Got invited to evangelical church

[Kal2012]

Personally, I’d say that I have another obligation () and leave it at that.

I get that you haven’t formally converted yet, but unless it’s a special event, then what would you gain by going to a Protestant service?

Why not invite said co-worker to mass instead and see how that goes over?

So, no, I don’t see why someone who seeks to be a Catholic would go to an evangelical church. I also can see why Jews and Catholics are leery of some Protestants. (When I was a Protestant, I was leery of a lot of Protestants myself. ) Now that I’m on the other side, I have an appreciation of why Jews and Catholics are protective of their identities and beliefs. Catholics and Jews have unique culture identities that they don’t want to see diminished by the majority population.

I didn’t get the state vs church thing until someone in a nearby district thought it was a bright idea to promote a “community event” at a protestant church. Sorry, but if a church is doing their job right, then the “community event” really is a soft sell invitation to get people on to their property and evangelize. It won’t get into hard core “theology”, but they are definitely evangelizing.

Pretending that they aren’t is doing a grave service to the purpose of the church - which is promoting and sharing the gospel of Jesus. Let’s get real! Anyone with half a brain gets what’s going on. Call it what it is - evangelizing to parents and the kids while having an Easter Party.

(The former Baptist/evangelical in me totally understands the point of what’s going on here!)

Needless to say, I started wondering if Catholics, Jews, Muslims and others could start promoting their “community events” in the public schools.

Sorry for digressing. I do that. However, I hope that I made my point and gave people things to think about. That’s really the ultimate goal.

 

[Modern_Revert]

“Just to add, we’re both in our late 20’s. Maybe the older generation of Protestants was rabidly anti-Catholic, but I think the “new breed” of evangelical young adults is more open.”

I was at an outing at SkyZone with my ten year old son and his best friend last night and out of the blue he asked me:

1. Why Catholics have extra books in their Bible
2. He then asked me to name one of the books (!)
3. He also asked if Catholics were Christian, and conceded at the end of our brief conversation that Catholics were “sort of” Christian

WTH!

Our two families have been friends for over 10 years, so this knocked me back on my heels. I didn’t think it was appropriate to engage in a theological debate with a kid, but clearly, he is being prepared for such debates.

In turn, I asked him how many books he had in his Bible. He said 20. I said no way, dude, you have 66-unless you have a super condensed version.

Then I asked him what his church was called (they’re non-denoms) - he didn’t know!

Now, I’m worried about what to say to his mother, my dear friend, because this scene really disturbed me. Have they been thinking these things about us all along?

So, if I were you, I’d pass on this church invitation. Tell your friend it’s not part of your faith formation, which is very important to you.

Dismayed.

 

[MarianCatholic]

I never specified Protestants.

No, but I did.
I was talking about my experiences, sorry if it sounded like I misquoted you.
English is my second language…

Yours in Jesus and Mary

• MarianCatholic

 

[johnnyc176]

But I still don’t want to go because I see no real purpose in it, but I don’t know how to politely decline and I hope he doesn’t question me why…because I’ve had at least one person get mildly offended when I told them I believe the Catholic Church is the true Church with fullness of truth led by the Holy Spirit.

Well…that’s a pretty good answer right there.

Get used to many, not just protestants, getting offended when you proclaim the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Prayers for you on your journey Home.

 

[EIF5A]

Well…that’s a pretty good answer right there.

Get used to many, not just protestants, getting offended when you proclaim the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Prayers for you on your journey Home.

If I were hypothetically invited to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, I might be persuaded to go if it were some special occasion. They hold fast to more central beliefs about Sacraments, Real Presence, Mary ever-Virgin Mother of God, etc.

This is all very confusing, and I don’t want to be presumptuous with my thoughts since God can (unfortunately) hear them…

If I believe the Catholic Church, then Protestants are separated brothers who act out of ignorance (in the best case scenario). But I don’t feel right thinking this way since who am I to judge how God acts within a soul, Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox?

 

[dronald]

If I were hypothetically invited to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, I might be persuaded to go if it were some special occasion. They hold fast to more central beliefs about Sacraments, Real Presence, Mary ever-Virgin Mother of God, etc.

This is all very confusing, and I don’t want to be presumptuous with my thoughts since God can (unfortunately) hear them…

If I believe the Catholic Church, then Protestants are separated brothers who act out of ignorance (in the best case scenario). But I don’t feel right thinking this way since who am I to judge how God acts within a soul, Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox?

Don’t over think it. Honestly, be bold and honest and do what your conscience tells you. That doesn’t necessarily mean that your conscience is correct however.

It honestly baffles me that Catholics believing that they are the only one true Church and Protestants are separated brothers don’t reach out to them more. Go to their services, worship God with them, pray that they come to know the fullness and invite them to their own Church’s.

Perhaps it’s the population of Catholics vs Protestants here in Ontario, but I’ve never been invited to Church by a Catholic. Nor have I been welcomed by its members while inside. I find this extremely confusing seeing as they have the fullness of truth, while Evangelicals believe that Christ is the Truth and we have differing opinions on certain things but not Him.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Don’t over think it. Honestly, be bold and honest and do what your conscience tells you. That doesn’t necessarily mean that your conscience is correct however.

It honestly baffles me that Catholics believing that they are the only one true Church and Protestants are separated brothers don’t reach out to them more. Go to their services, worship God with them, pray that they come to know the fullness and invite them to their own Church’s.

Perhaps it’s the population of Catholics vs Protestants here in Ontario, but I’ve never been invited to Church by a Catholic. Nor have I been welcomed by its members while inside. I find this extremely confusing seeing as they have the fullness of truth, while Evangelicals believe that Christ is the Truth and we have differing opinions on certain things but not Him.

I agree with dronald that we should not be afraid to go.

The roots of that fear is probably in the tons of Catholics that have been drawn away from the sacraments by dynamic mega churches. Seconded by the large number who feel we need to “get saved”.

That said, I really have no desire to attend most Protestant services anymore. It makes me cringe too much when I see all that is lacking. Not that what’s there is not good it just saddens me overall.

I still listen to occasional Protestant preaching or would have no problem going to visit with someone, but it has to stop there for me.

This is an area of personal opinion and judgement. I think anyone entertaining ideas of regularly visiting other traditions should be grounded in their faith or at least in a place where they can seek Answers from within their faith instead of just from the other tradition.

Dronald,

I don’t think I shared with you, my evangelical family came to all the Holy Week masses with me. They were really impressed with the beauty, reverence and Christ focus.

So contrast that with them going to their Easter Sunday service at their evangelical church that was in a high school football stadium with T Shirt launching guns and a Disney Frozen sing along and bounce houses!

Apparently it was quite the contrast for them…

 

[johnnyc176]

This is all very confusing, and I don’t want to be presumptuous with my thoughts since God can (unfortunately) hear them…

Your not a Catholic yet but this from a CAL apologist might provide a guideline for the future…

In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue. To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship. Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist. Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

Your not a Catholic yet but this from a CAL apologist might provide a guideline for the future…
Quote:

In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue. To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship. Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist. Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P…

Popes and other Bishops have attended Lutheran and other ecumenical services.

I don’t condone laity doing it, but can understand the confusion on the ground.

Our parishes was invited by our Bishop to attend ecumenical service overseen by the Anglican Bishop at the Anglican Cathedral. I didn’t attend because I felt uncomfortable about it. Simultaneously I also felt like perhaps I was being disobedient to my Bishop.

 

[Cat]

I think my co-worker was more curious about the fact that I was even Christian, regardless of Church, denomination, etc.

In this line of work, most people tend to be atheists/agnostics.

IMHO, the invitation was extended because he saw a fellow Christian at work, not someone to convert.

He didn’t engage me in any anti-Catholic stuff, and though I don’t know what his church believes, I think he was sincere in his invitation.

But I still don’t want to go because I see no real purpose in it, but I don’t know how to politely decline and I hope he doesn’t question me why…because I’ve had at least one person get mildly offended when I told them I believe the Catholic Church is the true Church with fullness of truth led by the Holy Spirit.

Maybe I’ll just say I like a more intimate, quiet worshipping environment. He said it’s a reformed evangelical church…which I’m guessing means contemporary Christian music.

Ooh, be careful! Do not guess when it comes to Evangelical Protestant churches. They will surprise you every time!

There are many Evangelical Protestant churches that offer an alternative worship service, which in some churches means “contemplative with ancient faith practices like candles, chant, lectio divina, silence, etc.” One of the largest Evangelical Protestant churches in our city offers this kind of worship service early on Sunday morning–perfect timing for Catholics who are seeking a different church.

The primary goal of Evangelical Protestants, as their name states, is to “evangelize.” They learn the same sales techniques that successful salespeople use, and one of these is to find a way to make their product meet the needs of their potential customer.

In case some of you find this despicable–remember that Jesus did the same thing! Read John 4, the story of the woman at the well! He made His message and Himself relevant to HER situation and HER needs.

You say that you like a quiet worshipping environment. I’ll bet that your co-worker will take you to whatever worship experience in his church is quiet and features traditional music and perhaps other ancient practices that I mentioned above.

Again, just say, “No thank you.” You don’t have to give an explanation.

 

[Lizz02]

I posted some icons of Jesus and Mary at my desk at work, and my co-worker asked me if I’m Catholic. I said, “Not really [which is true, haven’t been confirmed in the Catholic Church] but I go to Catholic Mass. I used to be Protestant.”

Then he invited me to his evangelical church and gave me a card for his church.

He asked me why I decided to go to Catholic Church, and I couldn’t really say, “Because I believe it’s the true Church,” without causing offense, so I just said, “It felt more at home.”

How do I politely decline an invitation to another church without offending someone?

Hmm… I’ve been through this one time. Luckily, my friend’s “church” is a bit far so I can’t go. Well, if you’re asked to join their community, just say, “I’ll think about it.” I guess it is way more better than starting a debate. Oh and btw, if you’re asked why you chose to be a Catholic just say the Apostles’/Nicene Creed or “I believe in whatever the apotles’/nicene creed says.” That should do!

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Hmm… I’ve been through this one time. Luckily, my friend’s “church” is a bit far so I can’t go. Well, if you’re asked to join their community, just say, “I’ll think about it.” I guess it is way more better than starting a debate. Oh and btw, if you’re asked why you chose to be a Catholic just say the Apostles’/Nicene Creed or “I believe in whatever the apotles’/nicene creed says.” That should do!

Other denominations do say the Creed, or a variation.

 

[123me]

if you have no family to support then I think it is a good thing to put icons on your desk why hide the truth? the early Christians were martyrs losing a job is a kind of martyrdom anyway. It is a way of evangelising why hide the icons in church … Be courageous trust in God spread the news icons are one way of getting the truth out nothing to be ashamed of. Sin is not always in what we do but what we fail to do, I think it’s great that you placed icons on your desk! Stand your ground , if you are placing icons on your desk because of your faith in God then that is right and just surely.

 

[EIF5A]

if you have no family to support then I think it is a good thing to put icons on your desk why hide the truth? the early Christians were martyrs losing a job is a kind of martyrdom anyway. It is a way of evangelising why hide the icons in church … Be courageous trust in God spread the news icons are one way of getting the truth out nothing to be ashamed of. Sin is not always in what we do but what we fail to do, I think it’s great that you placed icons on your desk! Stand your ground , if you are placing icons on your desk because of your faith in God then that is right and just surely.

There’s no real danger of me losing my job – a warning perhaps – I’m no martyr lol

I suppose there’s possibility of ridicule if I were to express my beliefs should the situation arise.

 

[Cat]

if you have no family to support then I think it is a good thing to put icons on your desk why hide the truth? the early Christians were martyrs losing a job is a kind of martyrdom anyway. It is a way of evangelising why hide the icons in church … Be courageous trust in God spread the news icons are one way of getting the truth out nothing to be ashamed of. Sin is not always in what we do but what we fail to do, I think it’s great that you placed icons on your desk! Stand your ground , if you are placing icons on your desk because of your faith in God then that is right and just surely.

But if someone is disobeying authority, then it is not right and just.

We have lots of other ways to evangelize in our workplaces.

What we have to do is think how we would feel if someone from a religion directly opposed to Christianity (e.g., Satanism) posted icons of the devil in their workspace. That would be very hard for a Christian to see day after day. That’s how people opposed to Christianity feel about our icons. And that’s why workplaces often make a blanket rule–no displays of personal belief or religion. It’s to protect everyone. And the Bible says that God establishes earthly authorities for our protection.

It sounds like the OP is doing things appropriately in his workplace.

 

[Nicea325]

Just a dude inviting him out to check out a Church. Not like they’re going to sacrifice his first daughter at first.

Check out…what? Exactly! The CC has been doing that re-presentation of that real sacrifice on Calvary. The CC has been worshipping Jesus for nearly 2,000 years, why this compelling necessity to “visit” another church?

 

[Nicea325]

Speaking as a former anti-Catholic “evangelical” pastor, let me tell you what IS happening and what is going to happen.

1. Co-worker (who should be doing his job, not evangelizing on company time) sees the office as his “mission field”. YOU are his target.
2. At the Wednesday night “prayer meeting”, he is going to tell people he invited to church this poor, lost, unsaved Catholic, and would they pray for his “salvation”.
3. By the time you arrive, people will be told you are coming and will shower you with friendliness. Keep in mind, you are, in thier eyes, a poor lost Catholic.
4. The music will be emotional and stirring. You will be tempted to tap your toe and think “boy, I wish the CC was like this”.
5. “Preacher” will be informed and will (I would put money on this) make sure there are subtle mentions in his sermon about “works salvation”, and "you can only confess your sins to God, and “if you were to die tonight…”
6. There will be an invitation to be “saved” and you will be encouraged to “walk the aisle”, and “pray the prayer of salvation”.

YOU are a target. YOU are their project. The bait is there.
Take my advice, and don’t bite.

Hook 'em and reel it in.

Religious marketing and recruiting…is what I call it.

 

[Nicea325]

Was it wrong when Pope Benedict attended a Lutheran service? Even though Lutheranism is part of one of the “great heresies”?

How about when he attended an Islamic service?

Attend or participate? Big difference!

 

[123me]

Hi Cat see your point. Was also thinking though an employer is just like you and me not like say a Judge ie by imposing ban so icons they are not following God. But this leads me to think further that they are probably following the laws of the land which we should indeed submit to though I do t know where this will take us as our society becomes more Godless …

I assume you are in USA I am in uk different countries have different laws perhaps it’s worth reading the small print of government policy (i haven’t) ie you must not place icon on desk or perhaps there is some get out clause like the icon must be out of direct line of view of public or something equally ridiculous,… The politicians who bring these rules in are sadly not following God surely? But yes we must submit to authority

 

[EIF5A]

AFAIK, there’s no blanket statement about having no religious items of any kind.

I don’t work in an office or for a corporation. I don’t evangelize or leave Christian pamphlets.

If someone complains and HR tells me so, I’ll take them down.