Being called a heretic? Ouch. Perhaps I should’ve known better than to come here.
I’m sorry you feel this way. Surely you have received some good (name removed by moderator)ut as well. So far as I know only one person has called you a heretic and while we are naturally expressing things from a Catholic viewpoint - - would you expect anything else?
Please be patient with us.
Since you asked, I don’t believe that the Eucharist is the literal body and blood of Christ. I have read all of the Catholic Answers apologetics about it, I’ve asked two priests about it, and I do not believe it. That’s pretty much a deal breaker since that is the defining hallmark of being Catholic.
You are quite right that this is a deal breaker since no less a personage than St Paul Himself said that eating and drinking without proper discernment is to eat and drink judgement on one’s self.
I will not endeavor to change your mind on this matter - I will only say that, personally, when I look at Scripture, I find much more evidence to support the belief in the real presence than not to.
I don’t believe in the real presence and I don’t believe that the Bible verse saying that “on this rock I build this church” establishes the succession of Popes or justifies the reliance on man-made tradition. I don’t believe that the church has the authority to establish doctrines that have no basis in the Bible, like Mary’s direct assumption into Heaven.
Yea - I think that this issue is one that really comes down to how you were raised vs how a Catholic is raised. No disrespect intended…but we understand that the Church existed and taught for centuries before the canon was officially codified.
The post reformation churches - including the evangelicals - do not have this viewpoint and reliance on the written word is very important in your faith tradition. This makes it difficult to resolve the two viewpoints. Yet we can point to Scripture to show that the Church DOES have the Christ given authority to establish doctrine - and I don’t mean simply Mt 16:17-19. There are others.
Again - it is not my intent to try to change your mind on this - - after all, these are not the subject of this thread.
But if you’d like to know my reasoning, I would be willing to share
When I was going through RCIA, I did pray A LOT for discernment. I talked directly to God and told him that if He wanted me to be in the Catholic church, I wanted His help to get me there. I was desperate. I don’t think you understand, I really wanted to be in the same church as my husband. I attended my husband’s Catholic church exclusively for almost a year before I started RCIA and during it. I didn’t attend my own because I didn’t want to be confused in any way. I would sit in Catholic Mass and pray to God that He would help me believe it. I literally never felt anything. I never felt a desire to take Eucharist. Mostly I just felt sad and confused because my prayers were not being answered. I’m pretty offended that anyone would assume that I haven’t prayed about this.
Thank you for sharing this. Indeed this has to have been very difficult for you. I pray that God continues to be a source of strength for you on your journey.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful in saying that, even though plenty of you are being disrespectful to me. I feel like I have given the Catholic church more than an adequate shot, and considering that my husband and I both believe in the Creed, I don’t know how you can say I’m a “heretic” or that I “abandoned” the Church Jesus established. The Bible is highly open to interpretation. If you choose to accept that the Catholic church is the only authority that can interpret it for us, I can see where you might say that. But when I read the Scriptures justifying the Church’s teachings, I just don’t believe it’s the one true church. It doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian.
It is not my intention to be disrespectful either and I hope that we have not given too much offense. It takes time to get to know each other and the more we know, the better we will be able to communicate. And speaking for myself - and others here - I fully accept you as a Christian, and so does the Catholic Church, as rcwitness pointed out by referencing the Catechism.
I agree that, based on what you have written here, that you have indeed given the Church an “adequate shot” so to speak - at least for the time being.
There is so much to try to learn and understand that even for a lifelong Catholic it’s difficult to take it all in and embrace it…so much must be taken on faith.
One last comment on the above…You are quite correct - the Bible IS “highly open to interpretation” and this is precisely the reason why Christ established an authoritative Church (as described in the Bible) and why we as Catholics hold to the Church as authority.
Now - getting back to the original topic of the thread…two thoughts
It seems that you are both pretty new in your faiths. He in becoming Catholic and you in returning to your evangelical community. May I suggest that “newbies” have a tendency to be “zealous” and this can be a source of some friction. Over time and discussion some of this should settle down a bit - - of course this depends somewhat on the individuals.
My second thought has to do with your concerns about feeling a part of a community. Is there a Charismatic Catholic group near you? As an evangelical you might find such a group to be more to your liking both in worship and interaction. This would not resolve the more core issues like the real presence but it might give you people to talk to that you find more comfortable.
Just a thought.
I hope some of the above is of help.
Peace
James
…this is what this Christian wife is trying to establish in her relationship with her husband. This is what we agree on. No need to put separation over her desire to put Jesus first in her worship!
