Helping my Baptist Mom

[Antonius_Lupus]

Dear brethren,

I am a revert to the Catholic Faith, but my mother and most of my family are Southern Baptists. I used to be a staunch Calvinist Evangelical myself before the Bible and history sent me straight into the arms of the Holy Church (Deo gratias!! ).

Anyway, my mother wants me to help her teach the teens at her church (Sunday school).

I plan on going to Mass in the early morning and then heading over to help her out. I don’t expect to be actually doing the teaching, but rather being more of a kind of assitant…teaching or explaining things when necessary.

Also, the topic isn’t too anti-Catholic or anything (although I am suggesting “corrections” to my mother’s Baptist study guide). The topic is from 1 Samuel 4, 5, & 6.

I was wondering whether it would be right to help me mother out though. What do y’all think?

-Anthony John

 

[puzzleannie]

what would you be teaching? it is difficult to see how a Catholic can teach Baptist children the core beliefs of their faith, or interpret the bible according to those beliefs. It is even harder to see how a Baptist pastor would allow a Catholic to do this.

 

[Antonius_Lupus]

what would you be teaching? it is difficult to see how a Catholic can teach Baptist children the core beliefs of their faith, or interpret the bible according to those beliefs. It is even harder to see how a Baptist pastor would allow a Catholic to do this.

Essentially we would be teaching the story of Israel’s defeat at the hands of Philistines and the loss of the ark. The message, apparently, is that God desires us to trust in Him rather than on religious things that might represent Him.

I can see where this can be construed to be anti-Catholic (I used to be anti-Catholic), but I intend to neutralize that if I decide to help my mother.

In any case, the only explanation I can offer to why this will even be allowed is because I was raised in that church and was once a member of the youth group which I will be helping to teach. I also am “well-known” for my knowledge of Scripture (it was this knowledge, among other factors, which God used to bring me into the Church).

 

[1ke]

Essentially we would be teaching the story of Israel’s defeat at the hands of Philistines and the loss of the ark. The message, apparently, is that God desires us to trust in Him rather than on religious things that might represent Him.

Well, herein lies the problem I think. This is not, of course, the “message” of that Scripture passage. So, I don’t know how you can in good conscience teach that it is.

 

[Antonius_Lupus]

Hmmm…perhaps. Indeed, I find myself contradicting the study guide on many points.

But still how do I tell my mother?

 

[journey137]

If I were in your position, I would fill out the study guide and correct everything you think is wrong. When you are going over the material with your mother (well before the class is supposed to take place, I hope), go over all the corrections in meticulous detail using lots of Catholic terms if you can. She will most likely get squirmy and start thinking “I can’t let her teach a Catholic lesson to my Baptist class” and then you can offer her the out of “Mom, maybe there are too many differences in our interpretation of this particular scripture passage for me to help teach it with you. After all, I don’t think Pastor X would like me saying x, y, or z to them.” If she’s like most mothers, she’ll be grateful she doesn’t have to offend you by asking you not to teach and will take the out you offer her. Of course, there’s always a chance she’ll agree with your interpretation and not see anything wrong with teaching it instead of the study guide’s interpretation… good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Antonius_Lupus]

If I were in your position, I would fill out the study guide and correct everything you think is wrong. When you are going over the material with your mother (well before the class is supposed to take place, I hope), go over all the corrections in meticulous detail using lots of Catholic terms if you can. She will most likely get squirmy and start thinking “I can’t let her teach a Catholic lesson to my Baptist class” and then you can offer her the out of “Mom, maybe there are too many differences in our interpretation of this particular scripture passage for me to help teach it with you. After all, I don’t think Pastor X would like me saying x, y, or z to them.” If she’s like most mothers, she’ll be grateful she doesn’t have to offend you by asking you not to teach and will take the out you offer her. Of course, there’s always a chance she’ll agree with your interpretation and not see anything wrong with teaching it instead of the study guide’s interpretation… good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks!