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tundramom
Guest
IMNSHO, the only “thing” that can draw a protestant into the Catholic Church is the Eucharist.
As an ex-Mormon, Born-again bible thumpin Assembly of God Holy roller, speaking in tongues praising out loud Hallelujah! on FIRE believer…
It was the REAL presence of the Eucharist that was solely and completely given to me through the Catholic Church that brought me finally home to Rome.
in Christ
Steph
As an ex-Mormon, Born-again bible thumpin Assembly of God Holy roller, speaking in tongues praising out loud Hallelujah! on FIRE believer…
It was the REAL presence of the Eucharist that was solely and completely given to me through the Catholic Church that brought me finally home to Rome.
in Christ
Steph
S
Special_Ed
Guest
Why is that? A non Catholic cannot partake in the Eucharist.
SE
C
Cat
Guest
I can answer that question.
A non-Catholic cannot participate in Eucharist, but a non-Catholic can adore Eucharist and long for Him.
As I mentioned in one of my posts above, when I started attending Mass (because we couldn’t attend Protestant services due our daughters’ involvement with an elite synchronized skating team), we RECOGNIZED Jesus in the Eucharist. We had known Him as Savior and Lord since childhood, and of course we recognized our dear Friend.
So I agree, Eucharist will draw people into the Church.
But how can this happen if they don’t know about the Church?
Remember, I spent over 40 years in evangelical Protestant churches, some of the best in the U.S. But I can’t even begin to compare these places to the Catholic Church.
C
Cat
Guest
Another response to those who argue that Protestants do not need to be evangelized: our daughter is in RCIA planning on entering the Church in a few weeks. She graduated from a Reformed college, and wrote her Senior religion class term paper about “Why Eucharist is False.”
Well, a few weeks ago, here is what she wrote in her journal, which she shared with us:
“I loved what Mike said this morning — that God will give us the grace to believe. The ‘real presence’ is hard to grasp — even the 12 apostles thought so. And yet if we are meant to be Catholic, God will give us the grace to have the faith we need to accept this. And of course, we are human, and our faith is not perfect — we will go through times of very strong faith and absolute assurance, and we will endure more difficult times of trial, when it is harder for us to believe and when we will have sorts of doubts and questions. And that is okay — it is that trial by fire that will make my faith even stronger when I come out on the other side of it.
“Every day I stand in awe of my Lord and what he has done in my life, and where he has led me to. I am so happy to have found this Church. I feel (and know that I am!) so blessed to be poised on the edge of such an exciting event. With all the weddings going on around me, I feel almost like this is my “marriage” this year — my marriage to Christ. I know that it isn’t really, but I can’t help but liken it to that. As the church is the Body of Christ — and the Bride of Christ — since I will become fully united with the Body of Christ, I am in turn becoming more completely the Bride of Christ. He and I will literally become “one flesh.” I mean that in the sense that he will become physically present within me and I will be completely united with him. I am joining the Body of Christ in order to become the Bride of Christ.
“I can’t wait! I want to throw a party!”
______________-
Who among you would deprive this young woman of such joy by saying, “She was already a Christian, so don’t bother to evangelize her.”
Well, a few weeks ago, here is what she wrote in her journal, which she shared with us:
“I loved what Mike said this morning — that God will give us the grace to believe. The ‘real presence’ is hard to grasp — even the 12 apostles thought so. And yet if we are meant to be Catholic, God will give us the grace to have the faith we need to accept this. And of course, we are human, and our faith is not perfect — we will go through times of very strong faith and absolute assurance, and we will endure more difficult times of trial, when it is harder for us to believe and when we will have sorts of doubts and questions. And that is okay — it is that trial by fire that will make my faith even stronger when I come out on the other side of it.
“Every day I stand in awe of my Lord and what he has done in my life, and where he has led me to. I am so happy to have found this Church. I feel (and know that I am!) so blessed to be poised on the edge of such an exciting event. With all the weddings going on around me, I feel almost like this is my “marriage” this year — my marriage to Christ. I know that it isn’t really, but I can’t help but liken it to that. As the church is the Body of Christ — and the Bride of Christ — since I will become fully united with the Body of Christ, I am in turn becoming more completely the Bride of Christ. He and I will literally become “one flesh.” I mean that in the sense that he will become physically present within me and I will be completely united with him. I am joining the Body of Christ in order to become the Bride of Christ.
“I can’t wait! I want to throw a party!”
______________-
Who among you would deprive this young woman of such joy by saying, “She was already a Christian, so don’t bother to evangelize her.”
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EHRAM
Guest
I’m not sure “evangelize” is the best word for what you want to do. To evangelize someone is to preach the gospel to that person or seek to convert them to Christianity. Protestants have already heard the gospel and are already Christian.
Perhaps a better question would be “How do we help our Protestant brothers and sisters come to know the fullness of the Christian faith that is found in the Catholic Church?”
Here are my suggestions:
Perhaps a better question would be “How do we help our Protestant brothers and sisters come to know the fullness of the Christian faith that is found in the Catholic Church?”
Here are my suggestions:
- Pray for them. Ask for the help of the saints, including our Blessed Mother and St. Monica. Pray for their sanctification and that God will open their eyes and ears to receive His truth.
- Be patient. Things happen on God’s timetable, not yours.
- Know the Catholic faith well. Read the Bible, the Catechism, and books on apologetics, stories of conversion, etc. Be prepared to contend for the faith (Jude) and give reasons for your hope.
- Live your faith well. Realize that your private prayers and devotions may have benefits known only to God. Let your light shine in such a way that God receives glory. Be loving, kind and joyful. Pray that you will increase in holiness.
- Invite them. Invite them to your home for dinner, where they may see Catholic art, a crucifix, etc. on the wall, and where you will make the sign of the cross before praying before the meal. Invite them to read a Catholic book you found inspiring. Invite them to go with you to hear a Catholic inspirational speaker. Invite them to go to a day of reflection or evening of recollection at a Catholic retreat center. Invite them to a Catholic Bible study or start a Bible study for your neighborhood (with ground rules regarding no attacks on other denominations). Invite them to mass.
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RomanCrusader
Guest
While we should evangelize everyone, Protestants are the least of our concern, considering the Jews, Muslims, pagans, etc. outright reject Christ and are much further from the truth than Protestants.
Not to mention the apostate atheists.
Not to mention the apostate atheists.
P
Pixie_Dust
Guest
Really? Once I realized how Catholic the Bible is, it was impossible for me NOT to convert.
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justasking4
Guest
Before you converted did you know the Bible well and its doctrines?Originally Posted by justasking4
Don’t get into doctrinal issues with protestants who know the Bible. Don’t bring up the Marian doctrines, purgatory or indulgences for starters. Once they see the vast differences between the Bible and Catholicism it will be impossible to convert them.
Pixie Dust
Really? Once I realized how Catholic the Bible is, it was impossible for me NOT to convert.
If you knew the Bible well, how did you deal with the marian doctrines which makes so many claims not found in the Scriptures?
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Pixie_Dust
Guest
Yes. I was extremely well acquainted with the Independent, Fundamental Baptist interpretation of Scripture. Taught Bible classes and Sunday School for many years.
I realized that something doesn’t have to be explicitly spelled out in Scripture in order for it to be true.
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guanophore
Guest
This one really cracked me up! I don’t see how it would be possible to have a meaningful conversation with a bible based christian without getting into doctrinal issues. What were you going to suggest be the topic of conversation? LOL.
I don’t know Catholics who evangelize that bring up Marian doctrines, purgatory, or indulgences. It is non-Catholics that bring them up. As a matter of fact, that is what you have been bringing up since you joined!
In all honesty, I think the only way Bible Christians can be converted is when they see that there is no contradiction between what the Church teaches, and what the Bible records.
J
justasking4
Guest
Catholics claim you can lose your salvation. What passages in the Scriptures made you think you could?
What made you believe that you could pray to her and now believe she is queen of heaven then?
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guanophore
Guest
The bible does not have "doctrine’. People have doctrine. Most Christian and christian like cults believe that their doctrine is based on the Bible, or will say “the Bible teaches”. The Bible does not teach, though, people teach. Doctrine comes from a source other than scripture.
J
justasking4
Guest
guanophore
Any protestant who knows scripture and catholic teachings would eventually get into these topics. Being friendly with someone is good but getting into serious Christian-Roman catholics issues is another thing.
I suspect as much from protestants who do convert to catholicism. I don’t think these things come up that much. If they did i think a lot of protestants would have major problems with the. Even Scott Hahn has said as much when he converted.
This is not possible. There are just to many problems with catholic theology and the Scriptures.
J
justasking4
Guest
Not so. The Bible is full of "“doctrines” that tells us what to believe and what to reject. I Cor 15:1-4 would be one example. What men do is to take various statements of the Scriptures and formulate these statements into a “doctrine” that helps people understand what the scriptures say.
Even your church believes in doctrine. Here is what your catechism says:
98 “The Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes” (DV 8 § 1).
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guanophore
Guest
I never said the Church does not believe in, and teach, doctrine. That is her job. I said that the Bible does not teach doctrine. It contains principles upon which doctrine is based. It is full of truth, but it does not teach itself. People teach. People create doctrine. the Catholic Church teaches the doctrine that was handed down to us by Jesus and the Apostles. Those who reject the Apostolic succession teach “a different doctrine”.
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guanophore
Guest
In fact, it most certainly IS possible, and happens every day! It was possible for me, after much study of historical theology. It was possible for Scott Hahn, and many other Protestants. I think it is not possible for you because you have such a deep seated resentment toward Catholicism that you are not able to take your blinders off.
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Socrates4Jesus
Guest
You may practice evangelism on me, if you like. I’m not yet a Roman Catholic.
J
justasking4
Guest
How were able to come to embrace the marian doctrines if you knew and believed the Scriptures?
How were you able to come to believe in a purgatory when you should have known no apostles ever taught such a doctrine?
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