Should Catholic attend Protestant Bible Studies?

[wondrousgnat]

I have attended activities, including bible studies, at my wife’s Lutheran church. And have contributed Catholic intertretations. I used to be very involved in my former parish in a number of activities (heading a few) but I have moved and my new parish has absolutely nothing.

 

[aidanbradypop]

I have attended activities, including bible studies, at my wife’s Lutheran church. And have contributed Catholic intertretations. I used to be very involved in my former parish in a number of activities (heading a few) but I have moved and my new parish has absolutely nothing.

I moved to North Dakota from Tennessee. Southern Catholics LOVE bible study much I cannot get the Catholics here to really commit to anything. It is like going to the dentist for them lol. I continue to pray that they will have a change of heart.

 

[brb3]

I moved to North Dakota from Tennessee. Southern Catholics LOVE bible study much I cannot get the Catholics here to really commit to anything. It is like going to the dentist for them lol. I continue to pray that they will have a change of heart.

Exactly, …Protestants tell me all the time " how can Catholicism be the true Church, when they don’t study or know their Bibles ?"

“Lots of lapsed Catholics, I tell them, that need to confess and read the Psalms and scriptures again, like the Catholics use to in the pre-Vatican 2 era”.

 

[aidanbradypop]

Exactly, …Protestants tell me all the time " how can Catholicism be the true Church, when they don’t study or know their Bibles ?"

“Lots of lapsed Catholics, I tell them, that need to confess and read the Psalms and scriptures again, like the Catholics use to in the pre-Vatican 2 era”.

I am about to begin my Diaconate Formation and God willing I come out a Deacon, I plan to get these Catholics in the “Bible Shape” lol

 

[wondrousgnat]

I think it a good idea to go to bible studies like some. If everyone is open and you can freely give a Catholic interpretation (if you know your Catholic faith well enough). But I would avoid those where the attack is part of the program. Sometimes they come with pamphlets and information prepared. You can be caught unprepared to combat something that is distorted or an outright lie. (for example I was once put on the defensive of papal infallibility after being instructed about the heresies of Pope Pelagius. After the meeting, too late, I discovered there was no Pope Pelagius.)

I see nothing wrong with going to Protestant bible studies but be careful what you are getting in to.

 

[aidanbradypop]

I think it a good idea to go to bible studies like some. If everyone is open and you can freely give a Catholic interpretation (if you know your Catholic faith well enough). But I would avoid those where the attack is part of the program. Sometimes they come with pamphlets and information prepared. You can be caught unprepared to combat something that is distorted or an outright lie. (for example I was once put on the defensive of papal infallibility after being instructed about the heresies of Pope Pelagius. After the meeting, too late, I discovered there was no Pope Pelagius.)

I see nothing wrong with going to Protestant bible studies but be careful what you are getting in to.

I 100% agree. Know the type of people that you will be sitting down with. I get the “Pope bashing” all the time. They use Popes like Pope Alexander (Borgia) to explain how Popes are not perfect and are sometimes even downright evil. It really surprised them when I agreed. Yes, Popes in the past have been “evil” but you cannot judge the Chair of St. Peter of the Church by one priest or Pope. Many Protestants falsely assume that Papal Infallibility is claiming that a Pope is perfect and without sin as a human. I wish Protestants actually researched the Church and knew the teachings rather than what they believe the Church teaches. If I am attending a Luthern Small Group, I will study up on Lutheranism to be prepared and if I have a question, I will ask rather than assume with a false comment.

Thanks for your post wondrousgnat!

 

[wondrousgnat]

I have run across a couple who believe that the church believes that even a sneeze is infallible. I was too stunned, or amused, to ask what we Catholics interpret from an infallible sneeze.

 

[signit]

I think it a good idea to go to bible studies like some. If everyone is open and you can freely give a Catholic interpretation (if you know your Catholic faith well enough). But I would avoid those where the attack is part of the program. Sometimes they come with pamphlets and information prepared. You can be caught unprepared to combat something that is distorted or an outright lie. (for example I was once put on the defensive of papal infallibility after being instructed about the heresies of Pope Pelagius. After the meeting, too late, I discovered there was no Pope Pelagius.)

I see nothing wrong with going to Protestant bible studies but be careful what you are getting in to.

Another one agreeing that maybe you should go but be very careful.

If the other participants are open-minded people who are sincerely seeking the truth, that’s one thing.

If they’re just there to propagandize with their little “talking points” and try to convince you to join their church, that’s another thing. Unfortunately I’ve encountered that.

 

[PaulVF]

I think that this depends what the motives behind this are. Is it to convert one’s opinions and beliefs to those of another or to gain some understanding of both. Frequently I get together with a close Protestant friend of mine and she and I have a bible study together; she with the KJ bible and I with a Catholic version. On most points we agree but on others we do not. Eventually she has attended Mass with me as I have gone with her to her worship services at her church. In the end we have come to respect each other’s viewpoints. Is this wrong?

 

[adf417]

I think that this depends what the motives behind this are. Is it to convert one’s opinions and beliefs to those of another or to gain some understanding of both. Frequently I get together with a close Protestant friend of mine and she and I have a bible study together; she with the KJ bible and I with a Catholic version. On most points we agree but on others we do not. Eventually she has attended Mass with me as I have gone with her to her worship services at her church. In the end we have come to respect each other’s viewpoints. Is this wrong?

Hi Paul,

I do not think it is wrong for a Catholic to attend a protestant worship service however, it should not replace the obligatory Mass. It cannot replace the Mass. While Protestants consider their worship service “worship” it is in no way a complete worship as what Jesus gave us in the Mass and allows us to partake in.

When I have attended another worship service of any kind I have always considered them beautiful, uplifting, prayerful bible studies. Once Protestants realize this difference in levels of worship and how the Mass plays a part in the ultimate worship then, and only then, will they begin to understand things like our devotions to Mary and the Saints and the perfect beauty in receiving the Eucharist.

The danger comes in when Catholics who themselves do not understand this true worship and fall into the misconception of the “praise and worship” or whatever tag you place on the outward beauty of Protestant worship, as being true and perfect worship – never realizing the Mass offers so much more. Yes, there are many Catholics that do not realize these differences and therefore you should understand all the apprehension and discouragement the previous posters have expressed above.

Peace!!!

 

[aidanbradypop]

I think that this depends what the motives behind this are. Is it to convert one’s opinions and beliefs to those of another or to gain some understanding of both. Frequently I get together with a close Protestant friend of mine and she and I have a bible study together; she with the KJ bible and I with a Catholic version. On most points we agree but on others we do not. Eventually she has attended Mass with me as I have gone with her to her worship services at her church. In the end we have come to respect each other’s viewpoints. Is this wrong?

Paul I do not feel it is wrong to attend other services as long as you still attend Mass also. When I visit my family back home, I will go to Mass on Saturday and the Episcopalian rite on Sunday morning. That way I am doing worship with loved ones and going to mass as well.

 

[PaulVF]

Hi Paul,

I do not think it is wrong for a Catholic to attend a protestant worship service however, it should not replace the obligatory Mass. It cannot replace the Mass. While Protestants consider their worship service “worship” it is in no way a complete worship as what Jesus gave us in the Mass and allows us to partake in.

When I have attended another worship service of any kind I have always considered them beautiful, uplifting, prayerful bible studies. Once Protestants realize this difference in levels of worship and how the Mass plays a part in the ultimate worship then, and only then, will they begin to understand things like our devotions to Mary and the Saints and the perfect beauty in receiving the Eucharist.

The danger comes in when Catholics who themselves do not understand this true worship and fall into the misconception of the “praise and worship” or whatever tag you place on the outward beauty of Protestant worship, as being true and perfect worship – never realizing the Mass offers so much more. Yes, there are many Catholics that do not realize these differences and therefore you should understand all the apprehension and discouragement the previous posters have expressed above.

Peace!!!

Thank you for your answer. Please do not misunderstand. I hold fast to my Catholic beliefs including participating in the obligatory Mass. I do so not because I am obligated but I return to and am welcomed in my second home each and every time; a feeling that is hard to describe.

Some years ago I was on the evangelization committee at our local parish. We put on a program called “Christ Renews His Parish” at several different Protestant churches. In doing so we learned a lot about each other; focusing more on what unites us, Jesus Christ as our Redeemer, rather than what divides us. For the same reason, when I invited my Protestant friend to attend Mass with me, it laid to rest several misconceptions that she had about our Mass and beliefs. I in turn went to the services at her church and I have to admit I felt God’s hand there also.

On the same note, there is one striking difference between the service at most Protestant churches and that of our own Mass. In the Protestant church there is much more emotion (group-wise that is) as compared to our Catholic Mass where it is on more of a personal and private level.
Paul

 

[adf417]

On the same note, there is one striking difference between the service at most Protestant churches and that of our own Mass. In the Protestant church there is much more emotion (group-wise that is) as compared to our Catholic Mass where it is on more of a personal and private level.
Paul

Hi Paul,

I do agree with you for the most part here but if you ever get a chance, please try to attend a full Life Teen mass or better, a Life Teen conference. It doesn’t get any more emotional, “group-wise” or personal, than this.

Peace!!!

 

[AspiringServant]

No.