This thread is intended for people that have either crossed the pews of the Churhc of Christ, Disciples of Christ or Christian Church. The above salutation is typical when entering towns across the USA. Those of us who were faithful members of the Stone-Campbellite movement to restore the early church back to its original glory by using the bible only, that is the New Testament. Campbellites as some people call them - derogatory in their eyes - are particularly rigid in their solo scriptura docntrine and begin bible study as soon as they can sit in a chair, a baby chair even. Our oldes son has been attending bible classes “religiously” since infancy, 13 years plus. He is now in a CCD class and seems to know the Catholic Faith better than most of his peers. We have to stick a pin in his ego now and then but we are hoping and praying that he follows through his desire to become a priest.
My vocation I believe is to return to my Catholic roots to encourage vocations among our youth and anyone that is not hindered by an impediment to do so. We pray for vocations constantly in our domestic church. It is a wonder that Catholicism exists by the way most Catholics do not practice or better “seek out their faith with fear and trembling.” Many Catholics seem amazed at our knowledge of scripture. I tell them you just need to pick it up. Just don’t try to go out on a limb to interpret it on your own. I got hijacked into a conversation today with another Catholic that just kept on and on about it. But I just stood their trying to be charitable and listening to it. I told the lady that she just needs to read a chapter a day beginning with the gospels and add what she can. I used to read an average of 3 chapters per day following the refererences growing up in high school. I began serioius bible study at the age of 14 as a Catholic that just received my first communion and reconciliation. I was almost 15. Cradle Catholics know that if an infant is not baptized withn days of birth somethings wrong. I was 14 months old. Mom was a non-practicing non-denom that loathed Catholicism in her ecclesial community creating family. They began their own church a few generations back. But I remember participating in youth events groinw up at the age of 9. They planted their doctrine in my head that carried through the rest of my life causing me to eventually fall easily prey to their doctrin when I met my now wife, her family and church. It all made sense to me then… But I knew Catholic Teaching to some degree but no one that actually practiced it or defended it other than my father who was an extreme Catholic to the point of heresy in a schimatic group that claimed there is not a valid Pope.
So if you’re confused, then you missed the point of my initial posts. I’m not talking to you if you did not understand. But notice how easily the “Campbellites” popped in to realize what I was saying. Next time you drive through a small town, look for the small little sign that says “the churches of Christ salute you”. It’s scripture. The name is scriptural which is why they call themselves the “Church of Christ”.
thebible.net/searchingfortruth/
I’m looking for people similar to me on this forum. Not the flakes, the people that really know their scriptures and how to meander in and out. The basic fundamentals underlying the believes in the Church of Christ… Those who know it so well that the also see the Catholic doctrine like I fouind in scripture. It’s all there. And it nearly caused me to admit myself to a mental hospital for believing that it this is true then there could be no real church because no Catholics I ever knew practice the orthodox Catholic belief. It was Jimmy Akin that made me realize that I should never have rejected the real Church of Christ that subsists in the Catholic Church. I initially tried to convert to the Orthodox Church but my wife wouldn’t have it. More study caused me to fall in love with their theology, liturgies and practices. I also had to figure out the difference between the Easter Orthodox and the Easter Catholics. I was grossly confused. But it was actually studying the Eastern Church that brought me confidence to my faith in the Catholic Church in communion with Rome. I’ve tried to encourage my wife to allow us to try the Byzantine Catholic Parish in our area, but she jokes saying she doesn’t like the hairy beards. Truth is she’s happy where she is for the first time in her life and she doesn’t want to risk losing it by unecessarily trying an Eastern Catholic rite. I understand and am forgoing my deep desires for the sake of our family and vocation within our family. But if God has mercy on me, rather than looking at becoming an Eastern Catholic Deacon I’ll just move towards the Western Catholic Diaconate. So I’m digging in deeper to be more useful to the Church by working on some material to publish and ultimately teach solid catechesis to potential converts to Catholicism. Those of you that had poor brushes with poor catechesis were dealt a serious mishand of the faith. That’s ashamed. The Church’s teachings are really solid and work. So far I can’t break anything apart and I really tried really hard. Now I just work through it realizing that if I manage to break it apart into false, wrong or whatever, the world has been delivered the largest hoax known to man. It all fits historically, theologically, prophetically, scripturally, spiritually, etc. Scott Hahn said there is no need to defend it because its like a hungry lion that defends itself.
