The end of Protestantism

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Jon_S said:
Well I am saddened you felt you had to leave the church to experience the Lord. I think converting your heart while remaining in the church could have been even more miraculous.

Just for perspective. I was evangelical, Sunday school leader, vbs volunteer, camp counselor, bible study leader, son of deacons and son in law of elders, “born again” in name etc…

But I had not surrendered…truly surrendered my heart to the Lord. It was not until my conversion to Catholicism that that happened.

I think when we realize something dis enchanting with our faith tradition it makes it easy to look outside, and when looking outside and thinking of conversion, one must truly surrender their hearts to make the change. So I think emotional experiences are not the reason to convert. Although conversion is undoubtedly emotional, the conversion should be based on truth and facts because the emotional/ feeling aspects are easily mistaken and a general byproduct of life changes regardless of if the life change is correct or not.
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True, by my reasons for leaving were rather compelling. I had and I still have no hostility to the Catholic Faith, but when I left, I took a vow to remain faithful to the Evangelical Lutheran Church to the point of death. I will not betray that vow. Someone else and I shared vows that were broken by that young lady. I’ve got to keep my word.
 
LutheranScholar said:
True, by my reasons for leaving were rather compelling. I had and I still have no hostility to the Catholic Faith, but when I left, I took a vow to remain faithful to the Evangelical Lutheran Church to the point of death. I will not betray that vow. Someone else and I shared vows that were broken by that young lady. I’ve got to keep my word.
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Sometimes we make vows we have no business making.
 
SyroMalankara said:
Again, doesn’t this perhaps show it isn’t the Catholic Church that wasn’t open, it was you at that point, in your state in life. This is most telling “I did everything I could* to *turn my heart to Christ, but it simply didn’t happen” - there’s nothing anyone can “do”. It seems to me your worldview changed due to circumstances in life and maturing. One shouldn’t blame the Catholic Church when it’s your vision that was corrected by God’s grace. Neither should you presume that God is done with you. Perhaps there is room for more. Even another look at the Catholic Church with fresh lenses.
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It’s been awhile since I read some New Advent. Maybe so.
 
Jon_S said:
Well I am saddened you felt you had to leave the church to experience the Lord. I think converting your heart while remaining in the church could have been even more miraculous.

Just for perspective. I was evangelical, Sunday school leader, vbs volunteer, camp counselor, bible study leader, son of deacons and son in law of elders, “born again” in name etc…

But I had not surrendered…truly surrendered my heart to the Lord. It was not until my conversion to Catholicism that that happened.
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I think that for some people, something happened to them in the tradition/denomination in which they were raised that became an impediment in their spiritual life or perhaps that kind of church service was not the right one for them to find a connection to God. I was raised Southern Baptist but don’t feel comfortable in that kind of church any more and am not sure I ever did.

I now attend a Lutheran church which has a very traditional liturgy and high church kind of service. We kneel at the altar rail for communion, the clergy wear vestments (something that Baptist ministers would never do). I cross myself now, something I would never have considered doing in a Baptist church because I thought it was “too Catholic.” I like this kind of traditional liturgy and it feels fresh and meaningful to me. On the other hand some born Lutherans I know in my church wish we had a “contemporary” service instead because the traditional service feels stale to them. Different people find connection with God in different ways.
 
Thorolfr said:
I think that for some people, something happened to them in the tradition/denomination in which they were raised that became an impediment in their spiritual life or perhaps that kind of church service was not the right one for them to find a connection to God. I was raised Southern Baptist but don’t feel comfortable in that kind of church any more and am not sure I ever did.

I now attend a Lutheran church which has a very traditional liturgy and high church kind of service. We kneel at the altar rail for communion, the clergy wear vestments (something that Baptist ministers would never do). I cross myself now, something I would never have considered doing in a Baptist church because I thought it was “too Catholic.” I like this kind of traditional liturgy and it feels fresh and meaningful to me. On the other hand some born Lutherans I know in my church wish we had a “contemporary” service instead because the traditional service feels stale to them. Different people find connection with God in different ways.
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That’s certainly true.
 
LutheranScholar said:
Granted. I’m not saying that the Catholic Church kept me in the dark, though. I was walking in darkness for awhile and after those circumstances you spoke of occurred, I found myself in a Confessional Lutheran Church. I’m saying that I was among the Lutherans when God lifted the blinders from my eyes. The Catholic Church has plenty of good to her as you all know. I do not deny this. When a priest in the pulpit in the Diocese of Richmond talks in a homily about his gay friend in New Orleans committing suicide and then saying that he didn’t believe that homosexuality was a sin or that suicide wouldn’t necessarily keep someone from Heaven, I took a step back. When the priest who confirmed me went off with a married woman and wound up working as an Episcopal rector, I do not blame Catholic doctrine. That, like the Lutheran Confessions, remains the same. When someone puts a praise band in the sanctuary for Mass, maybe it is good and uplifting for people. I prefer a sedate, unchanging liturgy. When I’m arguing *for *the Catholic church against my very anti- Catholic wife at the time and her family, after awhile, I get worn down. I’m sinful. I can’t do it by myself, I know I can’t do it by myself, so Iinvite the Holy Spirit to direct me to the Church He wants me in.
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Where does your very anti Catholic wife and her family worship?
Mary.
 
Thorolfr said:
I think that for some people, something happened to them in the tradition/denomination in which they were raised that became an impediment in their spiritual life or perhaps that kind of church service was not the right one for them to find a connection to God. I was raised Southern Baptist but don’t feel comfortable in that kind of church any more and am not sure I ever did.

I now attend a Lutheran church which has a very traditional liturgy and high church kind of service. We kneel at the altar rail for communion, the clergy wear vestments (something that Baptist ministers would never do). I cross myself now, something I would never have considered doing in a Baptist church because I thought it was “too Catholic.” I like this kind of traditional liturgy and it feels fresh and meaningful to me. On the other hand some born Lutherans I know in my church wish we had a “contemporary” service instead because the traditional service feels stale to them. Different people find connection with God in different ways.
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A friend of mine is a pastor in LCMC. The have a traditional service with contemporary music.
 
PRmerger said:
Why on earth would my response prompt any sort of flippant or snide remark? :confused:
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I was talking about my response, PR, not yours…Oohh. Wait, wait, wait. No, no, no… remember, I was all about being the Lutheran Crusader and showing how unafraid of confrontation I was… no, you are fine, PR, no. it was my attitude I was talking about.
 
LutheranScholar said:
She’s now my ex- wife and her family does not attend church at all, the last I heard.
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Ah.

Is the divorce one of the reasons you left the Catholic Church?

As this is a personal question you are under no obligation to answer and I will certainly understand if you do not respond.
 
PRmerger said:
I get that.

I don’t understand why YOU would have any desire to have a snide or flippant retort, in response to my very benign and sanguine comment.
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Yeah, I know. It seems that I was on " ready to argue" mode for awhile… I guess my shields are failing, to use a Star Trek term.
 
Let’s dispense with remarks that are rather personal, although I’m glad to see my crew knows how to handle things. 😉
Back to the OP guys.🙂
 
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