Protestant Wife

[VeryBlessed]

One of which being my propensity to go on theological/philosophical/personal interest excursions without including my wife.

Have you made a heartfelt apology to her for this? She may be genuinely opposed to what she THINKS Catholicism is, but perhaps some of her intensity is springing from hurt from being left out of your explorations.

There is SO much common ground in faith with her! If you grow in holiness as you deepen your Catholic faith, then you will be MORE helpful to her in fanning the flame of her faith, and, able to receive faith encouragements from her more deeply. I’m a revert, decades away from the church. I grew like crazy in my evangelical churches. The fullness is in Catholicism, but in my opinion, the good evangelical churches get so much right that there should be tons of common ground to encourage each other with.

You could even set a goal of increasing your spiritual unity with each other, with each of you believing God to show you how to do that despite the obvious so-called “barrier”, which may not have to be a barrier at all.

Be aware that some Catholic apologetics (like some Protestant apologetics) can have a hard edged arrogance to it; avoid sounding like this as if it were the plague.

Love like crazy. Affirm like crazy. Be open, vulnerable, and wash her feet.

 

[twf]

My protestant wife was disciplined by her church for dating me (a Catholic). She was told to leave an outreach group she was part of and counselled to run from me. For better or for worse she didn’t…

 

[msaluta]

Really appreciate your story and advice.

 

[TC3033]

My wife and I happen to agree on that point. The gospel you win people with, is the gospel you win them to. The church we currently attend preaches God’s Word at a depth akin to spiritual meat, sans smoke machines, lights, lasers etc.

OK, the problem is…In your statements you’re comparing all non-Catholic Christian worship to that of a mega-church, which is really the minority of all non-Catholic Christian worship/churches.

much of Protestant’s answer to dwindling attendance rates and the desire to be “seeker friendly,” that they’ve given more emphasis to the experience than the teaching.

Again, you’re applying the mega church worship style to all non-Catholic Christians which is extremely incorrect.

 

[msaluta]

That is true, and I concede that I’m not being charitable in attempting to describe everyone’s experience. I appreciate the accountability.

Of my experience in several local churches, regardless of size, they all have begun to employ grandiose worship enhancements, have celebrity guest speakers like Tim Tebow, avoid sensitive topics that may detract philosophically and politically sensitive seekers. This was what appealed to my wife and I with our current church. It was a sentiment shared by most of our congregation and pastor, which prompted there to be a gathering of sorts of church leadership from most of the local churches to discuss how we can attract curious people who’re currently living in this world and preach truth which contradicts the values of this world. How can we as a seeker friendly church deliver the milk needed to foster young Christians, without causing those interested in spiritual meat to become dry? How can we reverse the millennial perception that Christians are hypocritical, and that our seemingly overreaching desire to appear hip as not pandering and thereby not genuine? These councils and the resulting action items caused us to do a deep dive into a few resources, one of them being Gaining by Losing by J.D. Greear, which provides case studies of churches that aren’t just flourishing, but needing to reproduce their DNA in another church plant (which can build off of the DNA of the prior church and become its own ministry [i.e. seeker friendly, spiritual calculus, outreach focused etc.]).

So you see, my perspective has been quite limited by those charismatic and evangelical Baptist and non-denominational churches. I have been to other states and seen the same. I’ve read articles that expound on it. What I haven’t seen, and you’re right, is what may be considered the silent majority of Protestant churches that aren’t doing all of the above. It is really interesting. I appreciate your comments, since they’ve caused this reflection that my perspective is limited by my experience.

 

[TC3033]

So you see, my perspective has been quite limited by those charismatic and evangelical Baptist and non-denominational churches. I have been to other states and seen the same. I’ve read articles that expound on it.

Then what you’re doing is using the term Protestant when more you’re really talking about non-denominational. I personally am a life long non-denom and have never been in a “smoke and lasers” church.

What I haven’t seen, and you’re right, is what may be considered the silent majority of Protestant churches that aren’t doing all of the above.

That’s basically all the mainline non-Catholic denominations.

celebrity guest speakers like Tim Tebow,

My wife’s parish did that once too…