Should I go to this Bible Study?

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waanju

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Hi. So I’m a college student, and my campus is pretty hostile to any form of religion at all, but especially Christianity (they seem to be most okay with Buddhism and Wicca, but that’s beside the point). It’s sort of hard to deal with, so I’ve been looking for friends of faith ANY faith, just because constantly feeling on guard about being religious is tiring sometimes.
As a solution, I found out that my campus had one Christian club. It’s called Intervarsity Christian Fellowiship, and they have weekly Bible study/ hangouts. They don’t have any particular denomination, and I was one of two Catholics there. I went to the first Bible study, and it was sort of refreshing. We read Acts 2, about early Christian communities, and sort of talked about how we could use those ideas in our group (being open to the Holy Spirit, sharing God with others, eating together (pretty sure the breaking bread part was partially in reference to the Eucharist, but okay), and doing community service together). Besides the potential gliding over the Eucharist, everything seemed pretty much in keeping with the interpretations that were printed in my Catholic Youth Bible.
At the end of the meeting, we got into little groups and talked about something good and something bad from our week, then prayed (this is when I discovered the other Catholic… go sign of the cross!). Before we left, the leader (who I believe is Lutheran) said that we would all choose “accountability partners” next week to sort of talk over our struggles with faith and support each other and talk about sin and whatnot. That sounds kind of nice, like a good friend, but I feel like it’s at least partly covered for me by confession. I guess since the other denominations don’t get confession though, they sort of need this.
OKAY so to get to the point (finally, I’m sorry): Is it okay for me to go to this non-Catholic Bible Study? Should I do something else, like look up Catholic interpretations afterwards, or can I just go without extensive counter-study (and just focus on the similarities), or is it not good at all for me to go? We didn’t really discuss any doctrine specific to any denomination, and I’m sort of using it as a way to make friends with morals/ motivate myself to read the Bible more often, but I don’t want it to be a hidden trap that somehow confuses my faith.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!
 
First of all ask! Is this an expectation to confess to one another? If it is, confess with as much detail (or as little) as you wish to, remembering that this person cannot offer absolution, only a priest can do that.

However, you can confess to anyone that you have sinned in general terms (by what I have done and what I have failed to do) and ask that this person pray for you…which is what we do in the Mass in the general confession when we ask our brothers and our sisters to pray to the Lord God for forgiveness of our sins.
 
Is it okay for me to go to this non-Catholic Bible Study? Should I do something else, like look up Catholic interpretations afterwards, or can I just go without extensive counter-study (and just focus on the similarities), or is it not good at all for me to go? We didn’t really discuss any doctrine specific to any denomination, and I’m sort of using it as a way to make friends with morals/ motivate myself to read the Bible more often, but I don’t want it to be a hidden trap that somehow confuses my faith.
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It is not inherently wrong to attend a Protestant Bible study. You should, of course, not neglect attendance at Catholic mass. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted to leave Catholicism.

Using a Protestant Bible/translation does carry some dangers. Looking up the Catholic interpretation and introducing it into the discussion is an excellent idea.

The larger issue is: Is attending an atheist dominated college a threat to your faith? No secular education is worth a risk to your soul.
 
waanju said:
Hi. So I’m a college student, and my campus is pretty hostile to any form of religion at all, but especially Christianity (they seem to be most okay with Buddhism and Wicca, but that’s beside the point). It’s sort of hard to deal with, so I’ve been looking for friends of faith ANY faith, just because constantly feeling on guard about being religious is tiring sometimes.
As a solution, I found out that my campus had one Christian club. It’s called Intervarsity Christian Fellowiship, and they have weekly Bible study/ hangouts. They don’t have any particular denomination, and I was one of two Catholics there. I went to the first Bible study, and it was sort of refreshing. We read Acts 2, about early Christian communities, and sort of talked about how we could use those ideas in our group (being open to the Holy Spirit, sharing God with others, eating together (pretty sure the breaking bread part was partially in reference to the Eucharist, but okay), and doing community service together). Besides the potential gliding over the Eucharist, everything seemed pretty much in keeping with the interpretations that were printed in my Catholic Youth Bible.
At the end of the meeting, we got into little groups and talked about something good and something bad from our week, then prayed (this is when I discovered the other Catholic… go sign of the cross!). Before we left, the leader (who I believe is Lutheran) said that we would all choose “accountability partners” next week to sort of talk over our struggles with faith and support each other and talk about sin and whatnot. That sounds kind of nice, like a good friend, but I feel like it’s at least partly covered for me by confession. I guess since the other denominations don’t get confession though, they sort of need this.
OKAY so to get to the point (finally, I’m sorry): Is it okay for me to go to this non-Catholic Bible Study? Should I do something else, like look up Catholic interpretations afterwards, or can I just go without extensive counter-study (and just focus on the similarities), or is it not good at all for me to go? We didn’t really discuss any doctrine specific to any denomination, and I’m sort of using it as a way to make friends with morals/ motivate myself to read the Bible more often, but I don’t want it to be a hidden trap that somehow confuses my faith.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!
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So you don’t have a Newman Center on campus? Even my son’s very small campus of 10,000 students has a small Newman Center. I do think you will need to be extra-vigilant about getting into theology/practice that isn’t Catholic…The first few meetings may seem harmless and welcoming, but who knows where it could go…If you are careful to check their statements against our Catechism, you could proceed with caution…Have you talked to the other Catholic yet and does he/she have similar concerns?

Watch out for the Campus Crusade for Christ - they are quite anti-Catholic! Haven’t heart of the group you mention or maybe it’s just that specific club on campus. Don’t be afraid to be a Catholic out in the open, though - wear your faith “loud and proud!”
 
Does your campus not have a Catholic Newman Club? Most secular universities have a Catholic group named after Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman. I know the mileage for these clubs varies greatly depending upon the campus, but that would be my first suggestion. That’s usually the best way for Catholic college students at a secular school to connect with each other.

Going to Intervarsity isn’t necessarily bad. From my experience, they tend to be less hostile towards Catholics than CRU. But again, that may vary from campus to campus.

Accountability partners is not necessarily a bad thing. We’re not made to practice our faith in a vaccuum, but in community. Having a good friend who we know will ask us things like (for example), “So, how was Mass on Sunday?” can be helpful in fighting the temptation to sleep in on Sunday morning. I feel a bit uneasy about forced accountability partners . It’s the type of thing that should grow naturally from Christian friendship, IMO. But you’re right that it absolutely should not be a substitute for Confession and you shouldn’t feel obligated to share all your sins.

You may be just fine and the group may welcome your perspective as a Catholic (you just better make sure you do some outside reading to prepare yourself with regards to what the Church teaches). If they start pressuring you to leave the Church, that would be a clear indication that it’s time to put some distance between you and them.
 
waanju said:
OKAY so to get to the point (finally, I’m sorry): Is it okay for me to go to this non-Catholic Bible Study? Should I do something else, like look up Catholic interpretations afterwards, or can I just go without extensive counter-study (and just focus on the similarities), or is it not good at all for me to go? We didn’t really discuss any doctrine specific to any denomination, and I’m sort of using it as a way to make friends with morals/ motivate myself to read the Bible more often, but I don’t want it to be a hidden trap that somehow confuses my faith.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!
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It sounds like a fine thing and I imagine, being ecumenical, they are going to stick to standard interpretations. However, if you can get the reading ahead of time, you can look in your own Bible or the NAB online at the USCCB website for notes. Also, I like the faith partner deal.

It also occurs to me, remembering back to university, that there is probably a local Parish that also might have Bible study or ways to be involved. But I like the idea of this group. Give it a whirl, if they go off on a tangent, you can leave. It’s also, perhaps gently, a way to share your own faith if you bring up different interpretations.
 
here is their Statement of Faith
The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit full of love and glory.
The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible.
The value and dignity of all people: created in God’s image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God’s wrath.
Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
Justification by God’s grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service.
The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshiping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
To God be glory forever.
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if you can get the reading ahead of time, you can look in your own Bible or the NAB online at the USCCB website for notes
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you can find the reading here intervarsity.org/bible-studies http://www.intervarsity.org/ they are an evangelical sola scriptura organization,if you aren’t up to evangelizing Protestants to the one true faith,i’d back off.because they will be evangelizing you.
 
waanju said:
Hi. So I’m a college student, and my campus is pretty hostile to any form of religion at all, but especially Christianity (they seem to be most okay with Buddhism and Wicca, but that’s beside the point). It’s sort of hard to deal with, so I’ve been looking for friends of faith ANY faith, just because constantly feeling on guard about being religious is tiring sometimes.
As a solution, I found out that my campus had one Christian club. It’s called Intervarsity Christian Fellowiship, and they have weekly Bible study/ hangouts. They don’t have any particular denomination, and I was one of two Catholics there. I went to the first Bible study, and it was sort of refreshing. We read Acts 2, about early Christian communities, and sort of talked about how we could use those ideas in our group (being open to the Holy Spirit, sharing God with others, eating together (pretty sure the breaking bread part was partially in reference to the Eucharist, but okay), and doing community service together). Besides the potential gliding over the Eucharist, everything seemed pretty much in keeping with the interpretations that were printed in my Catholic Youth Bible.
At the end of the meeting, we got into little groups and talked about something good and something bad from our week, then prayed (this is when I discovered the other Catholic… go sign of the cross!). Before we left, the leader (who I believe is Lutheran) said that we would all choose “accountability partners” next week to sort of talk over our struggles with faith and support each other and talk about sin and whatnot. That sounds kind of nice, like a good friend, but I feel like it’s at least partly covered for me by confession. I guess since the other denominations don’t get confession though, they sort of need this.
OKAY so to get to the point (finally, I’m sorry): Is it okay for me to go to this non-Catholic Bible Study? Should I do something else, like look up Catholic interpretations afterwards, or can I just go without extensive counter-study (and just focus on the similarities), or is it not good at all for me to go? We didn’t really discuss any doctrine specific to any denomination, and I’m sort of using it as a way to make friends with morals/ motivate myself to read the Bible more often, but I don’t want it to be a hidden trap that somehow confuses my faith.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!
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Sounds OK to me and sounds enriching.

Just hold firm to your Catholic beliefs, without arguing of course.

God Bless
Jim
 
Most evangelicals today are “non-denominational” but their beliefs are very Protestant. You will be surrounded by erroneous interpretations of the Holy Scriptures, at the very least. Why surround yourself with false teachings? Protestantism may be less wrong than the atheistic secularism most of your college peers espouse, but still, you would not be doing yourself a favor.

I am all for finding common ground with our “separated brethren,” but I suggest going to their potlucks and soup kitchen outings and leaving their Bible study alone.
 
i just looked at your other posts,you seem well grounded in the faith. go for it,this will probably strengthen your faith.
 
It would probably be ok as long as you understand some of their teaching will be contrary to Catholic teaching. This is not a bad thing (in this sense), that it will give you a window into what Protestants believe and their interpretation of Scripture. If you do go, you might want to read materials aimed at converting people to Catholicism such as “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” and “Rome Sweet Home”. It will be a good opportunity to learn and build your faith.

Remember this statement: There is nothing you can find in a religion outside the Roman Catholic Church that you can not also find inside it.

The grass is not greener in Protestantism. If they become hard in their attempts to convert you, it is time to find another group to hang out with.

Here’s a Catholic Ministry which might have a group or be willing to form one: focus.org/
 
I attended one of those groups for a little while in college. Don’t remember if it was CCC or ICF. I stopped going because they kept trying to get me to be “saved” according to their theology. In their minds, since I was a Catholic, I wasn’t really “saved”.

Later I had the experience of joining a small informal Bible study conducted by a guy who was a Protestant. It was not a bad experience in the same way, but ultimately it became counter-productive because we couldn’t agree on a basis for Biblical interpretation. I would disagree with his understanding of certain passages and his response was basically “This must be true because the Bible scholars that I respect interpret it this way”. I thought, how ironic, you would tell me that I am wrong to trust the Pope or some priest in telling me how to interpret Scripture; yet you allow someone else to dictate how to understand it just because this person is a “Bible scholar”. I quit the group at that point.

You may have a good experience in this group, but I agree with the others that you would do much better to find a Catholic student group if possible.
 
I would stay away from this Bible study. They sound like well meaning, nice people, but they are not Catholic, and sooner or later the differences will come up and you can very easily get confused or led astray out of the Church. If your campus does not have a Newman Center, find the a Catholic parish near the school and get involved in their young adult group.
 
Based on all of your suggestions, I think I’m just goign to proceed with caution. I’m using my own Bible, which handily has the Catholic interpretations outlined in the margins (It’s the Catholic Youth Bible). I’m going to continue reading through the CCC, and I’ll leave the group if I feel too challenged.
As to those who suggested a Newman Center: I WISH!!! My school is part of a system of five colleges, but we total only around 4,000 students. We do have Mass offered in a multipurpose room on Sundays, but that’s about as active as most Catholic students on campus get (there are maybe 12 of us). I go to the local parish for confession every once in a while, but it’s about a 30 minute walk and they don’t have any activities for young adults (they have lifeteen, then jump to young mothers’ group).
Anyways, could you all possibly keep me in your prayers that I stay secure in the Church?
Thanks!
 
PaulfromIowa said:
The larger issue is: Is attending an atheist dominated college a threat to your faith? No secular education is worth a risk to your soul.
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I’ve been kind of worried about this as well, just because there’ an unbdercurrent of unspoken and perhaps unitentional hostility towards religion, perhaps more so in the philosophy department (I’m a philosopy major). So far though, I feel like my faith has actually gotten stronger by my having to always be on guard and aware of it. However, it does get really tiring and difficult at times (which is why I was drawn to this Bible study). For now, I’m just going to see how this year goes. WHo knows, it might be a good preparation for my gynecology rotation in med school.
But yeah, anyone with kids choosing a college… I STRONGLY reccomend you keep it Catholic.
Thanks.
 
I participated in InterVarsity at the community college I previously attended. It doesn’t compare to studying the Bible in its true light (i.e., as the Catholic Scriptures), but it’s a nice way to make some Christian friends. You can also learn more about your faith by comparison and contrast, if you pay attention.

My chapter was friendly to Catholics, though it is technically an evangelical organization and I never considered myself a real member. I was always a guest in my mind.
 
waanju said:
Based on all of your suggestions, I think I’m just goign to proceed with caution. I’m using my own Bible, which handily has the Catholic interpretations outlined in the margins (It’s the Catholic Youth Bible). I’m going to continue reading through the CCC, and I’ll leave the group if I feel too challenged.
As to those who suggested a Newman Center: I WISH!!! My school is part of a system of five colleges, but we total only around 4,000 students. We do have Mass offered in a multipurpose room on Sundays, but that’s about as active as most Catholic students on campus get (there are maybe 12 of us). I go to the local parish for confession every once in a while, but it’s about a 30 minute walk and they don’t have any activities for young adults (they have lifeteen, then jump to young mothers’ group).
Anyways, could you all possibly keep me in your prayers that I stay secure in the Church?
Thanks!
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Since both of my sons are in college now, I have made it my special intention to pray for ALL college students this year…and for the foreseeable future! I will add you to my prayers.

👍
Hang in there.
 
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