Numerous Altar Calls?

[tyson]

I have a friend who attends calvary chapel, and was “born again, saved” what have you when he was 17 years old as he proclaims, anyways everytime he feels backslidden and is down on himself he goes on stage and does the sinners prayer and alter call and feels refreshed. My question is this, he hasnt been overly consumed by this non-denominational church and has a devotion to the Blessed Mother still however chooses to pick and choose or “double dip” if you will, his beliefs. I have told him that the sacrament of reconcilliation(sp) will more than make him feel good after feeling down on himself but again he chooses to take the “i can do that in the comfort of my bedroom and dont need to tell a man my sins” I have also told him that u cant be “born again” 100 times to wipe out sin and that the only real way of being born again happened when he was 2 months old and baptized. Im trying to figure a different approach as to explaining and making him realize that altar calls arent biblical and that in fact hes denying himself a truly wonderful sacrament in the sacrament of reconcilliation. Any suggestions would really be appreciated thanks.:ehh:

 

[Della]

It might be premature to be encouraging him to try confession when he doesn’t have a basic understanding of what the Church is and why he should be a Catholic.

He is afraid. That is why he keeps going to be renewed. Fear and an interior knowledge that he is still sinning and needs forgiveness are driving him to make these many altar calls.

It might be better to invite him to Mass with you for a few Sundays and explain what the Mass is and answer his questions afterwards. It can’t hurt to ask him since he isn’t obligated to go to his church.

Show him how going up for communion is Jesus’ way of providing for true renewal and that the penitential rite is the real altar call that will ease his heart of its doubts, fears, and sins.

 

[dhgray]

Here’s a suggestion for you. LEAVE HIM ALONE! If he finds God in the calvary chapel then be happy for him. Likewise, if he finds comfort with the Blessed Mother then let him.

This is the same advice I give my sister who is trying to “win me back” from the Catholic Church. I joined the Catholic Church because this is where I found God.

 

[MonkeyTape]

I don’t know that I agree with Della about “pushing” him.

He needs to know why we confess “to a man” its because Jesus Christ said to do it that way.

He asked why, don’t shove it down his throat but show him where it says why.

Mt 9:2-8 Son of Man has authority to forgive sins

Jn 20:23 - whose sins you forgive/retain are forgiven/retained 

Jn 20:22 - breathed on them, "receive Holy Spirit" [recall Gn 2:7] 

2Cor 5:17-20 - given us the ministry of reconciliation 

Jam 5:13-16 - confess your sins to one another 

Mt 18:18 - whatever you bind & loose on earth, so it is in heaven 

1Jn 5:6 - there is sin that is not deadly

scripturecatholic.com/confession.html

				Lev. 5:4-6; 19:21-22 - even under the Old Covenant, God used priests to forgive  					and atone for the sins of others.

				1 Tim. 2:5 - Christ is the only mediator, but He was free to decide how His  					mediation would be applied to us. The Lord chose to use priests of God to carry  					out His work of forgiveness.

Don’t be mean or condescending, but don’t hide the truth from him either. As the Eunuch said “how can he understand if no one teaches him?”

 

[Thal59]

tyson:

I have a friend who attends calvary chapel, and was “born again, saved” what have you when he was 17 years old as he proclaims, anyways everytime he feels backslidden and is down on himself he goes on stage and does the sinners prayer and alter call and feels refreshed. My question is this, he hasnt been overly consumed by this non-denominational church and has a devotion to the Blessed Mother still however chooses to pick and choose or “double dip” if you will, his beliefs. I have told him that the sacrament of reconcilliation(sp) will more than make him feel good after feeling down on himself but again he chooses to take the “i can do that in the comfort of my bedroom and dont need to tell a man my sins” I have also told him that u cant be “born again” 100 times to wipe out sin and that the only real way of being born again happened when he was 2 months old and baptized. Im trying to figure a different approach as to explaining and making him realize that altar calls arent biblical and that in fact hes denying himself a truly wonderful sacrament in the sacrament of reconcilliation. Any suggestions would really be appreciated thanks.:ehh:

The boy is 17. What does he know? The Catholic church can be scary at times. It has a long history, and a full and rich doctrine, but that may scare off a teen as it requires study to be fully appreciated.

Many forms of practising Catholicism, such as devotions, require a comittment. Many people are afraid of that also. When you say - “…everytime he feels backslidden and is down on himself he goes on stage and does the sinners prayer and alter call and feels refreshed.” Is it possible he does this for attention, approval, or support from people more than God?

Pray for him and always make yourself available to him. He has a lot of growing to do.

Thal59

 

[Della]

MonkeyTape:

I don’t know that I agree with Della about “pushing” him.

Pushing him? And when did I say that? I just suggested he invite him to attend Mass with him and explain what it means and what it can do for him. How is that in any way “pushing him?”

 

[SemperJase]

dhgray:

Here’s a suggestion for you. LEAVE HIM ALONE! If he finds God in the calvary chapel then be happy for him.

It doesn’t sound like he is finding God if he constantly feels the need to be born again and again and again…

It sounds as if the church teaches OSAS. If so, why is he continually needing to be saved? Sounds like there is something inside him that is telling him OSAS isn’t true. Maybe he would find comfort in the catholic church he can’t find where he is now.

 

[Cherub]

Thal59:

The boy is 17. What does he know?

There are seventeen year-old (and younger) saints of the Church, and loads of not-quite-saints around and about that age who truly do seek God and who have studied in depth and continue to study and do know quite a bit. I would pit at least four of the young ones I personally know against every 50+ year old person I know without hesitation when it comes to Church history and theology.

 

[MonkeyTape]

I did mispeak a bit, you said stop encouraging him to confession, rather than pushing. I apologize for misquoting you.

I still disagree, however, encouraging is exactly what should be done. Encouraging is supporting and educating him on his road to confession. Of course, this should not take the form of beating him over the head, encouraging is supporting not confrontational.

Absolutely, encourage him to come to mass as well. Especially during Lent, especially since many priests speak about confession during their homilies.

 

[dhgray]

SemperJase:

It doesn’t sound like he is finding God if he constantly feels the need to be born again and again and again…

He’s searching…and that is a good thing. The best thing you can do is to show him Christ’s love. But if you “push” him you might push him away.

 

[Orionthehunter]

As always, I take comfort when I agree w/ Della as I consider her one of the best evangelist and apolegist on CAF.

Your friend is responding to his innate call of God to cleanse himself in preparation for spending eternity with God. While his method is incomplete, his motive is pure and he is acting within which he knows. In a way, it is analogous to the concepts of baptism by intent for those who never have knowledge or capacity to be baptized by virtue of their environment.

You can be an instrument of Illumination by staying close to him and when the time is right, spreading the Gospel in a way that assists the Holy Spirit reach his heart. It sounds by your post that he doesn’t have good, accurate information about the Church. Rather than first addressing Catholic specific doctrine’s/practices like Confession, continue to expose him to how Christ works in you through the Church. Over time, you’ll be surprised how effective the Holy Spirit works while you are soft-sellign the Church itself.

God Bless you in your efforts with this good, young man.

 

[Della]

MonkeyTape:

I did mispeak a bit, you said stop encouraging him to confession, rather than pushing. I apologize for misquoting you.

No problem.

I still disagree, however, encouraging is exactly what should be done. Encouraging is supporting and educating him on his road to confession. Of course, this should not take the form of beating him over the head, encouraging is supporting not confrontational.

What I meant was that he shouldn’t be pushing forward confession when he isn’t a confirmed Catholic–it’s premature for that. He can cetainly tell him about confession and its benefits, of course.

Absolutely, encourage him to come to mass as well. Especially during Lent, especially since many priests speak about confession during their homilies.

Yes, Lent would be a good time for someone who is always “getting saved” over and over again to attend Mass. It might help the poor fellow see that he is right in his need for ongoing renewal and purifcation–that his sect just doesn’t have the sacrament to help him do it so that he can see any real progress.

 

[MonkeyTape]

Della:

What I meant was that he shouldn’t be pushing forward confession when he isn’t a confirmed Catholic–it’s premature for that. He can cetainly tell him about confession and its benefits, of course.

I need to read much more carefully I didn’t even know he wasn’t confirmed. Though that isn’t a prerequisite, correct? I seem to remember making my first confession before my first communion .

 

[Della]

MonkeyTape:

I need to read much more carefully I didn’t even know he wasn’t confirmed. Though that isn’t a prerequisite, correct? I seem to remember making my first confession before my first communion .

Our OP, tyson, hasn’t told us if this young man had been brought up Catholic or not, but from his post I have assumed not. It seems to me that someone not familiar with the sacraments of the Church would have a hard time understanding why he needs them if he hasn’t any idea what they are for. Better for him to become familiar with the basics before venturing into a confessional? Yes?

 

[tyson]

Della:

Our OP, tyson, hasn’t told us if this young man had been brought up Catholic or not, but from his post I have assumed not. It seems to me that someone not familiar with the sacraments of the Church would have a hard time understanding why he needs them if he hasn’t any idea what they are for. Better for him to become familiar with the basics before venturing into a confessional? Yes?

yes he was raised catholic.