Protestant bible study

[bayernmfc]

Hello, this is my first post (sorry that it’s so long, you can just read the last paragraph if it’s too much, that’s where the question is).

Anyway, a couple weeks ago some guy standing by a map at my school was like “can I ask you a few questions?” and since I needed to look at the map anyway (because I just transferred this fall) I said OK. I assumed it was a survey because of the way he phrased it and since I had just passed someone giving a survey. But then he asked me questions about my religion and being saved and I felt kind of misled since the preachers at my old school had been very clear about their intentions (e.g., “have you accepted the…?”). But I answered them anyway from my Catholic prospective (though I pretty much knew the answers he wanted since my mom’s family is Protestant). I ended up getting most of them wrong it turns out, like when I said you need to try to follow the commandments, etc. Then he invited me to a Bible study, and I was reluctant, but he said to just try it out, and none of my excuses applied since it was individual and therefore very flexible, so I accepted, Then, the next week I met with him and he told me how to be saved.

Then today, a week later, I accepted Jesus and was “saved”, and it was very exciting and he gave me some Bible verses to read. Then he invited another minister over and they congratulated me and stuff. But then they asked me if I had heard of baptism (they were both former Catholics, so they should have known the answer, since I told them I was Catholic and went to the Newman Center) and I said yes, I was baptized. And then they implied I should consider getting baptized again now that I am saved, and asked if I wanted to go to their non-denominational Christian Church where they are pastors this Sunday, and I said not this weekend but we decided maybe next Sunday. But I am having second thoughts, I didn’t even really want to doing this in the first place, and I don’t want to lead them on if they expect me to become non-denominational. Are us Catholics even allowed to do the saved thing? Nothing in there looked heretical to me, but my CCD wasn’t very thorough. Anyway, I hadn’t been a very active Christian recently, so it was helpful to be reminded of the importance of Jesus in my life, but now I am getting uncomfortable where this is going. Any advice?

 

[TheQuestioner]

yeah…umm these guys are obviously protestants, you go that right, and that being the case they don’t believe in “one baptism for salvation”. Basically they seem to think that you should get baptized when you accept the Lord as an adult and not as a baby. (this idea in itself is heretical, and in the bible whole households, which would include babies and children, were baptized). Also, telling you to get baptized again is very heretical (you can and should only be baptized once).

The whole accepting Christ to be “saved” thing is also a load of crock. You can only be saved once you die and get to heaven. Though you were saved at your baptism in a sense since you are part of the body of Christ. In a sense, a Catholic can say “I am saved and being saved”.

Here are some resources. I suggest finding a Catholic bible study. Some protestants, though not hostile to Catholic people, are hostile to Catholic teaching.

here

catholic.com/thisrock/2009/0903btb.asp

Also, there were wrong about not having to follow the commandments to get to heaven (Jesus himself said we must follow them, and forgive others, and be merciful, not just believe He existed and died for us) here

catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0303sbs.asp

And you can only be baptized once, here

On infant baptism: catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp
On the necessity of baptism: catholic.com/library/Necessity_of_Baptism.asp
On the importance of baptism: catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304sbs.asp
Also look at the third question here: catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/baptism/page7

It’s alot to read, but when it comes to your faith you should spare no detail. Study with Catholics and be wary of what you are taught when with the protestants (not that their bad people, but their teaching isn’t quite orthodox)

 

[mdgspencer]

It is common for Catholics to be asked by Protestants sometime during their life, are you saved?
Maybe this article will seem helpful:
www.catholicbeaconmagazine.com/are_catholics_bornagain.html
I wonder if perhaps you feel you are being bullied? That’s what I would feel myself.

 

[bayernmfc]

It’s alot to read, but when it comes to your faith you should spare no detail. Study with Catholics and be wary of what you are taught when with the protestants (not that their bad people, but their teaching isn’t quite orthodox)

Yeah unlike basically any other evangelists I have inadvertently discussed my religion with, he didn’t criticize Catholicism, but the re-baptism was a red flag to me. Thank you very much for your response; it looks like I dodged a bullet there. Do you have any advice on how to leave without poor feelings, because I think I got pretty entrenched with my being “saved”. I was thinking of getting more involved with my church, and joining the bible study program there. Then, I can sincerely say that the experience has reminded me of the importance of following Christ, and I feel I am best serving Him by living my faith in the Catholic Church. The pastors emphasized that Jesus would show me the path, it was not for them to say (though vaguely it was for the bible to say, so hopefully that won’t complicate things).

 

[Monica4316]

Hello, this is my first post (sorry that it’s so long, you can just read the last paragraph if it’s too much, that’s where the question is).

Anyway, a couple weeks ago some guy standing by a map at my school was like “can I ask you a few questions?” and since I needed to look at the map anyway (because I just transferred this fall) I said OK. I assumed it was a survey because of the way he phrased it and since I had just passed someone giving a survey. But then he asked me questions about my religion and being saved and I felt kind of misled since the preachers at my old school had been very clear about their intentions (e.g., “have you accepted the…?”). But I answered them anyway from my Catholic prospective (though I pretty much knew the answers he wanted since my mom’s family is Protestant). I ended up getting most of them wrong it turns out, like when I said you need to try to follow the commandments, etc. Then he invited me to a Bible study, and I was reluctant, but he said to just try it out, and none of my excuses applied since it was individual and therefore very flexible, so I accepted, Then, the next week I met with him and he told me how to be saved.

Then today, a week later, I accepted Jesus and was “saved”, and it was very exciting and he gave me some Bible verses to read. Then he invited another minister over and they congratulated me and stuff. But then they asked me if I had heard of baptism (they were both former Catholics, so they should have known the answer, since I told them I was Catholic and went to the Newman Center) and I said yes, I was baptized. And then they implied I should consider getting baptized again now that I am saved, and asked if I wanted to go to their non-denominational Christian Church where they are pastors this Sunday, and I said not this weekend but we decided maybe next Sunday. But I am having second thoughts, I didn’t even really want to doing this in the first place, and I don’t want to lead them on if they expect me to become non-denominational. Are us Catholics even allowed to do the saved thing? Nothing in there looked heretical to me, but my CCD wasn’t very thorough. Anyway, I hadn’t been a very active Christian recently, so it was helpful to be reminded of the importance of Jesus in my life, but now I am getting uncomfortable where this is going. Any advice?

I used to be a Protestant who evangelized people in this way…

They are trying to lead you away from the Catholic Church. They probably have very good intentions and want to help you, but that doesn’t mean their doctrines are true

Your baptism was valid! There is only one Baptism. You don’t need a second one, in fact it would be wrong for you to get a second baptism, it would be like saying that your first one wasn’t effective. That would be incorrect because it was and the Holy Spirit was present in it as in a valid Sacrament.

Our theology of salvation is different than the Protestant understanding. Whenever you’re in a state of grace, that is when you are with God and if you die in a state of grace you can go to Heaven. We don’t believe in “saved” as a past event, we don’t believe saying one prayer can make you “saved”. The Bible talks about salvation in the past, present, and future tense. The Protestants have an incorrect understanding that is new to Christianity, Christians have always believed in the Catholic way… the Eastern Orthodox, the other ancient church, don’t teach the Protestant view, their view is more like ours.

If I could give you any advice, it would be to not go to this Bible study anymore and to not attend their church. I was baptized as a child in the Eastern Orthodox church and then became Protestant later on in much the same way. God later lead me back to the Sacraments. In the Protestant church, you wouldn’t have the Eucharist, or Confession, they have very differnet beliefs, they don’t believe in Mary or the Communion of Saints or the presence of Jesus in Communion…

I recommend learning more about the Catholic faith there’s always more to learn! Have you ever read the Catechism, or anything by Scott Hahn? He explains the Catholic faith pretty well and relates it to Protestant understanding.

That is great that God used this to remind you of Him, but God can use anything. Accept this reminder from Him and learn more about the Catholic Church, go to Confession and the Mass the people you met might tell you many things to persuade you to not be Catholic, but it’s impossible to evaluate their arguments without doing some research, and praying. I recommend this article about the Catholic view of salvation catholic.com/library/salvation.asp

also this website might be useful: davidmacd.com/catholic/index2.htm

God bless!

 

[Monica4316]

It is common for Catholics to be asked by Protestants sometime during their life, are you saved?

Many Protestants who are involved in evangelism often ask people this question, both Catholics and non Catholics. It’s unfortunate that they sometimes believe that Catholics don’t really know God. But they also have an incorrect view of salvation and how we actually get “saved”. Salvation isn’t just a past event.

 

[Zooey]

Yeah unlike basically any other evangelists I have inadvertently discussed my religion with, he didn’t criticize Catholicism, but the re-baptism was a red flag to me. Thank you very much for your response; it looks like I dodged a bullet there. Do you have any advice on how to leave without poor feelings, because I think I got pretty entrenched with my being “saved”. I was thinking of getting more involved with my church, and joining the bible study program there. Then, I can sincerely say that the experience has reminded me of the importance of following Christ, and I feel I am best serving Him by living my faith in the Catholic Church. The pastors emphasized that Jesus would show me the path, it was not for them to say (though vaguely it was for the bible to say, so hopefully that won’t complicate things).

This sounds like a very good answer.
Mind you, they may not take it well, so you should be prepared for that…I doubt if there is any way to avoid that, if they choose to take offense, they are making that choice; it is not of your doing.
They sound sincere but misguided. “Decision theology” is a very big deal with some non-Catholic Christians, to the point where they think that without a dramatic “decision” (“getting saved”), that no one is a Christian.
I have any number of folks who think I am just terrible when I refuse to be baptized again. Hey, I happen to KNOW that (as had been said here!) that you can only be baptized once. Anything after that is “just a brief bath”.(Something my UMC pastor said once!)

 

[scottm]

Heh heh heh! Wow, there’s a blast from the past! I used to be those guys. I used to write that material for my church.

A “non-denominational” church is either Baptist or Pentecostal, just with a different sign out front. Because you haven’t mentioned the Holy Spirit yet these guys must be Baptists. Either way, they are not speaking Catholic and they will never speak Catholic. They’re going to speak a different religious language to you, and you’re going to get confused by their language.

They will take advantage of your confusion and wring all the Catholicism out of you in a brainwashing scheme. You will lose more than 1500 years of Christian tradition. Baptists did not exist until after Luther and Calvin started their rival churches. (Pentecostals did not start until the 1920s !!)

Bottom line: don’t go there. Just keep telling yourself these guys were born after Martin Luther started the Lutheran church. They’re probably the nicest people in the world but they are misguided. You don’t need that.

If you have a good mind there are scores of books to refute what these guys are saying in their own language and with their own traditions and their own “hermeneutical” methods. After one becomes fluent in both Baptist and Catholic, refuting them is INCREDIBLY easy. But – you have to be fluent in both languages before you can refute them.

But – challenging them will be a pointless pursuit. These guys are pastors. You are not going to change their minds because then they’d lose their jobs, their friends, and their reputations. That ain’t going to happen.

So don’t go there! Find a Catholic or Orthodox study group instead, and read Catholic apologetics books. Arm yourself to know more than they know. That’s actually very easy to do because they did not exist before the Reformation.

 

[scottm]

Do you have any advice on how to leave without poor feelings, because I think I got pretty entrenched with my being “saved”.

Yes – tell them you’re joining and attending another Christian church that fits you better. (And then actually do it.)

Two things: (1) These guys are not allowed to make trouble on campus, and anyway it’s bad for business if they harass students. They will not harass you if you leave. (2) They’re used to people church-hopping. It’s normal behavior for Protestants.

 

[ChadS]

Since you are on a college campus you should have a great resource at your Newman Center. If it’s Bible study and fellowship you are looking for I’m sure they provide many forums for people your own age to live out their faith. There you could meet people that can help you grow and develop your Catholic faith. Perhaps you could get a copy of the Catechism and read through that. Perhaps there is a good priest at the Newman Center that can help you, I mean they are trained in campus ministry and have experience in it and come across people from all sorts of backgrounds and church experiences so they can help you.

I’m sure the people at this other church mean well, however their attempt is to get you in as a member of their church. Maybe they won’t outright bash the Catholic Church, but they will slowly and surely lead you away from it. They’ll tell you things you learned as a Catholic weren’t quite right or were just a little off, but they know the real answer.

I wouldn’t get involved with this other church. I know you don’t want to hurt their feelings, but if press you on things just stand your ground. They might try to argue circles around you and show you verse after verse to prove they are right – but even if you can’t show exactly right at that moment how they are wrong just stand your ground, you can always figure out why later. You don’t have to prove to them why you don’t want to go to their church anyhow.

The internet is also a good place to find good Catholic sources, such as here, to help you discover more and grow in your faith. So, good luck as you continue to learn more about the Church and like I said before, stand your ground.

ChadS

 

[bayernmfc]

Thank you for all your responses and links

This sounds like a very good answer.
Mind you, they may not take it well, so you should be prepared for that…I doubt if there is any way to avoid that, if they choose to take offense, they are making that choice; it is not of your doing.
They sound sincere but misguided. “Decision theology” is a very big deal with some non-Catholic Christians, to the point where they think that without a dramatic “decision” (“getting saved”), that no one is a Christian.
I have any number of folks who think I am just terrible when I refuse to be baptized again. Hey, I happen to KNOW that (as had been said here!) that you can only be baptized once. Anything after that is “just a brief bath”.(Something my UMC pastor said once!)

They said I would gone to hell had I died before that, and now I will spend heaven in eternity (though in my mind I knew this was not part of my beliefs), so yes the decision was a big deal for them… The thing that I did not expect was that they seemed to be much more rigid over the second baptism (which was “in the Bible”), than switching churches (which was what would happen if it was"Jesus’ plan for me") And they did seem sincere, which threw me off. I am used to pushy preachers from my old school, so these guys caught me off guard. They were like sales men, except instead of selling me something, they intended to give me salvation, so it was hard to be cynical.

. . . .So don’t go there! Find a Catholic or Orthodox study group instead, and read Catholic apologetics books. Arm yourself to know more than they know. That’s actually very easy to do because they did not exist before the Reformation.

Yeah, I am very bad at having disagreements with people I don’t know (which got me into this situation in the first place), so even if I had memorized the bible, I wouldn’t stand a chance. As ChadS recommended, there is a bible study at my Newman Center, so I think I will check that out instead.

Yes – tell them you’re joining and attending another Christian church that fits you better. (And then actually do it.)

Two things: (1) These guys are not allowed to make trouble on campus, and anyway it’s bad for business if they harass students. They will not harass you if you leave. (2) They’re used to people church-hopping. It’s normal behavior for Protestants.

Lol, #2 made me feel much better for some reason. Anyway, these guys seem professional for campus preachers, and pretty genuine, so in retrospect I probably don’t have to worry about them trying to bring me back in or whatever. My main concern was just that I see the one around the campus a lot for some reason, even though I go to a pretty large school. This just makes me glad I didn’t go to Wheaton College.

Monica4316, that was an excellent idea to read the Catechism, which should supplement what we didn’t cover in my religious ed classes.

 

[Adonia]

Yeah unlike basically any other evangelists I have inadvertently discussed my religion with, he didn’t criticize Catholicism, but the re-baptism was a red flag to me. Thank you very much for your response; it looks like I dodged a bullet there. Do you have any advice on how to leave without poor feelings, because I think I got pretty entrenched with my being “saved”. I was thinking of getting more involved with my church, and joining the bible study program there. Then, I can sincerely say that the experience has reminded me of the importance of following Christ, and I feel I am best serving Him by living my faith in the Catholic Church. The pastors emphasized that Jesus would show me the path, it was not for them to say (though vaguely it was for the bible to say, so hopefully that won’t complicate things).

I like those words “…I feel I am best serving Him by living my faith in the Catholic Church”. My sentiments exactly!! We have the Sacraments and the Real Presence of Our Lord. I was born into the Roman Rite and I will die in the Roman Rite. This is where I feel most comfortable in my worship of God. Learn as much about your faith as you can and share it with those who try to pry you from it. I am always happy for those who worship Jesus Christ as the Savior, but we do it the way it was done from the beginning. They don’t and it is as simple as that!