How do you explain conversion?

[BloodWashed]

The plan of salvation debate is age-old: Bible-Believers (by that I mean Bible only) have their ideas, and Catholics have theirs. To me, the most obvious thing to find the truth would be to test the plan in action. The Bible says that when you get saved, you become a new creature in Christ, that you lose your old desires, and you become born-again.

I was pretty messed up before I got saved. At the tender age of 15, I was a vehement atheist. I hated Christianity, and the Bible. I hated Christians for being “stupid” and “ignorant” and “bigoted” and “close minded.” I spent my free time surfing the internet for proof that the Bible was a book of lies and that God didn’t exist. I was also heavily involved in a serious homosexual relationship. When I wasn’t disproving God, I was proving that homosexuality was normal.

My partner who I was with happened to be a born-again Christian who had backslidden. She finally came to her senses, and she broke up with me, and started hounding me about getting saved. It was the last thing I wanted to do, because I hated Christianity even more at this point for ending our relationship, which I had been using to fill the Jesus-shaped hole in my heart. But I finally went. After three visits, I got saved.

Within the next week, I suddenly understood all the things I had once hated about Christians, and began doing them myself. Within a few months, I converted from being an uber liberal to a radical republican. Within a few more months, I was finally able to let go of the relationship I had been in for close to 2 years. And now, 7 months later, I firmly despise the sin of homosexuality as much as any Christian, when this time last year I was preparing to participate in the day of silence.

Now, forgive me if this seems preachy and stupid and like I’m trying to seem pious. I just thought it would be interesting to share my testimony. What do you Catholics think about a non-Catholic church changing a person’s life like that? What do you think caused it?

And if anyone else–Catholic or Bible-Believer, has a similiar testimony, I’d be interested to hear it.

Forgive me again for the length

 

[LilyM]

Yup - I basically was outside the Catholic Church for 12 years. Never went to confession, Sunday worship was spotty at best, rarely prayed, fell prey to all sorts of sins the details of which I dont’ want to go into here.

Reverted (went back to confession and regular worship) beginning of 2006. Within about 9 months I’d more or less (never say never!) conquered, with God’s help, two of my worst sins, and like you was immersing myself and coming to understand and agree with aspects of the faith that I had been pretty well opposed to before - the stance against women’s ordination, gay rights and such.

 

[DCD]

The plan of salvation debate is age-old: Bible-Believers (by that I mean Bible only) have their ideas, and Catholics have theirs. To me, the most obvious thing to find the truth would be to test the plan in action. The Bible says that when you get saved, you become a new creature in Christ, that you lose your old desires, and you become born-again.

I was pretty messed up before I got saved. At the tender age of 15, I was a vehement atheist. I hated Christianity, and the Bible. I hated Christians for being “stupid” and “ignorant” and “bigoted” and “close minded.” I spent my free time surfing the internet for proof that the Bible was a book of lies and that God didn’t exist. I was also heavily involved in a serious homosexual relationship. When I wasn’t disproving God, I was proving that homosexuality was normal.

My partner who I was with happened to be a born-again Christian who had backslidden. She finally came to her senses, and she broke up with me, and started hounding me about getting saved. It was the last thing I wanted to do, because I hated Christianity even more at this point for ending our relationship, which I had been using to fill the Jesus-shaped hole in my heart. But I finally went. After three visits, I got saved.

Within the next week, I suddenly understood all the things I had once hated about Christians, and began doing them myself. Within a few months, I converted from being an uber liberal to a radical republican. Within a few more months, I was finally able to let go of the relationship I had been in for close to 2 years. And now, 7 months later, I firmly despise the sin of homosexuality as much as any Christian, when this time last year I was preparing to participate in the day of silence.

Now, forgive me if this seems preachy and stupid and like I’m trying to seem pious. I just thought it would be interesting to share my testimony. What do you Catholics think about a non-Catholic church changing a person’s life like that? What do you think caused it?

And if anyone else–Catholic or Bible-Believer, has a similiar testimony, I’d be interested to hear it.

Forgive me again for the length

I think it is great. God’s grace is what caused your conversion. God is Love.

Peace,
DCD

 

[BloodWashed]

I think it is great. God’s grace is what caused your conversion. God is Love.

Peace,
DCD

Do you subscribe to the doctrine the Roman Catholocism is the only road to heaven?

My point was to show to Catholics who felt that way that the Baptists’ way of no-works salvation worked for me, so there must be some credibility.

 

[LilyM]

Do you subscribe to the doctrine the Roman Catholocism is the only road to heaven?

My point was to show to Catholics who felt that way that the Baptists’ way of no-works salvation worked for me, so there must be some credibility.

Not the only road, definitely the best and shortest though

No, we don’t believe works can save you. However, we have a different view of works from most non-Catholics for one thing - your going to church WAS what we would call a work, and when you ‘got saved’ I bet you performed some positive action - an altar call maybe, the sinner’s prayer? That too is what we woud define as a work.

And on the other hand works aren’t separatable from faith, rather they are evidence of and a product of it, as James makes clear. As your works are of your faith.

Doesn’t Jesus himself state that judgement is at least partly based on the works we do? Isn’t it those who feed the hungry, clothe the naked etc who are admitted to heaven, whereas those who fail to do so are excluded from it?

 

[BloodWashed]

Not the only road, definitely the best and shortest though

No, we don’t believe works can save you. However, we have a different view of works from most non-Catholics for one thing - your going to church WAS what we would call a work, and when you ‘got saved’ I bet you made some positive act - an altar call maybe, the sinner’s prayer? That too is what we woud define as a work.

And on the other hand works aren’t separatable from faith, rather they are evidence of and a product of it, as James makes clear. As your works are of your faith.

Doesn’t Jesus himself state that judgement is at least partly based on the works we do? Isn’t it those who feed the hungry, clothe the naked etc who are admitted to heaven, whereas those who fail to do so are excluded from it?

Baptists do believe that works are the fruit of salvation, not the means to it. Many, however, do believe that you must do works (be baptized/confirmed/go to confession) to be saved. We do works BECAUSE of salvation, not FOR salvation.

As for Matthew 25, I’m not sure what that’s about. I’ve read that it has to do with the post-trib judgment, in which case I dont even want to get into it, because that is so complicated. Regardless, Paul said that for him who has faith and worketh not, the belief in Jesus is his righteousness

 

[BamaRider]

The plan of salvation debate is age-old: Bible-Believers (by that I mean Bible only) have their ideas, and Catholics have theirs. To me, the most obvious thing to find the truth would be to test the plan in action. The Bible says that when you get saved, you become a new creature in Christ, that you lose your old desires, and you become born-again.

I was pretty messed up before I got saved. At the tender age of 15, I was a vehement atheist. I hated Christianity, and the Bible. I hated Christians for being “stupid” and “ignorant” and “bigoted” and “close minded.” I spent my free time surfing the internet for proof that the Bible was a book of lies and that God didn’t exist. I was also heavily involved in a serious homosexual relationship. When I wasn’t disproving God, I was proving that homosexuality was normal.

My partner who I was with happened to be a born-again Christian who had backslidden. She finally came to her senses, and she broke up with me, and started hounding me about getting saved. It was the last thing I wanted to do, because I hated Christianity even more at this point for ending our relationship, which I had been using to fill the Jesus-shaped hole in my heart. But I finally went. After three visits, I got saved.

Within the next week, I suddenly understood all the things I had once hated about Christians, and began doing them myself. Within a few months, I converted from being an uber liberal to a radical republican. Within a few more months, I was finally able to let go of the relationship I had been in for close to 2 years. And now, 7 months later, I firmly despise the sin of homosexuality as much as any Christian, when this time last year I was preparing to participate in the day of silence.

Now, forgive me if this seems preachy and stupid and like I’m trying to seem pious. I just thought it would be interesting to share my testimony. What do you Catholics think about a non-Catholic church changing a person’s life like that? What do you think caused it?

And if anyone else–Catholic or Bible-Believer, has a similiar testimony, I’d be interested to hear it.

Forgive me again for the length

That’s an impressive conversion, but your story is just beginning Washed. What do I think about Non Catholic Churches having a positive impact on people’s lives.? I think that is a good thing. It maybe the first step, in your search for the fullness of the truth, kinda of like this- Atheist/homosexual>Fundamentalist>finds CAF>exposed to fullness of the truth= Catholic? Ta daaaaa!

I think the Holy Spirit works in ways we never realize, but seeing you here with us, he has opened a door and exposed you to Catholicism. God always opens doors, the first door is your Fundamentalist Church, and you stepped in, now another door opens and you are interested in the beliefs of your Fellow Christians so you join CAF, and the next door opens and brings you to the fullness of the truth as revealed by the Church Jesus founded.

Don’t dismiss Catholicism outright Washed, becauae there was a time you dismissed ALL religion.

I didn’t find your post “preachy or pious” but sincere and optimistic at your new life.

And thats my :twocents:

Peace be with you.

 

[DCD]

Do you subscribe to the doctrine the Roman Catholocism is the only road to heaven?

My point was to show to Catholics who felt that way that the Baptists’ way of no-works salvation worked for me, so there must be some credibility.

Yes I believe that article of faith properly understood. My point is christians are bound to follow Jesus and His Church. God is not bound by anything. So can a baptist if he is invincibly ignorant make it to heaven certainly but it will only be through the Catholic Church which he established.

So be careful how much you learn here. To who much is given much will be expected.

God Bless
DCD

 

[LilyM]

Baptists do believe that works are the fruit of salvation, not the means to it. Many, however, do believe that you must do works (be baptized/confirmed/go to confession) to be saved. We do works BECAUSE of salvation, not FOR salvation.

Like James and I say, the two (faith and works) are inseparable. Faith without works is dead.

As for Matthew 25, I’m not sure what that’s about. I’ve read that it has to do with the post-trib judgment, in which case I dont even want to get into it, because that is so complicated. Regardless, Paul said that for him who has faith and worketh not, the belief in Jesus is his righteousness

I don’t think Jesus was intending to speak a parable or a puzzle in that particular passage :nope: don’t know why it would be presented to you as such. Rather He was speaking the plain truth about what would count at the Judgement Day.

And you’d rather believe obscure words of Paul than the plain words of Our Lord about the basis of our salvation? Can I get chapter and verse for your passage from Paul so I can see its context?

 

[BloodWashed]

That’s an impressive conversion, but your story is just beginning Washed. What do I think about Non Catholic Churches having a positive impact on people’s lives.? I think that is a good thing. It maybe the first step, in your search for the fullness of the truth, kinda of like this- Atheist/homosexual>Fundamentalist>finds CAF>exposed to fullness of the truth= Catholic? Ta daaaaa!

I think the Holy Spirit works in ways we never realize, but seeing you here with us, he has opened a door and exposed you to Catholicism. God always opens doors, the first door is your Fundamentalist Church, and you stepped in, now another door opens and you are interested in the beliefs of your Fellow Christians so you join CAF, and the next door opens and brings you to the fullness of the truth as revealed by the Church Jesus founded.

Don’t dismiss Catholicism outright Washed, becauae there was a time you dismissed ALL religion.

I didn’t find your post “preachy or pious” but sincere and optimistic at your new life.

And thats my :twocents:

Peace be with you.

I was actaully raised Roman Catholic, which is part of the reason I became an atheist. Also, I feel like God’s been working in my heart about reaching the church at Rome, so I joined the board to witness to Catholics

 

[DCD]

And to clarify ignorance is not a bad word. Do not be offended.

Peace,
DCD

 

[LilyM]

I was actaully raised Roman Catholic, which is part of the reason I became an atheist. Also, I feel like God’s been working in my heart about reaching the church at Rome, so I joined the board to witness to Catholics

Hate to burst your bubble, but Peter and Paul got to Rome first, and they and their successors have kept us solid ever since

 

[BloodWashed]

Paul’s words were not hazy in the book of Romans (Chapter and verse Romans 4:5 by the way).

And also, it doesn’t really matter whether Jesus or Paul said it. Paul only wrote it, it was Jesus who said it, for all scripture is given of inspiration of God.

Matt 25 can’t be the judgment day, because it would make Jesus a liar. Jesus said that whosoever believeth on him should have eternal life. Not whosever did works in his name–whosoever believeth

 

[DCD]

I was actaully raised Roman Catholic, which is part of the reason I became an atheist. Also, I feel like God’s been working in my heart about reaching the church at Rome, so I joined the board to witness to Catholics

I am real forward so don’t mind me. You becoming an atheist at 15 had nothing to do with Roman Catholicism. At 15 you wanted to stand out that is why atheism is “cool” shock and awe. That is why I tell all the 15 year old atheist’s if you want to shock me become a christian everyone is a so called “atheist” these days. If you are here to bash The Catholic Church get in line but you should try to rise above that because It is His Church ya know.

Pax Christi,
DCD

 

[BloodWashed]

I am real forward so don’t mind me. You becoming an atheist at 15 had nothing to do with Roman Catholicism. At 15 you wanted to stand out that is why atheism is “cool” shock and awe. That is why I tell all the 15 year old atheist’s if you want to shock me become a christian everyone is a so called “atheist” these days. If you are here to bash The Catholic Church get in line but you should try to rise above that because It is His Church ya know.

Pax Christi,
DCD

Yes, that was part of it, trying to be cool and shock. But I also didn’t care for Catholocism at all, and had actually stopped subscribing to it before I became an atheist because of my Baptist friend. Actually, in the end it was my perversion that made me an atheist, because I didn’t want God telling me what to do.

I’m not here to bash any church. I love Catholics, and I want them to get saved just and much as you want me to become a Catholic. And I’d have to disagree about the Catholic church being His church, but we don’t need to get into that now.

 

[DCD]

Well at 15 what did you know about Catholicism maybe we can use this as a starting point?

DCD

 

[BloodWashed]

Well at 15 what did you know about Catholicism maybe we can use this as a starting point?

DCD

My friends father, who I consider my father in the Lord, is a very educated man. He’s gone to Bible college, he teaches Sunday school, and his wife, my mother in the Lord, is an escaped Catholic. I’ve talked about the subject several times with them, and feel like I have a pretty good handle on it. I’ve also done quite a bit of my own research. Plus, now that I’m saved, I’ve got Jesus living in my heart, and I don’t need anyones opinion other than his.

 

[DCD]

BloodWashed,

The Catholic Church has never taught we earn our salvation. I get the impression you think otherwise am I wrong? Lets not argue over a myth.

Peace,
DCD

 

[DCD]

My friends father, who I consider my father in the Lord, is a very educated man. He’s gone to Bible college, he teaches Sunday school, and his wife, my mother in the Lord, is an escaped Catholic. I’ve talked about the subject several times with them, and feel like I have a pretty good handle on it. I’ve also done quite a bit of my own research. Plus, now that I’m saved, I’ve got Jesus living in my heart, and I don’t need anyones opinion other than his.

I don’t deal with opinions or feelings when it comes to salvation. You made the statement you did not care for Catholicism. Do not take this the wrong way but you are demonstrating from your posts that you don’t have a “handle” on Catholicism. You can’t love what ya don’t know.

No one who knows TheTruth ever leaves Catholicism or fails to come home to her.

Peace,
DCD

 

[wardrandolph]

Its awesome, the things our Heavenly Father has done for you.Thanks for sharing.I don’t understand your trying to convert the converted.Please don’t take this the wrong way.We can rejoice with you for the work the Lord is doing in your life,but never take a knife to a gun fight.Peace