Problems with Protestant friends and family

[jp72]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

 

[Rustic_Papist]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

I have been surrounded by Protestants my entire life and anti-Catholic sentiment is nothing new and sadly too often is characterised by violence. However, I always had my family and a strong Catholic community to fall back on and I understand that without that support events and happenings can begin to drag you down.

My advice would simply be to ignore their slights against the Church and learn and study the Catholic faith to be able to answer and challenge their greater assults on Holy Mother Church. Saying this though I must remind you that confrontation is not always the best answer to a situation and should always be used as a last resort.

You also have an indisponible weapon in your arsenal; that weapon is prayer. Pray for them, pray for the strength to stay true to Our Lord and His Church.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rustic Papist.

 

[twopekinguys]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

First and foremost, pray for them. That is very important.

By veiled statements, I am assuming they are using alot of inuendo, and not coming right out and saying anything direct. Which is a common tactic.

Me personally, I’m always up for a friendly confrontation. When they make one of their veiled comments, I would simply start off with…“So, what are you trying to say?” Get the conversation going.

Many of the more fundamentalist, evangelicals don’t do so well once they get past their proof texts that they quote. Make sure you have your Bible, and Catechism handy. Don’t be afraid if you can’t answer something. Tell them you will research it, and get back to them. Then make sure you do it. Give them a mountain of evidence and resources.

You can plant that very important seed if you handle all of it with love, compassion, and steadfastness.

We’ll pray for you

 

[Ranp]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

Welcome by the faith!

The one thing you should always do is stand with your faith. I would also suggest reading the book The Catholic Verses: 95 Bible Passages That Confound Protestants by Dave Armstrong. I very much understand what you are experiencing. I graduated in the 1970s from a public school in Louisiana that was very much a Baptish school and I had a number of relatives who were “holy rollers” (more into being rollers than being holy). I too have had to rediscover my faith.

 

[Dettingen]

I’m really sorry that people are giving you a hard time about your religious beliefs. It’s clear to me from reading these boards that there’s a lot of ignorance and hostility on both sides, and that’s terrible.

I agree with the people who have posted above that first and foremost you must pray. God will certainly guide you in your dealings with these people.

Second, I suggest that you learn as much as possible about your faith, its tenents and history. Build friendships with your coreligionists, and learn how they handle these situations.

Finally, when people make disparaging comments, I suggest you calmly and politely say something like “I’m sure you don’t realize it, but when you say xxx, it sounds like you are insulting me (my religion.) I know you want me to respect of your beliefs and I hope you can respect mine.”

It’s very important that you be calm and polite. You’re an ambassador for your faith, and you surely want to give a good impression. Make it look good!

If the other is persistently rude and/or abusive, you can certainly say that you refuse to discuss the matter further, to the point of excusing yourself and physically leaving the area if you must.

If they want to discuss or debate beliefs, it’s essential that you be non-confrontational. Say “I believe” or “the Church teaches” instead of “you’re wrong, this is how it goes.” Of course you think your view is the correct one, saying “I think” is gentler.

When trying to defuse religious hostility and/or convert another’s opinions, the way you live your life and the way you speak of your faith are stronger messages than the truth and logic of what you say. Think about how you’d like them to behave and act accordingly, and avoid being condemnatory or angry.

In this way, you should be able to at minimum eliminate their hostile behavior and at most, convert their beliefs.

Pax,

Dettingen

 

[freedomwriter]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

I know how you feel. Only thing is that i left the catholic church and became a protestant. My family gave me a hard time for a while but it has been 10 yrs now and i would not change a thing. The main part is to pray for your family and friends to really know the love of God. We worship the same God. The other thing is to show them scriptures but only those that you truly know. Again please pray for your family if they do not listen.

 

[Ignatius]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

You should ask this in the Apologetics subforum, you’ll get answers from Catholics who have had to deal with these same problems.
That being said, I wouldn’t confront them. Address their arguments as they make them. Prepare yourself by taking the following approach:

1. Pray for them, and pray that you have charity to them even when they are vile to you.
2. Study a good apologetics site like www.catholic.com, www.biblechristiansociety.com and CatholicTruth.webs.com to inform yourself about their mistaken notions of the Catholic Faith.
3. Be honest, if you don’t have the answer to some issue, just say I’ll have to get back to you one that. And ALWAYS get back to them with an answer.
4. Learn something about their denomination and what their beliefs are so that you will be able to address them in terms of their fundamental beliefs.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Hi all I am new to the forum and rediscovering my catholic faith. The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. Some of these people are my relatives and friends. It makes me feel that they might actually hate me for rediscovering my faith. Now I will admit they don’t belong to the “traditional” Protestant denominations and I feel this is the problem because I have Luthern family members who don’t seem to mind my catholic beliefs. What should I do to confront them on this issue?

As a Christian in the Protestant Sector, I really hate hearing how you are being treated by Protestants. Just know that we are not all like that. I have great respect for my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sounds like the Catholic forum members are giving you good advice.

Anna

 

[Dirk_Skene]

… The problem that I having right now is dealing with Protestants and the veiled statements that bashes Catholicism. …

The big difference between the 2 of us is that you seem to care. I admire you for that With protestants I take the attitude, I’m right, you are right in so far as you agree with me. I do not have to justify my belief. You (protestants) must do that. No protestant that knows me closley ever chalanges my faith. We are still friends. They might ask me questions, but they know I do not care to hear their opinion if they disagree so they never offer it. We talk about faith only when they bring it up.