Pending visit from Presbyterian pastors

[tassitus]

I am a Catholic revert, my wife is a non-practicing Korean Baptist. She recently has begun attending a Korean Presbyterian church, off and on. I have met a few of the members of their church when we were invited to an outdoor church event last summer - all wonderfully nice and sharing people (I actually met a fellow Catholic whose wife was a member of the Presbyterian church - that was a blessing). I also stopped by one of their homes not too long ago to pick up my wife from a Bible study she was trying out - again, a nice group of Christian people.

My wife recently let me know that the pastor, possibly with two of his assistant pastors, has invited himself over to our house for a visit this Friday night. Okay.

I am wondering what to expect: are they coming to convince my wife that she needs to get serious about her faith (albeit of the protestant variety) or are they coming to try to convert me? If the former, anything to get my wife praying and searching for God is welcome (she has a masters in philiosophy, is quite bright, and I think one day she will be a wonderful Catholic! Just not yet… she has issues with Church authority, to say the least).

If the latter (and they’re coming to try to talk me out of Catholicism), how should I prepare for this? To me, non-Catholic Christians are pretty much all the same - anyone know what I should expect from Presbyterians in particular?

Thanks for your thoughts, and prayers this Friday, please.

Peace all.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Hi tassitus,

I think that you will be happily surprised at how nice a visit you will have with your wife’s pastor. It is basically a social call to let the church members know that the pastor cares about their spiritual growth and is there to guide them and help them on their journey. It also gives the pastor a little insight if there are any special concerns or needs by the members but still keeping the visit short. I am sure that it will be very pleasant. Sounds like your wife has an awesome pastor that cares very much church members. Remember the shepard tending to his sheep…

I would not expect and would be very surprised to hear if anyone tried to convert you. They are not coming to tag team you…

Put a pot of coffee on and offer a slice of cake to your guest and enjoy the visit.

Please let us know how the visit goes.

God Bless!

 

[ChristianKnight]

I am a Catholic revert, my wife is a non-practicing Korean Baptist. She recently has begun attending a Korean Presbyterian church, off and on. I have met a few of the members of their church when we were invited to an outdoor church event last summer - all wonderfully nice and sharing people (I actually met a fellow Catholic whose wife was a member of the Presbyterian church - that was a blessing). I also stopped by one of their homes not too long ago to pick up my wife from a Bible study she was trying out - again, a nice group of Christian people.

My wife recently let me know that the pastor, possibly with two of his assistant pastors, has invited himself over to our house for a visit this Friday night. Okay.

I am wondering what to expect: are they coming to convince my wife that she needs to get serious about her faith (albeit of the protestant variety) or are they coming to try to convert me? If the former, anything to get my wife praying and searching for God is welcome (she has a masters in philiosophy, is quite bright, and I think one day she will be a wonderful Catholic! Just not yet… she has issues with Church authority, to say the least).

If the latter (and they’re coming to try to talk me out of Catholicism), how should I prepare for this? To me, non-Catholic Christians are pretty much all the same - anyone know what I should expect from Presbyterians in particular?

Thanks for your thoughts, and prayers this Friday, please.

Peace all.

How are we all the same?

I doubt he is gonna try to convert you, he is probably doing what our’s does, just checking on you, to make sure that if help is needed in any aspect of your life, he can help you.

 

[AlegreFe]

I am wondering what to expect: are they coming to convince my wife that she needs to get serious about her faith (albeit of the protestant variety) or are they coming to try to convert me? If the former, anything to get my wife praying and searching for God is welcome (she has a masters in philiosophy, is quite bright, and I think one day she will be a wonderful Catholic! Just not yet… she has issues with Church authority, to say the least).

If the latter (and they’re coming to try to talk me out of Catholicism), how should I prepare for this? To me, non-Catholic Christians are pretty much all the same - anyone know what I should expect from Presbyterians in particular?

Thanks for your thoughts, and prayers this Friday, please.

Peace all.

I never had a visit from a protestant pastor to my house but I would say to just be yourself. Be kind & hospitable. This is a great time to be a good witness for the Catholic faith by just allowing Jesus to shine through you. Pray to the Holy Spirit before the visit. If you can go to an early morning Mass and receive Jesus on that day it would be great. If not, perhaps you can visit an Adoration chapel to see Jesus earlier that day or the day before. Get closer to Jesus in the days to come so that He can shine through you. I can imagine that the Pastor loves Jesus so he will be able to recognize Jesus through you.

And if that Pastor had anything in mind to try to convert you, he will see that there is no need for it. But I hope that is not the reason for his visit. Although I would grow suspicious if a pastor paid a visit to my house.

 

[AlegreFe]

How are we all the same?

I really don’t think he meant anything bad by it.

I doubt he is gonna try to convert you, he is probably doing what our’s does, just checking on you, to make sure that if help is needed in any aspect of your life, he can help you.

Yes but that is for you and you’re already protestant. But “tassitus” is Catholic and he has a Parish Priest if he wants help. Why would he go to a Protestant pastor if he could go to his Priest who could offer him the Sacrament of Confession or if he’s sick, he could anoint him.

Catholic Priests can also be great Spiritual Directors. Many of them have psychology degrees & doctorate degrees. But more importantly they are standing “in the person of Christ” to help anyone who needs it. A Catholic Priest is an validly ordained minister of Jesus Christ who can bring us Jesus Christ in the Eucharist at Mass. There is no better food for our souls than Jesus Christ Himself. And the only ones who can bring us Jesus in that way are the Catholic Priests.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

My Presbyterian friends’ pastor came to visit just to get to know the people in his congregation. It will probably be a pleasant social visit. Have some cake and coffee available. You can be open about being a Catholic. He and the deacons shouldn’t take offense at that. They may invite you to attend services or some activities with her. You won’t be asked to make any commitment.

BTW, one of my friends has since become Catholic.

 

[reteeks21]

I am a Catholic revert, my wife is a non-practicing Korean Baptist. She recently has begun attending a Korean Presbyterian church, off and on. I have met a few of the members of their church when we were invited to an outdoor church event last summer - all wonderfully nice and sharing people (I actually met a fellow Catholic whose wife was a member of the Presbyterian church - that was a blessing). I also stopped by one of their homes not too long ago to pick up my wife from a Bible study she was trying out - again, a nice group of Christian people.

My wife recently let me know that the pastor, possibly with two of his assistant pastors, has invited himself over to our house for a visit this Friday night. Okay.

I am wondering what to expect: are they coming to convince my wife that she needs to get serious about her faith (albeit of the protestant variety) or are they coming to try to convert me? If the former, anything to get my wife praying and searching for God is welcome (she has a masters in philiosophy, is quite bright, and I think one day she will be a wonderful Catholic! Just not yet… she has issues with Church authority, to say the least).

If the latter (and they’re coming to try to talk me out of Catholicism), how should I prepare for this? To me, non-Catholic Christians are pretty much all the same - anyone know what I should expect from Presbyterians in particular?

Thanks for your thoughts, and prayers this Friday, please.

Peace all.

I think it would depend on which Presbyterian group it is. ARP or PCA may be the converting type, but I have never experienced anything like that from USA’s. If they try anything like that I would let know straight-up that if they want to talk Jesus and pray together, great (only if you are okay with that), but if they are there to “convert” you then they are wasting their time. I know it may be hard if they do that, but please try and be patient and gracious even they are not. Not all of us Protestants are like that. Good luck. I hope it all turns out to be a blessing.

 

[tassitus]

How are we all the same?..

I hope my statement was not taken the wrong way. I meant that due to my lack of familiarity with the various denominations, I have little knowledge of the differences between Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and other non-Catholic Christian theologies.

I have attended a number of Protestant services over the last few years with my Korean in-laws (they come for 10 weeks or so each summer), who tend to “church shop” when they are here (mainly Korean services). The services strike me as only “half” of what a Christian service should be (only what I would consider “Liturgy of the Word”), and once it was nothing but a few songs, two prayers, 3 very short verses of scripture, and a short and humorous talk about missionaries in Egypt, I believe (my Korean is not as good as it used to be). That was it for Sunday “worship”. Like I said, I always leave thinking I’ve just witnessed “half of a Faith” (my perspective).

The only reason I wonder about the pastors’ intentions is that they invited themselves over - we did not invite them - and that they are coming over *en masse, *as it were. This could either be a cultural thing, or a Presbyterian thing.

Thanks for all of your thoughts. I have a Holy Hour from 3:00-4:00 a.m. every Friday morning (our parish offers Eucharistic Adoration only one day each week), so should be as prepared as I can be - though a bit sleepy - Friday night.

Peace all.

 

[twopekinguys]

I wouldn’t put the cart before the horse in this situation.

My grandfather was a Presbyterian minister for many many years, and I would take him on home visits to his congregation members. (he was blind, so we thought it was best that I drove )

Many times, we went to homes where there were inter-faith marriages, and never once did he try to convert anyone. He always invited the non Presbyterian member to services, knowing full well that they would more than likely decline the invitation in one form or another. He never pushed the issue, and always let them know that if he or the congregation could be of assistance, that they were always there.

If your wife has been attending their church with any regularity, they are probably just wanting to welcome her, and see if there is anything they can assist with in making her feel more comfortable about their congregation, or their faith etc. Many congregations don’t have welcoming committees, or parish secretaries that assist their members, so it is usually left to the minister and deacons to do these functions.

 

[ChristianKnight]

Yes but that is for you and you’re already protestant. But “tassitus” is Catholic and he has a Parish Priest if he wants help. Why would he go to a Protestant pastor if he could go to his Priest who could offer him the Sacrament of Confession or if he’s sick, he could anoint him.

Catholic Priests can also be great Spiritual Directors. Many of them have psychology degrees & doctorate degrees. But more importantly they are standing “in the person of Christ” to help anyone who needs it. A Catholic Priest is an validly ordained minister of Jesus Christ who can bring us Jesus Christ in the Eucharist at Mass. There is no better food for our souls than Jesus Christ Himself. And the only ones who can bring us Jesus in that way are the Catholic Priests.

Maybe that person is a friend of the preacher’s, better htan the priest’s? I don’t know, maybe the preacher just wants to chat? I mean really, I do not see the problem, unless you don’t like protestants and/or detest them, and if then, you can just tell them that, and that be the end of it.

And my preacher is a Fed-Ex driver, beat that…honestly I do not care whether a priest has 30 degrees, or none, if he is a good guy I like him, thats why I, unlike some, don’t try to match my minister against other ministers, or priests, or imams, or anyone else to be honest.

 

[AlegreFe]

Maybe that person is a friend of the preacher’s, better htan the priest’s? I don’t know, maybe the preacher just wants to chat? I mean really, I do not see the problem, unless you don’t like protestants and/or detest them, and if then, you can just tell them that, and that be the end of it.

And my preacher is a Fed-Ex driver, beat that…honestly I do not care whether a priest has 30 degrees, or none, if he is a good guy I like him, thats why I, unlike some, don’t try to match my minister against other ministers, or priests, or imams, or anyone else to be honest.

I do not dislike protestants. You misunderstood my post. I was not “matching” anyone against anyone. I do not consider degrees to be the value of a man or any priest. I just thought you would like to know since I was talking about a priest being a spiritual director for someone in need. Usually a Spiritual Director requires some kind of education or knowledge in the world of psychology. There are many priests who are also Psychologists because of the degree they hold. Believe me, I do not count degrees to count the measure of a real man who can offer their help & support.