I have a dilemma, please help.

[FJACatholic]

Ok here it goes. I think I’ve enter a conversation thats way above my head with a girl who a devote Christian. I have to make a choice to either just drop the conversation all together that I have engaged with her, but at the same time even I would like to know how to answer these questions she proposed to me if I was confront by a born again Christians,
Here is what she wrote:

"Ok I’m going to pick your brain a bit. If I am pushing the boundaries please forgive me. You may decline to answer I won’t be offended.
Being God conscious is not the same as serving God. Do you serve God?
I grew up in the church. My grandfather is an ordained minister and Bible theologian. Both my parents are ordained ministers…there has not been a moment in my life that I have not known God/Jesus. That being said I didn’t begin serving him until three years ago. When you serve him and devote time to learning the character of God is where the transformation takes place within yourself…can be possible for you.
Or maybe you have experienced God on a personal level? "

This all started cause I told her I never had a “transformation” the way she apparently has. She wasn’t always a “good girl” I guess.

What I have a hard time with is, I don’t understand is when non Catholics ask the question, “Do you serve God?” I’ve heard that question ask so many time but to be honest all I care about is doing my best to obey the Church is teaching. So I don’t know what she means by that.

And also"have you experienced God on a personal level?"
Why do they always ask that, what does it even mean.

Well I just thought I could get some assistance on here on how to answer her.
Thanks for reading.

 

[AussieTrish]

Don’t get pulled into her questions in any way that makes you uncomfortable. Sometimes other Christians use terminology that seems different, but it comes to the same.
If you start responding she might draw you in further and confuse you further.

Just tell her you most certainly have experience of God’s love in your life and a personal relationship with Him and leave it at that. If she pushes it, you aren’t obliged to play ball. You know you love God and try to live as a child of God, worshiping Him eg in Mass, talking the Him in prayers, being kind to others, knowing that love and kindness comes from God, who is in you through grace, through your Baptism and Communion. You know that you began serving God the best you could from the beginning, every time you prayed, every time you’ve been kind and loving, every time you repented any fault. Please be at peace.

You don’t have to explain to this girl . The more you do, the more a person who is intent on bringing you around to their way of thinking will find ways to question and challenge and confuse you.

Give her the shortest answer possible…
Just say, “Yes of course I have a loving and personal relationship with God.” Your answer, and if she doesn’t accept it, she is intruding and that is actually rude, if you don’t want to explain further. Why should you? She is not your conscience. You answer to God, not her. She has no right to haul you over coals about your faith.

If she insists on questioning you, say firmly but kindly. “It is between God and me” and stick to that.

God bless you,
Trish

 

[FJACatholic]

Don’t get pulled into her questions in any way that makes you uncomfortable. Sometimes other Christians use terminology that seems different, but it comes to the same.
If you start responding she might draw you in further and confuse you further.

Just tell her you most certainly have experience of God’s love in your life and a personal relationship with Him and leave it at that. If she pushes it, you aren’t obliged to play ball. You know you love God and try to live as a child of God, worshiping Him eg in Mass, talking the Him in prayers, being kind to others, knowing that love and kindness comes from God, who is in you through grace, through your Baptism and Communion.

You don’t have to explain. The more you do, the more a person who is intent on bringing you around to their way of thinking will find ways to question and challenge and confuse you.

Give her the shortest answer possible…
Just say, “Yes of course I have a loving and personal relationship with God.” Your answer, and if she doesn’t accept it, she is intruding and that is actually rude, if you don’t want to explain further. Why should you? She is not your conscience. You answer to God, not her. She has no right to haul you over coals about your faith.

If she insists on questioning you, say firmly but kindly. “It is between God and me” and stick to that.

Thank you Trish.
I agree in everything you said.
I like your advice.
Plus as I was rereading her question, “have you experienced God on a personal level?”
I was thinking to myself.
How more personal can I get when we Catholics take part in Holy Communion

 

[AussieTrish]

Thank you Trish.
I agree in everything you said.
I like your advice.
Plus as I was rereading her question, “have you ever experience God on a personal level.”
I was thinking to myself.
How more personal can I get when we Catholics take part in Holy Communion

Absolutely!

 

[MartinJordan]

Well, ask her what did Paul do when he “experienced” Jesus talking to him.

MJ

 

[mcrts]

Do you have a personal r/s with Jesus?

YES! In the Holy Eucharist. You cannot get more personal than that. The Word incarnate allows us to receive Him in such a humble way… In the form of bread and wine.

Edit: D’oh. You said it already. Well, you are well prepared when you get another Christian confronting you the next time!

 

[ccmnxc]

Ok here it goes. I think I’ve enter a conversation thats way above my head with a girl who a devote Christian. I have to make a choice to either just drop the conversation all together that I have engaged with her, but at the same time even I would like to know how to answer these questions she proposed to me if I was confront by a born again Christians,
Here is what she wrote:

"Ok I’m going to pick your brain a bit. If I am pushing the boundaries please forgive me. You may decline to answer I won’t be offended.
Being God conscious is not the same as serving God. Do you serve God?
I grew up in the church. My grandfather is an ordained minister and Bible theologian. Both my parents are ordained ministers…there has not been a moment in my life that I have not known God/Jesus. That being said I didn’t begin serving him until three years ago. When you serve him and devote time to learning the character of God is where the transformation takes place within yourself…can be possible for you.
Or maybe you have experienced God on a personal level? "

This all started cause I told her I never had a “transformation” the way she apparently has. She wasn’t always a “good girl” I guess.

What I have a hard time with is, I don’t understand is when non Catholics ask the question, “Do you serve God?” I’ve heard that question ask so many time but to be honest all I care about is doing my best to obey the Church is teaching. So I don’t know what she means by that.

And also"have you experienced God on a personal level?"
Why do they always ask that, what does it even mean.

Well I just thought I could get some assistance on here on how to answer her.
Thanks for reading.

I am getting the impression that she is trying to make her experience the standard by which one measures how much/well they serve God. If this is the case, you might want to ask why your conversion should be the same as hers.

 

[hazcompat]

We are the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, the spouse of Our divine Lord Jesus.

Peace

 

[FJACatholic]

Well, ask her what did Paul do when he “experienced” Jesus talking to him.

MJ

I don’t get it, even I don’t what Paul experienced when he talked to Jesus, lol.
Unless you meant how St. Paul went blind but I think that had more to do with him prosecuting Christians.

 

[MartinJordan]

I don’t get it, even I don’t what Paul experienced when he talked to Jesus, lol.
Unless you meant how St. Paul went blind but I think that had more to do with him prosecuting Christians.

Read Galatians 2.

Paul had to make sure the msg he received from Jesus was bonafide. He met Peter and the rest those who were the leaders chosen by Jesus himself. Private revelation must checked with those had authority ie Apostles.

So our leaders authentically ordained by the Church must be notified to make sure
the message was true. Otherwise one can be prone to a false message of something other than the Holy Spirit who guides the Church to ALL truth.

MJ

 

[anruari]

"Ok I’m going to pick your brain a bit. If I am pushing the boundaries please forgive me. You may decline to answer I won’t be offended.
Being God conscious is not the same as serving God. Do you serve God?

“Love the Lord Your God with All your Heart, All your Mind, All your Soul and All your Strength. There is no greater commandment than this. The second is Like it: Love your neighbour as yourself”. The whole of the law is contained in these 2.
Only you can answer if you do indeed serve the Lord as He instructed us. But If you want to and are trying to then the answer is probably a resounding “Yes”

I grew up in the church. My grandfather is an ordained minister and Bible theologian. Both my parents are ordained ministers…there has not been a moment in my life that I have not known God/Jesus. That being said I didn’t begin serving him until three years ago. When you serve him and devote time to learning the character of God is where the transformation takes place within yourself…can be possible for you.
Or maybe you have experienced God on a personal level? "

Look at 1 Corinthians 12
“If the Foot should say ‘I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’…”
There are many gifts, many callings, and many ways to Serve the Lord. Many ways to be a true Christian. we cant all be apostles (bishops) we can’t all be presbyters (Priests).
~Some of us are mums and dads. some are Brothers or Sisters who devote their lives to Charity, Some are Deacons, Priests, Bishops… We are all one body.

This all started cause I told her I never had a “transformation” the way she apparently has. She wasn’t always a “good girl” I guess.

Many christians from Penticostal and Baptist traditions, including may “Evangelicals” look at a single moment of conversion and repentance as being the significant and only important step of the path to “Being Saved” some call the “Being Born Again”.

Christ said you must be born anew by water and by spirit. He was talking in the Language of Baptism. He then clearly said we must all be Baptised in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Acts of the Apostles shows us a 3-fold initiation into the Christian Life.
1st comes Conversion. a desire to know Christ. a beginning to get to know him.
2nd comes Baptism. This permanently marks the soul of the convert. it washes them clean from their sins and makes them New in Christ.
3rd comes The coming down of the Holy Spirit. This came as Toungues of Fire on the Apostles. After that it came by the Laying on of Hands of an Apostle.

You received the Holy Spirit in one way at Baptism, but in fullness when the Bishop laid his Hands on you in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

What I have a hard time with is, I don’t understand is when non Catholics ask the question, “Do you serve God?” I’ve heard that question ask so many time but to be honest all I care about is doing my best to obey the Church is teaching. So I don’t know what she means by that.

And also"have you experienced God on a personal level?"
Why do they always ask that, what does it even mean.

Well I just thought I could get some assistance on here on how to answer her.
Thanks for reading.

The Catholic Church does not place a significant importance on some Mystical experience of the Divine as a vital for your salvation. some other Christian groups think this is essential. The Catholic Church does not condemn these experiences - they can be profound. but she advises us not to seek them out, and warns strongly against seeking them without proper guidance - as such experiences can masquerade as bring good while being perverted and draw people away from the Truth - Hence the importance of careful guidance.

There are many Catholic ways where such encounters are more likely:
Contemplative Prayer
The Charismatic Renewal Movement and similar movements.
The Taize Movement

If your prayer life is centered on reciting formulae prayers, and never engaging in Mental Prayers of Meditation or Contemplation then you are most likely blocking the Spirit, and have a prayer life which is Poor in the Treasures of Prayer the church has to offer.

If you open your prayer life up to mental prayer, in any acceptable style, then you are making your mind and soul open to Hear the Voice of God however He chooses to reveal himself to you.

Look up what Christian meditation and Contemplative prayer are about. Make a retreat where you can be taught the methods. - maybe with a traditional Order, maybe with some other youth ministry.

I would point out even the Rosary is intended to be a Meditative Prayer - and for many is a window to the Interior Castle and the Mystical encounter with Christ.

 

[Irish_Cabbie]

You can serve God in a number of ways, FJACatholic. Each time you attend Mass you are serving God by being an example to others. You are serving God if you take a couple of minutes to chat with someone that is lonely. You serve God when you are kind to others. You can serve God with a smile. I’m sure you are serving God in many ways without even realizing it.

 

[FJACatholic]

Read Galatians 2.

Paul had to make sure the msg he received from Jesus was bonafide. He met Peter and the rest those who were the leaders chosen by Jesus himself. Private revelation must checked with those had authority ie Apostles.

So our leaders authentically ordained by the Church must be notified to make sure
the message was true. Otherwise one can be prone to a false message of something other than the Holy Spirit who guides the Church to ALL truth.

MJ

Oh, thanks Martin.
I definitely will read Galatians 2.
I appreciate it.

 

[FJACatholic]

You can serve God in a number of ways, FJACatholic. Each time you attend Mass you are serving God by being an example to others. You are serving God if you take a couple of minutes to chat with someone that is lonely. You serve God when you are kind to others. You can serve God with a smile. I’m sure you are serving God in many ways without even realizing it.

Thank you Cabbie.

And yeah I agree, sometimes it’s best to just stand back a little and just reflect on the practices we do from the examples our Lord Jesus Christ gave us.

As simple as the question she asked me was. At the time it seem like a loaded question.
Mainly cause leading up to it she made it seem we have to have some “personal” conversion. I interpreted as to something you feel like apparently she has, and I’ve known others who are non Catholics say the same thing. They felt a personal experience, and I ended up telling her that I was a little envious of people who experience something like that. I’ve never had a feeling like that but would love too.

Anyways, I think I got the just on how to answer a typical question non Catholic ask.
In the past I would just shy away from questions cause I didn’t know my faith, but thanks to this website. I’m learning and learned a lot. This site is a blessing, and everyone in here who help answer questions are truly a blessing as well.

I love being Catholic!

 

[FJACatholic]

And Anruari,

Thank you for taking the time to responding to my thread.
I will admit my prayer is not as great at it should be.
I do say little prayers to myself throughout the day but overall I would consider my prayer life poor.
I’m going to look up to what you suggested.
I’ve never really prayed the Rosary on my own.
I’m going to incorporate it as part as my daily life.

 

[jesuspsr]

Thank you Trish.
I agree in everything you said.
I like your advice.
Plus as I was rereading her question, “have you experienced God on a personal level?”
I was thinking to myself.
How more personal can I get when we Catholics take part in Holy Communion :)

There it is

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you

jesus g

 

[FabiusMaximus]

Ok here it goes. I think I’ve enter a conversation thats way above my head with a girl who a devote Christian. I have to make a choice to either just drop the conversation all together that I have engaged with her, but at the same time even I would like to know how to answer these questions she proposed to me if I was confront by a born again Christians,
Here is what she wrote:

"Ok I’m going to pick your brain a bit. If I am pushing the boundaries please forgive me. You may decline to answer I won’t be offended.
Being God conscious is not the same as serving God. Do you serve God?
I grew up in the church. My grandfather is an ordained minister and Bible theologian. Both my parents are ordained ministers…there has not been a moment in my life that I have not known God/Jesus. That being said I didn’t begin serving him until three years ago. When you serve him and devote time to learning the character of God is where the transformation takes place within yourself…can be possible for you.
Or maybe you have experienced God on a personal level? "

This all started cause I told her I never had a “transformation” the way she apparently has. She wasn’t always a “good girl” I guess.

What I have a hard time with is, I don’t understand is when non Catholics ask the question, “Do you serve God?” I’ve heard that question ask so many time but to be honest all I care about is doing my best to obey the Church is teaching. So I don’t know what she means by that.

And also"have you experienced God on a personal level?"
Why do they always ask that, what does it even mean.

Well I just thought I could get some assistance on here on how to answer her.
Thanks for reading.

I was raised in an Evangelical environment like her.

Someone who was raised in the Church (Catholic or otherwise) does not necessarily have to have a single transformational event that developed their relationship with God. But it looks as if that girl, as you said, was not always sincere in her faith or perhaps not at all, and one day moved closer because of that event. Often times we refer to that as a “testimonial” - a story of how you came closer to God.

But would a cradle Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox really have such an event? Probably not.

But emotion is often big in a church like hers. It’s supposed to show that you are really “feeling” the wave of the Holy Spirit. Do you have the big warm fuzzy in your heart?

And the reason she asks you that question is probably because she assumes that’s how people should be when relating to God. Experiencing some big, emotional wave. I don’t think she realizes the value of intense doctrinal study, apologetics, and simple reverence.

I believe you should answer her as honestly as you can. There’s no harm in that. And if you receive more difficult questions, just post again for feedback.

In a way, sometimes Evangelicals and Catholics sometimes talk completely past each other. I don’t think some devout Evangelicals understand that being a Catholic isn’t necessarily about the emotion. While Catholics in some cases don’t see how important emotion can be to an Evangelical. I’m not saying you’re having this issue, FJACatholic, it’s just something I’ve observed.

 

[anruari]

And Anruari,

Thank you for taking the time to responding to my thread.
I will admit my prayer is not as great at it should be.
I do say little prayers to myself throughout the day but overall I would consider my prayer life poor.
I’m going to look up to what you suggested.
I’ve never really prayed the Rosary on my own.
I’m going to incorporate it as part as my daily life.

I was brought up knowing how to pray the rosary… but never really understood it untill very reciently.
First you must be familiar with the words of the prayers.
The Creed.
The Our Father
The Hail Mary
The Glory Be
The Hail Holy Queen

once you can recite these prayers, especially the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, and choose to direct your mind to the meaning of the words, or to say the words with your lips which directing your mind to other thoughts, you are ready to meditate.

Take some guide to the rosary. Take the Decade you are about to pray, and remind yourself or read a brief summary of the relevant Mystery.
Today is Wednesday, so by tradition we pray the Glorious Mysteries. The first of these is the Resurrection of Our Lord.:
Look at a piece of art work depicting the Resurrection,
Read a brief bible quotation about it
read a short meditative passage about it.

Then pray the decade of the Rosary. Let the words of the Avé’s pass over your lips… almost like the mantra of a estern guru in meditation… Let the image of the Resurrection fill your mind. Use the Icon or artwork to help bring you back to the mystery if your mind wanders, Let Our Lord speak to you about His resurrection. Let the Glory and Joy of that event fill your Mind.

There are many variations on this method, and those more experienced can point you further.

My spiritual director recommended a book to me called “School for Prayer” by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom. (It’s also published under the title “Begining to Pray”)
it’s not specific to the Rosary, but it is a great introduction to Mental Prayer. It’s short and easy to read.
“Metropolitan” is an Orthodox title equivalent to our “Arch Bishop”.
There are many other books that can also guide you in learning to pray in deeper ways.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

“have you experienced God on a personal level?”

Is there any other way?

 

[FJACatholic]

I was raised in an Evangelical environment like her.

Someone who was raised in the Church (Catholic or otherwise) does not necessarily have to have a single transformational event that developed their relationship with God. But it looks as if that girl, as you said, was not always sincere in her faith or perhaps not at all, and one day moved closer because of that event. Often times we refer to that as a “testimonial” - a story of how you came closer to God.

But would a cradle Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox really have such an event? Probably not.

But emotion is often big in a church like hers. It’s supposed to show that you are really “feeling” the wave of the Holy Spirit. Do you have the big warm fuzzy in your heart?

And the reason she asks you that question is probably because she assumes that’s how people should be when relating to God. Experiencing some big, emotional wave. I don’t think she realizes the value of intense doctrinal study, apologetics, and simple reverence.

I believe you should answer her as honestly as you can. There’s no harm in that. And if you receive more difficult questions, just post again for feedback.

In a way, sometimes Evangelicals and Catholics sometimes talk completely past each other. I don’t think some devout Evangelicals understand that being a Catholic isn’t necessarily about the emotion. While Catholics in some cases don’t see how important emotion can be to an Evangelical. I’m not saying you’re having this issue, FJACatholic, it’s just something I’ve observed.

FabiusMaximus.

She dedicates a considerable amount of time studying the Hebrew language (dont know how long ago/when she started, haven’t asked her yet), not sure if that qualifies as intense doctrinal study or simple reverence?

And to answer your question, I’ve never experience a “big warm fuzzy in my heart” so that would be a no. I don’t have one