How to help a confused presbyterian?

[xXGardeniaXx]

A friend of mine converted from Catholicism when he was about 10 and now he’s Presbyterian. It’s ten years later and he hasn’t gone to church in years and told me he feels uncomfortable praying and that he feels confused about what he believes and that he wants to become more ‘spiritual’.

We were talking about religion the other day and somehow non-denominational Christianity came up and he’s like wow… i think that’s what i want to be. So he asked me to put him in contact with a non-denominational friend of mine so that he can learn more about those views.
I’ve been trying to talk to him about Catholicism instead but he’s very resistant to it, and also i don’t feel like i’m strong enough in my faith to defend the church properly. 

How can i gear him towards the Catholic Church?

 

[Highwayhound]

I would suggest talking honestly with this friend about why you are Catholic and what your enjoy about your faith. Is it the eucharist, the fact that Jesus founded your faith, or what positives Jesus has worked in your life?

Do not worry about being ‘strong enough’. Instead ask Jesus to be your strength. The more I do the more he responds. You say, “But Mr. Todd you are old enough to be my father.” This is true, but we are all children of God and what father would deny his child’s heart felt petition? (I think Luke 11:13)

My last thought would be to hand him a copy of the book titled
Kolbe: Saint of the Immaculata and ask him to read the first section. The saint’s example of total love for his fellow human will make an impression on your friend. My high school class and I read that first section and the kids actually wanted to stay past the dismissal time to finish the reading. Now I ask you, how often can you get a group of 15 high schoolers to stay overtime for studying anything?

From the sense I get you will enjoy reading the book, too.
Here is a link:

catholiccompany.com/catholic-books/1002215/Kolbe-Saint-Immaculata/

Trust in Jesus

 

[Steadfast_love]

My experience having been raised Presbyterian, is that non-denominational is actualy *closer *to the Catholic Church than Presbyterian is. I got alot of anti-Catholic sermons in Presbyterian churches, whereas I can only fault the non-denominational sermons for being overly simplistic.

As far as bringing him into the Church, don’t worry if you can’t do it singlehandedly. In my experience there were hundreds of people that deserve credit in one way or another for leading me into the Church. Just do what you can, and trust God to get the other 99 volunteers lined up.

 

[MrsMW]

As an ex-Presbyterian I would suggest you ask him about authority. Ask him to look it up. have him explain what he thinks and then after listening try to have him look up passages in the bible and early church fathers. If he does not want to do that just share with him the real problems with the “Bible Alone”. Then do what you can to stay in contact. Pray to the Mother of God and have a mass said for him.

 

[jwashu]

Buy him “Home Sweet Rome” by Scott Hahn. It’s not that deep theologically but may spark his interest to learn more. Also tell him about the Coming Home Network and program on EWTN and that Grodi was a Presbyterian Minister as well.

Joe

 

[puzzleannie]

I would introduce a confused Presbyterian who wants to become more spiritual to Marcus Grodi, host of Journey Home on EWTN, and founder of the Coming Home Network, which assists protestant clergy and their families who are converting to Catholicism. was amazed to hear him say last night that part of his process leading to his conversion lay in the fact that the theology discourages too much of what Catholics consider to be authentic spirituality, in the tradition of Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross etc., or anything that gets in the way of reading and relying on scripture as the core of one’s spiritual life. Apparently he perceived that as a Presbyterian so much of what we consider essential to spiritual growth was rejected by their theology. amazing.