Converts to Catholicism from Protestantism, what do you love most about your Protestant roots?

[working4christ]

I don’t mean to take this thread in a negative direction, but I can’t let this go.
I spent 20 years among among various Baptist churches. Quite a few of them as a preacher myself. And I can only say for the most part that I am ashamed I ever stepped into a pulpit.
Those “amazing sermons” were full of personal interpretation, borderline if not outright heresies that went against what the Church taught for 2000 years.

Most of those “amazing sermons” were either pep talks or manipulative ways to get people to “come to the altar” and “pray the sinners prayer” so they can be “as sure for Heaven as Jesus”.

Were threre exceptions? Yeah. But that didn’t make it right or give them a free pass.

I get a little annoyed at converts who complain about the “boring homilies” priests give.

They are only boring to some because they are explaining how to take chrisitanity and make it WORK in your life. There not meant to be “amazing pep talks”.
Liberal Catholics can flame me for this.

But ah…I’ve been there, I’ve seen it. Best “decision” I ever made was not in Baptist Church, it was return to Christ’s Church.

well glad you found your voice–

but most of the doctrine of both are similar-- catholic or protestant–

and yes many of the catholic homilies can be un in spired-- and un anointed-- –

the catholic priest dosen’t have to really prepare - or inspire - because of the doctrine of the “real presence”

youtu.be/n-otIupwP4E

Most of those “amazing sermons” were either pep talks or manipulative ways to get people to “come to the altar” and “pray the sinners prayer”

Yes laying again the foundations-- can be – as you say–

in hebrews 6 – moving on to maturity-- does not always happen

 

[jcld]

I loved that I had parents and teachers who placed a high emphasis on the Scriptures. They emphasized knowing the Bible very, very well, and memorizing as much of it as possible. It is thanks to them that I know the Bible well (still working on living what it teaches).

I miss the singing in church. I loved all the beautiful old hymns, some of which we sing in the Catholic Church as well. But for some reason that I can never figure out, Catholics as a whole don’t seem to enjoy singing at Mass very much. A little Baptist congregation of 30 people can out-sing your average Catholic congregation of 200, any day.

Sorry Brothers… I was never Protestant… I am a cradle Catholic and I have only opened my heart completely to Jesus later in my life (at around age 17 from the kindness of members of Opus Dei)…

Before I knew Jesus well, I went as far as playing the piano and accompanying hymnals during a Protestant worship so that I could please my Protestant female crush (from that Protestant church)… that happened three times.

I agree with you ( around 80% of the time )… Most Catholics dare not sing heartily during God’s worship… Maybe because they don’t know music so much… Or maybe because it’s the status of their faith where they don’t know Jesus… BUT I dare not judge any person. God forgive me…

Of course, less musicality is not true for me I truly admire the effort that the Protestant Churches devote for music in God’s worship… It is “art and worship” fused while offered to God. It’s beautiful They sang/performed Protestant and Catholic compositions… Mixed chorus arrangements… Maranatha Music… Contemporary Gospel Music… Halleluja Chorus & For Unto Us a Child is Born both by Goerg Frideric Handel… Benediction The Lord Bless You and Keep You by Peter Lutkin… Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach… etc etc

I wish Catholics would be just as great in music as well Sigh… Great music would indeed be a WONDERFUL gift for Jesus during His worship

But of course… The best gift we can give to God is our clean heart, loving God and loving His/our fellowmen

Cheers to you my Brethren

 

[jcld]

I don’t mean to take this thread in a negative direction, but I can’t let this go.
I spent 20 years among among various Baptist churches. Quite a few of them as a preacher myself. And I can only say for the most part that I am ashamed I ever stepped into a pulpit.
Those “amazing sermons” were full of personal interpretation, borderline if not outright heresies that went against what the Church taught for 2000 years. Most of those “amazing sermons” were either pep talks or manipulative ways to get people to “come to the altar” and “pray the sinners prayer” so they can be “as sure for Heaven as Jesus”.
Were threre exceptions? Yeah. But that didn’t make it right or give them a free pass.
I get a little annoyed at converts who complain about the “boring homilies” priests give. They are only boring to some because they are explaining how to take chrisitanity and make it WORK in your life. There not meant to be “amazing pep talks”.
Liberal Catholics can flame me for this. But ah…I’ve been there, I’ve seen it. Best “decision” I ever made was not in Baptist Church, it was return to Christ’s Church.

Brother I agree with you completely. It’s so sad that a lot only go to Church because of the Sermons/Great musicality/etc… It’s so sad that a lot do not go to Church BECAUSE of God’s worship/God’s relationship.

 

[jcld]

well glad you found your voice–

but most of the doctrine of both are similar-- catholic or protestant–

and yes many of the catholic homilies can be un in spired-- and un anointed-- –

the catholic priest dosen’t have to really prepare - or inspire - because of the doctrine of the “real presence”

youtu.be/n-otIupwP4E

Most of those “amazing sermons” were either pep talks or manipulative ways to get people to “come to the altar” and “pray the sinners prayer”

Yes laying again the foundations-- can be – as you say–

in hebrews 6 – moving on to maturity-- does not always happen

Cool!

 

[mommamaree]

I don’t mean to take this thread in a negative direction, but I can’t let this go.
I spent 20 years among among various Baptist churches. Quite a few of them as a preacher myself. And I can only say for the most part that I am ashamed I ever stepped into a pulpit.
Those “amazing sermons” were full of personal interpretation, borderline if not outright heresies that went against what the Church taught for 2000 years. Most of those “amazing sermons” were either pep talks or manipulative ways to get people to “come to the altar” and “pray the sinners prayer” so they can be “as sure for Heaven as Jesus”.
Were threre exceptions? Yeah. But that didn’t make it right or give them a free pass.
I get a little annoyed at converts who complain about the “boring homilies” priests give. They are only boring to some because they are explaining how to take chrisitanity and make it WORK in your life. There not meant to be “amazing pep talks”.
Liberal Catholics can flame me for this. But ah…I’ve been there, I’ve seen it. Best “decision” I ever made was not in Baptist Church, it was return to Christ’s Church.

Where did you see me complaining about boring homilies? I have never looked for amazing pep talks. I am working hard to live the Christian life and learn from every homily. I have never been bored by a single homily since conversion. I didn’t even say that I missed Baptist sermons. I simply said that I loved them when I was a child. Your post did take things in a negative direction because you said negative things such as accusing preachers of manipulation and expressing annoyance at converts. I had horrible experiences in Protestant churches, especially the church of my youth. But they were still responsible for introducing me to Jesus and they are our “separated brethren”. I am not sorry if my appreciation for having had a godly preacher who gave great sermons on the Christian life is annoying to you. I meant this thread for people who had kind things to say about their Protestant roots.

 

[Southy82]

Personally, I can’t say that I miss anything about being raised Freewill Baptist. I knew there was some modicum of truth to it, but it just felt either disrespectful or lackluster. It seemed disrespectful at some of these churches where people would have outbursts during the service or lackluster at others where the service was simply a study of scripture and not really worship.

I started going to Mass at St. Mary’s in Portsmouth, OH when I was 16 and instantly loved it. It had such tradition, history, reverence, and authority. I knew it was the real McCoy. It took me a long time to decide to actually convert, though. I was afraid of looking foolish. I was only foolish for waiting so long! I was 23 when I came into the Church, and it happened on Hanover Street at St. Leonard’s in Boston.

Mass is for worship, not fellowship, but there is plenty of fellowship to be had at the parish events or KofC. So, in that respect, I’ve retained fellowship and gained true worship in the Catholic church.

 

[Sharen]

I was raised Methodist. I miss the classic old hymns.I dislike contemporary music during worship, Protestant or Catholic.

 

[Blacksword]

Some of the Wesleyan hymns or other traditional hymns I miss a lot that seem to be missing from catholic hymnals (“it is well with my soul” and “and can it be” come to mind), and harmony in hymnals I miss. But most of all, I think sometimes there is a lack of a sense of a personal relationship with Jesus among Catholics. The Eucharist is THE most personal way to encounter him of all, but recognize that, visit him to spend time in holy adoration, cultivate that attitude of having a real relationship with a real person, I think that can often get lost in the more formalized aspects of the Catholic life. Often cradle Catholics don’t know or appreciate the miracle that they have, hopefully my daughters will!

 

[andrewstx]

I was raised in THE churches of Christ, and it had a few good points. AFAIK they are the only Protestant denomination (they take umbrage to both terms Protestant and denomination) to teach that baptism actually forgives sin and is not just symbolic.

The also have communion each and every Sunday. The signing is without accompnayment by instruments and can be beautiful on occasion.

Bad points. The actually worship the bible as an idol. Anything not specifically commanded directly is forbidden. That is the reason for no organs.

They call themselves Christians only and if you don’t belong to their sect you automatically are not a Christian. And this coming from a denomination that has only existed since 1906.

For me since I have ADHD the sermons go on for at least 45 mins of an hour long service.
They take 2 forms either quoting on verse after another. The other form is criticism and condemning all other churches.

 

[Kelfa28]

I agree wtih you. I was never a fan of “worship bands” and “worship teams” or anything along those lines, even as a Protestant. I liked the more traditional hymns, and still do enjoy singing them as a Catholic. But I miss the whole congregation singing. The congregational singing at most Masses tends to be kind of anemic–not everyone joins in, and those who do sing softly. Oh well, I am happy to be Catholic and wouldn’t trade it for anything–I just would like to figure out what it would take to get fellow Catholics to sing.

To be honest, I’m not a convert but a revert. My experiences with Protestant Churches are minimal at best.

I went to a string of Sunday Protestant services while I was at Basic and I went to exactly one service of my MIL’s Church, to be polite and see what the fuss was about, a little over a year ago.

However, I will agree wholeheartedly with this statement. The difference between the congregations actually singing at either Church is fairly substantial.

I didn’t realize it that much until last week when I went to a Mass the Parish school also attended during the week.

The Church sounded much like it usually does during hymns…some people singing and others just following along.

Until we started singing “Laudate Omnis Gentry” and all of the students were singing it…about 80% of the congregation that day.
Our pastor teaches Latin at the Parish school so just about all of the children there learned this song.

Part of me thought…“oh, that’s right…this is what it’s supposed to sound like when the whole Church sings!”
It is a little depressing to think about…

 

[Georgia]

I grew up in an independent, KJV-only, Baptist church. The things I miss are:

Sense of community: We got there early, chatted and spoke to one another. People talked in the front after church. You knew pretty much everyone in the large congregation, if not by name, certainly by face. There was one Sunday morning service, so people had certain places where they sat fifty-two weeks per year. You knew if they weren’t there. In my parish, we have five masses on Sunday, so you really don’t see the same people. That seems to lead to much more anonymity than would be possible at my old church.

Participation: We didn’t often have psalms with responses, but not participating when we did was unthinkable. Everyone, except for a few elderly people, sang the hymns. I feel like the odd duck sometimes when I am the only one for several rows around who is holding a hymnal. The same goes for the responses when lots of people remain silent.

Modesty in dress: If a person were to arrive at my old church in some of the clothing I see at Mass, that person would be turned around in the parking lot. I am not sure I should see underwear or tee shirts with certain messages during Mass.

I loved the emphasis on knowing the Bible. In church classes when I was a child, we had what was called sword drills. Kids would line up and would compete for finding the verses in the lesser known books as they were called out by an instructor. We had Bible Memory Association wherein we were given memorization assignments to be recited a week later.

Some posts were pretty accurate about the sermons. The preachers could mesmerize, impress, and bring the message to the heart.

None of that really matters so much in the great scheme of things. I don’t miss being outside what Jesus Christ Himself founded. I don’t miss not having the Blessed Sacrament. I don’t miss personal interpretation that would modify our beliefs from time to time. I don’t miss the break with historical Christianity. Some things may cross my mind, but they are trifles compared with being reconciled with the Church.

 

[LegoGE1947]

I grew up in an independent, KJV-only, Baptist church. The things I miss are:

Sense of community: We got there early, chatted and spoke to one another. People talked in the front after church. You knew pretty much everyone in the large congregation, if not by name, certainly by face. There was one Sunday morning service, so people had certain places where they sat fifty-two weeks per year. You knew if they weren’t there. In my parish, we have five masses on Sunday, so you really don’t see the same people. That seems to lead to much more anonymity than would be possible at my old church.

Participation: We didn’t often have psalms with responses, but not participating when we did was unthinkable. Everyone, except for a few elderly people, sang the hymns. I feel like the odd duck sometimes when I am the only one for several rows around who is holding a hymnal. The same goes for the responses when lots of people remain silent.

Modesty in dress: If a person were to arrive at my old church in some of the clothing I see at Mass, that person would be turned around in the parking lot. I am not sure I should see underwear or tee shirts with certain messages during Mass.

I loved the emphasis on knowing the Bible. In church classes when I was a child, we had what was called sword drills. Kids would line up and would compete for finding the verses in the lesser known books as they were called out by an instructor. We had Bible Memory Association wherein we were given memorization assignments to be recited a week later.

Some posts were pretty accurate about the sermons. The preachers could mesmerize, impress, and bring the message to the heart.

None of that really matters so much in the great scheme of things. I don’t miss being outside what Jesus Christ Himself founded. I don’t miss not having the Blessed Sacrament. I don’t miss personal interpretation that would modify our beliefs from time to time. I don’t miss the break with historical Christianity. Some things may cross my mind, but they are trifles compared with being reconciled with the Church.

I can remember my kids when they were small having Bible memorization drills and AWANA a club similar to Scouts only more religion themed. You could earn badges for scripture memorization, etc.