To and From The Catholic church

[Hiskid1973]

I don’t want to derail my own thread but I want to comment on the last few posts…Here’s what I see…First overall, I feel we are in the time of apostasy. Christ has those committed to Him in every church where He is lifted up…Mixed in are those hot that are committed to Christ and seek His face…Next we have lukewarm who attend but are more in the world…Also mixed with us are goats who are cold and need to chose Christ…You could apply conservative and liberal in the choices/groups…Those lukewarm are in a scary place and the goats needs to see the light and love of Christ from those passionate about Him…It also affects the lukewarm…Prayer is the key for the blind to see…peace to you…

I was in a singing group, singing scripture in alot of congregation…I seen alot who were hot, cold and lukewarm…People and churches…Our church has almost tripled in size over the last few years, not just from new converts to Christ but from people leaving dying congregations…Peace to you…K

 

[fbl9]

Yes one can find it in Scripture

Transubstantiation is how it can be the body and blood of our Lord…not the why and who, which can be found in scripture(the why and who)

 

[Carlan]

I am not concerned about the stance on social justice, I am concerned about them being in bed with liberals. I don’t cotton much to liberals, I do believe it a mistake that I as a die hard Conservative to join the Church. I most likely have more in common with Conservative Protestants in regard to my outlook then Catholics

Are you perhaps too conservative Historyb?
Christ’s teaching is to Love.
Can we accept situations no matter how hard, not being able to change them, while changing my thinking and things within myself that is not in line with what Jesus would do, his Truth.
we must ask for perseverance to stay with the prayer of God’s will in us.i n our person, not my will but yours Father, Help me to stay with what is RIGHT. Carlan

 

[emeraldcoast]

I don’t want to derail my own thread but I want to comment on the last few posts…Here’s what I see…First overall, I feel we are in the time of apostasy. Christ has those committed to Him in every church where He is lifted up…Mixed in are those hot that are committed to Christ and seek His face…Next we have lukewarm who attend but are more in the world…Also mixed with us are goats who are cold and need to chose Christ…You could apply conservative and liberal in the choices/groups…Those lukewarm are in a scary place and the goats needs to see the light and love of Christ from those passionate about Him…It also affects the lukewarm…Prayer is the key for the blind to see…peace to you…

I was in a singing group, singing scripture in alot of congregation…I seen alot who were hot, cold and lukewarm…People and churches…Our church has almost tripled in size over the last few years, not just from new converts to Christ but from people leaving dying congregations…Peace to you…K

Great post, Hiskid!

I think that this time of year, we should all recognize that there will be many visitors to our Churches and we should reach out to them and welcome them. They might not want to be members but by just being in our pews they are open at some level to hear the Gospel. Let us not miss the opportunity to let them know that we are here every Sunday and that they are wanted and a needed part of Christ’ family.

Merry Christmas!

 

[emeraldcoast]

Are you perhaps too conservative Historyb?
Christ’s teaching is to Love.
Can we accept situations no matter how hard, not being able to change them, while changing my thinking and things within myself that is not in line with what Jesus would do, his Truth.
we must ask for perseverance to stay with the prayer of God’s will in us.i n our person, not my will but yours Father, Help me to stay with what is RIGHT. Carlan

Would a Catholic be called a liberal and pro-life for agreeing with Roman Catholic Bishop Kevin Dowling on condoms?
time.com/time/europe/hero2005/dowling.html

Merry Christmas!

 

[Janet1983]

For the sake of my use of Catholic church, I will define it as after the schism and just the sees aligned under the authority the pope…Not the church catholic with all the sees together…I have a friend who left the Catholic church to be a “regular” christian…She had decided that what she had to take by faith about the CC is no longer believable to her…My question is to those who left or for protestants who changed, how long did it take for you believe everything…Like say the separated brethren thing and leaving the CC church is like walking away from Jesus…Joining the CC takes a leap of faith above the leap of faith just being a regular christian…Are there still, for those who turned Catholic, struggles believing some things…For those who left, how long did it take to release yourself from all that you chose to believe before ? This is not a debate thread, please keep it charitable…Grace and peace to you…K

That is a rather complicated question, but I will answer to the best of my ability.
I was a Catholic for most of my life. I did not even know that there was anything but Catholic until I got into 1st grade. The elementary school that all children out of the surrounding 4 villages went to was a Catholic one and I realized that there was something different because one of the children in my class did not have to attend religious education classes with the rest of us.
I went on to become very active in the church. So active that my father assumed I had turned into a fanatic.
In my late teens then I was still actively going to church (even though I also looked into things the church does not approve of like Wicca etc.) and participating, but my job made it harder for me as I hardly ever got home and I did not visit the church in the city I was stationed at. I started becoming increasingly inactive, but I still went to mass and sang in the choir every time I got home.
At that time I couldn’t imagine ever leaving the Catholic faith even though I was starting to recede from it.
When I met my husband I was a more or less inactive Catholic with a few minor doctrinal issues that I simply ignored. Even though I accompanied him to the Protestant service and participated in PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) I still called myself a Catholic even though I was not practicing anymore.
Before we got married we were asked whether there were any issues with us being from different denominations and as I was on the verge of leaving the church for the sake of my marriage I didn’t see any issue. After we got married I started studying into the Catholic faith again, Bible in hand, as my husband wanted to know more about it and I found skeletons I did not like, things that I had ignored or simply believed without questions.
My husband deployed 7 months after we got married and 1 month after that I got saved. I was baptized 2 months later while my husband was in Iraq.
So I can only guesstimate how long it took, but between me getting less active and getting saved it was about 16 months. 18 if you count until my baptism.

 

[Hiskid1973]

That is/was an interesting journey…Thanks for sharing…Thank you for your husbands service for our country…May our Lord bless you and guide you closer to Him in this new year ahead with all it holds…K

 

[LittleSoldier]

For the sake of my use of Catholic church, I will define it as after the schism and just the sees aligned under the authority the pope…Not the church catholic with all the sees together…I have a friend who left the Catholic church to be a “regular” christian…She had decided that what she had to take by faith about the CC is no longer believable to her…My question is to those who left or for protestants who changed, how long did it take for you believe everything…Like say the separated brethren thing and leaving the CC church is like walking away from Jesus…Joining the CC takes a leap of faith above the leap of faith just being a regular christian…Are there still, for those who turned Catholic, struggles believing some things…For those who left, how long did it take to release yourself from all that you chose to believe before ? This is not a debate thread, please keep it charitable…Grace and peace to you…K

I’m a bit confused by your post but I will try to answer. I was born into a Catholic family, baptized, received Holy Communion, Confession, Confirmation, Matrimony, even the Sacrament of the Sick.

I fell away from the Church when I was in college. Some of it was rebellion against my parents who IMHO did not provide a good example of what Catholics should be. Some of it was being forced to attend Mass, no matter how boring it was. Some of it was because I didn’t understand transubstantiation and therefore didn’t accept it. Some of it was because I went to a Catholic elementary school and I was treated very cruelly by some of the sisters there. Some of it; actually most of it, was because of laziness. I didn’t want to go to Mass. I didn’t want to read the Bible or try to learn anything about any faith, although there were exceptions. On and off I read a bit about other faiths. I liked the Quakers because women were treated as equals. I can’t remember any other faiths I investigated but I know there were a few. It didn’t form a large part of my life.

When I was writing my Master’s thesis I had a panic attack and I immediately started praying the Hail Mary. I don’t know why. Maybe I grabbed onto some part of my childhood that had given me comfort long ago. I knew I was dying and that is where I turned. But once the panic attack was over I fell back into my old habits.

After several years of acting this way I asked God to show me what the correct faith was. I told Him that I would go to the nearest Catholic Church and to please send me a sign. I went to the church and there was a hearse in front of me. That was my answer (or so I believed) and I didn’t return to the Church. One more thing I should mention is that I don’t think I ever really investigated any Protestant church. Something deep inside me was still holding onto that Catholic faith.

I decided to become a Christian. That’s all - nice and simple and easy to just go by Christ’s two commandments. It sounded good to me. In fact I believed it sounded good to everyone I asked about it, including priests. Nobody ever contradicted me. I was smug. I was so smart.

One day I went to see a monk at the request of my sister (who was Catholic and had never fallen away - I didn’t think she was very intelligent about religion). After I talked to the monk for a long time I suddenly realized that I wasn’t smart at all and that my sister was far more intelligent than me. I started to study Catholicism.

It took years but once I accepted that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ there was no argument that could sway me. I have returned to the Church and have been home for about fifteen years now. I will never fall away again. I accept everything the Church teaches. Why would Christ found a Church that would be fallible? This is Christ - this is God!! It doesn’t make sense. I have found nothing but peace and joy with my faith. I have problems in other areas of my life but when I relate them to my faith I again find peace.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the Catholic Church is the correct Church. Sometimes I am so happy to be home that I cry for joy. I’m sorry if that sounds trite or ridiculous, but it is true. When I pray I feel such a strong connection with God. I never even wanted to pray before or I only prayed when I needed something.

I know I am in the true Church and I will defend her to the death and I am not kidding. My faith is the most important thing in my life. I thank God (and my sister) for showing me the way back home.

Pax,
Christina

 

[peary1]

Originally Posted by historyb :
I converted to the CC along time ago, about 1991 from Protestantism. I have never been at rest in my soul about the decision to convert to the Catholic Church and I have been back and forth many, many times. It took me no time to believe the CC doctrines and no time to not believe the non Biblical ones, I am still not convinced the CC is the Church.

I am still very unsure and confused and to be quite honest I wish I never thought of or heard of the Catholic Church. Right now I am contemplating leaving again after I hear from the vortex that the Bishop conference is practically in bed with the Democratic party and I am a Creationist which seems at odds with the Catholic Church as it seems from this site. So there you have it I am a staunch Conservative and Creationist and I don’t think the CC has room for the likes of me.

**St. Paul wrote that when he was a child, he spoke as a child, thought as a child thinks, and did childish things. But when he grew up, he put these all away. It actually sounds as if you are having a most difficult time putting away your childish notions of what you thought was your relationship to God and what you are called to do now: to grow up.

Whether or not you are a Creationist has nothing to do with your relationship to God. That is something personal and you have to work that out. But you have been given the opportunity to learn the Truth as the Church teaches it, and you should give yourself time to spiritually mature in the process.

One thing though: the Bishops certainly are not “in bed” with the Democrat Party. They have a lot of misgivings about the whole healthcare bill, particularly when it comes to federal funding of abortion. They reject the bill as it stands now because of this.

But growing up in the Faith means compassion for the poor, and the push for social justice. Go volunteer your time over the holidays to a PADS center and get involved so that you can put your faith into practice. Running away from the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are not going to do you any good spiritually. These derive from your Faith, and not separate from it. This is what needs to be reconciled in you, not as to whether or not God created the earth in seven days.**

 

[AmericanJosiah]

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FROM The Catholic Church.

.

 

[Hiskid1973]

.FROM The Catholic Church…

No Story ?

 

[Bill_Pick]

For the sake of my use of Catholic church, I will define it as after the schism and just the sees aligned under the authority the pope…Not the church catholic with all the sees together…I have a friend who left the Catholic church to be a “regular” christian…She had decided that what she had to take by faith about the CC is no longer believable to her…My question is to those who left or for protestants who changed, how long did it take for you believe everything…Like say the separated brethren thing and leaving the CC church is like walking away from Jesus…Joining the CC takes a leap of faith above the leap of faith just being a regular christian…Are there still, for those who turned Catholic, struggles believing some things…For those who left, how long did it take to release yourself from all that you chose to believe before ? This is not a debate thread, please keep it charitable…Grace and peace to you…K

 

[Vasian]

Just a little observation: some read scripture leading them back into the Church and other read the same scripture out of the Church…to me that kinda shows the weakness of using scripture alone as the only guide…

Truer words have not been spoken on the subject:thumbsup:

 

[GraceDK]

That is a rather complicated question, but I will answer to the best of my ability.
I was a Catholic for most of my life. I did not even know that there was anything but Catholic until I got into 1st grade. The elementary school that all children out of the surrounding 4 villages went to was a Catholic one and I realized that there was something different because one of the children in my class did not have to attend religious education classes with the rest of us.
I went on to become very active in the church. So active that my father assumed I had turned into a fanatic.
In my late teens then I was still actively going to church (even though I also looked into things the church does not approve of like Wicca etc.) and participating, but my job made it harder for me as I hardly ever got home and I did not visit the church in the city I was stationed at. I started becoming increasingly inactive, but I still went to mass and sang in the choir every time I got home.
At that time I couldn’t imagine ever leaving the Catholic faith even though I was starting to recede from it.
When I met my husband I was a more or less inactive Catholic with a few minor doctrinal issues that I simply ignored. Even though I accompanied him to the Protestant service and participated in PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) I still called myself a Catholic even though I was not practicing anymore.
Before we got married we were asked whether there were any issues with us being from different denominations and as I was on the verge of leaving the church for the sake of my marriage I didn’t see any issue. After we got married I started studying into the Catholic faith again, Bible in hand, as my husband wanted to know more about it and I found skeletons I did not like, things that I had ignored or simply believed without questions.
My husband deployed 7 months after we got married and 1 month after that I got saved. I was baptized 2 months later while my husband was in Iraq.
So I can only guesstimate how long it took, but between me getting less active and getting saved it was about 16 months. 18 if you count until my baptism.

Dear sister in Jesus.
My heart just cries when I read such stories… about people like you who had a religion, a belief which was a relationship with the church, but not a relationship with the Lord who is Everything…
How can Catholics go to church all their life and not have a personal relationship with Jesus!!! (I guess thats what you mean by saved).What an absolute poverty among us and much to our shame! Please forgive those who failed to testify.
I am so sad about this and greatly disturbed really.
I think it has to do with the fact that some people talk more about their faith in the Catholic Church than their faith in Christ, they talk more about teachings and philosophy than about testimony of God’s miracles in their life (and ooohh there are so many in the Catholic Church that are saints… mystics… people who saw the Lord, SAW Him yes, who were healed in all kinds of ways… but these don’t get to speak) and many priests seem to refuse to actually PREACH, which is where it all should start…
I think this is where the problem is… the structure is rather sick. We have academics and philosophers giving dry lectures instead of living testimonies.
I am Catholic because Jesus led me here. I have found that in order to thrive here you have to be an elite Christian somehow… but when you get tired and dry there is not much burning heat around you to make you burn again. (I talk about the Church in Europe). It really has become a “me and Jesus-church”. People are left to themselves… them and the Eucharist… as though its taken for granted that they would automatically know what LIFE there is in the Sacraments without ever getting taught with truth and fervor. ( I became Catholic because Christ gave me thirst for His Eucharist). I am blessed to be Catholic,
but I do, I DO, see the illnesses and all the things we need to learn from others in regard to form… and in regard to handing over the reigns to the Holy Spirit much more in our assemblies.
We are the Church and the parish Church is the present church to the believer … that is the Church… not some far away magisterium… but often the Catholic parish does not function because they have become sleeping or lost inside their ideas and theories of “fullness”… Yet what is fullness of faith if we dont have LOVE, TRUE FELLOWSHIP, MIRACLES AND SIGNS THAT JESUS PROMISED WOULD ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM?
Sorry for my caps… I know that does not help. But I pray and wish we make our brethren hungry to join us because of a reputation of great brotherly love and wonders in our assemblies instead of focusing on form and liturgy, which, albeit they have their place, must never stifen the life of the free and spontaneous Holy Spirit.

may the Lord have mercy on us all!
We need each other so much, all of us…

 

[Hisalone]

Truer words have not been spoken on the subject:thumbsup:

There is nothing deficient in scripture.
I have always thought that God brings folks to different homes for different reasons Some He leads to Catholicism some He leads away.

 

[peary1]

There is nothing deficient in scripture.
I have always thaought that God brings folks to different homes for different reasons Some He leads to Catholicism some He leads away.

So, in effect, what you are saying is, we are predestined for either Heaven or Hell. Those who remain in Christ’s Church, or those He leads to it are saved; those He leads away from Christ’s Church are condemned.

 

[Hisalone]

So, in effect, what you are saying is, we are predestined for either Heaven or Hell. Those who remain in Christ’s Church, or those He leads to it are saved; those He leads away from Christ’s Church are condemned.

LOL
If you follow God and trust Him you will be saved even if you become Catholic.

 

[qui_est_ce]

That is a rather complicated question, but I will answer to the best of my ability.
I was a Catholic for most of my life.
So I can only guesstimate how long it took, but between me getting less active and getting saved it was about 16 months. 18 if you count until my baptism.

If you were Catholic all your life, then you would have been saved when you were baptized as an infant.

 

[GraceDK]

If you were Catholic all your life, then you would have been saved when you were baptized as an infant.

You know well that baptism alone does not save. Faith and baptism does. If a person does not know Christ, even if they were baptized, it will not make them saved in any sense of the word.

 

[qui_est_ce]

You know well that baptism alone does not save. Faith and baptism does. If a person does not know Christ, even if they were baptized, it will not make them saved in any sense of the word.

While you are correct, we are not save by Baptism alone, we are still saved by Baptism.

Baptism forgives all sin, so if one were to die at the moment of Baptism, one would be saved. (Not saying there wouldn’t be a stop along the way)