Thank you for you time everyone

[Eden]

mumof5:

I’ve enjoyed being with you for the last year but I have decided to leave the Catholic church and get a believer’s baptism in a church that does not weigh it’s members down with man-made rules that cannot be found in the Bible and legalism.

I just wanted to say it’s wonderful that these boards have been enjoyable for you over the year and that they have been a useful place for you to announce that you are becoming Protestant, because what’s the point of leaving the Church if there is no one there to announce it to? Glad we could be of service.

 

[Little_Mary]

How a protestant leads his faithful life:

OK I’m going to be a Christian and this is how I’m going to do it.

How a Catholic leads his faithful life

OK I’m going to give my life to you, please lead me.

 

[kamz]

How a protestant leads his faithful life:

How a Catholic leads his faithful life

Exactly, God asks us to follow him in his church (the Catholic church) even though it is not easy and the road is hard.

Of course for protestants they want to choose, they say, I will do it this way Lord and Catholic say I will follow your way Lord even though it is going to be harder than doing it my way.

 

[Celia]

kamz:

Exactly, God asks us to follow him in his church (the Catholic church) even though it is not easy and the road is hard.

Of course for protestants they want to choose, they say, I will do it this way Lord and Catholic say I will follow your way Lord even though it is going to be harder than doing it my way.

Very true :yup: That’s one of the things I realized when I reverted that led me back home for good.

 

[Little_Mary]

kamz:

Exactly, God asks us to follow him in his church (the Catholic church) even though it is not easy and the road is hard.

Of course for protestants they want to choose, they say, I will do it this way Lord and Catholic say I will follow your way Lord even though it is going to be harder than doing it my way.

There was a poster here who’s signature read “You worship God in your way and I’ll worship Him in His”

 

[kamz]

Little Mary:

There was a poster here who’s signature read “You worship God in your way and I’ll worship Him in His”

that is perfectly said

 

[AlanFromWichita]

dear mumof5,

I hope you do find yourself able to stay. If you don’t, please remember us and gosh – as long as you’re out there in Protestant-land, maybe you can influence them by laying out a few Catholic ideas on the table and seeing who salutes.

No, I’m not asking you to be a double agent, but I do think that when you are gone you may miss us. If that’s the case please remember it is a short way back.

Personally I’ve been greatliy blessed by Protestants and non-denoms (some think that means non-demons ) when I was on haitus from the Church, but I came back. What I found after I came back is that the Church has all the richness I sought elsewhere; it just takes some searching to find what you are looking for. It helps to have an actual “spiritual director” who can advise you specifically based on your situation, and help you deal with your proposed severance.

In my case, my wife told me of how to get a “spiritual director” and since then things have been getting better all the time even though I don’t see him any more because he moved out of town.

Alan

 

[Mijoy2]

mumof5:

OK - 1/ Confession - already mentioned this. Yes, the apostles were given the power to forgive sin but it was never said that this was the only way. The Bible says we have ONE mediator with God and that is his son, Jesus. Not a priest.

2/ Purgatory. Introduced by the church to raise money so people would buy indulgences. Not backed up in any scripture.

There’s just two. It’s Sunday afternoon here now and I spoke with the Pastor who has agreed to baptise me. He will call me with a date this week. Thank you Lord.

Might I just add that this represents a major shift away from “Ok, I’m going to be a Christian this is how I’m going to do it” to " OK, I’m going to give my life to you, please lead me".

 

[Mijoy2]

mumof5:

OK - 1/ Confession - already mentioned this. Yes, the apostles were given the power to forgive sin but it was never said that this was the only way. The Bible says we have ONE mediator with God and that is his son, Jesus. Not a priest.

2/ Purgatory. Introduced by the church to raise money so people would buy indulgences. Not backed up in any scripture.

There’s just two. It’s Sunday afternoon here now and I spoke with the Pastor who has agreed to baptise me. He will call me with a date this week. Thank you Lord.

Might I just add that this represents a major shift away from “Ok, I’m going to be a Christian this is how I’m going to do it” to " OK, I’m going to give my life to you, please lead me".

Momof5,

Just last week I went the Boston Catholic Men’s conference. Scott Hahn addressed your 1st point in dramatic and emotional fashion. I just recently purchased Hahn’s talk on DVD because I wish to share it with others. I would love to share it with you (after I receive it in the mail . Let me know privately if you are interested.

I understand where you are coming from in this thread. Just this week I went to a friends fathers funeral service in Roxbury Mass. I am a white person, my friend is a black man. Roxbury Mass is a predominatley black community. I was taken off guard when I walked into the church. The mood was wonderfully upbeat. The faith of the people there was obvious and wonderful. The warmth of the family members and vistors toward me (the only white person there) was nothing short of tremendous and amazing. There were 3 or 4 young men dressed impecably holding bibles and singing Psalms, loud enough to hear but not so loudly as to distract. I felt the love of these people and the love our Lord all around me.

But, Momof5, in all this love, there was something missing. The depth, history and majesty of THE church was there only in shadow. The frosting was there and all the dressings but the cake was missing.

Momof5, the Catholic church is in desperate need of somehow, making the faithful aware of what our Lord has giving us. The taking for granted of the Mass and the Eucharist is a tragedy and tearfull shame. But, this fault is ours. Not His. Do not put aside the cake for the frosting. Help us frost the cake.

Bless you

 

[santaro75]

kamz:

Exactly, God asks us to follow him in his church (the Catholic church) even though it is not easy and the road is hard.

Of course for protestants they want to choose, they say, I will do it this way Lord and Catholic say I will follow your way Lord even though it is going to be harder than doing it my way.

Or follow God and Jesus and stop focusing on church affiliation. This means feed hungry, help helpless, forgive others and love eachother. Not so much about your salvation and your spiritual journey and how you feel. I think to save yourself you have to die to yourself and live for others.

 

[Mickey]

Mike O:

If you have already been baptized as a Catholic, you cannot be “re-baptized.” Christian baptism is something in common between even Catholics and Protestants. To seek baptism again suggests that you consider the first to be somehow insufficient.

Yes. “One baptism for the forgiveness of sins”.

 

[Mickey]

Bella3502:

I have been reading the posts on this threads and there are more “insulting” posts directed towards Mumof5 than anything else.

Everyones spiritual journey is not the same.

Yes. This is the nature of an internet forum.

 

[Fitz]

AlanFromWichita:

If you were baptized Catholic, note that you will forever be Catholic. When and if you decide to come home, you know where we are.

Alan

I have never decided to leave the Catholic Church, but I can only imagine what you are going through. I have read many accounts of Catholics that did eventually come back once they read into the early church history. I can only pray this will be your path also. It is very desirable to be close to Christ and follow our Lord. However, I will recommend that you never give up reading and really searching for the truth. If you do, then we will be fortunate enough to have you back with us. Meanwhile, please be Christian and refrain from bad mouthing us to your new Christian friends. I do know that many Evangelicals and other Protestants make sport of making fun of Catholics. I don’t think you would do well to follow that path. Even if you don’t, every time another Christian does that I want you to think of returning to your roots. May God bless you.

It is not about being entertained and don’t get me wrong- I believe you are serious about wanting to learn more. Just don’t forget that “we” are the church and it is up to us. The priest is one person- it is really up to us also.

I have listened to this series by two former Evangelicals that are now Catholic. You may enjoy their discussions:
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/SeriesSearchprog.asp?SeriesID=6124&NewList=&T1=

I go to bible study every week and we have listened to most of them and I highly recommend you listen before you leave. They had many of the same questions you have and they are very articulate speakers. There is a video series of this also.

 

[Mickey]

AlanFromWichita:

It helps to have an actual “spiritual director” who can advise you specifically based on your situation, and help you deal with your proposed severance.

Good point, Alan! This is crucial!

 

[laurel47]

St.Eric:

Good luck. as far as the man-made remark- every Christian denomination from A.D. 1500 until the present IS man-made. The man who was the catalyst was named Martin Luther.

I am sorry you feel this way, I have been catholic all my life and I love it. I am sorry for this but you will find your way one day. laurel

 

[kamz]

santaro75:

Or follow God and Jesus and stop focusing on church affiliation. This means feed hungry, help helpless, forgive others and love eachother. Not so much about your salvation and your spiritual journey and how you feel. I think to save yourself you have to die to yourself and live for others.

Well, this is a Catholic forum…um, what do you expect me to say that the Catholic church isn’t the one true church? Well, in my opinion the Catholic church is the one true church and to know this and leave it, I can’t even imagine it

 

[gardenswithkids]

mumof5:

…Confession - already mentioned this. Yes, the apostles were given the power to forgive sin but it was never said that this was the only way. The Bible says we have ONE mediator with God and that is his son, Jesus. Not a priest…

I strongly suspect part of your problem understanding confession comes from having had confessors who tell you things that conflict with the Church teachings. Your husband’s vasectomy wasn’t all right, and no priest should have ever told you that. Nevertheless you have confessed it, so being married to a man who had a vasectomy doesn’t make you a hypocrit. Any part you may have played in your husband’s decision is forgiven fully. Forgive yourself. If you can’t understand the Church teachings against sterilization, I suspect your poor confessors have much to do with confusing you. Confession is a beautiful sacrament, but sadly you some misguided priests may have misguided you. Forgive them.

As a homeschooling mother with several children, I understand how you feel you need to find spiritual refreshment from Sunday service. I am so sorry that you haven’t found that at Mass. I wish you’d stay anyway.

 

[estesbob]

santaro75:

Or follow God and Jesus and stop focusing on church affiliation. This means feed hungry, help helpless, forgive others and love eachother. Not so much about your salvation and your spiritual journey and how you feel. I think to save yourself you have to die to yourself and live for others.

If that is true why did Jesus tell us otherwise? How can I follow Jesus if I abandon his Church???

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I understand people who think that complying with Catholicism is very difficult, but it really isn’t. It’s all a matter of what attitude one harbors toward it.

Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I think we make our yokes and burdens difficult by fighting them. That’s fine, as we see what our limits are and if we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. We can learn true humility (not guilt-ridden but honest understanding of our own worth) and at that time, burdens are no longer seen as “heavy” and “oppressive” but as healthy things that strengthen and purify us, and give our life meaning.

Harboring an attitude against those (even leaders) who practice Catholicism wrongly or even horribly does not good, so one must learn what the Truth is and always keep that in mind but know what our own roles, vocations, and limitations are. When our hearts become converted we can easily discern when something is wrong and we need more lessons on it. I’m not going to claim that such uneasiness always indicates something wrong, but as a minimum an indicator pointing to some unfinished business such as more study needed.

Alan

 

[jim1130]

AlanFromWichita:

I understand people who think that complying with Catholicism is very difficult, but it really isn’t. It’s all a matter of what attitude one harbors toward it.

Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I think we make our yokes and burdens difficult by fighting them. That’s fine, as we see what our limits are and if we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. We can learn true humility (not guilt-ridden but honest understanding of our own worth) and at that time, burdens are no longer seen as “heavy” and “oppressive” but as healthy things that strengthen and purify us, and give our life meaning.

Harboring an attitude against those (even leaders) who practice Catholicism wrongly or even horribly does not good, so one must learn what the Truth is and always keep that in mind but know what our own roles, vocations, and limitations are. When our hearts become converted we can easily discern when something is wrong and we need more lessons on it. I’m not going to claim that such uneasiness always indicates something wrong, but as a minimum an indicator pointing to some unfinished business such as more study needed.

Alan

Peace.

I agree.

I would like to add that many people are just anti-authority and they feel the need to be independent and act so accordingly (too many movies and TV shows about the lone cop or lone cowboy who stands up in the face of authority to do what is right); that THEY know better, although they line up to hear evangelicals. Just yesterday, while channle-surfing, I stopped briefly on one of the televangelicals who was preaching up a storm while the congregation fastidiously scribbled notes in notebooks and in their Bibles, abosrbing his every word as if it was Gospel.

I feel secure in Catholicsm knowing that there is a rudder (and a course destination) to the ship compared to SS and Protestanism where not only is the ship rudderless, but there are no captains at the wheels and no sails on the masts.

Through the Church, I feel the fullness of God.

Peace.