Struggling to see from both perspectives; Protestant attending Mass occasionally

[Frankenfurter]

The various Christian faiths are not very different actually. The differences are mostly on the fringes and within a reasonable interpretation of details. I seriously wonder if the Catholic and Protestants can’t just reunite. I mean seriously. There can only be one body of Christ. Sure different parts, but surely interdependent.

 

[saintpaul123]

– you will have a difficulty – in understanding the two simultaneously,

there are broad differences in the basics-- as each denomination a certs that they are correct,

– but you are certainly in a situation of learning how to dicern-- how to hear and be lead by God-- so ck out the different – threads on the catholic forum-- and see how they can understand a catholic “calling” “vs” how your denomination decerns the voice of God

 

[KEP1983]

I’m new on the forums. Yesterday I checked out some threads on interfaith relationships and felt I needed to ask some of my own questions.

I’m a Protestant, have been since I was introduced to the church as a child, and have gone to the same church for over ten years (Assembly of God). I have been baptized and, though young adulthood is a trying time, I consider myself to be of good faith.

I’m currently in a relationship with a devout Catholic. It has brought an interesting set of problems, through which I am trying to work. I’ve spent hours praying that God take a look at my heart, open it up and help me to understand how my significant other’s faith is not as different from mine as I seem to believe.

I’ve attended a handful of Masses this year, and for the most part, have enjoyed them. I had trouble with the first Mass I went to (I suffer from moderate anxiety), and continue to have anxiety about Communion (I was JUST explained what to do in order to receive a blessing instead). The motions and ritualistic aspect of it is still very foreign, but I’m learning and it becomes easier every time.

My second Mass was the most thought-provoking; I was very nervous, and a song lyric in particular stood out to me: open hands. One cannot receive any kind of experience from anything, nor gain perspective and understanding, without an open mind, open heart, and open hands. About then is when I started crying in the middle of service.

I continue to feel a foreboding when I walk into Mass, however…I almost feel like I’m being judged for my difference in faith, and that my significant other is being judged for me. I really don’t like that…at all. I’m trying to understand how Catholicism works and I really am trying to get rid of my prejudices and stereotypes about the Catholic church…it has been a process.

I wonder if anyone else has had experiences similar to what I’m doing. Have any Protestants (who do NOT intend to convert) attended Mass to gain perspective? How did you respond to how different the service was?

I want to be as respectful of my boyfriend’s expression of faith as he is of mine.

I’m a former Protestant, and I just got confirmed into the Catholic Church a few months ago. I married a Catholic woman who really didn’t understand her faith. She really believed and at least wasn’t a raving liberal, but she didn’t know very much. She had even expressed wanting to convert to Protestantism because of the sex abuse scandal.

We got married and went to mass every week. I figured I could show her where the Catholic Church was wrong and pull her out of it; or at least raise my kids to know what Christianity “really” teaches.

Over the course of time I never heard anything heretical at mass. I was expecting to hear things about worshiping Mary or Saints, but it never happened, of course.

I continued to read both Catholic and Protestant sources, as well as listen to/read a lot of Protestant/Catholic debates. I was surprised to find that what Protestants TOLD me the Catholic Church believes was very very different than what the Catholic Church actually believes.

So over the course of a few years I read my way into the Church. And now I’m basically catechizing my wife. haha!

Keep reading and learning about what the Catholic Church actually teaches. Once you know it I think you’ll realize how true it really is!

edit: oh, btw, you’re not judged for being at mass. They’re glad you’re there.

 

[KaraGordon]

– you will have a difficulty – in understanding the two simultaneously,

there are broad differences in the basics-- as each denomination a certs that they are correct,

– but you are certainly in a situation of learning how to dicern-- how to hear and be lead by God-- so ck out the different – threads on the catholic forum-- and see how they can understand a catholic “calling” “vs” how your denomination decerns the voice of God

I’ve heard of discernment before…what it seems to be similar to is what my pastor talks about when it comes to prayer.

He believes that God is always talking, always trying to reach out to us - in our daily lives, in prayer, all the time. It’s a matter of “tuning” your heart to the “frequency” He’s using. That in itself includes getting to know Him and His Word. Listening skills come into play.

Hi KaraGordon. Can you say any more about your experience of being at mass? Did people look at you oddly, or something like that?

Logically, I know I’m not being judged; no one’s looking at me oddly or saying anything. Most everyone I speak to is very glad I’m there and enjoying myself at all. It’s just that initially, I did not know what to expect and also suffer from moderate anxiety. The situation was unfamiliar and I was very aware that I am not of that denomination.

I’d liken it to being away from home, in an unfamiliar city. Even though my church is literally a few hundred feet down the road from his…haha. You think people are looking at you funny but really, they’re not.

 

[Stephan19]

God Bless you for trying to be open to the Catholic faith!

 

[Peter_J]

Logically, I know I’m not being judged; no one’s looking at me oddly or saying anything. Most everyone I speak to is very glad I’m there and enjoying myself at all. It’s just that initially, I did not know what to expect and also suffer from moderate anxiety. The situation was unfamiliar and I was very aware that I am not of that denomination.

I’d liken it to being away from home, in an unfamiliar city. Even though my church is literally a few hundred feet down the road from his…haha. You think people are looking at you funny but really, they’re not.

All ^^ good thoughts.

 

[Peter_J]

P.S. On a side note, I think I can relate to your experience – not that I’ve ever been Protestant, but a lot of what you’re saying reminds me of my experience, as a Catholic, visiting Orthodox parishes.