The status of protestantism

[src154]

Hello to all and God Bless

I am new to this forum, but I have a question regarding the role of the Protestant churches in our Faith.

I am a practicing Catholic who has been faithful all my life and lived within the Church. I married a Methodist, but have continued to raise my children Catholic and live the life as I was taught and believe.

However, I am certain that this past month I received a calling to minister to those within my wife’s church, and I am faced with a dilemma. I understand that the Church is one body and does not condemn Protestants to Hell, nor does the Church antagonize true believers regardless of Creed. However, I am unsure as to how I can minister to Methodists who are without the fullness of the faith. These are not Catholics who have left the faith, but Christians who were raised in another faith. How is this different from people who were raised without knowing Christ at all? And yet, I find it perplexing that I would be called by God to minister as a Methodist, being a Catholic myself.

I understand that all is possible within the Grace of God, and yet I fail to understand how I can serve Christians outside the Church in this way. My aim is to do he Will of God, but how can I be sure what that is? I have been studying the Bible and our Cathecism and I have reviewed Luther’s and Wesley’s writings. Logically and spiritually, I believe I am ready to take on this challenge, and yet I am reluctant. How can I know the difference between a reluctance because I am unsure of the validity of this calling, and a reluctance because I am uncomfortable with this calling?

Sorry for such a long post. In short: If a faithful Catholic receives a calling to serve others within a church that has a Protestant lineage, how can he be sure it is from God and how can he follow this calling?

 

[MarcoPolo]

If there is a Bible study, and you are well-versed in the Catholic faith, you might be able to offer unique perspectives from Scripture they might not already have.

Otherwise, if you attend with your spouse, social functions…you can shine the Light of the Church without saying a word. That was St. Francis’ motto: Preach the Gospel, sometimes use words.

 

[quiet52]

from src154:
Hello to all and God Bless

I am new to this forum, but I have a question regarding the role of the Protestant churches in our Faith.

I am a practicing Catholic who has been faithful all my life and lived within the Church. I married a Methodist, but have continued to raise my children Catholic and live the life as I was taught and believe.

However, I am certain that this past month I received a calling to minister to those within my wife’s church, and I am faced with a dilemma. I understand that the Church is one body and does not condemn Protestants to Hell, nor does the Church antagonize true believers regardless of Creed. However, I am unsure as to how I can minister to Methodists who are without the fullness of the faith. These are not Catholics who have left the faith, but Christians who were raised in another faith. How is this different from people who were raised without knowing Christ at all? And yet, I find it perplexing that I would be called by God to minister as a Methodist, being a Catholic myself.

I understand that all is possible within the Grace of God, and yet I fail to understand how I can serve Christians outside the Church in this way. My aim is to do he Will of God, but how can I be sure what that is? I have been studying the Bible and our Cathecism and I have reviewed Luther’s and Wesley’s writings. Logically and spiritually, I believe I am ready to take on this challenge, and yet I am reluctant. How can I know the difference between a reluctance because I am unsure of the validity of this calling, and a reluctance because I am uncomfortable with this calling?

Sorry for such a long post. In short: If a faithful Catholic receives a calling to serve others within a church that has a Protestant lineage, how can he be sure it is from God and how can he follow this calling?

As a practicing Catholic, do you attend Catholic Mass every Sunday, support your parish, send your children to RE classes, and promote their identity as Catholics and yours?

Have you talked with a priest about this issue?

Would your role in this ministry blur your identity as a Catholic, in the eyes of your children and others’?

Would you be “pretending” to be Methodist during this ministry? Would you be compromising your identity as a Catholic?

If you do not wish to reveal more information re: the type of ministry you’re considering in this forum, please talk with a Catholic priest before proceeding.