How to approach a Baptist Cousin

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benedictxvifan

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Hi,

I’m not really sure where to take this, having never been Baptist (I converted from Paganism directly to Catholicism), but on Christmas my cousin, whom I admire as a wonderful person attempted to Evangelize with his church concept of accepting Christ into your heart- that you cannot be born into a religion. I think this relates to the issue of infant baptism (among other issues), but I’m not really sure how to approach the situation.

Thanks.
 
I find listening to conversion stories very interesting and informative. It’s hard to know how to gently correct and defend if you don’t know where the other person is coming from. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to Tim Staples conversion…I THINK he was Baptist or Assemby of God. Also Steve Ray’s conversion story is great and I’m sure that he was raised in the Baptist church. I think both of those tapes are available from Ignatius Press…or you might check here!

I wouldn’t approach your cousin at all without a lot of prayer before hand…but I’m sure you have thought of that already!

Kathy
 
My dad was Baptist along with his side of the family, but because he did not practice, I was brought up Catholic until about 8 y.o… I came back to the Church in 2005. When I talk to my aunt about the Lord, I stay away from dogma and discuss how we as christens can get through our trials. I am a cancer survivor and she is currently battling severe cancer of 2 types. We talk about our common ground, never about our difference’s. If the conversation shift’s to the difference’s , then the intention of the conversation has changed to a prideful one. Excuse yourself or stress to stay on common ground for the sake of brotherhood. Tim
 
You should school yourself on the doctrines and basis of catholic belief in infant baptism, the differences in what evangelicals believe in ‘accepting Jesus’ vs what the bible says about being baptized, and have a scriptural basis for backing that up. Then approach your cousin to talk to him about your faith. Make sure you understand first, and anything you don’t know how to address find out the answer and get back to him on it. Don’t be afraid to challenge him and be on the offensive, just do it in a charitable manner.

I’d also recommend John Martignoni at the Bible Christian Society. He talks a lot about how to back up catholic beliefs with bible based apologetics. I’m sure he’s got a talk on baptism.

And obviously, pray about it and ask Jesus to give you the grace to speak with love and charity to your cousin.

Good luck!
 
Having had time in both churches, I can tell you many philosophies in the Cath and Prot churches are the same, but just have different names. I can also tell you many people have very INCORRECT assumptions about each others teachings/beliefs.

As far as accepting Christ into your heart and that you cannot be born into a religion? Well, that’s basic theology in any bible teaching Christian faith. You must place your faith in Christ to be born again and your salvation rests on what Christ did, not on what your parents did.

I don’t really think his comments had to do with baptism. I think he was trying to say you are not saved just because your momma and daddy goes to church. There’s a definate step YOU have to take.

Yes, pray and ask God for discernment and wisdom. Then, ask for an open door to continue the discussion. And yes, also study up on what your church doctrine states, if in fact you do have to answer to misconceptions.
 
benedictxvifan said:
Hi,

I’m not really sure where to take this, having never been Baptist (I converted from Paganism directly to Catholicism), but on Christmas my cousin, whom I admire as a wonderful person attempted to Evangelize with his church concept of accepting Christ into your heart- that you cannot be born into a religion. I think this relates to the issue of infant baptism (among other issues), but I’m not really sure how to approach the situation.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I would say " I agree!"

No one can be born into a religion. Even Catholics. We are born and then baptized into a religion. The word “religion” comes from the Latin “religare” it means to bind or to tie. We “bind” ourselves to God.

Baptism is how we are “born again” all of us.

John 3

3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless **one is born again **he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4Nicodemus said to Him, “**How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” **

5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless **one is born of water and the Spirit **he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there **He was spending time with them and ****baptizing. **

And if you really think about it…if your cousin is teaching the whole “accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior”…

Didn’t Jesus die for all of us? The whole world’s sins? Not just the ones who recite a prayer.

And if you don’t know or understand someones teachings or beliefs…ask. Ask alot of questions! With a true heart. With love. Ask and learn and pray for yourself and your cousin.

And on a technical note…Jesus founded the church, built it on Peter with the Apostles gave to them the power and authority to baptize the people …right? So technically anyone who is baptized (in the proper formula) is baptized into the Catholic Church. But thats between you and me;)
 
Oh and one more thing…

As Catholics we carry the faith for our children until they can carry it for themselves.

Just like the Jewish people who circumcise their 8 day old babies as part of the promise to God to teach them their faith.

God did not tell the Israelites to wait for their children to get old enough to make a promise to Him on their own.** NO!** God commanded that the parents dedicate their children at 8 days old!On the basis of their faith!

Baptism replaced circumcision.

Children took part in the Old Covenant/ Testament/ Promise

Children take part in the New Covenant/Testament/Promise

1 Cor. 7:14 – Paul says that children are **sanctified by God ****through **the belief of only one of their parents.

Exodus 12:24-28 - the Passover was based on the parent’s faith. If they did not kill and eat the lamb, their first-born child died.

Joshua 5:2-7 - God punished Israel because the people had not circumcised their children. This was based on the parent’s faith. The parents play a critical role in their child’s salvation.

Exodus 4

24Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death.

25Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “**You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” **

26So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood**”–because of the circumcision**.

Because Moses had not circumcised his son God was going to kill him. Moses’ wife circumcised their son to save Moses and to follow God’s command…

God was going to punish the father.

Genesis 17:14

14"But an** uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant**."

Acts 2
38Peter 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.

39"**For the promise is for you and your children **and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

scripturecatholic.com/baptism.html#baptism-III
 
I wholeheartedly agree that you cannot be born into a religion, but certainly the way his statements were headed- it was leading me into a fallacy of infant baptism speech, i feel relatively sure. Yes, at some point or another we must accept Jesus for ourselves, but I can equate that more with First Holy Communion than I can a baptism delayed until the age of reason. So far, though the comments have been really helpful.
 
I am in conversations with a Baptist uncle of mine. He left the Catholic Church about 20 years ago when I was still in grade school. Our recent encounters were triggered by our family gathering for Christmas.

I found Patrick Madrid’s book, Search and Rescue to be very helpful. It helped me get into the right state of mind to defend our Faith with charity and it reminded me to constantly pray. I am somewhat hot-tempered, so this book did a world of good for me as far as approaching my uncle with love and patience!

I read Karl Keating’s book Catholicism and Fundamentalism twice. It has become a “weapon” in my arsenal for combating “Bible Christians,” along with my Bible and Catechism, of course. Everything you need to defend the faith with Baptists can be found in Keatings book. It’s an invaluable resource!

I spend countless hours reading and praying before I engage in conversations with my uncle. It is necessary to do this.

He insists on dealing with Marian doctrines, salvation, and purgatory. I am able to keep these issues at bay, at least for now. I told him that I don’t want to discuss these topics yet. I managed to get him to focus on the Bible. I told him that we should first establish where the Bible came from and then once that history lesson is learned we can move on to his issues. I am having a difficult time with him getting to admit that the Catholic Church established the Canon of Scripture and that the deuterocanonicals were considered inspired throughout all of Christianity before Luther removed them but I do feel like we are making progress.

The only advice I can offer is to be fortified. Know your faith well and pray. Don’t let your cousin dominate the discussion. You should insist on tackling one issue at a time.

Another resource is Beginning Apologetics from Jim Burnham and Steve Wood. It is a series published by San Juan Catholic Seminars. This is easy to read and straight to the point.

God bless you and may the Holy Spirit inspire your words.

Humatac
 
I would suggest the book Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David Currie… . I came from an evangelical background and this was one that helped me quite a bit. Thomas Howard has a book out that details his coming into the catholic church - can’t remember the name of it right now, though.
 
(I converted from Paganism directly to Catholicism),
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So you werent born into a religion, you converted so was the whole point of this:
but on Christmas my cousin, whom I admire as a wonderful person attempted to Evangelize with his church concept of accepting Christ into your heart- that you cannot be born into a religion.
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What to make a Baptist crazy?
Go after Sola Scriptura, the canon of the Bible, the literality of the Bible, creationism (most of those who want to save Catholics are creationists), dispensationalism (again not all are but most of the anticatholics are) and Once Saved Always Saved. Once you plant the seed of doubt… I have made several evangelicals loose their faith instead when they wanted to convert me from deism. Probably he will stop discusing religion with you.
 
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