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Kendy
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Kendy
Guest
Thank you for your kind words. I will gladly go whereever He leads me.
In Him,
Kendy
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scylla
Guest
Amen, Kendy I trust you follow Christ and live out your Christian life as faithfully as possible.
If not for Evangelical Churches and a little bit of help from my brothers conversion to an extreme Pentacostal Church I wouldn’t have gone on the journey I have. So thanks to my brothers and sister in Evangelical Churches I grew to love Jesus, thanks to my brothers extreme views, I searched to follow Him as best as I could.
I think one of the biggest obstacles to someone becoming Catholic are Catholics sometimes.
(This is a modification of something Ghandi said, “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”)
God Bless
Scylla
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Kendy
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Well, I hope the joy of the lord is your strength.
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Sherlock
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Um, isn’t being nonchalant one expression of being imperfect? And why would you base your faith on what people in the pews around you are doing anyway?
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Kendy
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I do not base my faith on people around. However, I don’t think its wrong to look for where there are fruits of the Spirit. Besides, I realize that you think faith in God and belonging to the RCC are inseparable, but they are very separated in my mind. I wanted to be around other people who passionately love Jesus. I just can’t see how that’s a sin.
Kendy
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MariaG
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Kendy,
Do I think it is possible God led you out of the Catholic Church in order to increase your faith? All things are possible. But I have not one doubt that you were also led to this board to realize that Catholic Christians can be as vibrant in their faith in Christ as non-Catholic Christians. I know He wants to truly learn about that which you left. I also know He wants you back in the Catholic Church.
As I posted and others have posted, several of the things you thought about the Catholic Church were wrong (sacraments are straight from scripture, did you look at scripture catholic?), as well as some things that you love about your church, are also teachings of the Catholic Church.
I also respect the fact that you want to feel good about God and have a living vibrant joy of Him surrounding you. However, I would caution you that emotions can be misleading. We sometimes can mistake things if we rely so heavily on them.
A good example would be a dear friend of mine. She was attending an Evangelical church and was postive the Holy Spirit was leading her to the Mormon Church. She felt really good about her decision. She felt they were very Biblical. She felt alot of things about them and eventually, she became and is still a mormon. She still feels very good about her decision and knows God led her there. How could God not have led her there when everything feels so right?
Another example: a friend was sobbing horribly. She had to cut off a relationship with a man she loved. Why? Because after a period of time, he did not want to become Christian. She knew that she could not be unequally yoked and continue on in the relationship anyway, (they were close to becoming married). It hurt her terribly. There was no joy in her decision, yet she still chose to follow the directives and teachings as laid out in Scripture.
One person has joy and is mormon. The other has sadness but did not unequally yoke herself as scripture tells us, and stayed a single Christian. Follow the emotions and sometimes, you can end up with the wrong decision.
That said, I can not say whether or not God led you to the Church you are in now. But I can say I know God led you here to this Catholic site.
May God Bless you and keep you safe,
Maria
Do I think it is possible God led you out of the Catholic Church in order to increase your faith? All things are possible. But I have not one doubt that you were also led to this board to realize that Catholic Christians can be as vibrant in their faith in Christ as non-Catholic Christians. I know He wants to truly learn about that which you left. I also know He wants you back in the Catholic Church.
As I posted and others have posted, several of the things you thought about the Catholic Church were wrong (sacraments are straight from scripture, did you look at scripture catholic?), as well as some things that you love about your church, are also teachings of the Catholic Church.
I also respect the fact that you want to feel good about God and have a living vibrant joy of Him surrounding you. However, I would caution you that emotions can be misleading. We sometimes can mistake things if we rely so heavily on them.
A good example would be a dear friend of mine. She was attending an Evangelical church and was postive the Holy Spirit was leading her to the Mormon Church. She felt really good about her decision. She felt they were very Biblical. She felt alot of things about them and eventually, she became and is still a mormon. She still feels very good about her decision and knows God led her there. How could God not have led her there when everything feels so right?
Another example: a friend was sobbing horribly. She had to cut off a relationship with a man she loved. Why? Because after a period of time, he did not want to become Christian. She knew that she could not be unequally yoked and continue on in the relationship anyway, (they were close to becoming married). It hurt her terribly. There was no joy in her decision, yet she still chose to follow the directives and teachings as laid out in Scripture.
One person has joy and is mormon. The other has sadness but did not unequally yoke herself as scripture tells us, and stayed a single Christian. Follow the emotions and sometimes, you can end up with the wrong decision.
That said, I can not say whether or not God led you to the Church you are in now. But I can say I know God led you here to this Catholic site.
May God Bless you and keep you safe,
Maria
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DreadVandal
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How is it humility to leave the church because you consider most of your brethren to have insufficient zeal and faith? Isn’t that being judgmental and proud?
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Kendy
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So, if a protestant left their denomination because they thought it was not adequately representative of the gospel, would they also be judgemental and proud? Or does it only work when you leave the catholic church?
Kendy
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jpete79
Guest
Jesus Christ. That is a name holds higher reverance than any other. Higher reverance than Martin Luther, higher reverance than John Calvin, higher reverance than John Paul II, higher reverance than Mother Theresa, higher reverance than Paul, higher reverance than Peter, higher reverance than Mary and higher reverance than any other person that has EVER lived.
That name is a name established in love. Jesus Christ revealed that love through the ultimate sacrifice at Golgotha. Jesus Christ, the Son of God who lived an unblemished life; a life which no man, woman or child can ever replicate, came to this earth to die so that we may inherit eternity through Him. The second Adam, who all can live through because of love.
Long before the second Adam came the first Adam. Created from the dust, he sinned and because of that sin; all men through him die. All men, which means every person that has ever walked this earth, myself included.
We are all sinners before the throne of God. We are all undeserving of God’s presence, His character and His Love. I can think of so many things that I do wrong in my life that disgrace His name, yet; He loves me. I am wicked before Him, yet; He loves me. Before I continue, let me just say that I don’t sin intentionally but continually strive to imitate Christ and live by His commandments. I don’t intentionally sin, I fall short of perfect obedience. Now with that said Christ loves me, I know this because in my mistakes, in my errors, in my sins; His blood covers me.
I am nothing, I should be heartily punished. Due to MY disobedience, it should have been me placed on that cross; not the Son of God but me. God’s wrath should have been poured out on me, the tortures of damnation should have been placed on me; not the gift of eternal life but the imprisonment of eternal damnation. Instead, the second Adam was put in my place, one who died and rose again, so that I too can be with God for eternity. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for no other reason than LOVE.
He put himself, an eternal king, in the lowest position; on the cross; to establish a new covenant with his people. With anyone who would be willing to see this love and live by its conduct, he says you are forgiven and you are LOVED. The wrath of God for your sins have been paid off if you just come to me. I will be waiting with open arms, with scarred hands; because I LOVE you. And through me, once again, my Father, our Abba, Father can be seen for who He is. A loving Father who reveals mercy, love and forgiveness to His children and who gives them the gift of eternity.
This is something that I found out not in the Catholic Church but outside of it. The reverance belongs to JESUS CHRIST. The name above all names. To me leaving the Catholic Church was humility because it was outside of the Church that I was humbled unto the realization that I should have paid the penalty for sin. I, though made in God’s image, deserve no good thing from Him because I am a disobedient man. Humility is placing myself before His throne and that’s where I am and that’s where I intend to stay. And it is out of nothing else but love that this is possible.
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scylla
Guest
That is a good question, now if someone left their denomination to start another, I would venture to guess, maybe. They think that they are right and can create another Church better. Sometimes it is just an honest zeal to find people of like belief, or to try and fix something.
This is why Vineyard came out of Calvary Chapel, though I do have some varying stories from there as some claim that they are the original church and some are not like you, they don’t want to talk about things like that.
Most people leave the Catholic Church not knowing what they leave and they honestly are looking to get closer to Jesus or just fall away. I fell away and came closer to Jesus outside the Church. But I bet there are some who leave wanting to do their own thing, but it really isn’t helpful to judge others and start slinging generalizations.
What is important is to search for truth and serve Jesus with humility and love. Arguements just end up making people dig their heels in and not even want to act Christian. You will see this on the boards as people argue just to win and not to understand.
I don’t think you are sinning by following Jesus, now if you knew the Catholic Church was the Church Jesus Christ founded and you just ran away from the board because you didn’t want to face that possibility, then that probably would be bad. Leaving what you don’t know is not bad, and following Jesus is not bad.
The worst time I spent in my marriage was when I was investigating the Catholic Church and my wife didn’t want to. That is a whole different story, but with a happy ending.
God Bless
Scylla
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gardenswithkids
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I was also away from the Church for several years, attending a Protestant Church, so I understand that people may leave the Catholic Church. And I hope this doesn’t sound unkind, but can I ask you how you missed that Jesus paid the price for your sin while inside the Catholic Church? With all the crucifixes, stations of the cross, words in the Mass, etc., how could you miss that? Many who leave the Church talk about how the Church “made them feel guilty”, yet you give almost the opposite reason for leaving. Again, I hope that doesn’t sound mean, but I am curious why such a major point didn’t come across to you in the Catholic Church.
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Sherlock
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You’re right, I do see that following Jesus means being a member of the Church He founded. I didn’t always see it that way, and spent some years as a Protestant before I realized that its inherent relativism was in opposition to Christ and Christianity.
I don’t understand your last comment: I said that wanting to be “around other people who passionately love Jesus” a sin—when?? I did question the wisdom of basing one’s faith, not on the truth, but on one’s assessment of others, but I did not indicate that it was a sin. What makes you think that I did??
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jpete79
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That’s a fair question to ask and my answer is simple. I was not broken before God and if there is no realization of myself as a sinner, there is no realization of the Lord as a Savior.
Yes, there are plenty of depictions of Christ dying. There are windows, crucifixes, stations, etc; but until one understands that they are truly nothing without God they cannot understand that they need Him.
It’s like asking why people who have seen the Passion don’t know Jesus Christ? Because our brokenness is needed before our knowledge for a Savior can be understood.
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Kendy
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Perhaps, the RCC needs to sit down and figure out how they are failing to communicate this message to people. I grew up in the church, but all the crucifixes failed to communicate a clear message to me, and I still thought that at the end of the day it all came down to how many “Hail Marys” you say. Or to be more specific, the message of John 3:16 never really resonated. Again, I know you believe that all the rituals have a purpose, but my experience was that it was just a lot of noise. Lots of repeat this five times, sit, stand, kneel, don’t eat fish on Friday. But it seemed so disconnected to the love of God.
Kendy
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Magicsilence
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Hiya Kendy.
Ive been going through a faith crisis recently. Started reading acts and guess what. Not so much about Peter in it.
I hit that same roadblock you did. But instead of looking elsewhere. I stopped. Took a step back, and looked at my own life. When I see how much of a sinner I am, I see it as no surprise that the people who attend my Church are sometimes annoying and dont seem to be too passionate about Christ.
If i cant see Christ in them, its my own fault. Ever think of that?
It is said that we never know when we have entertained an angel. Perhaps part of God’s plan for me is to pull those lukewarm Catholics back to Him. How can i comply if i leave the Church??
It boils down to the one issue of authority. You chose to leave the Church in trying to grow closer to God.
Think how far you could have come if you had stayed.
Dont knock it till youve tried it
In Christ.
Andre.
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jim1130
Guest
(I had to edit so my response could fit sorry)
I am divorced, and when my wife left me I sought solace in the Church. The pastor made an “effort”, albeit small one, at the beginning, but then during confession he spoke to me in a way that was cruel and mean. After 9 more months, I left the Catholic Church and for 3 years was unable to find anything positive to say, nor did I want to return. Then, my sister’s husband died and there was no funeral Mass, but I connected, and then an office mate’s father died and I attended the Mass and realized that Mass was not about me, it was about worshipping God. And for the 3 years I was away from the Catholic Church, I was not punishing the Church or God, but punishing myself. In my humble opinion, people like to go to non-denominational churches because the event is about them, although the mask of God is used’ the talk and synergy are about making you feel good. Believe it or not, but many non-denominational churches are not having a service on Christmas day (they say they are being “family-friendly”). Do not give up on the CC yet. She did not give up on me and i was one bitter angry person.
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Kendy
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It’s possible that it was my fault, but it’s also possible that they were not godly.Hiya Kendy.
If i cant see Christ in them, its my own fault. Ever think of that?
It boils down to the one issue of authority. You chose to leave the Church in trying to grow closer to God.
Think how far you could have come if you had stayed.
Dont knock it till youve tried it
In Christ.
Andre.
As for thinking of how far I could have gone, I have no doubt that leaving the RCC was the best thing I need at that point. I could easily say the same things to you. Don’t knock protestanism until you have tried it! Think of how much you could grow in the Association of Vineyard Church, but I won’t because I don’t know that. You say you believe in the Lord, and I take your word for it.
I only know that the RCC did not make Jesus real for me. I also know that God blesses the ministries of those outside The RCC. I have seen prayers answered, the sick healed, and lives change. I have experienced those things personally as well.
You know, it seems that if God really wants people to run back to the Catholic Church without the church making any changes, He would make Himself unavailable to those outside the churches. And when we watched on the side lines as catholic prayers are answered while we get no blessings from God, we might reconsider. Surely, even God understands the laws of incentives?
Kendy
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Sherlock
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jim1130 said:
Great insights. I can relate to this, as I went to Protestant churches (Baptist, non-denoms, and Evanglical) for a period in my life, and in retrospect I can see how self-absorbed I was (that 20/20 hindsight…). I wanted to be made to feel good; I wanted the preacher to tell me something about me; I wanted the entertainment (I was simply too immature in my faith to even know what contemplative prayer was, and to value reverence). It took more maturity than I had at the time to realize that it wasn’t about what I wanted, but what God wanted. And worship without sacrifice (the Eternal Sacrifice) is empty.
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