God calling people to non-Catholic Christianity?

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So this is a question that has bugged me for a long time.

I have read conversion stories of non-Catholics who were atheists/non-practicing Christians. In these convincing stories they tell of how God called them back to faith in him, but into non-Catholic churches, be it an Evangelical church or other.

My question is why would God do that? Surely if He can bring someone back to Himself He can bring them back to the Catholic Church.

One answer I have heard is that maybe these people had strong issues with the Catholic Church and it would be much harder to convince them that it was the True Church, whereas they might not have had such issues with other churches.

Thoughts?
 
My only guess is that it may be due to human-cultural associations.

Say a person is an atheist in the Deep South (where there is an Evangelical church on every corner). God calls them back to the Faith and they respond (alleluia!). But in their response they recognize His calling through the lens of their particular cultural setting (maybe there is very little Catholic presence or sympathy in the area). Thus their journey likely will begin with one of the churches in that area as a first step in the journey with Christ.

It’s not that God called them to a non-Catholic Christian church but that God called them, and they interpreted it as a move to one of these Churches.

There is still much glory in this story. The person has made the first step towards Christ. Time has no impact on God. His conversion call may completely understand that 40 years down the road they will find the Truth in the Catholic Faith.

Just my two cents on your question. Love to hear other interpretations as well.

God Bless!
 
At a basic level, God calls each person to love him and to love one another. Sometimes this call comes by way of another church or religion. It’s still a good thing. I imagine it pleases God if any of his children cooperate in carrying out his will.
 
Similar thing happened with me.

I went from Pentecostal to RCIA, but misinterpreted that call and converted Mormon.

Don’t ask how that happened, but five years later, I finally understand the call is into the Catholic Church. The One, True, Apostolic and Holy Church.
 
Yes and no.

God calls people only into the Catholic Church. However, this is not to say that he may not use non-Catholic churches as stepping stones, especially if he determines that the non-Catholic church may provide a good foundation for further catechesis (for example, a hard-core atheist or agnostic may ease into Biblical Christianity in a relatively simpler setting of a Protestant church if he may be at first overwhelmed by the relative elaborateness of the Catholic church). But it would be only a transition; I seriously doubt God would let his call end there.

However, I am convinced that God never calls people out of the Catholic Church into another group.
 
There could be so many different explainations for that.

His family, his area of country, his neighborhood/co-workers, TV, availability, ignorance, nationality, advertisment, close friend…

But what would happen if everyone Christian, all of a sudden, wanted to be catholic? See any problems with that? Even tho they may be considered nice problems.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.
 
God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That doesn’t mean He gives us all the truth and means to salvation at once. It can be a long process or a journey. The Israelites were freed from bondage, but didn’t enter the promised land immediately after that. They were led by God for 40 years through the desert before entering the promised land.

Likewise, while we should definitely give others the benefit of the doubt, just because someone goes from being an atheist to a Christian doesn’t mean there isn’t some sinful impediment to acceptance of the whole truth and even to salvation still present in their hearts. Again though, it could also mean that God is providing them with what they need a little at a time or even that there is some impediment to acknowledging the truth for which they are not guilty. These are all possible, but we can’t judge the reason as only God sees such things.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I think the idea that depending on the persons culture/friendship groups/family backgrounds having an effect on which church they naturally associate with Christianity is very true, and that yes, God calls us to Him, and we respond with what we know.
Also I agree that God probably calls everyone to the Catholic Church, but that pre-existing prejudices prevent many from hearing that call. But for the more open of heart, being in a non-Catholic church can definitely be the first step in the journey towards fullness of truth.

Here is the testimony I read that sparked this question, if anyone wants to read it. It’s quite short: www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/november/how-french-atheist-becomes-theologian.html?start=1
 
Billy Graham probably bought more people to Christ than any other one person this century…Gods love for us is not limited by what church we attend.
 
Peebo said:
Billy Graham probably bought more people to Christ than any other one person this century…Gods love for us is not limited by what church we attend.
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His love is not, but our love for Him, and therefore our salvation, can be. Heresy is a sin against faith and love of God, since it is the rejection of His truth. Schism is a sin against love as well, since it breaks with the communion of charity in the Church and violates Christ’s will that we be one and love one another as He has loved us. Not all who find themselves in communities that were formed by these sins are themselves necessarily culpable for those sins of separation, but objectively these sins can be obstacles to salvation and communion in the love of God.
 
civilwar said:
So this is a question that has bugged me for a long time.

I have read conversion stories of non-Catholics who were atheists/non-practicing Christians. In these convincing stories they tell of how God called them back to faith in him, but into non-Catholic churches, be it an Evangelical church or other.

My question is why would God do that? Surely if He can bring someone back to Himself He can bring them back to the Catholic Church.

One answer I have heard is that maybe these people had strong issues with the Catholic Church and it would be much harder to convince them that it was the True Church, whereas they might not have had such issues with other churches.

Thoughts?
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They have a free will of their own and so follow the path of least resistance. Don’t blame it all on God! God Bless, Memaw
 
civilwar said:
Thanks for all the responses. I think the idea that depending on the persons culture/friendship groups/family backgrounds having an effect on which church they naturally associate with Christianity is very true, and that yes, God calls us to Him, and we respond with what we know.
Also I agree that God probably calls everyone to the Catholic Church, but that pre-existing prejudices prevent many from hearing that call. But for the more open of heart, being in a non-Catholic church can definitely be the first step in the journey towards fullness of truth.

Here is the testimony I read that sparked this question, if anyone wants to read it. It’s quite short: www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/november/how-french-atheist-becomes-theologian.html?start=1
Click to expand...
I believe those that sincerely seek the “TRUTH” that Jesus gave us and the history of the early Church will be given the Grace to find that TRUTH. Jesus said, " I am the Way, the TRUTH and the LIFE." There is only ONE TRUTH. Watch “Journey Home” on EWTN at 7PM CST on Monday nights and learn for yourself what leads many, including protestant ministers to the Catholic Faith. God Bless, Memaw
 
porthos11 said:
Yes and no.

God calls people only into the Catholic Church. However, this is not to say that he may not use non-Catholic churches as stepping stones, especially if he determines that the non-Catholic church may provide a good foundation for further catechesis (for example, a hard-core atheist or agnostic may ease into Biblical Christianity in a relatively simpler setting of a Protestant church if he may be at first overwhelmed by the relative elaborateness of the Catholic church). But it would be only a transition; I seriously doubt God would let his call end there.

However, I am convinced that God never calls people out of the Catholic Church into another group.
Click to expand...
This is my belief as well. I’ve know several who were cradle Catholics and even adult converts to Catholicism who left for some form of Protestantism, the more conservative types gravitating toward Evangelicalism and the more liberal ones toward liberal mainline Protestantism or Unitarianism or such. I even know some who vacillate - every few months they return to the Catholic Church, but then get PO’d at something or somebody, and leave again.

Intellectual persuasion, apologetics, and filling in the gaps in incomplete catechesis works to help some find their way back. With others, it seems to be more emotional issues, or personality quirks that drive the decision to abandon the practice of Catholicism. Sometimes the more I tried to appeal - even trying to see if I could bridge that emotional gap - I had no success. So then I have to remember, it’s God’s timing and not mine. I reckon then His intent is for me to pray for those folks and just do the best I can to practice my own Faith well and demonstrate with my life and the peace it gives me that there’s something worth giving a second (or third, fourth, etc.) look. :twocents:
 
The truth of the faith may be found in the Catholic Church…but anyone who thinks they have more faith in God than our Protestatnt bretheren needs to hear the words of Jesus Christ…those who think they will be first will be last.
 
Peebo said:
The truth of the faith may be found in the Catholic Church…but anyone who thinks they have more faith in God than our Protestatnt bretheren needs to hear the words of Jesus Christ…those who think they will be first will be last.
Click to expand...
If someone sincerely seeks the TRUTH, God will give them the Grace to find it. If one is willing to settle for less, that is not God’s choice. God Bless, Memaw
 
Memaw said:
If someone sincerely seeks the TRUTH, God will give them the Grace to find it. If one is willing to settle for less, that is not God’s choice. God Bless, Memaw
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So non Catholics who are living faithful Christian lives…many of whom in countries where Christians are persecuted for their belief…are …in your view not really seeking the truth but are willing to settle for less…even though they are suffering in the name of Jesus Christ…how utterly self righteous
 
Peebo said:
So non Catholics who are living faithful Christian lives…many of whom in countries where Christians are persecuted for their belief…are …in your view not really seeking the truth but are willing to settle for less…even though they are suffering in the name of Jesus Christ…how utterly self righteous
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Not at all self-righteous. Just truthful. Jesus prayed that all be ONE Faith. Mankind is the one that caused all the divisions especially due to the Reformation. If you read history correctly, it was the Catholic Church that gave us hospitals, schools, many, many charities etc,etc and etc. Mankind reaps what he has sown. So many suffer because of the wrong decisions made by other men. I just say, don’t blame God, we seem to be our own worst enemy. God Bless, Memaw
 
Peebo said:
So non Catholics who are living faithful Christian lives…many of whom in countries where Christians are persecuted for their belief…are …in your view not really seeking the truth but are willing to settle for less…even though they are suffering in the name of Jesus Christ…how utterly self righteous
Click to expand...
No one said that. You’re mistakenly reading something in that isn’t intended. Granted, it takes some parsing to understand what the Catholic teaching is. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part One, Paragraphs 846-848 for the complete explanation, and then seek clarification if anything there that still seems puzzling. 🙂
 
I’ve known Catholics who’ve left the practice of religion altogether, found there way to other Christian churches, and then eventually returned to Catholicism. Perhaps God used the other Christian church as a way to first get them to listen to whatever part of Christianity they’d listen to, so He could gradually open them up to the fullness of faith in Catholicism.

Then there are those who come back to other denominations, but never find there way back to the Catholic Church. Perhaps God is calling them back to the Church, but they haven’t been ready to hear that call yet.

As for those who leave Catholicism directly for other denominations, I don’t think it’s what God wants, but perhaps it is a way for them to maintain some kind of connection with God even in it’s a less-than-perfect one.

I liked what my pastor said on this … just pray that God will bless them on the path they’ve taken and that it will somehow lead them to Him.
 
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