Leaving the Catholic Church and Family Reaction

[ProudArmyWife]

Austin83:

ProudArmyWife my question to you and anyone else is, why does honoring God and feeling good about ourselves have to be mutually exclusive? This is another reason I left, because of this belief. Church should be a celebration of your religion, of your strong belief in God. Without celebration of God and what he has done, what is the true joy in church? I would also like to comment on what several people have said, that it is all physical and their music is better. The last reason I joined is because their music is better and it is just physical. Anybody who thinks Evangel is all physical, then you don’t know what an Evangel service is all about, you haven’t experienced what makes it so enjoyable. And shouldn’t we celebrate God’s love with each other? You can honor God and celebrate what he has done at the same time, and it really brings a sense of empowerment and a new purpose coming out to spread the word about how great God is.

Remember, first I am a convert, so I do know…

About honoring God and feeling good about yourself…I guess it is like a Boy Scout… should the Boy Scout do a good deed because he is going to feel good about himself doing the good deed or because he did the good deed because it was the right thing to do. While you can have both the the latter statement, you cannot with the first.

And yes, we should celebrate God’s love with each other through the thing that connects all of us per His word - through the Eucharist, which, if understood should bring you a sense of empowerment and a new purpose coming out to spread the word about how great God is!

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Austin, there is plenty of JOY in a Catholic Church. It may not demonstrate itself in so much VISIBLE emotion as you see in your Evangelical church, but it is there. Institutions don’t last for some 2000 years without a very very solid foundation indeed (not to mention Jesus Christ as our cornerstone).

I see some false dichotomies in your statement. This isn’t an 'Either-or" issue, it is a “both-and”. You don’t have to be some gloomy Gus or sad Sue to honor God–David danced before the Lord. But you also do not have to be an excited Ed or a chatty Cathy either. One of the beauties of Catholicism is that there is a BALANCE. On one hand, MANY feasts (feasts, those are happy celebrations!), many remembrances, many special occasions. On the other, times of waiting (advent), times of penance (sorrow for sins and desire to repent–something Jesus preached about at length).

Don’t you realize that the Mass itself is full of celebration? Haven’t you listened to the “amens” and the “alleluias”? Haven’t you heard in every Mass the word of God received with grateful “thanks be to God?” Haven’t you heard the angels’ proclamation of “Glory to God in the Highest”? Haven’t you given a psalm response between readings? Haven’t you proclaimed joyfully the Creed? Lifted up your heart to God? Sung the same song of “Holy holy Holy” that Jesus heard on His way to Jerusalem? Haven’t you praised God as the bread and wine were consecrated to His BODY and BLOOD? Broken into joyful praise of the mystery of faith to celebrate Christ’s death, resurrection, and his return in glory? Celebrated this with the angels and saints and all the faithful? Confidently prayed the Lord’s Prayer? Acknowledged as the centurion that, while we are not worthy to receive Christ, that He might speak His Word and we should be healed? Proclaimed in joyous faith that the Lamb of God has called us to His SUPPER–his FEAST–and asked Him to take away our sins and grant us peace? Reverently received the Lord? Joyfully sung our thanks and praise? Gone forth to LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD, with a “Thanks be to GOD” and yet more song???

And you DON’T THINK that Catholics celebrate or honor God, or find joy? Then what DID you think the Mass was all ABOUT, anyway???

 

[mlchance]

Austin83:

…I feel this Evangel non-denominational Christian church that I now attend are the beliefs I truly want in my religion.

I guess that’s one way to do it. I, however, prefer to have the beliefs of the religion Christ Jesus founded rather than beliefs that I’ve tailored to fit my own preferences. Therefore, I became Catholic.

Good luck, and God bless.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[BrianH]

Austin
Part of what you will have to fully come to terms with is that they probably never will be comfortable with your decision. This is not so much about you, but about them. As Catholic parents, they feel from the depth of their being that they have probably failed in some way. You cannot control that, you can continue to be a good son. I wish you peace and comfort. The Lord will strengthen you on your journey of faith.
BH

 

[Austin83]

BTW if any of you all want to see what church I have gone to, here is their website.

worldprayercenter.org/home.htm

Pastor Rodgers is just an awesome man, anyone who has the pleasure of meeting him just has had nothing but inspiring and amazing thing to say about him.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Austin83:

Actually I only posted this here because I didn’t know which board would be better, the Catholic or non-Catholic board. However I might post this on that board as well. As for always being considered a Catholic, I guess it’ll have to be in the church’s eyes, but I now proudly consider myself an Evangelist, just like you all are proud Catholics.

To clarify, I really didn’t mean that the pope had as much power as good, but that I disagreed that a man representing the religion would be given as much power as him. I still disagree with the notion that god speaks through the pope, which I know is a Catholic teaching.

Austin,

Please read scripturecatholic.com and pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or read one online. I am 21… been studying the faith for about a year and half now and I still have a ton to learn. Born Catholic, was attracted to those “born again” feel good services with my girlfriend for a while too (mainly because I didn’t know my own Faith), so please, do some studying before you leave the Church. One more thing, I hope you haven’t confused papal infallibility with impecability. Papal infallibility states that when the pope, acting as the leader of the church on earth and in union with all the Bishops, can make de fide (of the faith) definitive statements. He is not omnipotent nor omnipresent like God. He is human and goes to confession like every other Catholic. Stay around for a while and ask us your objections.the protestant view on the other hand states that every person, directed by the “Holy Spirit” can make their own decisions about faith and scripture. No where in Scripture is Scripture Alone taught or mentioned. In fact, the only place where the other protestant doctrine “faith alone” shows up, is in James 2:14

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Let’s look at James 2:17-18 too…

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Does your Protestant pastor teach this? If not, he is not teaching Scripture and is teaching a “man made tradition”.

God bless!

 

[SolaChristo]

Austin,
Its never easy. You are experiencing things that you cant really put into words so when others question you you can never properly explain.
You are experiencing God as you never have before. God will not fail you. Abide in Him and trust in Him. Tell you family as honest and straight foward as you can dont try to argue with them, Id be suprised if they didnt try to argue with you. At first its difficult to explain what you are going through but it gets easier as you go along. You want so much for them to experience god as you have yet give it time, God will led you and trust Him what to say.
Jesus did say many of us would have to leave fathers and brothers and mothers.
Two things Ive found are I look to God the Father as my father in all things. And now that I have no expectations on my earthly father we get along better than we ever did.
Peace

 

[Church_Militant]

Boy Austin, I am really glad you posted this here because I went the route that you are embarking on and I can tell you unequivocally that you are making a really serious mistake.

Read my story HERE . I thought I knew what the Catholic Church taught and left at about age 17 and wasted about 34 years running around with several different churches, among them Presbyterians, Episcopals, Southern Baptists, Assembly of God, and non-denominationals. If this is your first time here then you are running way late in getting the facts that will help you see that all the stuff that those non-Catholics have been teaching you is nothing more than about 500 years worth of accumulated errors and heresies that not only the Catholic Church of today rejects, but that none of the early church believed either. I urge you to stall your departure from the Catholic Church and take as much time as it takes to check the facts for yourself and see if the early church believed the things that you’ve been told. If not, then that tells you that the people you are listening to are not teaching you the same things that the early Christians (who died for what they believed, and left us writings that tell us what they believed in so strongly that they died for it.

Feel free to PM me if I can help you in any way.
Pax tecum,

 

[Austin83]

Tantum ergo:

Austin, there is plenty of JOY in a Catholic Church. It may not demonstrate itself in so much VISIBLE emotion as you see in your Evangelical church, but it is there. Institutions don’t last for some 2000 years without a very very solid foundation indeed (not to mention Jesus Christ as our cornerstone).

Maybe it is like that going to your Catholic church, but at my former church it felt more like a funeral. People would come in at the last minute and leave as fast as they could. I truly believe most of them didn’t want to be there. Compare that to my Evangel church, people are there 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after, if not longer. People truly are just inspired by God and his word.
Tantum ergo:

Don’t you realize that the Mass itself is full of celebration? Haven’t you listened to the “amens” and the “alleluias”? Haven’t you heard in every Mass the word of God received with grateful “thanks be to God?” Haven’t you heard the angels’ proclamation of “Glory to God in the Highest”? Haven’t you given a psalm response between readings? Haven’t you proclaimed joyfully the Creed? Lifted up your heart to God? Sung the same song of “Holy holy Holy” that Jesus heard on His way to Jerusalem? Haven’t you praised God as the bread and wine were consecrated to His BODY and BLOOD? Broken into joyful praise of the mystery of faith to celebrate Christ’s death, resurrection, and his return in glory? Celebrated this with the angels and saints and all the faithful? Confidently prayed the Lord’s Prayer? Acknowledged as the centurion that, while we are not worthy to receive Christ, that He might speak His Word and we should be healed? Proclaimed in joyous faith that the Lamb of God has called us to His SUPPER–his FEAST–and asked Him to take away our sins and grant us peace? Reverently received the Lord? Joyfully sung our thanks and praise? Gone forth to LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD, with a “Thanks be to GOD” and yet more song???

Again, at my former church, these expressions of joy are forced, and very few of the them had any conviction. Whereas in my new church, people say “amen” and “alleluias” with conviction and true passion for God. It is an inspiring environment and one that God truly is present. At my former church, it was a dead and meaningless ceremony, at least to me.
Tantum ergo:

And you DON’T THINK that Catholics celebrate or honor God, or find joy? Then what DID you think the Mass was all ABOUT, anyway???

Again, I truly believe most people who attend Catholic mass do not want to be there. They are there because their religion and their leaders require them to be there. They feel they need to be there to stay in God’s good graces, knowing that nothing they do will qualify them for heaven, but that if they just have faith, they will be saved and will get into heaven. Catholics attend mass because they are told to, because they want to stay on God’s good side. People at my church come because they truly feel the celebration of God’s life and the affect that God is having in their life. Unlike the Catholic mass, we have a renewed since of vigor and religious commitment and love to God.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Austin83:

They feel they need to be there to stay in God’s good graces, knowing that nothing they do will qualify them for heaven, but that if they just have faith, they will be saved and will get into heaven.

Uh, the Catholic Church teaches you are saved by God’s grace. You REALLY need to learn what we REALLY teach, not your protestant pastor’s interpretations of what we teach. Stick around for a while brother.

 

[SolaChristo]

Austin they will beat you up in the spirit here.
You dont need that. Catholics see those that fall away as
1)weak
2)apostate
3)traitors

bear this in mind. Dont get into arguements. I can understand you saying all this here you getting a dose of what your family will give you and this will better prepare you for it.

 

[Austin83]

Brian I take offense to your last comment, are you trying to say that since I have left the Catholic faith that I am no longer a good son? I disagree with that, I love my parents and they love me to death. But God comes first, even before family, and I feel I am closer to God in my current church.

 

[Milliardo]

Austin83:

Maybe it is like that going to your Catholic church, but at my former church it felt more like a funeral.

Reading this, I realize that your view of the Mass is what is skewed, not the Mass itself. You don’t see the joy in Mass because you do not search for the joy there, which is really in yourself, and not in the people around you.

Again, I truly believe most people who attend Catholic mass do not want to be there. They are there because their religion and their leaders require them to be there.

Ah, that is where you are most wrong. I have met, and still continue to meet, many people who go to Mass and want to be there, and nowhere else. Your bias against the Mass has cearly clouded your judgment here.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

SolaChristo:

Austin they will beat you up in the spirit here.
You dont need that. Catholics see those that fall away as
1)weak
2)apostate
3)traitors

bear this in mind. Dont get into arguements. I can understand you saying all this here you getting a dose of what your family will give you and this will better prepare you for it.

Sola, most of us have been through this before, most of us have been “taught” by protestants about our faith… so please, the only reason you don’t want him to stick around is so he doesn’t learn what we really teach. are you afraid of Catholics that know the Bible and know what their church teaches?

 

[Austin83]

I doubt my parents will give me this much grief but I am expecting it, and I am fully expecting them to try to get me to reconsider, but I am firm in my decision. But there is nothing wrong like a healthy debate, like the one on here.

 

[beckyann2597]

Austin83:

First of all yes I did post this on the Catholic religion board. I should’ve known they would try to convince me to reconsider, but at least they are trying.

Hi Austin, I was reading through the other thread and saw this one too. I guess I will give my two cents.

Okay, you posted on a Catholic Forum. Of course you are going to get people defending their faith! Especially when you say ridiculous things like we give the pope as much value as God. Come on my friend.

I too went through life without a connection to God and I was raised in a Catholic household, but when I grew up I found God and here I am in the Catholic church. What truly convinced me was a basic study of History (in college). But I am not going to try to convince you of anything, because it seems you have made up your mind.

I will tell you something about your parents and you telling them this though. My mother told me when I was a child that her faith was a gift she had given me. She siad that her faith was the most valuable thing in her life, so the gift was a huge one. Your parents probably will feel the same way. But you don’t appreciate the gift as they do, and you shouldn’t expect them to understand this. They will be hurt and sad.

I would suggest you ask all the questions in these forums regarding your faith that yo feel contradict what you have been taught by this pastor.

On that note, I also want to tell you to be careful. There are many well meaning Christian men who teach lies about the Catholic faith. There are many non-denom and baptist churches in my town that tell their parishoners that the Catholics are not Christians and even vandalize our church from time to time. Please be careful that this man is not spreading hatred just so he can get more people packed in his pews on Sunday.

 

[Austin83]

Becky I can tell you right now that my pastor has never encouraged people to hate Catholics or has in any way trashed the Catholic faith. I’m sure he disagrees with many of its teachings, as do I, but he has never brought up Catholicism in his sermons. He maintains a positive attitude and how great it is to have God in our lives. He is truly a great pastor, I think a lot of people here would switch to Evangel if they saw one of his sermons.

As for my parents, one thing I’m lucky about is that my parents aren’t that devout themselves. They do attend mass usually once every 2 - 3 weeks, but have missed several weeks at a time. But no doubt, they were raised Catholic, and many times even attend Latin mass (which I think is completely meaningless when you can’t understand what they are saying). I know they will be dissapointed, sad, and my dad probably will be angry, but I just can no longer be a part of a church that I have no passion for and don’t agree with how they honor and celebrate God.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

Austin83:

Brian I take offense to your last comment, are you trying to say that since I have left the Catholic faith that I am no longer a good son? I disagree with that, I love my parents and they love me to death. But God comes first, even before family, and I feel I am closer to God in my current church.

You misunderstood him - he said your parents will grieve your decision. However, you can continue to honor them by being a decent person that you are.

 

[Church_Militant]

Austin83:

BTW if any of you all want to see what church I have gone to, here is their website.

worldprayercenter.org/home.htm

Pastor Rodgers is just an awesome man, anyone who has the pleasure of meeting him just has had nothing but inspiring and amazing thing to say about him.Funny…but I hear the same thing is true of Benedict XVI and was true of John Paul II as well.

My own pastor is a wonderful Irish Catholic priest and we have a really excellent new priest who is also great. It’s really good to have holy men as leaders in the church.

 

[Balance]

Austin83:

BTW if any of you all want to see what church I have gone to, here is their website.

worldprayercenter.org/home.htm

Pastor Rodgers is just an awesome man, anyone who has the pleasure of meeting him just has had nothing but inspiring and amazing thing to say about him.

Keep on praying. Make space for God and he’ll tell you where he wants you. As you journey on in your faith, ask questions of your own heart - what do I really want? is this really true? where is God reallly present? - and in the depth of your heart listen for God.
Don’t let your imagination be crippled - what if what the way the Catholic Church speaks of faith and God is actually true? what if, actually, that way leads to true joy, true peace, true love?
what if?
those are questions I, and many others here by the sound of it, have asked; questions asked knowing that finding the answers to them would mean HARD WORK but knowing that anything worth having is worth working hard for. I took what seemed to be an easier road for a few years - it was just too hard to be a Catholic, I thought - but found that is was a road that lead to confusion, cynicism, selfishness and despair.
It’s been a hard road back but more and more I find that the Church stands up to any criticism, critique, challenge or controversy, and responds with a challenge of its own. Remember that Catholic teaching didn’t just fall out of the sky - 2000 years of thought and prayer by many of the best minds the human race has produced are all distilled in those teachings.

Read, especially, those people known as the Church Fathers (and Mothers!) - people who were around before there were references to a church explicitly known as “the Catholic Church” and yet who believed the exact same things - interesting huh?
ask your pastor if he’s read any of their writings.
ask your pastor, come to think of it, if he feels that he is lead ny God, and what authority he feels he has. many pastors wield an unnatural or skewiff authority over their flock. examine his teachings - “examine everyhting, hold fast to what is good.”