Should I go to a Fundamentalist worship service?

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Paul_Folbrecht

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Hello all! My first time posting in this particular forum.

I am a devout Catholic who has spent the last few years learning all about the Church and the history of Christianity from wonderful authors like Hahn, Keating, etc. I have had several “battles” with fundamentalist friends & acquaintances over this time as well spurred by their anti-Catholicism and lack of knowledge.

My girlfriend and I have recently made some new fundamentalist friends (they attend the huge local fundie church with which I have much experience) and they just invited us to a Christmas event they’re putting on followed by a service followed by dinner.

I am somewhat at a loss here. I don’t want to attend this service, and I’m not sure if it’s forbidden by the Church or not (I should know that), but I don’t want to offend them. I can’t very well say, “sure, we’ll come to the event and dinner, but we’re going to skip your worship service & preaching that will quite possibly be full of heretical teaching I don’t care to listen to”.

What would you do? What does the Church teach about this.

I have a limited time to make up my mind. Thanks in advance!

God bless,
Paul
 
It cant replace your Sunday or any day of obligation.

Other than that - you cant partake of their communion if they even have one at this service, and good luck.

We should not participate with heresy. But some here will tell you its fine.

Good Luck.

I am scratching my head now…
 
I’m scratching too. Upon further thought, what I really don’t want to find myself in is either a conversion attempt or conversation over a teaching or sermon that contained un- or anti-Catholic or sentiment. I don’t mean Catholic-bashing, but, say, a sermon that stressed faith alone as the means to salvation (which, of course, those fundies really believe in!).

BTW, the inviters, as near as I can tell, are completely sincere in their friendship and would likely not try to convert us. I explained once to Dean that I had spent a great deal of time studying Christianity and was extremely convinced that the Catholic Church is God’s true and full Church. And, he’s kind of a meek guy - not the all-too-common in-your-face I’m-saved-and-you’re not clueless fundamentalist.
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
I’m scratching too. Upon further thought, what I really don’t want to find myself in is either a conversion attempt or conversation over a teaching or sermon that contained un- or anti-Catholic or sentiment. I don’t mean Catholic-bashing, but, say, a sermon that stressed faith alone as the means to salvation (which, of course, those fundies really believe in!).
How are you going to avoid that? It will only be natural for a conversation to transpire. Of course the sermon will espose their views. What else?
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I am sure they are warm loving nice people. That is what makes it hard.

Yet, it does not make it right for you to plunge forward unless you dont mind all the concerns you have being violated…
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I attended a concert at a fundamentalist church with a friend at work this past summer, under the pretense that there wouldn’t be any anti-Catholicism associated with the event and that there was no pressure on me to convert. They almost had me attending the church picnic that following weekend and they didn’t have any understanding of the Catholic faith to realize just how anti-Catholic the service was! And I’ve been invited back to that church at least a dozen times over the past few months.

Believe me, it would have been better for me to excuse myself from attending that concert in the first place 🙂
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McKevin
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Thanks to both of you for your opinions.

Can I hear a few more? C’mon, people, I’m not kidding! 😃
 
I think you need to make sure the lines of communication are open with your friends. What are they doing - a Christmas program? Will there be an altar call? Is it an evangelistic event or a celebration? There is a lot of difference between a children’s play about Bethlehem and “Exposing the Whore of Babylon.” Keep in mind your friends also have no control over the program and may not have all the information about what is planned. Ask some questions about the service: are church members being asked to invite neighbors to get them saved or just to show off how cute the kids are, and they want a full auditorium? Will the friendship withstand something you may regard as a betrayal?

I’ve been to services that were billed as “soft” only to discover a hard-core altar call at the end of it. the sort of thing where “only the hardest-hearted backslidden wallowing-in-sin reprobate won’t come to the altar right now.” Fundamentalist churches vary widely. Some are anti-Catholic, others are collaborators with the Church on common issues, such as pro-life, and there is respect and admiration for the Church. But you may never know exactly what you are in for - it can vary from preacher to preacher, church to church, and service to service.

Explain to your friends what may make you uncomfortable, what you might consider a breach of your integrity or your friendship. If something awkward happens, then they should understand. What you don’t want is to feel they tricked you into a situation where you will be uncomfortable. They may decide you’re better off not going, understand why, and respect you for it, with a deeper friendship as a result of an open hearted discussion.

“Fundie”, by the way, is pejorative among some fundamentalists and a point of pride among others.
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
Hello all! My first time posting in this particular forum.

I am a devout Catholic who has spent the last few years learning all about the Church and the history of Christianity from wonderful authors like Hahn, Keating, etc. I have had several “battles” with fundamentalist friends & acquaintances over this time as well spurred by their anti-Catholicism and lack of knowledge.

My girlfriend and I have recently made some new fundamentalist friends (they attend the huge local fundie church with which I have much experience) and they just invited us to a Christmas event they’re putting on followed by a service followed by dinner.

I am somewhat at a loss here. I don’t want to attend this service, and I’m not sure if it’s forbidden by the Church or not (I should know that), but I don’t want to offend them. I can’t very well say, “sure, we’ll come to the event and dinner, but we’re going to skip your worship service & preaching that will quite possibly be full of heretical teaching I don’t care to listen to”.

What would you do? What does the Church teach about this.

I have a limited time to make up my mind. Thanks in advance!

God bless,
Paul
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Well perhaps you and your girlfriend could plan something during the time when the event and service are going on. This way you could simply say, “Me and my girlfriend were planning to do something around the time the event and service are going on, but we would be glad to join you for dinner.” That is nice, honest, non-offensive, and still allows you to be with them at least for dinner.
 
Truthstalker said:
I think you need to make sure the lines of communication are open with your friends. What are they doing - a Christmas program? Will there be an altar call? Is it an evangelistic event or a celebration? There is a lot of difference between a children’s play about Bethlehem and “Exposing the Whore of Babylon.” Keep in mind your friends also have no control over the program and may not have all the information about what is planned. Ask some questions about the service: are church members being asked to invite neighbors to get them saved or just to show off how cute the kids are, and they want a full auditorium? Will the friendship withstand something you may regard as a betrayal?

I’ve been to services that were billed as “soft” only to discover a hard-core altar call at the end of it. the sort of thing where “only the hardest-hearted backslidden wallowing-in-sin reprobate won’t come to the altar right now.” Fundamentalist churches vary widely. Some are anti-Catholic, others are collaborators with the Church on common issues, such as pro-life, and there is respect and admiration for the Church. But you may never know exactly what you are in for - it can vary from preacher to preacher, church to church, and service to service.

Explain to your friends what may make you uncomfortable, what you might consider a breach of your integrity or your friendship. If something awkward happens, then they should understand. What you don’t want is to feel they tricked you into a situation where you will be uncomfortable. They may decide you’re better off not going, understand why, and respect you for it, with a deeper friendship as a result of an open hearted discussion.

“Fundie”, by the way, is pejorative among some fundamentalists and a point of pride among others.
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They are new friends, so it’s not quite as easy to be open. But, you’re right, I’ve already decided to talk to them (him) about the whole thing.

I’ve been to this church before. A girl I dated before I was a devout Catholic went there. It is middle-of-the-road; I would not expect blatant anti-C stuff, but they do, for instance, produce conversion leaflets that are obviously aimed at Catholics. I was given one recently.

I’m all but decided that I don’t want to attend the service, and will have to tell them, regardless of whether it’s a conversion attempt or not. If they would have a problem with that, after all, they have some issues. If the issue is pressed at all, I will immediately offer to send them the extensive essays I’ve written on such topics as The Eucharist, The Papacy, Infant Baptism, and others.

“Fundie”, for me, is a convenient abbreviation.
 
It is typical that Fundamentalist churches will put on a special Christmas service or production in order to win new converts. I am sure you are being invited as a potential convert, not just to enjoy a nice evening. In my experience, if you go once, they never stop asking! :eek:
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
Thanks to both of you for your opinions.

Can I hear a few more? C’mon, people, I’m not kidding! 😃
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As a show of support to my BF’s spiritual journey, I accompany him to his church as an observer only. I have made some friends and they all know that I am “the good Catholic girl”. They don’t nor have they ever tried to convert me. I have raised a few eyebrows when I take out my rosary to pray during their service.
I suppose, if you are strong enough in your faith, no one can shake you from that.
Kathy
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
Thanks to both of you for your opinions.

Can I hear a few more? C’mon, people, I’m not kidding! 😃
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I don’t go to those things. Example: Mormon church. I’ve got some Mormon friends, and they are happy to have me come to their church, which I’ve done a half-dozen times. Each time has been an agony for me. Mormons aren’t fundamentalists, but their evangelization work is pretty intense, and they, like fundamentalists, will definitely go the “friendship evangelization” route. Years ago, when I was a fundamentalist, I learned a lot about how they evangelize. The idea of “friendship evangelization” is their primary focus. Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Jesus. The possibility that you would not be subjected to anti-Catholicism and evangelization techniques by these fundamentalists is almost zero. Still, if you’re firm in your faith, then this will pose no problem for you, except that, if you’re like me, you’ll find it extremely irritating.

OTOH, you could go and then return the favor by inviting your friends to something special in your own parish, like Christmas Mass. Friendship and outreach should move in both directions. It could prove to be an illuminating experience for all.
 
you could go and then return the favor by inviting your friends to something special in your own parish, like Christmas Mass.
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This is what I usually do. I tell them I will go just as soon as they go to a Mass and I mean it, if they go to a Mass I will go with them to their service however they don’t usually come back with the offer.

You could just through it out there, see how they take it. If they say no, then you shouldnt feel guilty about saying no to their service.

Just a thought
 
While it cannot take the place of attending mass per Catholic doctrine, I see no big issue in attending otherwise. I would make it clear to your friends that you are Catholic and will not appreciate efforts to “convert” you to their denomination. I would also ask if any anti-Catholic bias will be present. If so, then I would say no thanks.
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
Hello all! My first time posting in this particular forum.

My girlfriend and I have recently made some new fundamentalist friends (they attend the huge local fundie church with which I have much experience) and they just invited us to a Christmas event they’re putting on followed by a service followed by dinner.

What would you do? What does the Church teach about this.

I have a limited time to make up my mind. Thanks in advance!

God bless,
Paul
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Have you ever thought of inviting your friend to the Mass?
"If I come to your church, will you come to my church’?
See what will she say.
 
mikew262 said:
I would also ask if any anti-Catholic bias will be present.
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The problem here, though, is that many who are anti-Catholic do not realize how pervasive their bias is.

Personally, I would not attend. This is the background I came from before my conversion to the Church, and people who don’t belong tend to be identified as “prospects” and even if the OP’s friends are the mild sort who can be friends even though there’s not agreement on how to worship, that’s not to say that the pirahnas won’t scent them out and pursue w/ aggressive attempts at conversion.

In the OP’s situation, I might counter-invite to Mass and make further decisions based on the reaction that got, but I’d still lean very heavily into the camp of not going (it’s discouraged, and I think with good reason).
 
Go to a non-Catholic worship service?

Never!

They might make you change your mind.

I suppose you *could *go, if you were committed to keeping your mind aboslutely shut. Remember, a closed mind means nothing can fall out!
 
Exalt said:
Go to a non-Catholic worship service?

Never!

They might make you change your mind.

I suppose you *could *go, if you were committed to keeping your mind aboslutely shut. Remember, a closed mind means nothing can fall out!
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Are you joking? If not, you need to learn and strengthen your faith a bit. One need only learn the basics of Christian history and Bible study to see that the Catholic Church is God’s true Church founded by Christ.

If Fundamentalists were both educated in the facts and truly open-minded, they’d all become Catholic.
 
Update: I’ve decided to ask my friend straight-out if this is or would be a conversion attempt of some sort. If so… I’ll go from there. I’d really rather not argue - I got tired of losing so many friends due to that type of thing - but if he does, I’ll have to go all ‘Hahn & Keating’ on his arse, and then he’ll likely be in a bad mood for awhile…
 
Paul_Folbrecht said:
Update: I’ve decided to ask my friend straight-out if this is or would be a conversion attempt of some sort. If so… I’ll go from there. I’d really rather not argue - I got tired of losing so many friends due to that type of thing - but if he does, I’ll have to go all ‘Hahn & Keating’ on his arse, and then he’ll likely be in a bad mood for awhile…
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I asked my friend the same question before attending the concert I went to earlier in the summer, and she said “absolutley not”. But she didn’t realize the mission of her church. They still haven’t let up.

But, if you’re grounded in the faith, then I say go and let your light shine! (that’s what I’ve been doing since)
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McKevin
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