Leaving the Catholic Church and Family Reaction

[SolaChristo]

Semper Fi:

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?

(Edited uncharitable comment)

If you experienced the power of God in your life that Austin has experienced you would be following him.

 

[Austin83]

Yeah I read it again and figured you might have meant that, it just didn’t come off that way to me. I apologize for the remark Brian.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

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.

I checked out the website you refered to in the other thread. This is the creed to which you state you now believe… I leave the apologetics up to others.

We Believe…

•In the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, (2Tim. 3:15, 16).

•In one God, eternally existent in three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
(Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:29).

•In the virgin birth of Christ, His vicarious, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension, (Isaiah. 7:14; Rom. 8:34; Acts 1:10).

•In salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, (1 John 5:10; Rom. 10:13-15). In water baptism by immersion, (Matt. 28:19).

•In divine healing through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross,
(Isa. 53:4; Matt 8:16,17; James. 5:13,14).

•In the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues,
(Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 15:8,9).

•In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit who enables a believer to live holy,
(Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15,16).

•In the second coming of Jesus Christ, (Acts 24:15, Luke 14:14; Rev. 19:7-9).

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

SolaChristo:

If you experienced the power of God in your life that Austin has experienced you would be following him.

I feel the power of God right where I am. I have the Eucharist. and Christ’s true Church established on Pentecost in 33 AD, not one of 33,000 denominations which can’t agree on what they teach but agree that the other’s interpretation of scripture is okay because they came to that conclusion by the Holy Spirit. Sorry, the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion… there’s another one by that name.

 

[Milliardo]

SolaChristo:

If you experienced the power of God in your life that Austin has experienced you would be following him.

As it is, many who experienced the power of God ended up running towards the Catholic Church…

 

[ProudArmyWife]

Since you posted in two different areas, I thought it would also be appropriate to copy the creed in the apologetics section…

We Believe…

•In the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, (2Tim. 3:15, 16).

•In one God, eternally existent in three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
(Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:29).

•In the virgin birth of Christ, His vicarious, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension, (Isaiah. 7:14; Rom. 8:34; Acts 1:10).

•In salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, (1 John 5:10; Rom. 10:13-15). In water baptism by immersion, (Matt. 28:19).

•In divine healing through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross,
(Isa. 53:4; Matt 8:16,17; James. 5:13,14).

•In the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues,
(Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 15:8,9).

•In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit who enables a believer to live holy,
(Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15,16).

•In the second coming of Jesus Christ, (Acts 24:15, Luke 14:14; Rev. 19:7-9).

 

[Church_Militant]

Semper Fi:

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?

Yep! SolaChristo you have no (name removed by moderator)ut in this matter, since you have abysmally poor knowledge and understanding of what the Catholic Church teaches as well. Guys liek you are the reason that others with honest hearts get led astray. I know…I’ve been there.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Milliardo:

As it is, many who experienced the power of God ended up running towards the Catholic Church…

The Catholic Church is the fastest growing religion in America, last year I believe we had something like 350,000 converts or so.

 

[Toni]

beckyann2597:

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.

I have always told my children this from a young age. Faith is the greatest gift one can give. The Eucharist will always help carry them through their lives because it truly is the bread that came down from heaven.
I remember being in a homeschooling group with some non denom’s some of them x Catholics and they would invite me over on a saturday evening to break bread and have wine as they called it. I thought to myself you left this beautiful faith to break bread.

 

[Austin83]

I believe with all my heart every word spoken in that creed.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

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.

Odd - I don’t see it that way… sometimes lost without knowing they are lost, confused, but never weak, apostate or traitor.

 

[Austin83]

How many of those 350,000 though are Hispanics who are illegal immigrants or even legal? In my area, the Catholic base has diminished, especially with our Evangel church opening a 2nd place of worship. Our church now has around 10,000 members.

 

[Mike_D30]

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.

I think you’re reading too much into Brian’s statement I think he just basically wished you luck.

But onto your issue, I would say if you’re happy where you are spiritually, then your family will get over it. You can’t live your life trying to make everyone else happy.

I left the Catholic Church for five years. I don’t know why you did, but I felt a lot of what you explained. But now that I’m back I realize I was the problem not the Church. I was a luke warm catholic and I never made an effort to be an actual Catholic and become a complete servant for God.

When I left the Catholic Church I went to a similar non-denominational church where I was saved. After a while though out of Christ’s Church I became so disenfranchised with the literal hundred’s of differing interpretations of scriptures and theology I heard. I heard people claim if you believed in a rapture post trib, you were going to hell, others claimed if you believed in the rapture pre-trib you were going to hell. Seemingly every Church and Bible study had completely different views on scripture, and eschotology, repentance, works, salvation (baptism a requirement, baptism not a requirement, you can’t lose salvation/you can lose salvation). I also started to see people I thought were so Godly, as not so. In short I became disenfranchised. So I started looking into Eastern Orthodxy, and seeing so many things similar to Catholicism, I realized this is Christ’s Church. And Christ promised the gates of hell would not prevail against it. I became a complete Catholic, and now during Mass I have never felt closer to God.

That’s my story I’m not sure it will reflect yours at all. But if you’re happy and fulfilled I say God Bless You and I wish you luck in your new Church.

 

[Milliardo]

Austin83:

How many of those 350,000 though are Hispanics who are illegal immigrants or even legal?

And your point here is…?

 

[Balance]

(Edited uncharitable comment)

If you experienced the power of God in your life that Austin has experienced you would be following him.

him, the power of God. I remember going to Confession as I came back to the Church: my heart was hard, I was battling sin, I felt weak, ashamed, useless, I wanted to be following Christ but didn’t want to give anything up, I had little hope and a wavering faith - but I believed God could forgive all that. As the priest said those extraordinary words - “May God grant you pardon and peace” - I experienced the power of God alright. I started bawling as something broke inside me and a weight lifted off my back.
God lead me on from there, and I continue to experience his presence. i also continue to experience a distinct lack of a sense of God’s presence - perhaps the same as that emptiness and hollowness that Austin feels. This is normal. Read the writings of anyone who’s walked with God - that’s Catholic and non-Catholic - and they’ll speak of that dryness and lonliness.
Austin - don’t rely too much on feelings. they’ll sometimes - or often - let you down.

Experiencing the power of God, in a Catholic Church, in a confessional no less? you betcha.

 

[Church_Militant]

(Edited uncharitable comment)

If you experienced the power of God in your life that Austin has experienced you would be following him. Who asked you…you’re about a half step from getting reported. This is a Catholic forum, and you are here as a guest. You have displayed a disrespect for Catholics and our faith and the fact that you choose to interfere with our discussion with this young man is another example of your lack of good faith in posting here. If you want to evangelize of whatever…you are in the wrong place. Your opinions on this thread and this matter are not what this man is here for. It’s wrong for you to come here and do this. Keep it up and expect to get reported.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Austin83:

How many of those 350,000 though are Hispanics who are illegal immigrants or even legal? In my area, the Catholic base has diminished, especially with our Evangel church opening a 2nd place of worship. Our church now has around 10,000 members.

those aren’t converts are they?

 

[5-Decades-a-Day]

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.

And God forbid, what happens if Mr. Rodgers drops dead tomorrow, and you don’t like his replacement half as much? What then?

 

[Philena]

Austin, what were the “inaccuracies between what the scripture teaches us and what the Catholic Church teaches us” in your view?

I’m surprised that the Catholic faith made you feel “hollow and empty” - do you believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? When I receive Christ in the Eucharist, I feel His presence so strongly and am so fulfilled. Do you pray after receiving the Eucharist? Do you take some time for communion between just you and Jesus?

Maybe you need a fresh perspective on the “prayers from memory every Sunday”. Study what they mean. Put your heart into it. Put some normal human effort into praying before our Almighty God.

Blessings and peace to you.

 

[Balance]

Austin - stay with us. We need you in our Church!
It’s exciting times. Benedict XIV has spoken of how the Church will be “small but faithful”. We need you and your faith there.

I know exactly what you mean about people at Mass seemingly not wanting to be there - that was one of the reasons I left too (And I look back at that and realise it’s a pretty silly reason!) and it still bugs me.
It’s not exactly encouraging when the person in the pew next to you seems like they’re asleep, or avoids your eye when you offer a friendly smile, or runs out the door as soon as it’s finished.

But there are plenty more people, and they are increasing in number, who are full of life, full of love, full of Christ! these are the ones who, when those sleepers have decided, finally, to either wake up and join in or just leave, will make up that “small and faithful” church.

Stick around - we want you here.