Feeling Resentment?!?

[Dogmatic]

I normally wear a black belt(brown occasionally), but what the hell does that matter for my spiritual life? My intentions toward protestants? If they join the church, then good, but I dare not waste my energy casting pearls before swine. Life is too short.

 

[SteveVH]

I normally wear a black belt(brown occasionally), but what the hell does that matter for my spiritual life? My intentions toward protestants? If they join the church, then good, but I dare not waste my energy casting pearls before swine. Life is too short.

I think you need to take Apologetics 101. Are you here to win souls or just insult people? If I were looking into becoming Catholic and ran into one with your attitude I would head 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Lighten up dude!

 

[cajunhillbilly]

I think you need to take Apologetics 101. Are you here to win souls or just insult people? If I were looking into becoming Catholic and ran into one with your attitude I would head 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Lighten up dude!

I could second that. It is the graciousness shown by most members at CAF that keeps me coming back to explore the Catholic faith. But call me a swine and that could cause me not to come back.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I am newly Confirmed and so proud of my faith! I have very close friends who are non-denominational Christians. I think it’s great that we are Christian sisters. However, as I have recently been exploring more and more about Christ’s Church and the beliefs of His Church, I have been feeling more and more tension towards my friends. It is obvious where we disagree on things. For example, my friends have said that we shouldn’t have to “report” our sins to a priest. They also have said that Catholics added things to the Bible and the age-old accusation of worshiping Mary.

It has never got outwardly tense, but in my heart I can feel myself becoming resentful. I don’t want to feel this way! But it feels like they are trying to lead ME to “the truth” by inviting me to Campus Crusade for Christ meetings, and I feel like I already know the truth because I am part of His Church that HE created. Part of me feels like it’s a “I’m right, they’re wrong” situation. I know it shouldn’t be that way, and I know there are many things that we probably agree on.

How can I stop feeling so resentful towards their difference of beliefs and how can I present my beliefs in a calm, respectful manner? How do I explain certain things to them, such as why we ask Mary to pray for us, or why we believe Maccabees, etc. are sacred scripture? I’m really starting to feel frustrated!

God Bless

I hate to say this to you, but I think you’ll find you’ll drift more and more from your friends when it comes to matters of faith. It’s one thing to be friends, but it’s another thing when you start trying to reconcile your faith and theirs. It won’t work.

I think you might find you need to make more friends and contacts in your new Catholic environment. I’m not saying that you must jettison your Protestant friends, but you’ll find that you’re on two different playing fields now.

If you keep hanging around their environment, there will be one of two outcomes - they’ll either convince you to return to their environment, or you’ll have an argument, and you’ll probably find yourself on the outer.

It’s time for a change. No doubt you had a lot of fun with them (I thoroughly enjoyed the company at the first Presbyterian Church I went too), but you’ve made the break, and you need to follow through, painful as that might be.

 

[Lapey]

I normally wear a black belt(brown occasionally), but what the hell does that matter for my spiritual life? My intentions toward protestants? If they join the church, then good, but I dare not waste my energy casting pearls before swine. Life is too short.

I’m sorry sir, but the swine you refer to are my brothers and sisters. Would Jesus place you in the category with the apostles or the Pharisees; are you the tax collector or the Pharisees? Look in the mirror, you will find someone who is lacking inner conversion.

This is not a Christian way to treat people of any faith.

 

[Dogmatic]

Do you all really think I’m a “Pharisee” or “Judging” anyone? Lol. I crack a couple jokes at other peoples expense and now I’m the evil one. Boy oh boy.

 

[Lapey]

Do you all really think I’m a “Pharisee” or “Judging” anyone? Lol. I crack a couple jokes at other peoples expense and now I’m the evil one. Boy oh boy.

Really, that’s the best you could come up with? How about an apology then sit back and learn how to take part in discussions in a loving and charitable way. That would be productive rather than destructive.

 

[maltmom]

Welcome Home! As a new Catholic I smile every time I see that on a post.

I truly understand how you are feeling. As others have said, learn as much as you can about your faith. When these discussions start pray for God to give you the wisdom to know what to say. Stay calm. Breathe!!! If you begin to feel the need to bow up at them or you can see that they are getting tense you can try what I do. I tell my friends that I love them and that we will just have to agree to disagree and change the subject. Let them know that as you learn you will share what you are learning so that they can understand it. You can also tell them that for now you believe what you believe as a matter of faith. The reasons why will come as you learn more.

As a Baptist I used the “we will have to agree to disagree” with my Catholic friends. Now as a Catholic I’m saying it to my Baptist friends. It works b/c it is said with love.