C
CuriousMike
Guest
As you can probably all tell, I am new here and this is my first post. I do warn you that whilst I have tried to keep this post in context, it may be long and somewhat tedious. In addition, please accept my apologies if I have posted this thread in the wrong forum or if this question has been asked so many times it is “old news.”
Prepare yourselves for a “little bit” of background information…
Edited by moderatorI decided to attend a youth Bible-Study at a local Anglican Church, since I wanted to learn more about what Christians believe. At that point in time, I reflected more upon how what I learnt was phoney, and how it couldn’t possibly be true.
Time went on, and around March/April this year, I decided to pick up my Bible (NIV) and read it. Even though I was only reading Genesis, and some “suggested” verses for hardship, which I cannot recall, I lost control and started crying. At that point, I realised that I had to do something, since that something was clearly missing.
Having built a friendship with a Co-Worker, I asked them if they could possibly enlighten me, and they agreed to help. The Church I started attending was a Non-Denominational Christian Church. For the record, I am not baptised in water. One Sunday, that person and their partner were on vacation, and I decided to attend by myself (Neither of my parents are religious). I stood next to another lady, who I knew and who is a family friend. There was a guest preaching that day (A pastor/preacher at another Church. We have no Pastor), and at the end he asked anyone who had not confessed their faith to raise their hand, and it could happen right there and then.
What followed was a particularly interesting experience. My hands became clammy, my heart started to pound. I became hot, uncomfortable and very nervous. I raised my hands, and it was not something that I did entirely out of conscious thought.
Following this experience, I began to wonder whether my two friends were intended to “assist” me onto the right pathway, but not be there forever in my growth. At this point in time, they are still good friends of mine, although they might be moving away due to work in the future.
Since that experience, I have began taking Communion. There does not seem to be objection in the Church to that, and my friends pointed out that one is baptised of the Spirit, not necessarily by water. Further reading and research seemed to prove this, although I am still not convinced. However, I am not a very sociable person, and am uncomfortable asking one of the Church elders for assistance, even though I do know a couple of them in person.
Recently, the lady that I stood beside that day I confirmed my faith stopped coming to our Church. The Anglican Church, which had been without a Pastor/Minister since last year (just after Bible Study finished) had regained a Pastor/Minister. She mentioned that she felt compelled to visit there, and had found it to be more fulfilling and traditional to our Church.
Since we spoke, my friends announced the possibility of them having to move away for work-related reasons. It was then that I seriously started to contemplate converting denominations, and that is the whole point of this post, so I will get onto that now.
Even though the Church I attend has a number of people I know in attendance, and despite the warmth that is there, I am known by many as having an “Old Soul.” I am a stickler for upholding tradition, and do oppose a lot of “new” in the world (Be it those in my interest fields, Computing/Aviation/Music or changes in the way things are done otherwise).
In Church recently, I have often caught myself drifting away slightly during worship. I seem to continually fixate on the idea of joining the Catholic Church. When I contemplate on this, I feel very compelled and weighed towards making contact with the Priest of the Church to see what its all about. With the possibility of my friends leaving, I am seriously contemplating this decision, and I have prayed for guidance on the matter. Even writing this thread is making me somewhat nervous.
So I guess what I’m trying to ask here is how I should go about making contact with the Priest, what they can do for me and things would “go about.”
I’m also interested in the differences between Catholicism and other sects of Christianity. Feel free to point me to previous threads or external web-links if possible. Is what I’m feeling just me being fixated on something I know very little of? (I won’t pretend to know much, if anything, about the Catholic denomination)
Thank-You to all who read and post for your time and support. Again, I wish to express my apologies for this long, and tedious post. Hopefully, it will help you understand the “issue at hand” better than a vague, blunt question might.
Take care, and God Bless.
Prepare yourselves for a “little bit” of background information…
Edited by moderatorI decided to attend a youth Bible-Study at a local Anglican Church, since I wanted to learn more about what Christians believe. At that point in time, I reflected more upon how what I learnt was phoney, and how it couldn’t possibly be true.
Time went on, and around March/April this year, I decided to pick up my Bible (NIV) and read it. Even though I was only reading Genesis, and some “suggested” verses for hardship, which I cannot recall, I lost control and started crying. At that point, I realised that I had to do something, since that something was clearly missing.
Having built a friendship with a Co-Worker, I asked them if they could possibly enlighten me, and they agreed to help. The Church I started attending was a Non-Denominational Christian Church. For the record, I am not baptised in water. One Sunday, that person and their partner were on vacation, and I decided to attend by myself (Neither of my parents are religious). I stood next to another lady, who I knew and who is a family friend. There was a guest preaching that day (A pastor/preacher at another Church. We have no Pastor), and at the end he asked anyone who had not confessed their faith to raise their hand, and it could happen right there and then.
What followed was a particularly interesting experience. My hands became clammy, my heart started to pound. I became hot, uncomfortable and very nervous. I raised my hands, and it was not something that I did entirely out of conscious thought.
Following this experience, I began to wonder whether my two friends were intended to “assist” me onto the right pathway, but not be there forever in my growth. At this point in time, they are still good friends of mine, although they might be moving away due to work in the future.
Since that experience, I have began taking Communion. There does not seem to be objection in the Church to that, and my friends pointed out that one is baptised of the Spirit, not necessarily by water. Further reading and research seemed to prove this, although I am still not convinced. However, I am not a very sociable person, and am uncomfortable asking one of the Church elders for assistance, even though I do know a couple of them in person.
Recently, the lady that I stood beside that day I confirmed my faith stopped coming to our Church. The Anglican Church, which had been without a Pastor/Minister since last year (just after Bible Study finished) had regained a Pastor/Minister. She mentioned that she felt compelled to visit there, and had found it to be more fulfilling and traditional to our Church.
Since we spoke, my friends announced the possibility of them having to move away for work-related reasons. It was then that I seriously started to contemplate converting denominations, and that is the whole point of this post, so I will get onto that now.
Even though the Church I attend has a number of people I know in attendance, and despite the warmth that is there, I am known by many as having an “Old Soul.” I am a stickler for upholding tradition, and do oppose a lot of “new” in the world (Be it those in my interest fields, Computing/Aviation/Music or changes in the way things are done otherwise).
In Church recently, I have often caught myself drifting away slightly during worship. I seem to continually fixate on the idea of joining the Catholic Church. When I contemplate on this, I feel very compelled and weighed towards making contact with the Priest of the Church to see what its all about. With the possibility of my friends leaving, I am seriously contemplating this decision, and I have prayed for guidance on the matter. Even writing this thread is making me somewhat nervous.
So I guess what I’m trying to ask here is how I should go about making contact with the Priest, what they can do for me and things would “go about.”
I’m also interested in the differences between Catholicism and other sects of Christianity. Feel free to point me to previous threads or external web-links if possible. Is what I’m feeling just me being fixated on something I know very little of? (I won’t pretend to know much, if anything, about the Catholic denomination)
Thank-You to all who read and post for your time and support. Again, I wish to express my apologies for this long, and tedious post. Hopefully, it will help you understand the “issue at hand” better than a vague, blunt question might.
Take care, and God Bless.
