Yes, I am Wesleyan…good call! I have a degree from a Christian college, was a Bible major and Philosophy minor and I am well versed in Wesleyan theology. I was going to study to be a Methodist pastor then a Wesleyan pastor but work and life interrupted so I never went to seminary. During the past two years, I have done my research and find that I agree more and more with the Catholic church, and when I discuss the didache or the writings of the early church fathers, my pastor tell me they are good to read but they are not the Bible. They believe in sola scriptura and sola fide so much they won’t listen to rational discussion about how the actual Bible was formed. My wife has never read the didache or church fathers and has no desire too. It is frustrating. When I was watching the Holy Father on the internet when he came to America she gave me a hard time about it. It really is difficult.
It seems that everybody is just trying to convert you or something like that. They’re spending so much time trying to figure out how to get you to convert to Catholicism than seeing the real problem. Some of them have even thrown you marriage out the window it seems as well with no regard for what it would do to you, your wife and especially your children.
I still hold to my guns on prayer and fasting. Here’s an idea. Become an E-5 MAN. I’m thinking straight out of the box
. I can bet that most women love romantic men that act in chivalrous ways. What woman can resist a man willing to lay down his life for her? Read the website. Study the scriptures. This my friend is your ticket to trusting love.
Do not forsake her trust in you. She may have married a Methodist. But she got you instead. You need to show her you care. Bruce Sullivan’s wife did not convert until much later as well like Scott Hahn’s wife. I sent you to a certain board. PM him and see what he says. “Christ in His Fullness: A Protestant Minister Discovers the Fullness of Christ in the Catholic Church” by Bruce Sullivan. Bruce started out Baptist, converted to the Church of Christ, and ultimately converted to Catholicism as he studied like you. He’s a great guy. I enjoyed a surprise phone call from him driving home one day. He acted like he was calling from Catholic Answers, which really through me.
Early in my journey, I was one of those idiot sounding guys that just said dumb things over the air trying to understand too. Now I can almost regurgitate and rephrase what I’ve been learning…or at least try. I understand, but if the non-Catholic does not have a vocabulary to build upon you will always miss your target - effective communication. Be patient and build up your knowledge about the faith. It’s not like you’re a Baptist or especially a Church of Christ Christian that must be be baptized now or forever lose you soul. You are probably already baptized anyway so that’s not an issue. Next!
The Church would require you children to attend RCIC classes or RCIA classes as well if they are of the age of reason. They can reject it you know. The answer is DO NOT TRY TO SHOVE IT DOWN THEIR THROAT. That never works. Let them discover it through dialog - open discussions as you go off to shop, fish, golf or whatever. Back of trying to share this with your wife. You should consider seeking couneling as well. It’s not like we believe their going to hell. Well, many of the "Traditional "Catholics think that way
. My dad was one of those. [Reason number 137 for leaving Catholicism when I did years ago.] That’s awful presumptious of those folks.
This is your journey now.
Your children and wife will just need to learn to tolerate you or deal with it. But put your relationship with her up front. I’d recommend one of the Catholic marriage encounters that involve mixed marraiges. Retrouvaille is a good one for last chance stuff or just people that need to learn to communicate more effectively. It’s designed for Catholics and non-Catholics as well.
deepinhistory.com/
Ever heard of Fr. John Riccardo? Go the the link I provided and watch some of the ones like “Why be Catholic”. I’ve only seen a few of them. He actually does one presentation on the Da Vinci Code at a Non-Denominational church and they tease each other with ribbing. He’s a wonderful priest that may be the ticket to better understanding. That’s what I mean. Work through it, don’t make it a road block, make if the journey that it is.
