Name 3 reasons you are not Catholic (yet).

[Mannyfit75]

I believe in Jesus Christ so I don`t think God would allow to leave my faith (I hope so at least )

I actually did not have any misconceptions about the Catholic church. This forum has been very helpful in getting an insight into Catholicism and I found it extremely interesting although I must admit it strengthened my Protestant faith even more.

I also like to add that God doesn’t contradict himself. When one Protestant Church that it is acceptible to have infant baptized and the other doesn’t. Nor does God contradict himself if Baptism is just symbolic and nothing supernatural happens.

I see many interpretation in Protestant theology with many false exegesis of Scripture.

I also like to point out that the Oneness Penecostal (also Protestants deny the Trinity)…

God taught that his followers have one faith, one baptism, and one apostolic. He also establish a Church upon Peter, and promised us that “gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Second the private interpretation of the Bible leads to many contradictions. There is only one intepreter of the Bible the Church, whom Jesus Christ entrusted. Even the Ethopian confess, “How can I if no one guides me?” when refering to interpreting the Scripture. Even Peter in his Epistle wrote,

And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being **led aside by **the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.

 

[guanophore]

Actually, sometimes my prayers beging with “Lord, Your word says…”

That’s great kujo. Sometime you might try this:

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…

 

[EarthSoujourner]

1. I can’t drive, so I have no way of attending Mass or RCIA classes unless someone takes me.
2. I’m worried it could cause tension between me and my boyfriend (he’s Pentecostal). I have told him I am considering learning more about the Church, though.
3. The veneration of Mary and the saints, although it makes Biblical sense, is a little bit hard for me to grasp at this point as a cradle Protestant.
4. When I was considering joining the Church a couple years ago, the relative (a cradle Catholic) who I had planned to be my sponsor started attending a non-denominational church. Not a good sign?

 

[Mannyfit75]

1. I can’t drive, so I have no way of attending Mass or RCIA classes unless someone takes me.
2. I’m worried it could cause tension between me and my boyfriend (he’s Pentecostal). I have told him I am considering learning more about the Church, though.
3. The veneration of Mary and the saints, although it makes Biblical sense, is a little bit hard for me to grasp at this point as a cradle Protestant.
4. When I was considering joining the Church a couple years ago, the relative (a cradle Catholic) who I had planned to be my sponsor started attending a non-denominational church. Not a good sign?

Talk to a parish priest they might help, or some of the lay Catholics who knows their faith.

 

[Mommyof02green]

1. I can’t drive, so I have no way of attending Mass or RCIA classes unless someone takes me.
2. I’m worried it could cause tension between me and my boyfriend (he’s Pentecostal). I have told him I am considering learning more about the Church, though.
3. The veneration of Mary and the saints, although it makes Biblical sense, is a little bit hard for me to grasp at this point as a cradle Protestant.
4. When I was considering joining the Church a couple years ago, the relative (a cradle Catholic) who I had planned to be my sponsor started attending a non-denominational church. Not a good sign?

Having differences, be it money, religion, politics, between the people that are a close to us is enough to cause tension with anyone. You are not alone in that regard. We all butt heads time to time with those that we love.

This web-site is also good for people like yourself that is on the fence so to speak, and are trying to discern if Catholicism is where God wants them to be. chnetwork.org/

God Bless

 

[kujo313]

Well you know what they say about Scripture :

There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16

Very true, I agree. However, you need to look at what your “church” is doing today compared to Scripture. Examine yourselves.

 

[guanophore]

Ditto for me too!

In addition:

1.) Papacy - not established in the bible.

2.) Prayers to Mary and the saints - Why?

3.) Purgatory and indulgences - No biblical basis.

The bible is not established in the bible either, so how is that relevant? The communion of saints is being addressed on another Jesus taught his apostles EVERYTHING. Some of the teachings went into the bible. Others are preserved in the apostolic succession.

 

[kujo313]

That’s great kujo. Sometime you might try this:

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…

WHY? When Jesus said repeatedly to ask in His name. When He was asked to teach us to pray, He told us to say “Our Father”. No woman mentioned. His own prayer for Himself and His followers doesn’t mention Mary, either.

Prayers are not to be from the mind but from the heart.

You might take your prayer in heart but you had to memorize it first.

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The best prayers does not come from a book of prayers but from your heart with your own words.

 

[cazayoux]

In that case you`re praying to dead people. And that is very very weird.

Dead?
I would say that those in heaven are more **ALIVE **than we can even comprehend.

How much better are they at praying to God?
I get tired and distracted.
I pray as much as I can, but can’t do it non-stop.
(boy’s gotta sleep)
Those in heaven can pray unceasingly.
I pray to God.
I also ask those LIVING with him to pray for me in their way that is SO much better than mine.

Cheers!
michel

 

[guanophore]

1. Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Do you think the Catholic church does not teach this?

1. 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

What is the “form of godliness” that you see in the Catholic church? What power is denied?

3 Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Do you beleive that the Catholic Church is the Babylon spoken about in this passage?

 

[kujo313]

The bible is not established in the bible either, so how is that relevant? The communion of saints is being addressed on another Jesus taught his apostles EVERYTHING. Some of the teachings went into the bible. Others are preserved in the apostolic succession.

The Bible is the Word of God. Nearly 4,000 times in the Old Testament alone, we read phrases like ‘the Lord spoke’, ‘the Lord commanded’ and ‘the Lord said’. The apostle Peter says that the prophetic scriptures ‘never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit’ (2 Peter 1:21).

“All scripture is God-breathed…”

I recognize my Father’s voice in Scripture because I am His adopted son. Jesus said: ‘He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you [who do not believe] do not hear, because you are not of God’ (John 8:47).

 

[guanophore]

1. Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Do you think the Catholic church does not teach this?

1. 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

What is the “form of godliness” that you see in the Catholic church? What power is denied?

3 Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Do you beleive that the Catholic Church is the Babylon spoken about in this passage?

Yes I agree that was good:thumbsup: I too have a problem with incense(Im allergic)
But my top three
1.) No assurance of salvation till death do us part(obviously I believe in Faith alone saves)

2.)I do not believe the CC is the One and Only Church that Jesus established on earth.

1. The Marion Doctrines or Dogmsa–Everytime I hear a priest say we have to pray to Mary it makes me cringe. The bible is so clear that we are to pray only to God through Christ.

Really? Is there another one written about in the New Testament that I missed?

 

[cazayoux]

I feel your frustration. I see a lot of the same.
I have to say though, that I’m encouraged more and more by the teen crowd.
It seems that Lifeteen has wakened a generation.
Things like CRHP (Christ Renews His Parish) are waking up the rest of us to our living faith.
These couple of things are making Catholics that live their faith daily, and not just one hour a week.
Seems like a slow road though.
Can’t believe I’m actually looking to the younger generations to help make us better.
Hang in there, like me.
I focus on the good when i can find it.
Love to all.

michel

 

[guanophore]

1. God has not revealed Himself to me through Catholic teaching.
2. I find no reasoning that I should rely on forms and ceremonies to achieve communion with the Father.
3. I do not accept the idea of a sacrificial priesthood that may or may not act in my best interest in performing their “priesthood” duties on my behalf before God.

Do you believe that the priest is making a sacrifice during the Mass on behalf of the believers?

 

[cazayoux]

1. Images and Statues - I just can’t get my head around it

How about photographs and home videos?
What’s the purpose of these modern day images?

michel

 

[guanophore]

1. I have not been impressed with the Catholic people in my life (I know that’s not a very good reason, but it’s still a big one.)

Why not?

1. I’m annoyed by the liberties historically taken by the Catholic Church in compiling, editing, translating and interpretting the Bible. This wouldn’t be a problem if Catholics had just kept it to themselves and not tried to forcefully impose their beliefs on everyone who would ever be interested in reading Christian documents for the duration of the existence of planet Earth.

It seems to me that, if someone gives you something valuable as a gift, then one might be inclined to protect it with caution. I am curious how Catholic beliefs about scripture have been “forcefully imposed” upon you?

About the duration of planet earth, Jesus did say “unto the end of the age”.

1. I don’t like how everything that could possibly be construed as anti-Catholic is automatically inspired by demons/Satan (this might be related to # 1.)

Like what, for example? Why would anyone want to be "anti-catholic anyhow?

 

[cazayoux]

1. Dont believe the day of worship is Sunday instead of Sabbath

I can’t say for the gospels, but I’m reading Acts right now and just ran across something that might be useful.

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart the next day; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

The note in the Ignatius Catholic Bible Study (RSV2CE) for this verse states…

the first day of the week

: The day following the Saturday Sabbath (Gen 2:3). This passage provides the earliest evidence that believers assembled on Sundays for catechetical instruction and sacramental worship. It was soon called the “Lord’s day” (Rev 1:10) to commemorate the day Jesus rose from the dead (Lk 24:1; CCC 1343).

michel

[/QUOTE]

 

[guanophore]

I) I don’t believe in the Catholic concept of God

Could you please elaborate on this? What is the concept that you don’t agree upon?

1. I think a good bit of the theology is whack

For example?

1. I cannot practice and participate in a faith that I don’t believe in
   cheddar/ Ardent Pantheist

That would not reflect any sense of integrity on your part…

 

[guanophore]

Whoever said I needed to be catholic to get to heaven?> I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior . He rose again on third day. He is my guiding light and my intercessor. He is the only one that gives me hope. What more do you need other than that? Not a thing.

No one said that! These are all Catholic teachings that you list here. Actually, Jesus did have quite a bit more to add…

 

[guanophore]

Good question.

(1) Being Catholic would mean that I would have to leave my current church. My current church has done me no harm to justify leaving it.

(2) I have always been more flexible in respect to allowable churches than my wife. I could not picture her becoming Catholic unless one of the children were to convert. If she were to leave where we are at, she would be a Baptist.

(3) One and two are not sufficient reasons not to become Catholic if the RC did indeed posses the “fullness of truth” and the rest of us are just heretics. But this is a very bold assertion requiring very clear and convincing evidence that just has not been forthcoming. Your say so is not enough. Us being imperfect is not enough.

Maybe if I stick around long enough I will come across the smoking gun argument that proves “yes dearie true church-> heretic is in fact the true relationship of Catholicism to us spiritually impoverished Protestants”, but until I come across that, I will remain skeptical and assume that we are more or less equal (and equally messed up).

I think you are wrong about this. I don’t think a person can qualify to be a heretic unless one has already known/accepted the truth and then rejects it. Your phrasing “if the RC did indeed” demonstrates that you are ignorant, and therefore, cannot be a heretic!