Mega Churches

[sandra1277]

There is a Mega Church in Atlanta called North Point. I’m a single Catholic woman and about 80% of the people I meet go to this church. It’s a typical Mega Church, 17,000 members, very charismatic, very Bible-focused. It’s probably a nice congregation and it brings people closer to Christ, but I have no desire to be influenced by people who attend such a church. Even close friends of many years have tried to “convert” me, but it’s not happening, and furthermore, I resent the notion that my beliefs are broken and the Mega Church is the only way to salvation. Is it wrong and prejudicial of me to consciously decide not to be friends with members of this church? I don’t think they can add anything to my life, at least not spiritually. As soon as I find out that a new person I am talking with attends North Point, I am completely turned off. If this is wrong of me, how do I change it?

 

[lizaanne]

Personally I don’t see a problem with choosing your friends on your own terms. Being a friend is a two way street, and if you don’t choose to associate with them, then what type of a friend would you be to them?

If they were so very Bible based, then they would be Catholic. They are not following Christ’s commands to eat His flesh and drink His precious blood, so they can’t be all that Bible based!!

No - I don’t think you are doing anything wrong. Now if you feel that you are up to the task of trying to convert them to the Catholic Faith, then you need to make those friendships. It all depends on where you want the association with them to lead.

~Liza

 

[water]

Is it wrong and prejudicial of me to consciously decide not to be friends with members of this church? I don’t think they can add anything to my life, at least not spiritually. As soon as I find out that a new person I am talking with attends North Point, I am completely turned off. If this is wrong of me, how do I change it?

You have choice in making friends, but the thought of being turned off as soon as you know they are from another church can lead you to some prejudice.

If you can look at them the way Jesus sees them, perhaps making friends can be a lot easier.

 

[Della]

If these “friends” cannot love and appreciate you as a Catholic and are always pushing their beliefs on you and telling you your beliefs aren’t right, etc. then you have no choice but to tell them their comments about religion are not welcome. If they can’t live with that, then they are not friends to begin with. I can understand how you feel whenever you hear someone else has embraced the mega-church and it’s ideas. Such blatant proselytization would make anyone uncomfortable. You’ll find that if you stand firm they will soon drop you instead of you having to drop them because those bent on making others over into their image of what they should be are not true friends nor will they stick with you if you won’t let them control you. Pray for them and be open to helping them understand the Church and its teachings, if they’ll let you, but don’t feel you have to let them steer you their way in order to keep their friendship. That’s just plain wrong–period.

 

[po18guy]

Opportunity knocking! You ask them which church they grew up in. When the answer “Catholic”, you have a project. Since you know your faith, tell them that you cannot leave Jesus Christ in the Flesh. Ask where the Tabernacle is in their church. Log on to catholicscomehome.org/index.phtml and get a copy of Rediscovering Catholicism for them to read. Get some of John Martignoni’s CDs for them AT biblechristiansociety.com/. Shop right here shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-F0607A.html?L+scstore+wvln0889ff707570+1268696349 and get an Essential Catholic Survival Guide for yourself, and one for them. Invite them to a mass after explaining to them what mass actually is. They may never have heard this before. That’s what I’d do. My advice is free and carries a money-back guarantee.

Bless you for sticking to your guns and not falling for the lure of a shallower faith.

 

[Light_Seeker]

Bless you for sticking to your guns and not falling for the lure of a shallower faith.

Quick peek on their website, seems they’re big into evangelism of their beliefs

No wonder your ‘friends’ have tried to convert you. Only successful way to counter this is good ol fashion apologetics.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all if a few of your ‘friends’, once they understand our basic beliefs & have no rebuttal, would want to find out more

 

[dawgfan]

about 80% of the people I meet go to this church.

80%? I would think that north fulton is a little more diverse than that