Thank you for you time everyone

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mumof5:
I have felt spiritually STARVED in the Catholic church for over two years now. It was this, and my desire to serve God rather than worry about serving a church made of people, that drove my search for something else
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Please, do not interpret the following in the wrong way, but, to read the rest of your commentary, you really are not in a position to make some of the claims you are making. I do not know what diocese you belong to, but most churches have Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, confession, the Mass…if you are “spiritually starved” in the midst of all those devotions and encounters with Christ, the problem rests not with the Church, but with your attitude.

Nor are we called to “serve a church made of people.” Of course the Church is made of people; what would you prefer a church be composed of? Amazonian primates? The service of God also demands the service of people, including the members of the Body of Christ. Another name for that is, wait for it, THE CHURCH. I doubt I need to list here the constant Scriptural exhortations to love our neighbor. Your objection is therefore unfounded.
I have always had major theological disagreements with the Catholic church.
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And why not expound upon those here? You’ll find few places better equipped to answer misconceptions.
When my fifth child almost killed me, no-one was there. Oh yes, one Catholic friend visited me in hospital. One called me. Who was there afterwards? The Protestant friends. They were the only ones who cared.
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And how is this a reflection on the validity of the Church? A Protestant’s kindness and a Catholic’s perceived coldness means that the Church is somehow doctrinally unsound? Your complaint verges on those of 1960’s lapsed Catholics who apostasized because a nun was mean to them when they were 9 years old. Come on now.
I follow Christ, not a church.

I’m going there because I want to have a relationship with Jesus. Yes, if you believe in the real presence you may not be able to see this.
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Well, if you want a relationship with Jesus, consider observing what it was He said about the Real Presence: drbo.org/chapter/50006.htm

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 52 If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. 53 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 54 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. 55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
I cannot stomach going to Mass, knowing no-one cares or would notice I wasn’t there, with my five kids knowing it makes us look like such a good Catholic family when I know my husband has a vasectomy. I refuse to be a hypocrite.
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Your husband’s vasectomy, if procured knowing the sinful dimensions of the procedure, remains his own sin. You would be the grandest hypocrite to profess a desire for union with Christ while blatantly ignoring His Scriptural precepts. I hope you will not do that. Let it be known by the volume of replies to this thread that very many people do INDEED care about your spiritual well-being.
It’s really very basic. Jesus died for us, we are saved by faith through grace, not by works although works come from faith (faith without works being dead). Jesus has saved us from our sins and nothing we can do can save ourselves. NOTHING. Otherwise why did he do it?
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If it was really as basic, so simple, if you had it so figured out, you and half the world would be saints of God. But it is not that way. Your statement above reeks of personal opinion and your desire to convince yourself of something you must know to be untrue. Read James 2. It debunks the foundation of Protestant-ism in all of 26 verses.

If we can do nothing to save ourselves, we can do nothing to damn ourselves, because, by your convictions, human action is something apart from salvation. Surely you can’t believe that; if you wake up tomorrow and tear off on a homicidal shooting spree, are we to believe that, because of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, the state of your soul will remain in fine order? Jesus died and rose to open the gates of Heaven. But proposing Calvinist predestination or other Protestant notions of salvation leads one to believe that you have not studied this issue too closely to be making the decision to apostasize.
Why are my kids the only ones that can’t say a Hail Mary? Well, it does say immediately before the Lord’s Pray not to pray repititiously.
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Now we come to concrete misconceptions, and be warned, this is a misconception: catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0405sbs.asp
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Fredricks:
Who cannot respect a mothers decision?
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good point.

let’s see… Mary, the mother of Jesus (and only Jesus) told the stewards what is still most important…“Do as my Son asks…”

Yet only the Catholic Church continues to preach the Truth of John6, and the God-given authority of the only Church her Son founded… among a number of other teachings from
no to contraception to no to same sex marriage
from
baptism for all (even infants) to ministerial priesthood
from
three witnesses to the truth (Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium) to seven sacraments

ahh heck… simply put

We have the fulness of the faith in the Church Jesus founded… and anyone else has much less

“One Lord…One Faith…One Baptism”

The Lord will see His will fulfilled… all will be Catholic, now or later.
 
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CindyGia:
Hey, I bet I know who you are - you’re Tim Staples! This sounds suspiciously like a Tim Staples Conversion Story!
How’s it goin there Tim Ole Boy!

hahahaha!
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I was thinking th exact same thing. though tims is a bit diff. but the same thing.
 
I will pray for you as you are seeking. It is very good to examine ourselves and see if we are doing Gods will.

Many of us have gone through what you have, in falling away from the faith. I even have seen people try to justify it with things like repetious prayer, etc. Which completely ignores the obvious contradiction of the Bible which describes repetitious prayer in heaven.
Every objection you have offered (however small) has a logical and historical answer here on this site. Heck, find one objection not answered and PM me and I will follow you. We are not part of the Catholic Church by preference but because it is true. No other Church can say that.

So as it is obvious the reason is not doctrinal which is similar to why many of us left the Church. We left because of apathy, people who never visited us or “were on fire for God” or we were “not being fed”. Stuff like that. We all want acceptance and it is difficult to feel comfortable in some parishes.

I believe I have been in one of the most cold parishes out there, and I still continue to come to Church. Why? Do I go for the people or for God? Do I go to make myself feel good or to worship Jesus. Do I go to listen to a great pastor on fire for Jesus or do I focus on what God has done for us?

I am not saying that you are abandoning God as obviously you do seek to do what is right and believe in Jesus. Yet as you yourself have pointed out, you never had a real full understanding of the Catholic faith, so I don’t blame you for leaving with the understanding you have. That is why most people leave out of false or poor understanding, sometimes it is also sin, and pride. As a friend of mine who is leaving so he can marry a lady who just got divorced.

Feel free to ask questions and see if we can clear things up, there are plenty of us to answer. Every single question has an answer and I have seen none here that you have posted that haven’t been answered fully. Feel free to PM me or anyone else who offers here as many of us have been through what you have been through or similar. As you can see not all Catholics are “dead” in their faith, or else this website wouldn’t exist and there wouldn’t be so many of us here rooting for you.

God Bless
Scylla
 
mumof5,

I posted already, but after reading your last post I just wanted to say again how sorry I am that the people in the parishes you have been in have let you down, and in a big way. I’ve experienced something similar and have found that I really had to work at fellowship in the parish I’m in now, and many others feel the same - and our parish is the one known for it’s friendliness and vibrant activities! What a poor standard! I don’t know why it doesn’t come naturally for Catholics. Perhaps it’s because many Catholics are not ‘on fire’ for Jesus and therefore are not as open and demonstrative in caring for others. Perhaps it’s because our focus during Mass is on Chirst, not socializing, and parishes don’t work hard enough at small groups before and after Mass or during the week. I think it’s a combination of these and other things.

Would I be happier socially in another church, could my love for Jesus be nourished better in another church? More than likely to the former, possibly, tosome extent the latter. But there would always be something missing - the sacraments and especially the Eucharist, and the promise from Jesus Himself that the Holy Spirit will guide His Church until the end of time. You just can’t take a promise like that lightly - even when you see all the corruption. God sometimes has difficult people and big sinners to work through, unfortunately. But the promise is there, and I trust His word. And, you’re right - if you don’t believe in these things then this isn’t something you’re going to miss. I realize that. But as I said in my earlier post, as you get involved in small groups and bible studies, really begin to question the Scriptures you are studying. Don’t settle for thin, surface answers by your small group leader. Dig into trusted theologians and early Church history. Look at the context, look at how the Old Testament and New Testament work together. It will take work and time, and probably only by you, but the deeper you go, the more biblical the Catholic Church will become, and the more Catholic the bible will become.

I don’t know if your area offers “The Great Adventure” bible study by Jeff Cavins, but it is an excellent study of the story of salvation history. It will open your eyes to typology and God’s plan for us. Please take this course if you have the chance. You can take it regardless of which church you attend, but it will probably be offered through a Catholic church. Jeff Cavins was an evangelical for many years before reverting back to the Catholic Church.

God bless you. I’m sorry for the struggle in your decision. You and your family will be in my prayers.
 
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AlanFromWichita:
I love the entertainment when religious people tell each other, “my God is bigger than your God.”

Alan
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And I “love” it when "enlightened " Catholics mock those Catholics who follow the teachings of the Church.
 
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estesbob:
And I “love” it when "enlightened " Catholics mock those Catholics who follow the teachings of the Church.
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Reciting and following are two different things.

Alan
 
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estesbob:
A meaningless response.
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Yes, I’m a master at such, and it is in fact, meaningless. :whistle:

Let us all recognize that You Called It First! 😛

Alan
 
Mumof5, I pray for you to recognize the Truth and hopefully, if you decide to leave the Church Jesus founded, you will return one day, stronger and more convinced that the Catholic Church is the one true Church.

As far as Fredericks is concerned…fredericks, if your tradition is the “true” version of christianity, then you should have absolutely NO trouble pointing to historical evidence that the things you believe and practice were believed and practiced by Christians prior to 1500 A.D. If you would be so kind as to point me to the sources I would need to research your claims and your beliefs, I would be ever so appreciative to leave CAtholicism and join your church, which I am certain (according to your tone) was actually the one founded by Jesus.
 
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joshua_b:
Mumof5, I pray for you to recognize the Truth and hopefully, if you decide to leave the Church Jesus founded, you will return one day, stronger and more convinced that the Catholic Church is the one true Church.

As far as Fredericks is concerned…fredericks, if your tradition is the “true” version of christianity, then you should have absolutely NO trouble pointing to historical evidence that the things you believe and practice were believed and practiced by Christians prior to 1500 A.D. If you would be so kind as to point me to the sources I would need to research your claims and your beliefs, I would be ever so appreciative to leave CAtholicism and join your church, which I am certain (according to your tone) was actually the one founded by Jesus.
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Fredericks will point you to the “Foundations” thread where you will see he offers no evidence to support his view either. smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_8_14.gif
 
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estesbob:
Fredericks will point you to the “Foundations” thread where you will see he offers no evidence to support his view either. smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_8_14.gif
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Well I would hardly consider that thread “historical evidence”, but one of my crosses to bear (and believe me I have many) is that I am sometimes an instigator and often find delight in being less than charitable, so I may be interested nonetheless.
 
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joshua_b:
Well I would hardly consider that thread “historical evidence”, but one of my crosses to bear (and believe me I have many) is that I am sometimes an instigator and often find delight in being less than charitable, so I may be interested nonetheless.
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my kinda guy

(don’t let the mods know)

… they feel the same way, but can’t instigate under penalty of …hmmmm, wonder what the penaly is…

instigate once… have to listen to James White for an hour:nope:
twice… listen for two hours:nope::nope:
three times… listen to Fredricks for 5 minutes.:yawn:
 
About half of the last 30 posts have been off-topic.
Return to topic or this thread will be closed.
 
Believe it or not, you have all been very helpful. To those who have sent private messages - thank you. I will respond to each of them individually later today. I can’t possibly respond to all these posts but be assured, I have read every one and checked all the links.

BTW - the response about ‘reciting and following’ being different was very pertinent. A simple statement but it says so much about our walk with Christ.
 
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mumof5:
Thank you Fredricks. Right now, I find that I have a choice between remaining in a church where I am feeling at a loss and where my kids faith is being killed - or going to a church where their faith is being nutured and they are excited about Jesus. I don’t expect the church to be perfect. But it’s working well so far.
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momof 5, I’m just wondering…c’mon, what did you think we were going to say to you??? Congratulations for leaving the one true church?? I too left the Catholic church for 3 yrs and believe me I kept it to myself and did not tell a message board…if you don’t want us to “convince you” not to leave the Catholic church…why would you come on here and tell us…we don’t know you personally and we wouldn’t know if you left the Catholic church…but you felt the need to come here and tell and that tells me that somewhere deep down (you don’t even realize it) you are crying out for help because the Catholic church is the only way, I found that out the hard way…the church is what YOU make it…I thought of the Catholic church the same way you did until I left it and found out every church is what you make it…the church does not have to be your best friend etc. you are leaving for all the wrong reasons just like I left for all the wrong reasons…I read the book (there we stood, here we stand and surprised by the truth) two books I think you should read, those books opened up my eyes and I could not come back to the Catholic church fast enough, I feel sorry for you, your eyes are closed to the truth of the Catholic church and I hope for your sake they will open someday, I thank God every day of my life and MY kids lives that I came back to the Catholic church so my kids could be apart of the church that Jesus established himself, how could I do any less for them. I’m very sad for you, very 😦
 
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mumof5:
Believe it or not, you have all been very helpful. To those who have sent private messages - thank you. I will respond to each of them individually later today. I can’t possibly respond to all these posts but be assured, I have read every one and checked all the links.

BTW - the response about ‘reciting and following’ being different was very pertinent. A simple statement but it says so much about our walk with Christ.
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Well Alan I guess you comment wasn’t meanigless after all -it helped push the doubting Catholic right out the door…
 
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