Getting cold feet!

[MaryT777]

Friend, that is a difficult position to be in. Only you can decide your Walk…only you and you alone will stand at the Last Day before the One who loves you most and knows you best. Sometimes, “free will” is a bummer…it’s so much easier to just accept what someone tells you is Truth…I think your situation may have been what was in Paul’s mind when he wrote…“Work our you own salvation in fear and trembling…” Being in charge of one’s soul is indeed a awesome fearful thing and one each of us must make for ourselves.

Peace to you friend.

I agree with this poster wholeheartedly. I would go back if necessary so some day you don’t have doubts you did so because of your new friend alone. Sometimes a friend can affect us but it’s the doctrine you need to embrace at the end of the day. You are right you cannot preach and it is not the same thing. I know this because a friend of mine a Presbyterian elder in her Church had the same issue; she dropped out of RCIA.
You can always attend RCIA to learn more as well; that might be a good plan for now;

Praying for you…
and Peace in Christ.
Mary.

 

[Indifferently]

Don’t ask us - ask God. Only ask on here if you “want” a certain answer.

 

[MaryT777]

I’m a former Presbyterian, and I know exactly how you feel. Coming into the Catholic Church is not easy. I, and many others I know, had a difficult time. You go to mass, and Catholics are not as social as protestants, Mass is over and everyone heads for the car. Many are poorly catechised, and practice their faith with “a lick and a promise” devotion. At one point I looked around my local parish and silently railed “This is Your Church, God? This is what you left us?!” I know that sounds very critical, and I realize I’m speaking in sweeping generalities, but I’m just saying, it’s a bumpy ride.

The bottom line is this: Did Jesus establish His Church to infallibly declare doctrine and dogma? You can say, well, he left the Holy Spirit in us, and yes that is true, but that is really begging the question, because the Bible does not interpret itself. Its inerrancy stands or falls on the human interpretation one uses. Whose interpretation is correct? What are the criteria for determining who is correct? This is the question you must answer.
And there may be a long period of adjustment when you are Catholic in your head (you know this is God’s Church) but you’re protestant in your heart (you grieve what you’ve known church to be your whole life).

Even if you stay a Presbyterian you will do much to bring unity between Protestants and Catholics just by actually KNOWING what the Catholic Church teaches, instead of all the hooey that people THINK is what the Church teaches.

God bless you on your journey.

I will pray for you

How eloquent; nice post and God bless you on your continued journey.
Mary.

 

[Heather777]

Hi again,
I would just like to say a thank you to you all for replying. Your replies have been very encouraging and have helped me think straight…I truly appreciate and am deeply touched that you have said you’ll pray for me ,…again thank you.
I think I know in my heart where I belong.Where I need to be.It is a bit scary, leaving everyone and everything behind that is familiar, but I believe He is calling me into His Church.
I can’t ignore that call just because I like preaching or enjoy a leadership role.It’s supposed to be God’s will not mine after all.

Thank you all
Heather

 

[SonSearcher]

Hi again,
I would just like to say a thank you to you all for replying. Your replies have been very encouraging and have helped me think straight…I truly appreciate and am deeply touched that you have said you’ll pray for me ,…again thank you.
I think I know in my heart where I belong.Where I need to be.It is a bit scary, leaving everyone and everything behind that is familiar, but I believe He is calling me into His Church.
I can’t ignore that call just because I like preaching or enjoy a leadership role.It’s supposed to be God’s will not mine after all.

Thank you all
Heather

Good luck. Keep us informed of your journey. We are always here when you need some help.

 

[guanophore]

Hello,

I am an Elder in my Presbyterian church and as we are without a Minster at present I also take the service every two or three weeks. A few months ago I met a new co worker, (a devout Catholic), anyway we got talking and eventually I started meeting with her Priest. Anyway fast forward several months and as a result of conversations with said Priest. I resigned from my church a few weeks ago.
Now I am afraid that I made the wrong decision. I was very active in preaching, outreach, leading Bible study etc… I am an action person; As well as preaching, I also started and ran two outreach groups, one for young children and one for teenagers. I led a Bible study for teens and adults. My leaving has put all the outreach on hold which I feel really bad about.

It seems only natural that you would have such remorse/regret. Obviously you are very serious about reaching the world with the Gospel of Christ and have a yearning to bring His love to those who need it most.

We live in a very small community, and our Church has less than 40 people, but the Catholic Church here is even smaller. I am feeling really guilty about leaving my church as it is unlikely given our location that we will get another Minister. I was one of the Church leaders, a decision maker.

It sounds as if your previous community will also very much feel your absence, given your role and the small size.

If I become a Catholic I have to submit to the authority of a Priest and I do find that idea a little difficult.

Most of us have this difficulty.

Have you considered that this might be an area of your spiritual growth that God wishes to stretch you?

As a woman I know (and of course accept) I could never “preach in the Catholic Church, but I am left feeling” what can I actually do”?

There are many ways in which women can preach and teach. The restrictions on who ministers during the liturgy are there to protect the liturgy, but most catechesis happens outside the liturgy.

I am a very active person, I love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and soul, and I am afraid that attending Mass won’t be enough.

I should certainly hope not! The Mass is our communial worship, and the opportunity to meet Jesus in His death and resurrection, but comparitively, it is only a fraction of the time we spend on our faith practices.

I am feeling very  confused, I keep telling myself that God has called me to the Catholic Church, but if that is the case,, why do I feel so sad and afraid?

You are being called to give up all that is familiar, comfortable, and satisfying to you. You are being asked to submit to the unknown, and unexplored. How else could you feel? Despite your calling to move into deeper unity with the successors of the Apostles, your spiritual life sounds as if it has been very active, productive, and life giving for you. Please remember how the shepherd prunes.

John 15:2-3
Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

Your former position was one of bearing much fruit. Now it is being pruned away. That does not mean it was not healthy. Pruning means cutting off perfectly productive and fruit bearing branches “to make it bear more fruit”.

This seems so difficult and I can’t help wondering whether I have I just made a mistake and God isn’t calling me to His Church, should I just go back to my church? (they have already told me they would welcome me back with open arms)
Any advice would be appreciated
Heather

I think you might need to consider that, rather than being so “busy” it may be time for you to just sit with the Lord, and discern His calling. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the Catholic faith through study. It is likely that the gifts you have for outreach and teaching will come to find their place in His Church. Or if He has different plans for you He will reveal that to you.

I recommend that you avail yourself of the materials of Scott Hahn, as well as those on this site, and the podcasts on EWTN. You can also contact your diocese and find out what their requirements are for you to become a catechist, and start working on them.

You have put your hand to the plow…should you look back?

 

[guanophore]

I think I know in my heart where I belong.Where I need to be.It is a bit scary, leaving everyone and everything behind that is familiar, but I believe He is calling me into His Church.

I can’t ignore that call just because I like preaching or enjoy a leadership role.It’s supposed to be God’s will not mine after all.

Thank you all
Heather

But then you also know that God gives you the desires of your heart so that He can fulfill them. He did not give you a desire to preach and lead just to feed your ego! He wants to use the gifts He has placed within you to grow His Church. So it is a simple matter of discerning where and how He plans to put you to good use. This is a time of prayer and discernment, which too much activity does not support well. Take this time to pray, study,and seek spiritual direction.

You have not mentioned if you are single or not, but you might contact the diocesan vocational director for a chat.