Quandry about denominations

[Riser]

Good for you. You seem to have given this a lot of thought.

This troubles me. If you TRULY “find that the Catholic faith seems to be more accurate in taking truly the message that God has given us” then that label should NEVER deter you. If that is your true calling, God will help you kick open the doors.

What about TRUTH? As a minister, are you not bound by God to instruct your flock on ALL issues of Faith and Morals? You are GRAVELY mistaken on one issue: You are required to SPEAK THE TRUTH - NOT REMAIN SILENT. You should not have a desire to be right - you have a DUTY to be right. It is one thing for a layman to remain silent on an issue; but as a clergyman you have no such luxury. It does not matter if you are Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. If you TRULY serve Christ, you know He requires you to be brave and tell the people what they MUST hear; not what they want to hear.

Why should they partner with you? So you can evangelize people to be Protestant? So you can skip over uncomfortable truths of doctrine?

You speak of the Catholic Church where you are being reluctant to be in the public eye; while you yourself are unwilling to join the ranks and be counted with them?

You also speak of courage - how about the courage to not remain silent in your new Protestant church and speak the truth about the doctrines you disagree with? True Faith will not allow you to remain silent.

Good luck to you, sir.

I would like to address the things which you have written, because your thoughts at one time were my thoughts as well. For starters, when I was still doing sermons in church, many people were discomforted by the truths I laid out. I do not fear telling the truth when it is my turn to speak.

First off, this kicking open of doors thing - do you believe that this is how God reaches people? God has opened doors, and He is still opening them. There is no kicking going on, however. If what you say as true, then there would be ONLY Catholics in this world because there have been many Catholics with a calling to evangelize. If God were to kick open doors for people with that calling, there should be no shut doors in this world.

The truth about faith and morals do not change, and the opportunities to speak of them are taken. In my grave mistaken way, let me point out that the “bull in the china shop” approach is not always called for. Remember that the greatest two commandments deal with love. I also have enough love for them that those issues which do not affect their membership in the Kingdom of Heaven are dealt with in a way that does not turn all church meetings into shouting matches. I listen to people preach things that are the opposite of what I believe to be true, but it is not levied upon me to correct them each time. Nor will my arrogance be permitted to rise up and dominate someone’s meeting - unless it is the anti-Christ. As Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, I might sound similar to those who would lead lost souls further into the pit.

Why should a Catholic church partner with me? Strangely enough, that is the fear of the Protestant churches here. They are aware that I have Catholics on my team, so they don’t wish to partner with me for fear that I will be recruiting Catholics. They, as well, do not understand the concept of trusting God to place His new children where they need to be for Baptism and teaching.

First and foremost, I am a child of God. We are a parachurch organization which means that we are non-denominational. Four of our members are Catholic - which would have been impossible at one time and still be effective in our area. God does His work on His schedule rather than on mine. I praise Him that we have gotten this far, and we are not done yet.

And I would suggest to you, my brother, that you may want to reconsider your stance on “true faith.” My faith says that I am a servant of God, and that His will is my guidepost. It is not a task of mine to run into all Protestant churches and start telling them how wrong they are about the purpose of Baptism and the true meaning of the Eucharist. It is not on my agenda to do that with Catholic churches which teach anything that I may see differently either. My “true faith” tells me that I can trust God to make all things come to good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. My true faith makes me obedient to His leading.

My true faith tells me to be honest in answering questions that are posed to me. It does not require me to run all errant people down to correct them uninvited. There will be wheat and their will be tares, and it is not upon me to sort them before the harvest. My method of stripping out the tares might cost God some wheat as well.

Mt 13:

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’
He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’
So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’
But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

(English Standard Version)

 

[Riser]

I think you have a wonderful outlook. May God continue to bless you on your journey.
As another mentioned, do consider contacting the “Coming Home Network”. They are geared specifically to help with the sorts of things you are struggling with.

Just one comment in relation to the bolded above.
This is a wonderful place to explore those concerns. There are many wonderful and knowledgeable folks here to help clear these things up.

Peace
James

Thank you, James. I will go check out the Coming Home Network now.

 

[johnnyc176]

Thank you for your response.

While you certainly point out issues with parts of the Anglican Communion, I hope you are not suggesting these ideas also don’t lie within both some members and some clergy of Roman Catholicism as well.

A few minutes on Google will show the brokeness of humanity does in fact dwell not only in Anglicanism, but within Catholicism and all other Christian bodies as well.

Pax.

The Church that Jesus founded, the Catholic Church, is perfect and contains all Truth… All those within it…not so much (with one notable exception) going all the way back to our first Pope St. Peter who in a moment of weakness denied Christ.

 

[Abu]

ChurchSoldier #16
While you certainly point out issues with parts of the Anglican Communion, I hope you are not suggesting these ideas also don’t lie within both some members and some clergy of Roman Catholicism as well.
A few minutes on Google will show the brokeness of humanity does in fact dwell not only in Anglicanism, but within Catholicism and all other Christian bodies as well.

Truths of faith and morals taught by Christ’s Church have nothing to do with human failure, for it is vital to understand that the Pope never apologises for the Church which is “held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy.” [Vatican II, *Lumen Gentium, art 39].

That is why there should be no “quandary about denominations” as there is only the one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ which has never taught, and can never teach, error in faith and morals to the whole flock to be believed with divine and Catholic faith, because specifically founded and preserved from teaching error, as defined, despite some personally bad popes.

Riser #19
I know that history shows that the Catholic Church is the one started by Jesus. I also know that there were serious errors that occurred within it throughout the years. What I am not sure of is what long-lasting effects came into being after that. I don’t know how true it is to what Christ would have it it be now and how much has been changed at the hand of man.

By having faith in Jesus the Christ who is God the Son, you should know from His institution of His Church (see post #15) that He gave St Peter AND HIS SUCCESSORS His total protection against teaching any error to the world in dogma and doctrine to be believed and lived, thus confirming the reality concerning the truths of the Catholic Church which Christ established on St Peter as His Supreme Vicar and His Apostles, sending the Holy Spirit as He promised: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-18) “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in My name, He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14:26) “But when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that He will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15)

The Church is "the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Tim 3:16).

Thus there are no “serious errors”, or errors of any kind, in Her dogma and doctrine for Her Truths are guaranteed by the Son of God, and so nothing “has been changed” in the fullness of His Truth “at the hands of man.”

The time to assent to all of Christ’s teaching through His Church should not be delayed unnecessarily.

 

[Riser]

I see.

Well, I suppose that I have not yet learned how to ignore history in a way that permits me to claim perfection for anyone but God.

I don’t make a good parrot, because I have to know a thing is true for myself.

I think I will take the good advice and mull over it.