apostate to my face when he heard of my adult conversion.
According to them only those in the Church of Christ are definitely saved. Other protestant faiths are iffy but may be persuaded to the truth. And Catholics go to hell as I was taught in my Sunday School class. In my city, the inter-ministerial alliance the C of C ministers do not attend if our priest is going to be there. We have several C of C’s in town as well as a C of C university here. I have experience of all these things.
Now, having said that I will tell you what good the C of C did me. I memorized long sections of the Bible to win prizes as a child. I know the books of the Bible and generally know what they contain as far as provenance of various doctrines. I learned to sight read music and sing on key acapella as a child. Most any Bible story you can think of, I heard in Sunday School or Bible School. For that I bless them.
But I am under no misapprehension. They do not believe we are fellow believers in Christ nor are we saved.
Take it or leave it as you choose. I bear them no ill will. I just think they are going to be much surprised that our Lord welcomes us Catholics home to His glory at least as much as He will them.

.

 

[ReflectHim]

According to them only those in the Church of Christ are definitely saved. Other protestant faiths are iffy but may be persuaded to the truth. And Catholics go to hell as I was taught in my Sunday School class.

I highly doubt that it was taught that catholics would go to hell. Never taught that anyone would go to hell. Taught that those who Obey the Word will enter heaven. Hell and those that will be sent there are not a main topic that was teached. Period. For your experiences that doesn’t make the Church as whole on to be damned by your experience.

Do catholics not try to convert others to their faith? Because they believe they are the Church founded by Christ? Well please see the similaraties the CoC also holds this claim and bases it on scripture, and teaches the same as the catholic church on this matter. And no, not all in the Church of Christ will be saved. Period. Only those that Obey the Word. Period. The CoC does not teach OSAS.

You throw out incidents that the catholic church to, can also hold stake to.

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

I highly doubt that it was taught that catholics would go to hell. Never taught that anyone would go to hell. Taught that those who Obey the Word will enter heaven. Hell and those that will be sent there are not a main topic that was teached. Period. For your experiences that doesn’t make the Church as whole on to be damned by your experience.

From your own website:

preachersfiles.com/catholicism/000551.htm
OBJECTIVE: Each hearer should be able to understand primary Catholic dogma and be able to refute it from the scriptures with the goal in mind of being able to teach our Catholic friends the truth of God’s word.

**Aim: **To show that Catholicism is a false religion so that those who are in it will repent.

My question to you is this: * ARE YOU SAVED?*

 

[ReflectHim]

dhgray:

From your own website:

My question to you is this: * ARE YOU SAVED?*

I am.

So catholics believe that ALL can and will go to heaven? Including muslims? atheist? and others that don’t even practice christianity?

does the catholic church not teach that you need to enter that church, confess and be saved in that church???

come home? isnt’t that what catholic says? come home to the true church???

so does the Church of Christ? what point are you getting at? you say to me, come from the CoC to the catholic church and you would refute all that we teach? and plea for the catholic church??!?!

what is the difference?

 

[cargopilot]

According to them only those in the Church of Christ are definitely saved. Other protestant faiths are iffy but may be persuaded to the truth. And Catholics go to hell as I was taught in my Sunday School class.

I highly doubt that it was taught that catholics would go to hell. Never taught that anyone would go to hell. Taught that those who Obey the Word will enter heaven. Hell and those that will be sent there are not a main topic that was teached. Period. For your experiences that doesn’t make the Church as whole on to be damned by your experience.

Do catholics not try to convert others to their faith? Because they believe they are the Church founded by Christ? Well please see the similaraties the CoC also holds this claim and bases it on scripture, and teaches the same as the catholic church on this matter. And no, not all in the Church of Christ will be saved. Period. Only those that Obey the Word. Period. The CoC does not teach OSAS.

You throw out incidents that the catholic church to, can also hold stake to.

Hi ReflectHim,

Would you be so kind as to use a capital C when writing Catholic Church? It appears disrespectful when you lower case that and upper case your church.

You’ve got to remember that as Catholics, we believe we have the one Church, established by the second person in the trinity, nearly two thousand years ago. We Catholics believe that the bible that all protestants use today, albiet the edited version, was given to you by the Catholic Church. We believe that we Catholics have at least 1500 year jump on the oldest protestant church. While I don’t claim to know the exact history of your church, I’m reasonably certain that the Church of Christ was established by man, in America, about 200 years ago. My math tells me we’ve got about an 1800 year jump on the CofC.

You can say the Church of Christ was first, that the CofC gave us the Bible, as well as the claim that those who call themselves Catholics are doomed to hell. You may not admit that here on these boards, but you may think that. I believe that those of all protestant denominations, including yours, have a good chance at salvation. I believe that God’s not going to condemn those who don’t have the fullness of the Catholic Church. I believe he is all merciful, and would never punish someone for what they DON’T know.

Regarding this thread and my advice to the OP would be to not marry a man from the CofC. If married, he will likely not relent until the conversion is complete. Quite possibly, he will cut her off from all contact with ‘those Catholics’, just the way my wife’s dear friend’s husband did to her. Quite likely, he will forbid her to raise children in the fullness of the Catholic faith. If she marries him, she better be prepared to abandon everything that makes her Catholic.

 

[ReflectHim]

everything you hold claim to, my church also. period. we could battle for hours and days on whose right, ever to come to a happy medium.

because my history and Bible tells me different of your church.

but its all good. funny how ya’ll preach tolerance and acceptance, yet want her to reject him because he’s not a member of your church.

no more would he ask her to become of apart of his Church is she expected to ask the same of hers. to become a part of hers, and him to leave his. well guess what, he feels as strongly in the Truth of his church as she does in hers.

so yes its probably best they don’t continue. so that she can stay where she chooses to stay and him also.

so we’ll agree to disagree on churches. period.

i can be as closed minded as the next. we all are obviously coming with some bias. and using a few incidents to bad mouth.

what church is perfect. none.

so shall i gather up ex-catholics to bring about events they experienced to also sway in favor of leaving your church.

is that really fair? because it can all be done on both sides.

but no hard feelings to anyone.

God bless.

 

[slyboots]

According to them only those in the Church of Christ are definitely saved. Other protestant faiths are iffy but may be persuaded to the truth. And Catholics go to hell as I was taught in my Sunday School class.

I highly doubt that it was taught that catholics would go to hell. Never taught that anyone would go to hell. Taught that those who Obey the Word will enter heaven. Hell and those that will be sent there are not a main topic that was teached. Period. For your experiences that doesn’t make the Church as whole on to be damned by your experience.

Do catholics not try to convert others to their faith? Because they believe they are the Church founded by Christ? Well please see the similaraties the CoC also holds this claim and bases it on scripture, and teaches the same as the catholic church on this matter. And no, not all in the Church of Christ will be saved. Period. Only those that Obey the Word. Period. The CoC does not teach OSAS.

You throw out incidents that the catholic church to, can also hold stake to.

Sorry if feathers were ruffled. But as I have stated before, I WAS taught that in Sunday School and when my mom questioned the minister about it she never went back to the C of C.
And I have had experience of the same teaching as an adult in my dealings with C of C acquaintances.
If you read my post you will also say I have some things for which I am grateful to the C of C.

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

I am.

So catholics believe that ALL can and will go to heaven? Including muslims? atheist? and others that don’t even practice christianity?

does the catholic church not teach that you need to enter that church, confess and be saved in that church???

come home? isnt’t that what catholic says? come home to the true church???

so does the Church of Christ? what point are you getting at? you say to me, come from the CoC to the catholic church and you would refute all that we teach? and plea for the catholic church??!?!

what is the difference?

Unlike many of my brethern, I am Catholic by choice. I’m not trying to convert you from the CoC. You are where God wants you to be. I’m just pointing out a teaching of the CoC which is Catholic Bashing. No where in ANY Catholic teachings does it say CoC is wrong.

How do you know you are saved?

Mt. 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

I am.

So catholics believe that ALL can and will go to heaven? Including muslims? atheist? and others that don’t even practice christianity?

does the catholic church not teach that you need to enter that church, confess and be saved in that church???

come home? isnt’t that what catholic says? come home to the true church???

so does the Church of Christ? what point are you getting at? you say to me, come from the CoC to the catholic church and you would refute all that we teach? and plea for the catholic church??!?!

what is the difference?

I’m not trying to convert you from the CoC. You are where God wants you to be. I’m just pointing out a teaching of the CoC which is Catholic Bashing. No where in ANY Catholic teachings does it say CoC is wrong.

How do you know you are saved?

Mt. 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 

[ReflectHim]

dhgray:

I’m not trying to convert you from the CoC. You are where God wants you to be. I’m just pointing out a teaching of the CoC which is Catholic Bashing. No where in ANY Catholic teachings does it say CoC is wrong.

How do you know you are saved?

How do you know that you are saved?

Because I have taken the steps in order to be saved. As did the people who “put on Christ” in the NT. By example, I have taken the same steps to be saved, and added to the Lord’s Church.

By hearing the Gospel [romans 10:17, acts 18:8]
By believing the Gospel *
By repenting of sins [acts 2:38, 47]
by confessing that Jesus is the son of God [acts 8:37, romans 10:10]
and being baptized [romans 6:4, col 2:12, acts 22:16, I pet 3:21]

if you teach that only your church is the true church than you do teach against the CoC. so one is less because one may be indirectly?*

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

How do you know that you are saved?

Because I have taken the steps in order to be saved. As did the people who “put on Christ” in the NT. By example, I have taken the same steps to be saved, and added to the Lord’s Church.

By hearing the Gospel [romans 10:17, acts 18:8]
By believing the Gospel *
By repenting of sins [acts 2:38, 47]
by confessing that Jesus is the son of God [acts 8:37, romans 10:10]
and being baptized [romans 6:4, col 2:12, acts 22:16, I pet 3:21]

if you teach that only your church is the true church than you do teach against the CoC. so one is less because one may be indirectly?*

All the above - YES; except you missed one…Let’s see, the above list came from his followers … … now let’s see what Christ himself said … John 6:53 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.

I hope you are studying law in college … bacause you are very good at makeing arguments.

 

[ReflectHim]

not studying law, thank you. wasn’t looking for a debate either. i’m simply correcting false or bias information. thats all.

from my understanding of this scripture and from teaching this isn’t talking about the actual eating of Christ’s flesh. but reception of his teachings, not seen as literal, but figurative.

 

[dhgray]

ReflectHim:

not studying law, thank you. wasn’t looking for a debate either. i’m simply correcting false or bias information. thats all.

I’m glad you are here. Just remember … all information is biased to the view point of the writer. 8 years ago, I would have been writing against the Catholic Church. The Lord called me in to the Church. May God bless you and keep you.

 

[slyboots]

ReflectHim:

not studying law, thank you. wasn’t looking for a debate either. i’m simply correcting false or bias information. thats all.

from my understanding of this scripture and from teaching this isn’t talking about the actual eating of Christ’s flesh. but reception of his teachings, not seen as literal, but figurative.

Yes, that would be a protestant view of communion.
But we take it literally.
Odd thing isn’t it? A lot of protestant evangelicals take the gospels literally…except for that bit.
Correcting false information and bias? Hey, if it’s true that C of C think that all who love and obey the Lord are in the possible salvation pool, wade the Tiber on over. No point in staying in the far end of the pool.

 

[vocatio]

coctocatholic.com/forum/

I must assume at this time that the OP created a temporary user name for this thread and has since abandoned it. However, I must inform any Catholic to be extremely, not lightly, careful when considering marriage to a COC. Go to the thread above to see some of what some of our folks went through to get here. Some of us lose family. I don’t care what COC you go to if the congregation is not full of 3 or 4 thousand members they are more than likely beleivers in the “one true church” concept that all non memebers are condemned to hell…period. I married into it and converted initially myself. Long story short, RUN.

However, on the bright side, my wife converted and we also live a secret Catholic life around her mother and 2 brothers who are Preachers. I wanted to be a preacher but she would let me. It wasn’t until her journey home that I recognized why. My father-in-law, [prayers for the repose of his soul], was a Bishop/Elder/Overseer. All interchangeable names. More than half of my family believe that we are doomed to hell.

RUN…if you want to be happy. What I didn’t see skimming through her is the FACT that women are seriously marginalize more than any other DENOMINATION out there. They have HIJACKED the name of the Catholic Church and act like we pushed them under in the early church. Intersting thing is that a local congregation in 2004 studied the creeds of the early church and had us recite it while standing. My dear sweet naive wife asked me then how I knew it by heart as I looked straight at her in aboslute shock while reciting it occasionally saying heresy with a smile. I told her we just confessed to be catholic.

Interesting thing is that one thing led to another and we eventually discovered many facinating truths because someone made known the fact that early church documents. WOW! the didache, Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Jerome, Martyr, etc. I thought all of this no longer existed. It is the evidence of the early church that was missing in my life as a Catholic seminarian. I’m so thrilled to be home and work constantly on apologetics because ONE DAY the preacher families will find out. the proselytizing sisters will unleash their hellfire and brimstones as one secretly did and told dear wife not to tell mom.

Talk about major anxiety issues. It’s like living in hell on earth sometimes. So though we beleive, we get frustrated at well meaning Catholics that think they are properly being eccumenical when in fact they are making fools out of the Catholic Church and the rest of us who subsist within it. I have personally spoken with many converts

 

[Hallelujahhh]

If I was a child and my parents belonged to different churches, I’d be under the impression that religion isn’t based on fact, it’s just based on whatever you “want” - and then I’d go with what I “wanted.” It’d be weird and confusing if my parents were two different religions. I think this does a great disservice to your future children.