Challenge for Protestants and Catholics

[Tommy999]

I want to chime in as an agnostic who attends a catholic church every saturday and a protestant church every sunday:
Protestants make me feel very welcome when i am in their church. I have noticed that (at least the one I attend) is very family oriented and family integrated. I also admire how easy it is to speak to protestants about their faith, catholics kind of intimidate me in this regard

Catholics on the other hand have a BEAUTIFUL mass! I love my church (shout out to St. Francis de Sales of Tucson ) I love the traditional and ancient roots of the catholic faith, and that all of the churches are on the same page as far as what the church teaches or her views on certain issues.

I think your observations are spot on with my experience too, caitlinm.

 

[Tommy999]

I appreciate about protestants, and specifically the evangelical tradition I am from, that they do fellowship and community really well. They have great Adult fellowship groups, and sunday school for my kids, and other ministries that help engage people practically in their lives.

Fortunately I have a Catholic “Stewardship and Hospitality” parish that rivals my evangelical church’s of the past in terms of ministries and fellowship, but I know this is more of a rarity in Catholicism and if I wasn’t where I was, I would really miss all of that.

Hi Jon,
I think some Protestants like me take the “fellowship and community” stuff for granted, when we really shouldn’t because that stuff can make a difference for a lot of folks.

By the same token, the Catholic Mass is very special and beautiful, and I hope that Catholics never take it for granted, either.

 

[Tommy999]

As Reuben J mentioned, it is hard to say without over-generalizing, but I’ll try anyway.

I find that a lot of the Protestants in the churches I attended while I was away from the Catholic Church (mostly Evangelical, so that is mostly all I know) were a lot more comfortable talking about God when talking about everyday things. I mean, I would probably think, “Wow, that was a real blessing that [whatever] happened,” but I’d be uncomfortable saying it out loud. A lot of the people I knew from the Protestant churches I attended weren’t uncomfortable with it at all, and being in conversation with them, out at lunch or something, made me much more comfortable talking about it, too. Since I enjoy talking about how loving God is, it was a great pleasure for me.

–Jen

Thanks ,Jen. I hadn’t heard that perspective before from the Catholic point of view. Thanks for sharing it. I had assumed Catholics did the same as the Protestants you mentioned in talking about what God is doing in their everyday lives.

I personally don’t know why they wouldn’t want to share because I have found that the Catholics I know on CAF have a very deep spirituality and strong walk with God that others could benefit from.

 

[EricF]

I have only been Catholic for five years now. I was raised Lutheran. LCMS. Began attending a Methodist church in grade school. Fell completely away frm church until I met my wife. We began to attend the Lutheran church again. We migrated to the Episcopal church for a number of years and all were welcoming and friendly. We perceived the RC church as almost the antithesis of friendly. We’ll, we stopped going to any church at all for awhile, and one Sunday we were in Wichita KS for a college basketball game, and found ourselves wondering what to do since we had some extra time. My wife said, " Let’s go to church." I agreed and told her, “There’s St. James Episcopal. Let’s go there.” She said, “No, let’s go see what these Catholics are all about.” Reluctantly I agreed, and what we saw will stay burned in my memory forever. We saw a group of people doing all those silly things Catholics do. Standing, kneeling, holy water, sign of the cross, etc… We however saw them for the first time with open eyes. We saw a unified group, a body, a body of Christ, if you will worshipping Jesus in a unified beautiful way that we had never bothered to notice before. As for them being cold and unfriendly, we had been misreading that too. They weren’t there as some social event. They weren’t there to see or be seen by their friends, and they certainly weren’t there to see me. They were there for Jesus. Period. It was glorious! (We signed up for RCIA the next day?)

 

[benhur]

Well for sure they have been diligent in catechizing and laying seed down on many spiritual truths, as in the Godhead, and heaven and hell and judgement and sin and holiness. My church is almost half x catholic, and many would give creedence to this seeding.

Though we differ on just when CC began, I am thankful for our forefathers in the faith, and the foundation that they laid for us all.

 

[Robyn_p]

I’m going to echo others who have mentioned the fellowship aspect. I really admire the close-knit community in most protestant churches. Also their passion for evangelization. We need more of that in Catholicism.

 

[Vanez]

Protestant: verryyyyy friendly! Spontaneus, and what more can I say?..passion, their community

Catholic: rosary! Their modesty, their willingness to do good works for charity (I’m blessed to have Catholic friends who wholeheartedly volunter in wellness care, I know a poor but sweet lady who, despite of her own financial crisis, helps a drugs addicted war victim Iranian immigrant in financial form and yet, not a single nagging word coming out of her mouth, she reminds me of mother Teressa), Catholic nuns! Catholic prayers!
Classical music that comes from Catholic composers! Made me feel home and thought,“I played this in my orchestra! I didn’t know this is Catholic/Church “music” !”

 

[Eric_Hyom]

We need each other, we all bring people to Christ, I shall be in a Baptist Church tonight and I just admire their involvement in the community. I go to the Salvation Army, they just do so much for the disadvantaged people in our community. The Anglican Church are very prayerful and out reaching. The community Church just seem to have a deep faith in our Lord, they again reach out to people who would probably not come into our Catholic Church.

Somehow we search for Christ in All people.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

PROTESTANTS: Generally speaking love talking about their faith regardless of where they are. I like that in moderation and wish I could be more like that. Thank God openly, loudly and enthusiastically in public. I find us Catholics are quieter, more reserved. Kinda like me and my youngest sister, she is out there, talks alot, talks under water and has manic energy levels like she is bouncing off the walls. I am reserved.

ORTHODOX: Like looking in the mirror - generally reserved & quiet. Serious about their faith. The incense, their traditions, the religious wear and hats of the Patriarchs. Their love and devotion for Our Lady.

The Easter Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. I saw it live in person in Jerusalem… WOW SPEECHLESS! Thank you for keeping that alive for over 1200 years.

 

[Tommy999]

I have only been Catholic for five years now. I was raised Lutheran. LCMS. Began attending a Methodist church in grade school. Fell completely away frm church until I met my wife. We began to attend the Lutheran church again. We migrated to the Episcopal church for a number of years and all were welcoming and friendly. We perceived the RC church as almost the antithesis of friendly. We’ll, we stopped going to any church at all for awhile, and one Sunday we were in Wichita KS for a college basketball game, and found ourselves wondering what to do since we had some extra time. My wife said, " Let’s go to church." I agreed and told her, “There’s St. James Episcopal. Let’s go there.” She said, “No, let’s go see what these Catholics are all about.” Reluctantly I agreed, and what we saw will stay burned in my memory forever. We saw a group of people doing all those silly things Catholics do. Standing, kneeling, holy water, sign of the cross, etc… We however saw them for the first time with open eyes. We saw a unified group, a body, a body of Christ, if you will worshipping Jesus in a unified beautiful way that we had never bothered to notice before. As for them being cold and unfriendly, we had been misreading that too. They weren’t there as some social event. They weren’t there to see or be seen by their friends, and they certainly weren’t there to see me. They were there for Jesus. Period. It was glorious! (We signed up for RCIA the next day?)

Good point, EricF. I think Catholics get an undeserved reputation for not being friendly at church. I like the reverence and seriousness with they approach the Mass. If some protestants understood that a little better and emulated that approach a little more, I think they (we) would we better served.

On the other hand, I take greeters, a heartfelt sharing of the peace, fellowship before and/or after church, etc for granted and think these things help bring a sense of community that some people need in order to feel they are a part of the local congregation.

It’s not that a church service is a “social event” to Protestants, because I know it isn’t to me and many others. We go for an encounter with Christ, too. I just wish people could turn off the chat when they enter the sanctuary and treat it with more respect and resume it out of the sanctuary after the service is over.

 

[Tommy999]

Well for sure they have been diligent in catechizing and laying seed down on many spiritual truths, as in the Godhead, and heaven and hell and judgement and sin and holiness. My church is almost half x catholic, and many would give creedence to this seeding.

Though we differ on just when CC began, I am thankful for our forefathers in the faith, and the foundation that they laid for us all.

Thanks, benhur. As someone who defends your faith with zealous tenacity, I appreciate you taking the time to contribute to this thread and mention areas in which you admire Catholicism.

 

[Tommy999]

Protestant: verryyyyy friendly! Spontaneus, and what more can I say?..passion, their community

Catholic: rosary! Their modesty, their willingness to do good works for charity (I’m blessed to have Catholic friends who wholeheartedly volunter in wellness care, I know a poor but sweet lady who, despite of her own financial crisis, helps a drugs addicted war victim Iranian immigrant in financial form and yet, not a single nagging word coming out of her mouth, she reminds me of mother Teressa), Catholic nuns! Catholic prayers!
Classical music that comes from Catholic composers! Made me feel home and thought,“I played this in my orchestra! I didn’t know this is Catholic/Church “music” !”

Thanks for the reply, Vanez. I think there are a lot of Catholics out there who are doing this kind of work behind the scenes. Sometimes it is hard to notice them because they don’t draw attention to themselves and are humble, but if we look real hard – they are there.

 

[Tommy999]

The mythicism.
And the long history of serious deep study.

Agreed, Jane. I happen to be fond of listening to Gregorian chants, which I consider to set a worshipful tone when I am mediating on God’s Word or am in prayer.

Some of my Protestant friends think Gregorian chants are spooky sounding and prefer modern praise music, which is fine and has its place too, but there is something about those Gregorian chants that touches my soul in a way those other songs can’t sometimes, but maybe that’s just me.

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks again to all who replied. By your responses, you’ve understood the tone and spirit of this thread and I appreciate it a lot. :tiphat:

 

[jane_doe]

Thanks again to all who replied. By your responses, you’ve understood the tone and spirit of this thread and I appreciate it a lot. :tiphat:

Tommy999, you have done a great job hosting this wonderful thread. Thank you. And thank you all the people who posted.

 

[PJM]

=Tommy999;12904779]I’d like to challenge Protestants to take a moment and name something you admire about Catholics and/or Catholicism, and I’d like to make the same challenge to Catholics about Protestants. If you are going to engage in this, I sincerely request that you do so in a respectful and genuine way.

There are plenty of occasions to defend, compare, contrast, debate and explain matters of faith and I don’t want to minimize those meaningful interactions and encounters. Those are legitimate ways to learn and grow in the faith and to “…give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you…”. – I Peter 3:15.

I just wanted to take a moment and go a different route to see if Protestants and Catholics on CAF are fair-minded enough to see positive traits in each other instead or just focus on the perceived weaknesses and faults.

I was mainly aiming this toward Catholics and Protestants, but it would be fine if someone wants to do likewise for other religions, too. I just don’t have much personal experience with members of other faiths besides Catholicism and Protestant traditions.

As a Catholic I admire the conviction and firmly held beliefs of many Christians, and their enthusiastic worship of God.

 

[Tommy999]

As a Catholic I admire the conviction and firmly held beliefs of many Christians, and their enthusiastic worship of God.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, PJM. Some of us Protestants take those things as a given for all Christians when maybe we shouldn’t. When God comes into our lives in a real and meaningful way, many of us see it as something to be excited about.

On the other hand, I have come to appreciate the understated deep spirituality and humility of some of the Catholics I have met. They may not verbalize and show it as much Protestants tend to do, but the firmly held beliefs and strong faith can be seen if a non-Catholic gets to know and takes a closer look into the lives of Catholics, kind of like breaking through the ice of what you think is a shallow stream only to find a deep and flowing river with a strong current of faith underneath, or at least that has been my experience lately.

 

[LutheranScholar]

I’d like to challenge Protestants to take a moment and name something you admire about Catholics and/or Catholicism, and I’d like to make the same challenge to Catholics about Protestants. If you are going to engage in this, I sincerely request that you do so in a respectful and genuine way.

There are plenty of occasions to defend, compare, contrast, debate and explain matters of faith and I don’t want to minimize those meaningful interactions and encounters. Those are legitimate ways to learn and grow in the faith and to “…give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you…”. – I Peter 3:15.

I just wanted to take a moment and go a different route to see if Protestants and Catholics on CAF are fair-minded enough to see positive traits in each other instead or just focus on the perceived weaknesses and faults.

I was mainly aiming this toward Catholics and Protestants, but it would be fine if someone wants to do likewise for other religions, too. I just don’t have much personal experience with members of other faiths besides Catholicism and Protestant traditions.

Very well, I’ll admit my admiration for Catholicism’s sense of tradition. I admit that my interactions with Catholics in real life has been more positive than negative and I like the faith and devotion that they put into their religious practice. I confess my admiration for their cohesiveness and their ability to close ranks when they feel it’s necessary to protect their own.

 

[Tommy999]

Very well, I’ll admit my admiration for Catholicism’s sense of tradition. I admit that my interactions with Catholics in real life has been more positive than negative and I like the faith and devotion that they put into their religious practice. I confess my admiration for their cohesiveness and their ability to close ranks when they feel it’s necessary to protect their own.

Thanks for weighing in, LutheranScholar. Cohesiveness is a big positive trait of Catholics with me, too.

Not sure what you meant with the last statement regarding closing the ranks when it’s necessary to protect one of their own, but it reminds me the old westerns when the pioneers going out west would circle the wagons when a threat came and they would shoot it out with the enemy.

 

[LutheranScholar]

Thanks for weighing in, LutheranScholar. Cohesiveness is a big positive trait of Catholics with me, too.

Not sure what you meant with the last statement regarding closing the ranks when it’s necessary to protect one of their own, but it reminds me the old westerns when the pioneers going out west would circle the wagons when a threat came and they would shoot it out with the enemy.

It’s a part of the cohesion that I expressed admiration for, actually. When the Turks were at the gates of Vienna, Catholic armies defeated them and saved Christendom. When the Protestant Reformation erupted, the Council of Trent more clearly defined what it meant to be a Catholic.