My husband is a Baptist minister and

  • Thread starter Thread starter Esperanza
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

Esperanza

Guest
I’m Baptist, as is my husband (he is a Baptist minister, as a matter of fact), but recently he has started looking into the Catholic Church, much to my (and both families’ and friends’) dismay. It is surprising considering both our admittedly anti-Catholic backgrounds (for example two years ago we went on a missionary trip to Guatemala to bring Catholics to Christ).

Now he will come home all excited and won’t let me sleep with his ongoing blabbering about whatever “AMAZING” things he’s learned about the RCC. It scares me because suspicion is starting to be felt in the congregation, although he declares he’s “just checking it out”.

I know that I myself will never be able to become Catholic. It’s just against almost everything I believe in. But I am at the end of my wits because I’m trying to be the best wife I can be and at the same time I am trying to keep us both in everyone’s good opinion…

I do not know why I am posting this at a Catholic forum but from having read this forum for quite a while I know you to be charitable and Christian people, much against everything I’d ever believed Catholics to be.

I guess I’m asking how I can be a good wife and support my husband while to me it’s as if watching him become ensnared in something very dangerous and contrary to what I believe in

God Bless You
 
40.png
Esperanza:
I’m Baptist, as is my husband (he is a Baptist minister, as a matter of fact), but recently he has started looking into the Catholic Church, much to my (and both families’ and friends’) dismay. It is surprising considering both our admittedly anti-Catholic backgrounds (for example two years ago we went on a missionary trip to Guatemala to bring Catholics to Christ).

Now he will come home all excited and won’t let me sleep with his ongoing blabbering about whatever “AMAZING” things he’s learned about the RCC. It scares me because suspicion is starting to be felt in the congregation, although he declares he’s “just checking it out”.

I know that I myself will never be able to become Catholic. It’s just against almost everything I believe in. But I am at the end of my wits because I’m trying to be the best wife I can be and at the same time I am trying to keep us both in everyone’s good opinion…

I do not know why I am posting this at a Catholic forum but from having read this forum for quite a while I know you to be charitable and Christian people, much against everything I’d ever believed Catholics to be.

I guess I’m asking how I can be a good wife and support my husband while to me it’s as if watching him become ensnared in something very dangerous and contrary to what I believe in

God Bless You
Click to expand...
First off you will have to let us know a few things. You said we were charitble which was against everything you believed Catholics to be. Ok. What else have you ‘believed’ Catholics to be? You said its contrary to everything you believe in which is a fair statement but what do you think WE believe in?

First off we need to make sure you are not believing myths and outright lies about us and what we believe in. I was raised a Baptist and I could not believe the number of absolutley false things I was taught about the Catholic faith. Please understand I don’t think anyone purposely lied to me…I think they were just repeating what they had been told without bothering to check it out for themselves. So let us know what you think we believe. This isn’t to try and convert you but rather to make sure we are starting from common ground. Also please keep in ex-Catholics are not really a good source of information. Many here left the church for a while and realized that they were not properly taught to begin with and after they learned what the Church really teaches and believes they came back. Make sure what you are getting is the OFFICIAL teachings of the Church. If you know what the official teachings are and then reject them that is once again a fair assement. Just make sure it the official teachings you are against and not a bunch of lies and myths. I myself would not go to an anti-Baptist website to get information about Baptists. I would go to a practising Baptist so I think you have done the right thing in coming here to ask us about it.

Ok…that’s out of the way.

We’re not going to tell you to tell your husband to stop exploring the Catholic faith. That’s not going to happen.

I think the best thing we can do is to tell you not to fight him. This is HIS spiritual journey. Sometimes people take spiritual journey’s alone. I did…my husband is still a Protestant. He said however that he would not stand in the way of something that just might be from God…so he is willing to wait and see what happens.

dream wanderer
 
Esperanza–Are you familiar with Scott Hahn? He was a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism and is now a renowned Catholic apologist. Here is a link to his conversion story:

star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/m1/sctcnv.html

This link also discusses his wife’s (Kimberly Hahn) reservations and opposition to converting. She did, in fact, later convert and has written at least one book about her conversion to Catholicism. There are also a series of books titled “Surprised by the Truth” which are edited by Patrick Madrid (another convert to Catholicism) which are testimonies by Catholic converts explaining their faith journeys to Catholicism. Finally, I strongly recommend Karl Keating’s book “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” which addresses the arguments made against the Catholic Church.

Plus there are numerous threads on these forums in which converts discuss what brought them to the Catholic Church. It isn’t so awful! But you do need to open your heart and be open to the Holy Spirit. God bless and peace be with you.
 
God love you, Esperanza! You and your husband are on a road that may be VERY difficult at times, but with hearts open to the call of Christ, you cannot fail to be united – both as a couple and in His Heart. I would strongly advise you both to contact The Coming Home Network chnetwork.org/ewtn.htm, a ministry for people like yourselves, Protestant clergy and families who are trying to make their way through the confusing and often troubling maze of exploring the Catholic Church. The CHN will not pressure you or try to “close the sale” on you but will provide you with resources and contacts who can be helpful. I am one of the contact people for former Episcopal clergy, as I myself made the trip across the Tiber – kicking and screaming every step of the way. (Some of the VERY best Catholics are former Baptists: all that Scripture and energetic personal commitment to Jesus are just what we sometimes need!)

Do get a copy of Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s book (available also on tape), Rome Sweet Home. Scott was powerfully anti-Catholic before becoming a brilliant apologist for the Cathoic faith. He has never lost that wonderful evangelical enthusiasm, that sense of being on fire with the Holy Spirit.

For insight into the paths of others who have made the trip, you might go to “The Journey Home” on the internet ewtn.com/journeyhome/; TJH is a weekly TV broadcast on EWTN featuring conversion stories by people who have made the journey. You can listen to the broadcasts via the internet; some 7 years of broadcasts are on file. There are many stories of Baptists.

Godspeed, Esperanza! And please feel free to contact me via personal e-mail.

BTW: Be very careful of the word “never” – it has a way of coming back at you in the most embarrasing way! 😉

Hugs from one who’s been there!
 
Pray, pray, pray. Pray that you may both always submit yourself to the truth and the will of God, no matter where it leads you, no matter where it keeps you. God asks that you be willing to hand over everything, even if that means enduring some not-so-charitable opinions.

“If anyone comes to me without turning his back on his father and mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and sisters, indeed his very self, he cannot be my follower. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

Ask that you and your husband be guarded from all falsehood, both in yourself and in others. Faith isn’t a set of truths that you can write out in a book. Faith is trust in God. The truths you can write out are important, but they are like a metronome, to keep you in step. You must open your ears to God to hear the music.

And be not afraid. Cling to God, and you will never be put to shame.
 
40.png
Esperanza:
Now he will come home all excited and won’t let me sleep with his ongoing blabbering about whatever “AMAZING” things he’s learned about the RCC. It scares me because suspicion is starting to be felt in the congregation, although he declares he’s “just checking it out”.
Click to expand...
Once that door is open it’s difficult to shut…

Having a presbyterian upbringing I had to get over what I had been taught about the Catholic Church.

My oldest friend (Baptist)'s father is repeatedly shocked when I inform him of Catholic positions (and back them up with the CCC).
He is still a bit mistrustful but now not doctrinally hostile. He enjoyed my Catholic wedding (which he read a reading at).

Best of luck to you both, wherever your journey’s take you.🙂
 
Dear Esperanza,

Peace of Christ be with you!

I agree with what dream wanderer said above. There is much misinformation out there about the CC. You have definately come to the right place! If you have questions please ask…people are more than willing to answer. Definately contact the Coming Home Network.

I would caution you and your friends about coming down too hard on your husband. Considering your backgrounds I would imagine that examining the CC was a difficult step for your husband to take; I can only attribute those kinds of things to the grace of God. God is working powerfully in your husband’s life…interfereing with that will most likely make both of you miserable. I’ve been on the CHN boards for a while ( I’m a “revert” to the CC) and its always heartbreaking to read posts from men who desperately want to convert but are terrified that their wives, who oppose their conversion, will leave them. Don’t put yourselves through that…the journey is hard enough as it is. Just love your husband best you can and let the Almighty do his work!😃

And don’t worry about what other people think of you and your husband;)

May the Lord Jesus comfort and guide you on this journey :gopray:
 
I think the kind folks here covered everything. I wish you and your husband well, and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you on your way.

God bless,
Deacon Tony
 
40.png
Jadesfire20:
Dear Esperanza,

Peace of Christ be with you!

…the journey is hard enough as it is. Just love your husband best you can and let the Almighty do his work!😃

May the Lord Jesus comfort and guide you on this journey :gopray:
Click to expand...
Couldn’t agree more, Jade. And let’s all remember (in prayer) that when a Protestant minister considers coming into the Church, one of the BIIIIGGG questions that needs to be answered is, “What’s for dinner?” Many people must struggle with their responsibilities to their families as they face the call of Christ to follow Him without reservation. It ain’t EASY! CHN can sometimes help with that.
 
Esperanza,

I answered in part in another thread in which you had posted, but I will repeat a small portion of it here.

First of all, I hope you will remain confident in your husband’s desire to live with integrity before God. It is really a very great compliment he pays you by sharing the things he is getting so excited over, you know.

Second, I hope you will consider that the RCC has given Christendom the New Testament and the Fundamentals of the Faith, not to mention writings (by those we call saints) which have inspired and delighted Christians, both Catholic and non-Catholic, for centuries.

I would anticipate that one of your strongest reservations would have to do with apostolic succession of the priesthood – but those things can be dealt with over time, and I feel no need to shove answers down your throat.

May God bless you. I think you will find many things you can feel very comfortable with about us – I dearly hope so, at least.
 
Hi Esperanza!!

First off let me tell you that I just put you and your husband in my prayer journal and will keep you both in my daily prayers. If you read this could you please post your husband’s name? Thanks!

The two things that popped into my head as I was reading your post were 1) Scott and Kimberly Hahn and 2) Marcus Grodi and the Coming Home Network. Both of those were mentioned in other posts and are excellent resources for both you and your husband.

I have a tape series by Kimbery Hahn in which she tells a story about a conversation between her and her dad. It was during her husband, Scott’s, conversion that she told her dad “I will NEVER become a Roman Catholic!!!” I think that getting ahold of anything by Kimberly Hahn, in fact even making an effort to get ahold of Kimberly herself, would help you great deal. She grew up a pastor’s daughter and wanted nothing more than to be a pastor’s wife. She was, for a while, but had to let that dream go when Scott converted to Catholicism. I think that she would be an excellent resource for you personally during, what I’m sure, is a difficult time for you.

I’m not a bettin’ gal, but if I were I’d bet that if you wrote Kimberly a letter and sent it to the Fanciscan University of Steubenville, where Scott Hahn is a professor, she’d get it and get ahold of you. Just tell her your story and let her know how she can get ahold of you. Maybe send it in care of Scott Hahn and ask for a return receipt. She’s been down that road. Maybe she can give you some encouragement.

Try reading Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s book “Rome Sweet Home”. It’s the journal of their conversion journey.

Marcus Grodi, at the Coming Home Network, is also a former Protestant pastor. You should find that site a great deal of help.

May the Lord be with you and your husband during this chapter in your lives. You will be in my prayers.

In Christ,
Nancy 🙂
 
40.png
Catholic4aReasn:
Hi Esperanza!!

I’m not a bettin’ gal, but if I were I’d bet that if you wrote Kimberly a letter and sent it to the Fanciscan University of Steubenville, where Scott Hahn is a professor, she’d get it and get ahold of you. Just tell her your story and let her know how she can get ahold of you. Maybe send it in care of Scott Hahn and ask for a return receipt. She’s been down that road. Maybe she can give you some encouragement.

In Christ,
Nancy 🙂
Click to expand...
I think that is a great idea!

:gopray2: for you and your hubby.
Moe
 
Dear Esperanza,

I hope it doesn’t scare you (well, maybe it should) that so many of us responding to your query have ourselves cried out with a loud voice: I will never become Catholic! :bigyikes:

We can sympathize. And we all know that ultimately, however much support one may have, this decision must be made individually, in the lonely place of truth between oneself and one’s Lord and Savior.

P.S. Where to Evangelicals get the idea that Catholics don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
:blessyou:
 
I was once a Protestant minister myself and am now a Catholic priest. Few would have imagined that I would become a Catholic! I found that most of what I believed about the Church was simply wrong. Once I gave the Church a chance to explain what it believed things began to change. I found that Catholics don’t worship Mary, deny the Bible, believe in works rightousness, replace Christ with the Pope, or any of those other things you might have heard. The Church I hated didn’t exist. Since my conversion I have been very happy as a Catholic. It was hard at times since I had to give up my ministry. But it was worth the sacrifice. You cannot make your husbands decision for him. He has to decide. Just as you have to decide what you will believe. Keep open the lines of communication. Learn more about Catholicism as it really is. And trust in God’s grace for your marriage.
 
I think that the other posters gave you some great advise. I just wanted to add this, but please please take it in the way it is meant (with charity)…even if you don’t want to find out what Catholicism teaches…please understand that Catholics are indeed Christians, so I ask that you don’t go on missions to convert Catholics. My family is from Mexico and it really does feel like a personal attack when my Southern Baptist friends happily announce that they are going on Missions to bring those (heathen) Catholics to God.
Please keep in mind that Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Episcopalians all share some of the same doctrines so if you want to convert Catholics, then why not set up camp infront of an Episcopalian church and try to convert them?
Ok, that sounds a bit harsh, but I really do hope you really consider it. And please understand I’m not trying to be mean or nasty about it, sorry if it comes across that way.

As for the situation with your husband, I think maybe some of the problem is that he is finding all these things about the Church and probably the more he gets excited about it, the more you don’t want to hear him talk about it, right? That happens in many kinds of different situations with marraige. It’s probably best for you to go at your own pace to see exactly where you stand. There is a book called When Only One Converts published by Our Sunday Visitor. There is a story in there written by a wife whose husband has converted but she hasn’t. I really suggest that both you and your husband read this, it might help take the stress out of the situation. I’ll see if I can find a link to it.

I hope I helped and I will pray that this situation doesn’t harm your marraige.
 
There is a Family Ministry called Couples for Christ (CFC). This is a community of Spiritually strong Catholic men and women who help strengthen and support each other.

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a ministry intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. It is an association of Christian couples who have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another, so that they may grow into maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up their families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the service of the Kingdom of God. Couples for Christ is a work of Christ which raises up Christian couples and establishes Christian families committed to the work of evangelization and winning the world for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It grows mainly through the establishment of localized units in different parishes.

The CFC has branches which reaches all aspects of the Catholic-Christian family.
**CFC-Kids For Christ **(KFC) 4-12 years old
CFC-Youth For Christ (YFC) 13 - 21 years old (now in all 50 states)
CFC-Singles for Christ (SFC) 22 - 40ish for single professionals (and amateurs)
Couples for Christ (CFC) Valid married couples growing in the faith.
CFC-Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) Mature single women, divorced or widowed or separated or whose spouse is unable to attend.
CFC-Servants of the Lord (SOLD) Mature single men, divorced or separated or widowed or whose spouse is unable to attend.

You will like the Christ centered teachings and your husband will like the Catholic centered (but not Catholic exclusive) flavor of the group. We will not convert you. We teach how to be a true “Man and Woman, Husband and Wife of God”.

If you would like to know more or find a CFC group in your area, please contact me.

God Bless You,
Davis
 
😃 This is out of charity, so please do not take it the wrong way…

You need to strip yourself of all the lies youve been told about the Church and just admit that you might have been misinformed, it may be very difficult but you can do it, I did it…I had been taught that the RCC was the Whore of Babylon…that they worshipped saints, that they placed Mary above Jesus, they even…even called their priests :bigyikes:FATHER!!!:bigyikes: …among many other silly things, I used to try and “convert” my Catholic friend…I felt a little weird when I wrote him one day explaining how I had been confirmed in a Catholic Church…

I think that you are being led to the Church, maybe this is why you posted on a board that is Catholic, maybe you know deep inside that youre in error about some of the things you believe about us and that is being conquered by the truth which God has placed inside you…

I may be young and lack wisdom…but from my experience I “feel” most things before I learn them upstairs, and I attribute that to the Holy Spirit…perhaps youre the same way, youre being led to a place that your mind and comprehension cannot grasp??? You will be able to though, if you allow yourself.

Good luck y via con Dios
 
SojournerOf78 said:
😃 I may be young and lack wisdom…but from my experience I “feel” most things before I learn them upstairs, and I attribute that to the Holy Spirit…
Click to expand...

Sojourner, your wisdom is outstanding. I am in total agreement with you on this issue.

Esperanza, Too many time we look at what makes us different. Try looking at what we have in common.

God bless you,
Davis
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top