Crucial questions I need answers to

[jfp1888]

Stay with us Johnny.

Be cool. Enjoy the journey. Don’t let over concern about destination trouble you. God loves you where you are and will lead you home bro. It ain’t a race.

Minimum requirement for salvation is that a man seeks the whole truth with his whole heart. At any stage that is enough. and we always always always only get to the Father through Our Lord Jesus Christ…whether we know it or not… if we seek the truth who is the Truth, the Way and the Life.

I will keep you in my prayers daily.

God Bless
jfp Scotland

 

[Stiofain]

After reading the links and peoples responses and some friends talking to me I’m thinking about going and confessing tomorrow. I don’t know the process and I’m not a member of the Catholic church at this point…am I allowed to go confess to a priest and ask him questions?

Really I’m glad I asked these things its cleared up alot of other questions I had but didn’t ask. And its making the Bible itself seem more understandable.

I appreciate the prayers I need them.

 

[Danquayle76]

After reading the links and peoples responses and some friends talking to me I’m thinking about going and confessing tomorrow. I don’t know the process and I’m not a member of the Catholic church at this point…am I allowed to go confess to a priest and ask him questions?

Really I’m glad I asked these things its cleared up alot of other questions I had but didn’t ask. And its making the Bible itself seem more understandable.

I appreciate the prayers I need them.

If you’re not a baptized Catholic you can’t validly have your sins confessed. This said I would highly recommend that you talk to a Catholic priest and he will be able to offer much better spiritual guidance than we are.

I’d also add that confessing your sins to a priest is much different than confessing them to God. There is a HUGE difference. It really makes you face your sins. I would simply look up the Catholic parishes in your area and email one of the priests that you would like to meet with him. If there are any traditional Catholic priests I would especially recommend them.

 

[Stiofain]

Yes the local parish is St. Catherines of Vienna and I’m not too sure if they’re traditional Catholic or what and what other parishes are around.

And I realize confession to a priest will be harder because I’ll have to face my sins. Its somthing that I imagine is going to be hard…

 

[Planty_Pall]

Hello my name is Johnny, I grew up in the Protestant church but a couple generations ago my family was Catholic. Not only were they Catholic but according to family documents some were clergy in Ireland. Pretty much I have questions about the Catholic church that my Catholic friends haven’t been able to clear up. They’re pretty crucial to me at this point seeing as I disagree with some things I was taught and want to find out exactly where I stand.

Purgatory Where does this idea come from? Do you not believe that Christ’s death on the cross covered all sins of the world past, present, future? Do Catholics believe we as Christians are forgiven for our sins before Purgatory?

Confession Where does the idea that you have to confess to clergy come from? Do Catholics believe you can’t go to God directly? and If you do your sins aren’t forgiven?

Saints and Mary Unlike most Protestants in my area I acknowledge the Saints and Mary but Why do Catholics pray to them? and How is it not idol worship?

The Pope I would say the Pope is probably a godly man. I don’t say probably to be disrespectful simply I believe only God knows the heart and intentions of man but he appears to be a godly man. But Jesus said He was the head of the church so how is it that we can give that title to another human?

Being sure of your salvation My Catholic friends say you can’t be sure of your salvation and if you’ll go to heaven. I’m unsure about Purgatory at this point but my question Is this what Catholics believe and if so How is this Biblical? I believe that if you have faith in Christ and believe He suffered and died for the sins of the world and that He was God’s son and you live your life according to His commandments you will be saved. Pretty much if you’re a true Christian and live your faith daily.

Lastly my Catholic friends also said that Catholics believe that non Christians (muslims, buddhists, athiests, wiccans every belief) can enter Purgatory and be cleansed and enter Heaven. They said this because they said “there is some bit of truth in every faith if you’re good and commit no mortal sins you won’t be damned to hell” Is this what Catholics believe? If so I have to say I believe and this one i won’t waiver on that it is Biblically wrong. Jesus said “NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME” so how could someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus, or God, or that He was God’s son and died for the sins of the world be saved? How could a spirit worshipper who practices witchcraft but is considered a good person be saved without Jesus Christ?

Thanks for any answers like I said I’m trying to figure out what it is I exactly believe and honestly leaning towards the Catholic church if these can be cleared up.

Wow Johnny.

If your ancestors were Aztec priests who made human sacrifices, it shouldn’t influence you to be one of them. Likewise, that you have relatives that were Catholic priests or religious. If their faith was good and true and beautiful, then you follow it.

I love Ireland and what it gave for Christ to the world, though it is all muted now. I love the Catholic faith. I was a Baptist minister for over seven years. I bet I am familiar with the teachings and culture you have experienced in the Carolinas. I’d be surprised if I didn’t know a Protestant minister within a hundred miles of you. We were all over that part of the country.

So many questions!!!

#1) Purgatory—Protestants believe in it too. Is it a painless thing to stand before God in your sins, even with faith in Christ? Is it not a fearful thing to consider going before God? When I say that Protestants believe in purgatory, I mean that there HAS to be a process, painful or unpainful, that occurs between heaven and earth that makes you fit for heaven! You don’t think that when you get to heaven you’ll be all full of the temptations and ungodly appetites that plague you now. What happens? You are cleaned up. PURGED. That’s purgatory. If you think it is painless, I don’t think you can support it with Scripture, but that’s fine…it is still a purgatory…a place where you get cleaned up.

Gotta go…more later maybe…God bless you Johnny.

Planty Pall

 

[Danquayle76]

Yes the local parish is St. Catherines of Vienna and I’m not too sure if they’re traditional Catholic or what and what other parishes are around.

And I realize confession to a priest will be harder because I’ll have to face my sins. Its somthing that I imagine is going to be hard…

Well, contact the priest and see if you two can meet.

 

[JRKH]

After reading the links and peoples responses and some friends talking to me I’m thinking about going and confessing tomorrow. I don’t know the process and I’m not a member of the Catholic church at this point…am I allowed to go confess to a priest and ask him questions?

Really I’m glad I asked these things its cleared up alot of other questions I had but didn’t ask. And its making the Bible itself seem more understandable.

I appreciate the prayers I need them.

This is totally Awesome

As already said, since you have not yet fully entered the Church you can’t partake fully of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but please don’t let that stop you from meeting with a priest and confessing and asking Questions. Father may not be able to give you “absolution” but he can certainly listen to your journey, answer questions and offer advice. You will definitely feel better.

Have you started attending mass yet?

Peace
James

 

[Stiofain]

“If your ancestors were Aztec priests who made human sacrifices, it shouldn’t influence you to be one of them.”

They’re no influencing me…I’m just trying to figure out what exactly changed to make them go from Catholic to Protestant, and I find it weird that my grandfather said Catholics were leading people to hell while his grandfather was Catholic.