Help Interpreting Panic?

[Steadfast]

Romans 14 has to do with Christian liberty, it has nothing to do with uniformity of church leadership or control.

If your husband has the headship, register your concerns but, in the end, submit.

 

[Soutane]

Your “panic” is the incessant hammering of the Holy Spirit at your door.It’s up to you to let him in.I would suggest that you attend a Mass,ideally with a practising(i hate that word)Catholic.After Mass introduce yourself to the celebrant i.e the priest,and make an appointment to speak with him.As it says in the bible and as was continuously paraphrased by Pope John Paul the Great: BE NOT AFRAID.

 

[Ruthie]

Welcome to the Forums, Always Asking!

You’ve gotten some flak on the “home Church” thing - but that idea, too, also may be a leading from the Holy Spirit. Here’s a bit from the Catechism:

**1666 **The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called “the domestic church,” a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.

I’m a convert, and this website has been of great help to me. Most arguments against Catholicism are dealt with in these articles. Some of the more rabid prejudices against Catholicism are dealt with in this six-part article.

I come from a family of intellectuals, and was raised with a more subtle prejudice: that Catholics were unwashed, uneducated masses. Reading the articles above helped change my mind! (Not to mention all the great people I’ve met both at my new Church and here on the forums!)

Yes, I agree with the others; I think your feelings of anxiety and panic are leading you home.

We call converting, “Swimming the Tiber.” Dip your toe in - the water’s fine!

God bless you and your family!

Ruthie

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

Hello,
Wondering what fellow Christians would say about a pretty sudden, panic-motivated desire to convert to Catholicism? Seems like the wrong motivation, doesn’t it? Here’s the background:
-am an Evangelical, married to an Evangelical who grew up Catholic
-we both dislike the profusion of denominations, and have become stymied since we moved to anther state and had a terrible time finding “the right church home”
-I’ve been… haunted?.. by Romans 14. Seems like there shouldn’t be any denominations!
-husband is leaning toward starting a home church to solve our “church home” difficulty
…sooo, yes; while one person would say, “what denomination problem? We’re all in God’s family” and another would say, “that conviction alone isn’t enough reason to convert if you disagree with much of Catholicism”…
…any advice on how to sort through an AVANLANCHE of doctrine and interpret my sudden, almost frantic desire to convert to a denomination I don’t really agree with?

You and your husband should read Rome, Sweet Home, by Scott and Kimberly Hahn.

 

[RobHom]

(if this reply doesn’t look right, I’m still working on the technical stuff)

1. Romans 14 lays out some ‘differences’ of doctrinal interpretation ( or whatever you’d like to call them), which are not grounds for a personal falling out. So why would these differences be grounds for schism? Denominations are usually based on a falling-out, a difference of opinion, and the result is countless designer denominations. Paul took false teaching seriously, but look what he’s saying here: stay civil, stay together. God may not be thrilled with the current build-your-own denomination attitude. Is it possible that we are mistaking His ability to make the best of a bad situation-- schism-- with His actual approval?

I think Romans 14 is a much deeper issue than you mentioned but…even still… The simple answer is, from my point of view, I can only guess that God is shaking His head…and lamenting greatly the many schisms that have occurred, just as He laments the wrongs done in His name. I don’t believe that God every intended for every Tom, Fred and Harry to set up and run their very own little churches. Look at the problems that exist now…

1. My husband is the head of the household, and that’s a lovely thing in our marriage. But I’m not a silent partner. We enjoy the discussions we have based on our different perspectives. My husband appreciates that I really try to understand what the Holy Spirit may be calling me to do. I’m also praying that the Spirit speak to him in this matter, but he has more residual prejudice on the subject of Catholicism. I’m asking him to take a second look, review Catholic apology as an adult.

Its good that you have a healthy relationship in that manner. I would think that it would be in his best interest to look at things from a purely unbiased adult point of view. I myself had a falling out with the Church… though I never went to another, in time I came to realize that I was in error…now I am back where I belong.

Prayer gets answers…

 

[wisdomseeker]

(if this reply doesn’t look right, I’m still working on the technical stuff)

1. Romans 14 lays out some ‘differences’ of doctrinal interpretation ( or whatever you’d like to call them), which are not grounds for a personal falling out. So why would these differences be grounds for schism? Denominations are usually based on a falling-out, a difference of opinion, and the result is countless designer denominations. Paul took false teaching seriously, but look what he’s saying here: stay civil, stay together. God may not be thrilled with the current build-your-own denomination attitude. Is it possible that we are mistaking His ability to make the best of a bad situation-- schism-- with His actual approval?
2. My husband is the head of the household, and that’s a lovely thing in our marriage. But I’m not a silent partner. We enjoy the discussions we have based on our different perspectives. My husband appreciates that I really try to understand what the Holy Spirit may be calling me to do. I’m also praying that the Spirit speak to him in this matter, but he has more residual prejudice on the subject of Catholicism. I’m asking him to take a second look, review Catholic apology as an adult.

here, you might want to show this to your husband.

zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/m3/4mrkc.html

and be patient. take care of yourself first and God will take of your husband. by this i mean, you alone seek to talk to a good priest first and go from there.
Peace

 

[ralphinal]

Romans 14 has to do with Christian liberty, it has nothing to do with uniformity of church leadership or control.

If your husband has the headship, register your concerns but, in the end, submit.

Hey Stead,
What if your conscience cannot go along with your husband? For example, what if your husband is 100% sure that Mormons are correct and he wants you all to convert?

 

[AlwaysAsking]

Thank you, everyone!

I am reading all of the posts with interest and gratitude, believe me! I am feeling better-- and more connected to God-- since I started reaching out and praying. So far, this inquiry process really feels like the right direction.

A couple of people have mentioned talking to a priest. I called the local parish and was referred to the “answer guy” who encouraged me and my husband to just be happy to be protestant. I’m not sure what to make of that. He sounded like a nice guy and everything. He chided me for asking whether he thought it was important for my children to be baptized (“Do you believe in a God who would send little children to hell? We don’t believe that anymore, either!”).

So I’m not sure where to go from here.

As always, I read everybody’s posts, so thank you!

 

[cathopologist]

Thank you, everyone!

I am reading all of the posts with interest and gratitude, believe me! I am feeling better-- and more connected to God-- since I started reaching out and praying. So far, this inquiry process really feels like the right direction.

A couple of people have mentioned talking to a priest. I called the local parish and was referred to the “answer guy” who encouraged me and my husband to just be happy to be protestant. I’m not sure what to make of that. He sounded like a nice guy and everything. He chided me for asking whether he thought it was important for my children to be baptized (“Do you believe in a God who would send little children to hell? We don’t believe that anymore, either!”).

So I’m not sure where to go from here.

As always, I read everybody’s posts, so thank you!

Catholics are not into proselytism but we are called to be evangelists for the faith. Don’t take his advice in a negative way. When i went to see the priest who was going to conduct the RCIA, the first thing he asked if i was sure about what i was going into. He asked me many personal questions, about my faith and if my family knew of my decision. I told him i was head strong about becoming a Catholic and he gave me his blessings. If you are sure you definitely want to become a Catholic, then perhaps you should contact this ‘answer guy’ again and let him know you have made your decision.

 

[Steadfast]

Hey Stead,
What if your conscience cannot go along with your husband? For example, what if your husband is 100% sure that Mormons are correct and he wants you all to convert?

Are you equating House Church Protestantism with Mormonism?

 

[Steadfast]

(if this reply doesn’t look right, I’m still working on the technical stuff)

1. Romans 14 lays out some ‘differences’ of doctrinal interpretation ( or whatever you’d like to call them), which are not grounds for a personal falling out. So why would these differences be grounds for schism? Denominations are usually based on a falling-out, a difference of opinion, and the result is countless designer denominations. Paul took false teaching seriously, but look what he’s saying here: stay civil, stay together. God may not be thrilled with the current build-your-own denomination attitude. Is it possible that we are mistaking His ability to make the best of a bad situation-- schism-- with His actual approval?

I read Romans 14 as being about Christians who would make dogmas out of adiaphora and thereby judge the consciences of weaker brethren.

Are you aware that it is exactly this passage (and others like it) that many Protestants have used as a basis for objecting to the Roman Catholic Church’s dogmatizing of what are, or should be, after all, matters of freedom?

Paul is standing with Jesus here against those Pharisees who would bind up burdens and place them on the necks of those redeemed and set free.

If anything it speaks for greater liberty in matters of church practice than actually prevails in either Protestant or Catholic communions.

 

[ralphinal]

Are you equating House Church Protestantism with Mormonism?

No. I did not mean to seem that way.

My question is this: if the husband is the spiritual head of the house, and those in the house should submit to his guidance, what if your conscience will not let you go?

What if the husband says “I will start my church” and the wife says “But, in my heart of hearts, Lutheranism is correct. What you are doing is not biblically correct.”

Must she still go along with him?

 

[Steadfast]

My point was that the “choice” is between two varieties of Christianity, leaving aside the orthodoxy or even the validity of either expression, rather than between Christianity and non-Christianity.

This is significant because if the options are both Christian, the wife may submit, accepting the task of praying and working on him to move toward the more orthodox position.

If the options are Christian and non-Christian, the conscience is bound differently.

But that’s not the situation we have here.

 

[ralphinal]

My point was that the “choice” is between two varieties of Christianity, leaving aside the orthodoxy or even the validity of either expression, rather than between Christianity and non-Christianity.

This is significant because if the options are both Christian, the wife may submit, accepting the task of praying and working on him to move toward the more orthodox position.

If the options are Christian and non-Christian, the conscience is bound differently.

But that’s not the situation we have here.

Ok, so if both positions are Christian, is it a may submit or a must? Or is it a should?

I would say that to ask someone to go against a properly formed conscience is a sin, and for them to do so is a sin as well.

 

[Steadfast]

Ok, so if both positions are Christian, is it a may submit or a must? Or is it a should?

I would say that to ask someone to go against a properly formed conscience is a sin, and for them to do so is a sin as well.

And I would say that non-submission is the greater sin since it is against the very created order.

Consciences may change, this does not.

 

[ralphinal]

And I would say that non-submission is the greater sin since it is against the very created order.

Consciences may change, this does not.

So at what point should a wife not submit to the spiritual guidance of her husband?

Is that point when he denies the Real Presence?

Or if he becomes the head of a Cult?

It just seems that if she is called to follow Christ in a way that is in opposition to him, how can we say that she is wrong? Or that it is a sin for her to do so?

 

[Steadfast]

Ralph,

This is only an issue if the church he wants them to be a part of is non-Christian.

We have to trust the Lord to bring us along. Being part of a messed up church with the right Jesus is much different than being part of a cult.

 

[canne]

And I would say that non-submission is the greater sin since it is against the very created order.

Consciences may change, this does not.

Paul said: 1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Paul tells us the chain of command, but what if a link in that chain is broken, The husband is the head over the wife only as Christ is the head over the husband. If Christ is not the head over the husband, then the wife should be in submission to Christ first. Should she not?

What is one to make of Acts 5: 29?
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

[Steadfast]

It’s not an if/then situation Canne.

Elsewhere Paul tells Christian spouses that they are not free to separate from unbelieving spouses if there is no desire to separate. This would imply that the order written into matrimony would endure the situation as well.

Also, again, we’re talking about a real life situation, not a hypothesis. The author of the OP is not talking about being married to a differently minded unbeliever, or perhaps you mean to say that non-Catholic Christians do not have Jesus?

 

[stbruno]

catholicscomehome.org/real_people/index.phtml

Maybe one of the people’s stories you click on will resonate with you. Try it.