Question For Protestants (if any are here)

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heidi_storage said:
Sorry, I don’t really want to go into detail; too much effort, and I’m not looking to debate.
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No offense but that just sounds lazy to me. If you’re on a forum, especially on a Catholic forum with ideas that others are not familiar with, expect to have exchanges about things in depth and be prepared to defend your claims. I was just asking for a general answer though.
 
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It seems that there is a lot of confusion on which religion is the correct, true, or the best path to living in Heaven for eternity with God. I can only claim what is the best for me. I’ve done some searching, reading and a lot of thinking over many, many years and have come to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is certainly the best way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I can see a lot of people don’t really understand the Catholic Church. The only One we worship is God, period. I pray to Mary and ask her to pray for me to her Son. Some people say ‘Mary is dead, you are wasting your time.’. I’ve asked them ‘What’s going to happen to you when you die’. I’ve received replies such as, ‘I’m going to heaven.’ Who do you think would be closer to Jesus in Heaven, a person who sincerely lived their life in the best way they felt should get them into Heaven or Mary. Praying to Mary and asking her pray for me and also remembering that the main purpose of my prayer is to worship God. there are also times when I just pray to Mary or a saint and ask them for help or thank them. When I pray the rosary I ask Mary to intercede for me and then offer the rosary to Jesus. I know some people don’t understand this. Prayer in itself is not worship, it is a form of communication. Worship comes from the heart. For me it’s the Bible plus The Catechism of the Catholic Church plus worshiping God at mass plus to never stop looking for the truth to Jesus’s heart. I hope we all see each other when we get there.
 
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“I left the Catholic church when I was filled with the Holy Spirit and have been a non-denominational Christian since then, almost 40 years ago”

How did you know you were filled with the Holy Spirit. What specifically did the Holy Spirit reveal to you that made you leave the Catholic Church. I will appreciate if you can share your experience with us.
 
Greetings, Mrnuggles. I remain Protestant (in name only) because I am not persuaded of the truth of some key Catholic teachings. I’d list a few but have no desire at this time to get into a lengthy discussion on them. I have my own ongoing studies and have been attending Mass 2 or 3 times a week for nearly 4 years. I take personal retreats at a nearby monastery and have been published in a weekly Catholic newspaper.

Strictly speaking, I love the Catholic Church and feel very much at home sitting in on the liturgy. I read the Catechism, the Church Fathers, a Catholic bible commentary (the New Jerome), and always have several theological books on the go by Catholic authors. At the same time I am a very, very private person and have yet to tell anyone my name at any of the parishes I attend.

I became a higher-profile member in a cult-like evangelical church, led songs and prayers and became an accomplished public speaker. But that was never the real me. I now very much enjoy being the stranger who sits at the back and slips out just before communion. When at my desk at work I listen everyday to people like Father Mitch Pacwa and Dr. David Anders. But this is as far as I care to get involved for the moment. So I’m not Catholic, but I’m not really anything else either. However, I am quite happy with the ongoing experience.

Gotta run. Daily Mass is in half an hour and it’s just down the street from where I work. 😎
-CW
 
CelticWarlord said:
I remain Protestant (in name only) because I am not persuaded of the truth of some key Catholic teachings.
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Interesting post and welcome to the Catholic Church for all intents and purposes. You go to mass more often than many Catholics.

Is it really those issues that keep you from becoming 100% Catholic? If you were persuaded of the truth, what would be your next step?
 
There are certain theological issues which would have any RCIA Director raising their eyebrows if I were to tell them my opinion. But there are two other things which remain primary for me; I attend Mass because I like to. As a baptized/confirmed Catholic it would become an obligation. I spent 22 years feeling obligated to a domineering, sabbath-keeping, cult-like church. At this time I don’t care to get that involved with any one organization again, even though the RC experience has been very good up to now.

The other thing is the sign of peace. I have become a very withdrawn and private individual, which suits me fine. The gal who cuts my hair, a lifelong Catholic, told me if I don’t like being spoken to or having my hand shaken, leaving right after the Lord’s Prayer is the best time to slip away and avoid that. It took me two years to work up the courage to attend my first Mass, and another two before I was comfortable shaking the hands of a stranger sitting nearby. I sometimes will stay for that portion, but normally I am gone by the time it happens.

These may not seem like very big obstacles, and if I were seeking truth they would be easily overcome. But I am not looking for truth in religion, but rather variety. Having explored many other aspects of the faith, Catholicism has proven to be the one I like best. As to your question, what would be my next step if I decided differently, it would be to introduce myself to the parish priest and take things from there. That may happen some day, but it is not yet on the visible horizon for me.
-CW
 
Jill said:
Communion for example. Christ said to do this in memory of me. That is a work.
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Hi J,

Yes , but it is not to be saved, not a work to be justified…I believe sola fide means we are saved (justified) by faith, apart from any righteous work. I believe they would say you do righteous work, not to be saved but because you are saved, even evidence that you are…I mean even a couch potato is still your son, alive, where he was once dead…yet sola fide would say some evidence(work) of life will manifest itself.
 
hey there Celtic warlord. I read your entry here on this page and I appreciate your honesty and where you might be coming from on religion. But when you type “religion” what exactly are you suggesting? There are hundreds of “religions” but if you are searching for a religion where God himself became flesh and dwelt among us, I think you mean the Catholic “religion”. And I don’t type “christianity”, because there are thousands of versions of “chrisitianity” that have created their own “christ” to fit their own way of living. Jesus himself, was surrounded by thousands who doubted him and he let them go and use their free will to either accept or deny him (especially those that could not handle the Truth about claiming he was to be eaten and consumed in the Bread of Life that he shared).
Please do not leave the Mass around the time of peace sharing because you are missing the whole point of the Mass in the Eucharist. The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord is there on the altar. Be in AWE. Be present. God is calling you.
 
I am sorry to hear this. The comments of one bigoted Catholic does not reflect what our Church teaches. The Catholic Church does not teach that a child from a mixed faith is “illegitimate.” I myself have issues with the LCMS and the confessional Lutheran statement in the book of Concord which states the Pope is the Antichrist. I am saddened and used to be angry as I almost converted to the LCMS after my divorce when I read the Primacy of Peter. The words spoken by Luther often seemed vile and hateful. I read the Bible cover to cover in two years reading Jane Fryar, NIV version during this Bible study held by this Church.

The Pastor also gave weekly lectures on Sunday after their service which I attended after my divorce when I was frustrated with the Catholic Church. He had a master’s in Exegesis from the St. Louis Seminary and it was FANTASTIC although it was oriented to confessional Lutheranism such as the Pope is the antichrist etc, I learned a lot especially about the Old Testament.

I did put my “Catholic glasses” on while there and came to believe the entire Bible pointed straight to the Catholic Church after that. My experience in the LCMS with confessional Lutherans was wonderful, with people who were warm and welcoming and no pressure to convert. When I left it was difficult and now I profess my faith fully in the Catholic Church which I do firmly believe is the true Church Jesus founded. After two years of attending (and of course never participating in the Lord’s Supper) I had a hard time leaving and the Lutherans will always have a little piece of my heart. I miss many there.

The Benke dispute really made me realize the Church needs a final arbitrator, the Holy Spirit speaking through the Pope/Magisterium. Well educated Pastors on both sides of this dispute disagreed with each other and this congregation was greatly divided over the issue.

I know of a LCMS Paster that disowned his own child because he converted to Catholicism so this works both ways! God bless you and yours. I always hope this Catholic Answer Forum will lends itself towards a better understanding of other denominations. God bless!~
 
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Thank you, boodha97, for your kind words. Your question about what I mean by religion can be answered with a broad interpretation, meaning any of the thousands of man-made attempts to connect with the divine. At the moment I don’t believe any one of these has any particular advantages over the others, but very much like what Catholicism offers. My focus has always remained within Christianity because it is what I am most familiar with, having spent the majority of my 60 years pursuing it. But I don’t feel, at this time, that there is any one truth to be found among its many thousands of splinters. As I said, I like the variety that Christianity offers and have found a huge source of interest within Catholicism. It may well be that I will spend the rest of my life attending Mass, possibly even deciding I want to take the step of becoming Catholic. But that’s not where I am just now.

As for when I decide it’s time to depart the service, that is my choice. If it ever becomes an issue with a priest it would be the last time I attend that parish.
 
What is wrong with believing that salvation comes when you Believe Jesus is the Christ? John 3:16
 
Jill said:
t is a sad state of affairs really.

So as a protestant, you pray for God to lead you to his church. Find me a church please. Alot of times if you don’t find it, perhaps you found others that are of like mind and you start your own.

All Protestant churches are touted to be divinely led. Surely the holy Spirit doesn’t have split personalities?

While I am working out my own salvation I wonder if the holy Spirit is leading or our own comfort levels.

I find the Catholic Church to be very different and I am totally out of my element when I attend. I do not understand what’s going on and I cannot make out the words being recited back by the congregation. I am holding on and waiting.
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It is really a sad state of affairs Jill. You go to the church that fits most of your beliefs but how do you know your beliefs are correct. My guess is that the answer will be : “Well, I am guided by the Holy Spirit”. Considering that there are over 3,000 protestant denominations in the US, you rightly questioned if the Holy Spirit has split personalities and the answer to that is no. So who decides what the correct beliefs should be…no other than the Church that existed from the time of the Apostles.

In Galatians 2: 1-2 Paul, prompted by a revelation and after fourteen years of preaching to the Gentiles, went to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus to meet with the leaders of the Church. He laid out for their scrutiny the Gospel as he preached it to the Gentiles to make sure that the course he was pursuing or had pursuded was in conformance with the teachings of the Church. That Church was, and still is, the Catholic Church, the one Church that has the authority, and infallible, when making decisions regarding faith and morals. Note that Paul had a revelation but still went to meet with the Apostles. Who do Protestants go to to resolve doctrinal or theological issues? Note also that Peter was a sinner, yet he was the head of the Church; so was/is any Pope.

Come on home Jill to Mama Church. She is there waiting with open arms. Think about all the Saints that died; they were all Catholics. Think about the Bible; it was put together by the Catholic Church and protected through centuries of mayhem until today. After 1,500 years of Her existence some fellow comes and starts talking about Sola Scripture and justification by faith and whatever else that fancied his imagination.

The rituals of the Catholic Church will apppear strange and incomprehensible to you at first. But gradually, you will get used to them and you will understand. Please hold on and keep asking the Holy Spirit for help.
 
Jill said:
For Protestants you have personal interpretation which the Catholic Church does not adhere to. In a Protestant church you will listen to the sermon and families will go home and discuss on which points you agree with the pastor and which points you disagree. On these points the pastor was correct and in these her was not. This is what we believe in our household.

You go to the church that most fits your beliefs until the pastor says something outlandish that does not align to yours. You leave the church. Pray for direction and search for the next church.

It is a sad state of affairs really.

So as a protestant, you pray for God to lead you to his church. Find me a church please. Alot of times if you don’t find it, perhaps you found others that are of like mind and you start your own.

All Protestant churches are touted to be divinely led. Surely the holy Spirit doesn’t have split personalities?

While I am working out my own salvation I wonder if the holy Spirit is leading or our own comfort levels.

I find the Catholic Church to be very different and I am totally out of my element when I attend. I do not understand what’s going on and I cannot make out the words being recited back by the congregation. I am holding on and waiting.
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We never discussed the sermon when we attended Protestant churches. My mother was a Protestant most of her life. And after she attended Protestant services after having been away for so long, she was appalled at the way they taught rather than what they taught. That is what we discussed.

Regarding beliefs, no. Mama went to the churches of her parents. There was no choice about which one she would attend. Her daddy said she was going to church. She went to church.

Mama went to Protestant churches until she married my father. Then she started attending the Catholic Church since she had promised to raise any children they had as Catholic. She converted in her later years.

Since Protestants believe they are saved (“once saved, always saved”), why do you feel you must work out your own salvation? What does that mean to you?

The Catholic Church is different from Protestant churches. The Catholic Church has Jesus Himself as its Founder. Protestant churches have ordinary men as their founders.

There are Missals in front of you in each pew. Pick one up and you will see all the responses Catholics make. You will understand what is going on by following along, listening and observing.

There are also many books you can purchase which explain the Mass and everything else so that it’ll be easier for you to understand what is going on.
 
WesArm said:
I’m Protestant, but barely. After examining the Catholic arguments against faith alone & scripture alone, I now reject those two Protestant Solas. So I may not be Protestant for much longer…
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Come home to Mother Church, WesArm. You won’t regret it.
 
Greetings!
Just found this site and saw the post; I just had to respond.
I am a Missouri Synod Lutheran, have been all my life. I’ve never really thought about swapping to Catholicism, and I’m not really considering it now. The main differences that I have seen/heard between Lutheranism and Catholicism are in the Sacraments, and in prayer to Saints and such. I know some peopel have referenced praying to saints above, but not being raised with that it just feels odd to me not praying directly to God.

When it comes to Sacraments, the sharpest distinction I’ve seen is the classification of Communion. As a Lutheran, I take Jesus’ word “is” quite literally when he references the bread and wine being HIs body and blood, a view I’m told that is differnt than Catholics.

However, I deeply appreciate my Catholic brothers and sisters, and wish that denominations could reconcile. Unfortunately, due to the brokeness of human nature, I don’t think its possible outside of Heaven.
 
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