Doesn't your relationship with God matter more than your denomination?

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i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
 
John 17:21. Also, Catholics are not a denomination. Catholics are Predominational.
 
To be perfectly fair, one’s denomination *does * tend to inform one’s relationship with God, through catechesis, fellowship and the like.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
John 17:21. Also, Catholics are not a denomination. Catholics are Predominational.
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but since we live in a fallen world unity is not a reality. it would be great if we could all be one, and since the Lord prayed for it it must be heavily on His heart, but we aren’t. I believe we’ll get there someday, but we just aren’t.
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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Pardon my ignorance but does the Catholic Church insist you would be committing a sin?
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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Perhaps you are looking at the wrong direction and miss the graces available in the Catholic Church which should bring you ever closer to God.

Our relationship with God does not depend on human beings like fantastic speakers/preachers, electrifying worship and good fellowship. They can only enhance it but we do not depend on them. This only satisfies the carnal sensation but after a time it will become sterile and empty, when the valleys and dryness pervade.

You have to seek the real truth, the fullness of God, which are to be found in the Catholic Church. Sometimes these things may not be tangible but you can always ask for the Holy Spirit to empower and renew you in the faith.
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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In short, because of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. You will never be closer to Him on this Earth then when you are before Him at the tabernacle, and in receiving Him at communion.

I listen to some protestant speakers on things, some of whom are very good, but I will always be Catholic, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which Christ founded upon the rock St Peter, and carried forward through apostolic succession. In which contains His real presence, body, blood, soul and divinity, within every Catholic Church. How could I go anywhere else? no matter how good the sermon or community was.

I hope this has helped

God Bless You

Thank you for reading
Josh
 
What happens when two denominations are in open conflict?
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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How will your relationship with God be improved by walking away from the fullness of the truth to join those who have only partial truth to offer?

How will it be improved by walking away from the Sacraments?
 
It’s all about the Eucharist.
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.
You don’t get that anywhere else. I would never choose less.
God bless you.
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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I think you sum it all up by your words “I feel”. A relationship with God needs to be on his terms, not ours. He wants a covenant relationship with us. This covenant relationship is a family relationship which includes a meal. The old testament covenant was the Passover which included a meal. The new testament covenant is even greater, It’s the Catholic Mass which is also a meal in which we are feed with the Body and Blood of our Lord. He told us what he wanted us to do in John 6. It’s just sometimes hard to do things on his terms, because it isn’t as fun, we don’t feel as good as we do when we are doing them on our own terms.

Here is a great talk by Scott Hahn that speaks of this.

stpaulcenter.com/media/audio/the-fourth-cup
 
jackrl98 said:
i am catholic but i feel more engaged by protestant worship and preaching and appreciate the close fellowship offered by some protestant communities. i feel that my relationship with God would become deeper and my discipleship would become more intentional by joining a protestant church. please enlighten as to why this is a sin if my overall relationship with the Lord is improved.

thank you
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I am in the process of returning to the Catholic Church after spending 11 years in an Evangelical Protestant Church, for me my faith is deeper as a Catholic not as a Protestant. My relationship at the Protestant Church took me farther away from God and caused confusion. Just be cautious.
 
Why were you at a Protestant worship service in the first place? And can you really call it worship without Sacraments, or was it just public devotion with songs and a talk?

I like public devotion and I like good sermons. But what feeds my soul its weekly requirements is receiving Jesus and spending time with Him. Putting those two strands of life together is done better as a Catholic.

Dig into your Catholic faith, and you will find what you are looking for. Look elsewhere, and you will end up just frustrated.
 
Op, I understand and agree.

Most of my life was Anglican andin that Church I knew many true Christians and much great faith and kindness in practical terms… Without them I would not be alive today. Period.
Many times over,

Sure there were problems towards the end.

There is no such thing as a perfect church.

But more faith than I see now sadly.

And these things do matter; how we live our faith to others.

SOmetimes what seems less is more in a different light.
 
Adding to my first reply:

You can’t have a relationship by walking away from the communion line.
That’s like having a long distance love relationship with someone you have never met or even visited. Christ is present in the tabernacle of every Catholic Church. Truly present.
Not just “here’s where we go to talk about him, think about him read about him”.
We go to meet Him at the table. Look at the crucifix and see His arms open wide to receive you. Don’t walk down the street to another building and think that that might be better.
It can’t be.
Either Christ spoke the truth at the Last Supper or it’s all just a gimmick.
You decide.

Praying for your peace.
 
Wannano said:
Pardon my ignorance but does the Catholic Church insist you would be committing a sin?
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Hi Wannano. From the Catholic pov, it would be wrong.

Likewise, if I believed that Lutheranism were true and Catholicism false, then I would conclude that it would be wrong (but not automatically sinful) for someone to leave Lutheranism for Catholicism.
 
Fellowship vs Eucharist?

That ought to be a no-brainer.

NOTHING is a closer relationship with God than the Eucharist. No Protestant group could ever offer anyone that.
 
Peter_J said:
Hi Wannano. From the Catholic pov, it would be wrong.

Likewise, if I believed that Lutheranism were true and Catholicism false, then I would conclude that it would be wrong (but not automatically sinful) for someone to leave Lutheranism for Catholicism.
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I have a hard time seeing how it would be sinful if in fact the CC truly now sees the non-Catholic Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
Jesus First, Last and always. Whatever denomination you choose to hang your hat on is secondary. It should be Scriptural, it should teach the fullness of the Bible, and the fellowship should help, not hinder, your Christian walk, but Jesus must be the center of your life.

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
 
Pulvis said:
Jesus First, Last and always. Whatever denomination you choose to hang your hat on is secondary. It should be Scriptural, it should teach the fullness of the Bible, and the fellowship should help, not hinder, your Christian walk, but Jesus must be the center of your life.

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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Why do i doubt this statement?
Considering many a baptist condemn devoted Catholics.
It is this very attitude that has fractured Christianity into me and my bible.
 
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