Help, I'm struggling with church, spirituality, & even God

[C2M2C]

After leaving Mormonism almost one year ago this month, I find that the more I study, the more confused I become. I followed Catholicism for my first 18 years because that’s what I was told to do. Then when I converted to Mormonism at 18 I followed that blindly (studying only “faith promoting” materials) for another 18 years. I knew a lot about Mormonism because I did study diligently, but never looked outside. Now that my studies have led me away from Mormonism & back to Catholicism, I am really struggling to “get a grip” if you will.

I don’t have a lot of time generally to get back here often, but I would like to start a dialog about some of the things that I am struggling with. Rebbecca & I had a brief discussion a while ago on pagan influences in the church and I would like to continue on with that, among other things.

I’ll just sort of briefly go though the bullet points of some of the issues to start us off.

1- I read an article that basically stated that Christianity is a sham because it’s ideas were ripped off from pagans. Such as a man/god who would be the savior of the world, born of a virgin. It went on and on about all of the Christian doctrines that were taken from paganism and again, made the argument that of all of the things that Christianity was, original was not one of them.

2- Why is the creation and the flood to be taken metaphorically but Christ’s ascension literally?

3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.

4- Why are people who are infinitely smarter than I coming to complete and opposite conclusions?

5- Why we’re here is very confusing to me. Why did we need to come to earth, why did we need a savior, why must we consume his flesh & blood in order to gain eternal life?

Again, this is just a sampling of the things that are causing me great confusion. I need some advice and I need some explanations.

Anyone interested in engaging, please feel free to do so.

Thanks

C2

 

[judechild]

Hi C2!

I totally know what you mean in your 4th question, and I see that as why we need a Church that has the authority to teach and guide us; so we know we don’t have to be geniuses to have the fullness of Revelation.

I’d love to discuss these with you, but I’m a bit overwhelmed by the many subjects; where should we start?

 

[C2M2C]

Apparently I’m struggling with my spelling too…any way to fix that?

 

[judechild]

Apparently I’m struggling with my spelling too…any way to fix that?

I think there’s about a 20 minute window where you can edit posts, but it’s okay, don’t wory about it.

 

[Hyacinth_II]

Hi, I’m so glad you came here for help. There will be many people who write, I am but one of the few. First, I am going to give you an internet link that will help you a lot. It is Catholic TV and you can stream it through your computer. There are a lot of shows that will help you build your faith and answer your questions.

www.ewtn.com

OK…lets start tackling those first questions of yours…

1. well, I don’t know who the author of that particular article was, but this is a common thing that agnostics and athiests say. It simply is not true. Our beliefs are all based on scripture and the fulfillment of scripture. The Old Testament is, I think, well over 4000 years old. In it are the prophecies that point to the Messiah, Jesus. Jesus’ name is even mentioned in the Old Testament, before he was born. The Old Testament also prophecies that the Hebrews will reject Jesus and then a “curse” will be placed upon them. …there is much more Disregard the stories you’ve been hearing/reading, they are dreamt up by people influenced by Satan himself to discredit Christianity and the Word of God.
2. Well, the creation and flood are taken metaphorically because they don’t follow God’s laws of physics and natural laws of possibility (putting 2 of every animal in the world on an ark?) …each “day” of creation could really have been (for us humans) a million years… They are stories that tell of the beginnings, God’s intent and that he is the Creator, and what He desires from us. God created our universe and the laws of nature that hold it together. I believe the Big Bang was God doing whatever He did to create us and the universe…God told this story to primitive people who had no knowledge of science or any laws of the universe. He had to make it easy to understand and yet, make sense to us who He knew would follow and also want to understand. We take the stories of Jesus literally because the apostles walked with Him, touched Him, saw Him suffer and die…and rise again. They told us, they worked miracles in Jesus’ name. That is the difference.
3. The Old Testament contained many “laws” for the Hebrews to follow because God made a covenant with them and they agreed to follow His commandments. The priests of the Hebrews expanded many of the commandments into more “laws” to be sure that everyone was obeying the commandments. The second commandment is to “Keep holy the Lords Day”… thats where all the rules about what could be done on the Sabbath and what couldn’t be done rules came from…etc. BUT…we are under the New Testament. Jesus gave us 2 rules…one, to love the Lord, God above everything else and, two, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, about a lot of those other things in the OT…well, it will take some classes and time to go over them all…or, start watching the link I gave you.
4. That’s easy. Because of the grace of God. It is by the grace of God that we come to understand and believe. Pray to God for help. Tell Him that you want to believe, that you need help…that you are willing to do what it takes to believe… He will help you. Listen and keep praying. Watch the shows on that link…it will help.
5. God was alone. He created the Angels. But He wanted more, he wanted beings in “His own likeness”, so He created us, His children. He wants our love, but He wants us to give it to Him willingly, He won’t force it…that is why He gave us a free will. When He created us, he embedded in our souls a thirst for Him…that is why we are not happy until we find Him. Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus had to come to pay for that sin and for all of our other sins so that we have a way to get to Heaven. Now, that is the short version…I suggest you watch the link I gave you.

God bless you.

 

[Hyacinth_II]

Here is another nice link for you…

catholicscomehome.org/

 

[Liraco]

So many questions for a single post! I’ll try to briefly address these but I recommend you begin focusing on one at a time. (I really should go to sleep. )

1- I read an article that basically stated that Christianity is a sham because it’s ideas were ripped off from pagans. Such as a man/god who would be the savior of the world, born of a virgin. It went on and on about all of the Christian doctrines that were taken from paganism and again, made the argument that of all of the things that Christianity was, original was not one of them.

I believe that the one who recently brought this up (relating things to Egypt specifically) was Jack Chick. I’d recommend reading “The nightmare world of Jack Chick” that’s available on the Catholic.com store by Jimmy Akin. Basically: this is completely false. There ARE a few things that have been adapted from pagan religions but generally to help the local culture transition into the faith (like Mexico’s “day of the dead” falls around the same time as All-saint’s day). It also symbolizes Chrisianity’s triumph over paganism (most are no longer around but Christianity prevails). Case in point: the obelisk at the Vatican (which contains a fragment of the actual cross inside a cross at the very top).

2- Why is the creation and the flood to be taken metaphorically but Christ’s ascension literally?

You have to keep in mind the language used in the older testament works (and also the fact that the bible is not a science book). If one studies the books closely one can see that there is a lot of deeper meaning than something merely literal (the flood being a shadow of baptism) and that a literal reading is not the intention (which you’ll see from the chronology of the events of creation). It all goes beyond mere metaphor. I’d recommend you read this on Genesis (not exactly on Noah but still from the same book).

What happened in Christ’s life is taken literally because the Apostles and those immediately after them passed on everything about Christ’s life.

3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.

There’s quite a bit you can find here if you just use the search on catholic.com or go to the encyclopedia.

Keep in mind that God chose to slowly reveal Himself to man, making new covenants as man matured (just like you don’t teach an ordinary child calculus because they can’t yet grasp it) until they were ready for the fullness of time when the Messiah would come to fulfill the promises made.

Also remember that the OT foreshadows a lot of what comes in the NT (like the sacrificial lamb). The lamb that was sacrificed was meant to be offered for the forgiveness of sins and the lamb would basically carry everyone’s sins for expiation. Jesus would come as the lamb of God to carry all our sins in one eternal sacrifice.

4- Why are people who are infinitely smarter than I coming to complete and opposite conclusions?

I sure doubt that they’re “infinitely smarter”. Brains don’t make saints and sometimes “reason” can get in the way of true understanding. The problem is that people with all these different conclusions let themselves get fooled by others or their own self rather than be guided by God. That’s why we have the Magisterium to help settle things when a question arises because they have authority (because no average Joe has the authority because they weren’t given it by Christ.)

5- Why we’re here is very confusing to me. Why did we need to come to earth, why did we need a savior, why must we consume his flesh & blood in order to gain eternal life?

You’re basically asking for the meaning of life, and that is thankfully simple: to love God. That’s why we’re here, that’s why He died for us and came to save us from sin. We need a savior because we’re sinners (anyone who says otherwise is a liar), and His flesh and blood are meant to fill us with God so that we may grow in our faith and be more holy. “Give us this day our daily bread” means more than just your ordinary meals.

 

[Qoheleth]

Hello C2MC2

The information provided by the previous posters is very good. Same for the links provided.

It is very good that you have an inquiring mind and are looking for answers but i have to warn you it never will be easy to get a satisfactory answer, at least as fast as you would like to have one. There are myriad voices out in the world saying here is the Truth, follow me. But I can tell you this. As Stated in Jeremiah 29:13 “When you look for me you shall find me. Yes when you look for me with all your heart.” This is a saying you can rely on. It make take time. The only thing required is to really want to know the truth at any cost and live it when you find it.

 

[Luke65]

More answers for you

1- I read an article that basically stated that Christianity is a sham because it’s ideas were ripped off from pagans. Such as a man/god who would be the savior of the world, born of a virgin. It went on and on about all of the Christian doctrines that were taken from paganism and again, made the argument that of all of the things that Christianity was, original was not one of them.

There are too many of these arguments to refute, so I’ll just let you in on a little secret. Did you know that Satan likes to imitate God? Did you know that the pagans worshiped demons? Did you know that Satan was there in the Garden of Eden when God foretold the coming of a Savior, from a woman, who would crush that ancient serpent’s head? And that the devil and his demons were there when Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin? Believe the Word of God so that you may understand these things…

2- Why is the creation and the flood to be taken metaphorically but Christ’s ascension literally?

See what I mean? Believe the Creation story and the Flood story because it is the infallible Word of God. And there is nothing more miraculous in them then the Resurrection of the Son of God (not that that should make a difference).

3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.

Well, the first thing to keep in mind is that right after God rescued the Israelites from Egypt, the first thing they did was make the golden calf to the “god” Baal. So you could say that God wanted to keep them busy with all these rules and rituals, because, after all, idle hands are the devil’s playground! Also, He knew that they would not be able to keep every commandment, but He wanted to teach them and us that our righteousness can only come from God, so we should rely on Him if we want to be perfected. And, of course, much of what you read in the OT is revealed in the NT, so its best to start with the NT!

4- Why are people who are infinitely smarter than I coming to complete and opposite conclusions?

Grace - you can’t believe in Jesus Christ or His Church without it!

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Luke 10:21)

5- Why we’re here is very confusing to me. Why did we need to come to earth

So that all could freely choose to be with God for all eternity - or not. These are the proving grounds.

why did we need a savior

Because we are all sinners, and nothing impure can enter Heaven. Just remember, God foretold this at the beginning, and then watch as salvation history unfolded, and you’ll say: We need a Savior! Its not a pretty sight! Even the heroes were deeply flawed people.

why must we consume his flesh & blood in order to gain eternal life?

Because Jesus Christ is eternal life - He is God. And so we partake in His divinity when we receive Holy Communion.

And there are more answers to these questions, but keep seeking and you will continue to find them. God bless.

 

[Leonius]

1- I read an article that basically stated that Christianity is a sham because it’s ideas were ripped off from pagans. Such as a man/god who would be the savior of the world, born of a virgin. It went on and on about all of the Christian doctrines that were taken from paganism and again, made the argument that of all of the things that Christianity was, original was not one of them.

You have to remember the knowledge we have of God today was known by the first parents Adam and Eve, God has not changed since that time so the original primordial religion of the garden of Eden practised by Adam and Eve who personally knew God was true. It was then corrupted as time passed by, but some strains of truth remained in the paganism which mankind descended into. Then Christ came and restored all things.

2- Why is the creation and the flood to be taken metaphorically but Christ’s ascension literally?

I don’t believe that, I believe in a literal creation and flood so I’m not the right person to answer that.

3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.

Here is the thing with God, you first have to believe, to have faith before you can have understanding, and even then it is impossible for our finite human minds to fully understand the ways of God.

4- Why are people who are infinitely smarter than I coming to complete and opposite conclusions?

Many reasons, the main one been their pride at been so smart which leads them to believe they are gods.

5- Why we’re here is very confusing to me. Why did we need to come to earth, why did we need a savior, why must we consume his flesh & blood in order to gain eternal life?

Short answer, because God decided it should be that way. The long answer fills a book.

Again, this is just a sampling of the things that are causing me great confusion. I need some advice and I need some explanations.

Anyone interested in engaging, please feel free to do so.

Thanks

C2

What you need is faith and trust in God. Do you seriously expect to be able to understand all the ways of God? it is impossible, such a thing would make you a god.

We only know what we do know because God decided to reveal it to us.

 

[authenticity]

I’ll just sort of briefly go though the bullet points of some of the issues to start us off.

1- I read an article that basically stated that Christianity is a sham because it’s ideas were ripped off from pagans. Such as a man/god who would be the savior of the world, born of a virgin. It went on and on about all of the Christian doctrines that were taken from paganism and again, made the argument that of all of the things that Christianity was, original was not one of them.

I think that many people have dreamed of a savior who was both God and man, born of a virgin along with the rest of Christian dogma. You could look at that and say that God has put in the soul the desire to know Christ because they thirst to know Him and love Him. But there is, obviously, a difference between the dream and the reality.

One difference is that there is a direct lineage going back to the actual events of a man named Jesus and people who witnessed those events. The Apostolic Tradition is the living witness to the truth of those events. By being part of that Tradition, you are a witness to it also.

Something you might consider when you read from people who refute Christianity… in order to under-stand something, you must first be standing. Without faith, reason just drifts with whatever subjective notions it can contrive. Without faith, reason is based on a false assumption: mainly that Truth requires one’s subjective validation to exist.

2- Why is the creation and the flood to be taken metaphorically but Christ’s ascension literally?

For one, the writers of Genesis were not there to witness creation or the flood. (However, there is quite a bit of evidence to support that there really was a flood.) On the other hand, there were people who witnessed Christ’s ascension.

3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.

Well, there is a lot there. It might be easier to ask specific questions than just in general. The OT covers the history of the Hebrews, their laws, the prophets, their prayers and their wisdom. As a whole, the OT is the dialogue between God and His chosen people.

4- Why are people who are infinitely smarter than I coming to complete and opposite conclusions?

Because it has nothing to do with intelligence. It has to do with faith and wisdom.

5- Why we’re here is very confusing to me. Why did we need to come to earth, why did we need a savior, why must we consume his flesh & blood in order to gain eternal life?

We are here to glorify God. We have the innate desire to love God. We needed a savior to fulfill that desire; we consume His Body and Blood in order to ascend with Him to the Father.

Again, this is just a sampling of the things that are causing me great confusion. I need some advice and I need some explanations.

Anyone interested in engaging, please feel free to do so.

Thanks

C2

I hope it helps you. In our purity and innocence, God is obvious. It is only in our impurity and guilt that we hide from Him. We are the ones hiding, not God.

 

[C2M2C]

Thank you for all of the answers. As stated in my first post, I’m not able to get back here often, but here I am again.

To continue on, I’d like to focus in on one of my first questions which has to do with other
people coming to different conclusions. Grace was then given multiple times as the answer. Being LDS for the last 18 years, I now need to go to confession in order to be received back into the church. It’s been 13 months and I have yet to do it. I attend mass every weekend with my wife and kids and sometimes go from “yes, this is it”, to “I just don’t know”. I read one chapter from the bible every day and have done so every single day for the last 3 years. I also read a lot of books, one of which that I am just finishing is called “The Biblical Basis for The Catholic Church”. The point being that I prayerfully study a lot. In Mormonism you are sternly told to never read anything anti-Mormon which I never did; but how are you to know the real answers to the tough questions if you don’t know what the tough questions are?

I want to know what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. In Mormonism there is a certainty that I can’t explain, and I don’t have that anymore. I understand that I’ll never know it all, but I need for there to be some things that I am certain of. I can’t follow blindly and not know why. I don’t go looking for anti-Catholic information, but when I am stuck on something I sometimes look to see what the opposition says in order to get some perspective. I know enough to be able to sort through the garbage, but sometimes there are legitimate questions. As a Mormon. I knew my stuff (or so I thought) and then when I left, as a returning Catholic I knew my stuff (or so I thought), and it seems like as soon as I find something that I can grasp onto, I stumble across something that makes me feel like I’m just never going to get it. The link below is an example and I do know the answers/responses to some of the claims, but others I don’t.

biblebc.com/Roman%20Catholicism/Serious_Questions.htm

So while I understand that Grace is the answer, when does that come? I pray earnestly and often, and as previously mentioned, I study a lot in an attempt to draw nearer to God. But it’s the frustration of the more I study, the less I realize I know.

I haven’t had a chance to view any of the posted links but I will.

Thanks for listening.

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<3- I am just so in over my head when I read the OT. Caul, jubilee, each 7th year to be kept as a sabbath, wiping the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door post with a hyssop branch, sacrificing animals, incense, etc, etc. I just don’t get it.>>

**Even devoutly Orthodox Jews will say that certain of these laws are impossible to keep now, so they have fallen into disuse.

Don’t worry about things you don’t understand in the Bible.

Put them to the side and concentrate on the parts you DO understand.**

<<Why did we need to come to earth,>>

**Contrary to Mormonoid teaching, we have ALWAYS been on earth. Period.

So we shall remain until our deaths as long as Jesus tarries.**

 

[shoewindow3000]

Why don’t you read the Diary of St. Faustina?

 

[C2M2C]

Contrary to Mormonoid teaching, we have ALWAYS been on earth. Period.

So we shall remain until our deaths as long as Jesus tarries.

Meaning that we didn’t exist until we were born?

 

[C2M2C]

Why don’t you read the Diary of St. Faustina?

I will look into it.

Thank you

 

[Tracy_Spenst]

August 28 was the feast day of St. Augustine. In honor of him, I would offer this reflection from that day’s Magnificat meditation in discussing the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. It meant so much to me that I thought it may be an encouragement to you.

*The reason faith is greatly rewarded is that it doesn’t see, and yet believes. I mean, if it could see, what reward would there be? Now, however, people are told, “Believe,” and they want to see. The answer they’re given is, “In order to see eventually, for the time being believe. Faith does the earning; sight is the reward. If you want to see before you believe, you’re demanding to be paid before doing the job. What you want has its price. You want to see God; the price of such a tremendous good as that is faith. Do you want to arrive, and not want to walk? Sight is possession, faith is the way to it. If you shirk the hard work of the journey, how can you expect the joy of possession?” * ~St. Augustine of Hippo

I don’t write this to say you shouldn’t ask questions or seek answers. But, take a step of faith. Go to confession. This is why you are being bombarded with all this. The thing Satan wants most to keep you from is the Confessional and the Eucharist. These are the very things that will bring you peace.

“But,” you may say, “I’m not sure I believe in it!” Take a step of faith. God is greatly pleased by obedience, even when it’s shaky. Just do it. After you’ve done that, then start to seek these answers.

May God bless you as you endure this time of testing.
Tracy

 

[Tanner9188]

. I knew a lot about Mormonism because I did study diligently, but never looked outside. Now that my studies have led me away from Mormonism & back to Catholicism, I am really struggling to “get a grip” if you will.
I’ll just sort of briefly go though the bullet points of some of the issues to start us off.

Again, this is just a sampling of the things that are causing me great confusion. I need some advice and I need some explanations.
Anyone interested in engaging, please feel free to do so.
Thanks

Spend the next 2-3 years with your nose in the Bible and nothing more. Pray without ceasing; not literally 24/7. Most, if not all of your questions will be answered and more questions will come forth, but in the end you will have searched the only place where you know for certain the truth is.

Always test what you are taught, by anyone whether by book, by hearing, commentary or website or any other place, to the Word of God. If it is true and you should be able to verify anything Christian via the Scripture, then embrace it; if it found to contradict then reject it.

For example; if I or anyone else were to tell you that water baptism is not necessary for salvation. You must search the Scripture to see if it true. Don’t be deceived by anyone pulling a single verse and saying; “see this is what the Scripture says”, because Scripture will always verify itself.

I was told many times that water baptism was necessary for salvation within Catholic and some Protestants and other saying “no it is not”. So what does God say. Here is what I discovered and you can pray and seek the Scripture and see what conclusions you drawl.

I can point you to some very user-friendly Bible search tools to make looking at key words and phrases; along with the Greek context to help gain finer points of Scripture.

On Water Baptism as an example:
Acts 3:19 – (Peter speaking)
"And on the basis of faith in His name, {it is} the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which {comes} through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

In relation to Act 2:38 – (Peter speaking)
Peter {said} to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In correct Greek grammatical form; it renders "Repent, for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the Holy Spirit, then each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

If this were rendered any differently, then Scripture would contradict itself as you will see. Do not take my word; you must confirm these things for yourself or you will be tossed around by every wind of doctrine.

Matthew 3:11 – (cf Luke 3:16) "As for me, I baptize you with 1) water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the 2) Holy Spirit and 3) fire.

Galatians 3:26-27
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

“For all of you who were immersed into Christ”; this is the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Matthew 3:11 acknowledges as even existing and most people are unaware of.

Acts 10 –
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we {did,} can he?”

Can you get more definitive as this? Well maybe, moving along in Acts and stopping for a visit in chapter 15.

Acts 15 -
"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as {He did} upon us at the beginning. 16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as {He gave} to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,
When does one actually receive the Holy Spirit?

AFTER BELIEVING - revert back to Matthew 3:11 above and read again.

Acts 1 - (Jesus speaking)
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” {He said,} “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs F16 and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ F17 crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Notice how Paul chastises the Corinthians concerning water baptism; then separates from it, then goes into the promise of the message. This is no mistake on Paul’s part.

1 Corinthians 1 -
11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel

Which baptism is the one that saves according to the Word? Is this the same as you may or may not have been taught? Anyway; I hope that you get from this is one thing; search and see if it is true. If I can help in anyway, then let me know.

God bless you and I will pray that God will lead you.

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

C2M2C
So while I understand that Grace is the answer, when does that come? I pray earnestly and often, and as previously mentioned, I study a lot in an attempt to draw nearer to God. But it’s the frustration of the more I study, the less I realize I know.

Rory
There is an hierarchical order to my life of faith:

1. I believe in God. I deny that the world and any of creation is self-existent. Creation is contingent. I say this apart from any religion at all. I believe God is the explanation for all existence. He made everything that exists with exquisite detail, care and beauty. Surely such a wonderful Artist loves everything He made, but most of all, His masterpiece, the rational creatures.
2. I believe in Christ. I think the best explanation for the history of Christianity is that the God in which I already believed before hearing the Gospel, has revealed Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His saving message, I have the best explanation for the wounded, tarnished, unsatisfactory character of the present human condition. We are fallen, but through God’s infinite love and mercy, we have the potential for redemption through adoption as sons of God whereby He makes us true partakers of His nature.
3. I believe in the Catholic Church. I am convinced that the Apostles of Christ were sent forth by Him to us, as the Son was sent forth by the Father. As He sent them on this most honorable but frightful mission, Jesus promised them that He would be with them unto the end of the age. By extension, the apostolic mission has continued as the apostolic labors were rewarded with successors who have transmitted their faith unto our own day. Catholics hold that Christ continues to be with us as Head of the Church which He founded.

Unlike many Catholics here, I have a lot of respect for the position that the LDS Church takes in regards to my third belief. I was Protestant, not Catholic yet when I heard the arguments that the Reformers, like Luther and Calvin were right about the corruption in the Catholic Church, but wrong about the remedy. What was needed was not a Reformation, but a Restoration. It was Mormonism that pushed me to examine the roots and trunk of my Protestantism and my assumption that Rome was wrong.

Now is not the place to detail why the only doctrine which I find in Mormonism to be incredible, is their belief in a Great Apostasy. I will briefly say that I believe that they take false Protestant claims and assumptions and bring them to its most logical conclusion.

Mormonism forced me out of Protestantism. I do not believe in every article of the Catholic faith now because I have perfect understanding of it. But after long reflection an allegations of Apostasy, I have perfect trust that no other church on earth qualifies as that upon which Christ gave His promises to the Apostles. I know the Church can fully explain many of your questions. The Church offers us many reasons for believing. But we don’t need faith in our understanding of Catholic doctrine. We need faith in the Son of God who is the Head of the One, Holy, Apostolic, and Catholic Church. When we fully trust that in God’s loving care and providence, Christ will preserve His Church until He comes again, then we will have peace in regard to questions that may arise.

I am not saying it is bad to inquire. The answers are available through diligent study and they invariably affirm our faith. But we live short lifetimes. We have obligations according to our state in life. You have a family. They need a husband and father of faith. You probably don’t have time to linger over the books. It takes too long to dot every “i” and cross every “t”. After all, we are assured as Catholics that we will spend eternity without exhausting the infinite mysteries of God. How can we expect to live without mystery here below?

Dear friend, if you are going to Mass after eighteen years away from Christ’s Church, God is already giving you great and extraordinary actual graces. Do not fail to recognize it. Do not fail to cooperate with it. If you believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Catholic Church as much as your actions would indicate, you don’t have any business wondering when grace will come. Now you need the ordinary grace of the Sacraments. As soon as possible. It is time to receive the assured graces of a good confession. Your confessor will hear you too, although it is really Christ to whom you are confessing, who has deputized the priest to hear your sins of infidelity (to the church, and any other serious sins you can remember). May the good God who never gives scorpions to people when they ask for the eggs, guide you sweetly and tenderly into His loving arms through your prayers for light and the Holy Spirit. And pray for me too.

Rory

 

[Liraco]

how are you to know the real answers to the tough questions if you don’t know what the tough questions are?

The link below is an example and I do know the answers/responses to some of the claims, but others I don’t.

biblebc.com/Roman%20Catholicism/Serious_Questions.htm

Just remember that if you do ask the hard question you need the answers from BOTH sides and the one in error will become clear with proper understanding and study.

In answer to the claims that try to prove Catholics worship statues and had the commandments edited to allow it, this might be a good place to start:
catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0403fea3.asp

In summary, the protestant second commandment is redundant, If you have no other gods but God, then you don’t make graven images or worship them, etc.

Also, I don’t see how they can accept clumping material property along with a human being (the wife). I hope you’d agree that wanting your neighbor’s TV and wanting your neighbors wife are nowhere near the same thing.

To address just one more of the many objections. I never understood the insistence of “call no man father” when the Apostles acknowledged their spiritual fatherhood (it’s right there in the bible with calling them “children”.) If they’re SO stubborn on this, what do they call their dad? They also can’t call anyone teacher, or call anyone doctor (which also means teacher). Please read: Call no man “father”

As Jimmy Akin rightly pointed out in a show a few weeks back, if we cut down the title of father to no one but God, then the significance of that title as such is lost. (Please DO check out the show if you don’t already). When we refer to our dads or a priest as father, it’s definitely not in the same sense as God’s Fatherhood, rather we’re just seeing these people share in that (just like we share in His love, and His suffering).

There’s too many mistakes in all of this. If you do want the answers to all of those false responses raised in the thread you mentioned, do a keyword search in the main page of Catholic.com or you can buy the book “the essential Catholic survival guide” which condenses a lot of the tracts you can find in the site but in a book. The tracts are here:
catholic.com/library/faith_tracts.asp

If you have any more specific questions I’ll be glad to help you with that.