Did believing OSAS destroy your life?

[distracted]

That is an awesome story Steve! That sounds sort of similar to what happened to me. I atteneded Fundamentalist services for a year and a half, and the pastor there was really anti-Catholic, and at least every other sermon would be a “Catholic-bashing” session. After the first month, I started studying Catholicism. It took me 5 years to finally receive Confirmation, but I finally did May of last year. I have a feeling that the preacher would be pretty mad if he knew that his sermons helped lead me to Catholic Church.

God Bless!
Ericka

I LOVE these kinds of stories!! In a way, mine is similar even though i have never been anti-Catholic… I am a cradle Catholic who, when young, was never taught my faith - had to teach myself some yrs ago…

While out in the world doing “my thing” I got “protestantized”… a Protestant told me there was no Purgatory in the bible (for example) and i bleieved that - just because that word was not there… so when i began thinking of the Church again… I questioned purg & the focus on Mary, etc… did some investigating… but anyway… i used to go to both Catholic & non-Cath churches… 'cause didn’t know better. One day i went to a Christian support group (non-denom) & the woman who ran it was an ex-Catholic who always had some snide thing to say abaout the RCC even though she knew i was going There. One day i got so angry @ her remarks, i made up my mind to study the faith so that i would have more than just “a feeling” (to give people as a reason for being Catholic. I felt something at Mass i never felt anywhere else, but didn’t understand…didn’t know then that it was the Real Presence…:heaven: ) . I have HER to thank for me learning the Faith!! I wrote her a letter once & told her Thank you… - don’t know if she appreciated that or not…
Even then i felt this apprehension about studying too “in depth”… but i overcame that and did my homework… It hasn’t been a bed of thorn-less roses getting deeper into the Faith (…long story what all i mean… blatant hypocracy in the Church, unorthodox-sounding clergy, etc… :hypno: ) but I am glad i did…

God bless…

 

[SteveGC]

What is the hardest Catholic thing for you to accept at this point? thanks…

Nothing.

But for awhile, it was the attention given to our Blessed Mother, but you know, this is how I solved that…

I let go.

I let it all go, all the doubt, all the confusion. That’s how you really come to believe, ultimately. The intellect is very useful (as is reason, etc.), but ultimately you have to let go of the finite confines of your human capacity, and just trust it. Trust God that it is what it is.

That’s how I now am building a personal devotion to Mary. Now, it’s as if I never doubted in the first place.

Same goes for any other teaching of The Church. Indulgences, purgatory, transubstantiation, confession…it’s all good. You see, I spent time praying that God would help me see that The Catholic Church was his intended, complete path to Him. He showed me. The rest fell in place quite easily after that.

That’s why today, I really think debates about doctrine (while intriguing and mildly entertaining) are futile until you show someone how The Church is, in fact, what it claims to be (proven biblically, historically, logically). When you do that successfully, all other debates are pointless, aren’t they?

And you’re right guys/gals…bring on the anti-Catholic rhetoric, I say. They have NO idea how many they help to go out and seek the real Truth for themselves, ultimately leading them “home”. Ironic? maybe. God’s doing? oh, most certainly.

God Bless

 

[distracted]

Nothing.

But for awhile, it was the attention given to our Blessed Mother, but you know, this is how I solved that…

I let go.

I let it all go, all the doubt, all the confusion. That’s how you really come to believe, ultimately. The intellect is very useful (as is reason, etc.), but ultimately you have to let go of the finite confines of your human capacity, and just trust it. Trust God that it is what it is.

That’s how I now am building a personal devotion to Mary. Now, it’s as if I never doubted in the first place.

Same goes for any other teaching of The Church. Indulgences, purgatory, transubstantiation, confession…it’s all good. You see, I spent time praying that God would help me see that The Catholic Church was his intended, complete path to Him. He showed me. The rest fell in place quite easily after that.

That’s why today, I really think debates about doctrine (while intriguing and mildly entertaining) are futile until you show someone how The Church is, in fact, what it claims to be (proven biblically, historically, logically). When you do that successfully, all other debates are pointless, aren’t they?

And you’re right guys/gals…bring on the anti-Catholic rhetoric, I say. They have NO idea how many they help to go out and seek the real Truth for themselves, ultimately leading them “home”. Ironic? maybe. God’s doing? oh, most certainly.

God Bless

You have a wonderful story… I hope you share it with as many people as you can… (Of course, not all are going to be open… but the Holy Spirit knows what needs to be said/left un-said…). I like the way you clarified that all that studying is just… not going to do it in the end… My brain literally gets tired (not to mention pained) when i see people who want to just study, study, study…:banghead: the Bible (etc) and never just, as you say, let go…

God bless…

 

[SteveGC]

Much learning hath made you mad

Thanks

 

[allischalmers]

allischalmer wrote-- Examine yours whether you bi in the faith

mark a: replied

And there you have it.

OSAS is as cruel as double predestination. It just seems nicer on the surface.

2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourself, Whether ye be in the faith,; prove your own selves, Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates

Call it cruel if you want but they are word fight from the mind of God

 

[mark_a]

allischalmer wrote-- Examine yours whether you bi in the faith

mark a: replied

2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourself, Whether ye be in the faith,; prove your own selves, Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates

Call it cruel if you want but they are word fight from the mind of God

Read a little further.
2Cor 13:9 For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. **What we pray for is your improvement. **