To my Non-Catholic Christian friends: What if the Holy Spirit is guiding me to the RCC?

[rwillenborg]

I am not convinced that from God’s perspective only one organization can be exclusively His church. I agree that it started out that way, but as time progressed this one organization fragmented. That is a historical fact.

Certainly, the one church fragmented. But was God pleased with this? I’m not so sure. In the Bible, Jesus speaks of his ‘church’ in the singular. Even if we are NOT to assume that the church of which Jesus speaks is the RCC, He is certainly suggesting that there is only one. I don’t understand how a church could be considered one when they prescribe to wildly varying beliefs.

 

[rwillenborg]

I don’t know how to do that thing where yo break up a post, so here goes…

That is logical.

I think the right question is to look at this from God’s perspective. From God’s perspective are we “hosed” if the organization we choose to hook up with is teaching something that is not quite right. Or can God still move and draw people to Himself and draw people closer to Himself through organizations that don’t have it all right? Now I believe the answer to this question is yes.

Even if we are in an organization that is teaching error, certainly God could still draw us to Himself. But, I fear that if I follow the error of that organization, I will actually take myself farther away from God. I stated in an example above to another poster that there are several christian denominations who find nothing objectionable to abortion. There are others, such as the RCC, who call it nothing short of cold-blooded murder. How would I know which is teaching truth? Surely, this wouldn’t be one of those little issues that doesn’t matter to God. And surely, members of both groups would say they are being led by the Holy Spirit.

 

[rwillenborg]

Even if this particular assumption is correct, how would I know WHICH doctrines to follow and which ones not to follow. I can name women in my own life who say they are devout Christians, and then they go and sleep with everyone at the club. They pray. They read Scripture. They go to church services. Heck, some of them even lead choirs, and church retreats. And then, they sleep go all nuts on Saturday night. My point is, these women are indeed very loving, and, to the rest of the world, very holy. But I’m not so sure. And how would I know WHICH issues mattered and which ones didn’t?

And, thank you again for taking the time to respond to me. I really appreciate your thoughts on this matter, particularly your pointing to 1 COR 13. THAT is a point i would do well to remember ALL the time.

 

[doughnut]

i was an atheist too before joing the RCC too. i was brought up without a religion, my dad a staunch atheist and my mom, at best an agnostic, but with doubts of the ‘supernatural’. however an encounter with God led me to His church.

My parents are still wondering how that could happen for they were pretty ‘proud’ of my ‘atheistic inclinations’.

 

[rwillenborg]

i was an atheist too before joing the RCC too. i was brought up without a religion, my dad a staunch atheist and my mom, at best an agnostic, but with doubts of the ‘supernatural’. however an encounter with God led me to His church.

My parents are still wondering how that could happen for they were pretty ‘proud’ of my ‘atheistic inclinations’.

Ha! I know what you mean. If I had said I was interested in the UU church, or a coven, or, really, anything, ANYTHING but the RCC everyone in my life would have been much happier. They were asking me ‘Well, if you are a Roman Catholic, you’ll be like the rest of them and still be pro-choice and use birth control, right?’ and I was like ‘No, if I’m going to run with this RC thing, I’m running all the way to the end’

I can’t blame them actually. Once I really started to read about faith and Jesus, I was like ‘No, this is Catholic. This is all Catholic. It can’t be! No, it can’t be!’ LOL!

With friends it’s even harder actually! They’re like ‘Are you trying to be funny? Because, normally, you’re very funny. We’re waiting for the funny part’ I wouldn’t call myself a Catholic quite yet - there are still some loose ends to tie up before I jump into this (hence why I started this thread!). But I DO have a Catholic radio bumper sticker on my car now. Honestly, it’s the only thing on the radio that I feel ok playing with my kids in the car!!

if you don’t mind telling, what was your encounter with God? I’ve been listening to The Journey Home alot on EWTN, and whenever I listen to people’s conversion stories, I’m always fascinated.

 

[rinnie]

So, I spent a VERY long time away from anything related to Christian thinking, spending all my adult life as an atheist and, on my better days, agnostic. My familiarity with the Christian faith growing up was very limited, so I’m kind of looking at this with new eyes.
I pray to the Holy Spirit daily. I read Scripture daily. I really try to let the Holy Spirit guide me. My protestant acquaintances assure me that the RCC is NOT the place for me, but how can that be possible if that’s where Scripture and the Holy Spirit are leading me? The Catholic ideas of purgatory, and honor to Mary and especially the Eucharist all jump out at me from Scripture.
I really want to follow the Lord’s will for me, and the pull to the RCC is overwhelming. How could this be wrong?
I ask this with a charitable spirit and hope to get answers of the same. Thanks in advance for your time!

You have found the light. Just keep following it, and you will never be in the dark again.

 

[Dokimas]

The number comes from the World Christian Encyclopedia.
Here is a link to the information:
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/a120.htm

Sure would be nice if the link posted the names of these denominations not just pick out a number. Anyone can make a statement and call it fact without documentation.

 

[Dokimas]

Interesting but sad that the protestant groups are supposedly increasing (the link said 270 per year) at the same time catholic churches are closing.

 

[larkin31]

So, I spent a VERY long time away from anything related to Christian thinking, spending all my adult life as an atheist and, on my better days, agnostic. My familiarity with the Christian faith growing up was very limited, so I’m kind of looking at this with new eyes.
I pray to the Holy Spirit daily. I read Scripture daily. I really try to let the Holy Spirit guide me. My protestant acquaintances assure me that the RCC is NOT the place for me, but how can that be possible if that’s where Scripture and the Holy Spirit are leading me? The Catholic ideas of purgatory, and honor to Mary and especially the Eucharist all jump out at me from Scripture.
I really want to follow the Lord’s will for me, and the pull to the RCC is overwhelming. How could this be wrong?
I ask this with a charitable spirit and hope to get answers of the same. Thanks in advance for your time!

Follow it.

 

[Bob4BVM]

Ha! I know what you mean. If I had said I was interested in the UU church, or a coven, or, really, anything, ANYTHING but the RCC everyone in my life would have been much happier. They were asking me ‘Well, if you are a Roman Catholic, you’ll be like the rest of them and still be pro-choice and use birth control, right?’ and I was like ‘No, if I’m going to run with this RC thing, I’m running all the way to the end’

I can’t blame them actually. Once I really started to read about faith and Jesus, I was like ‘No, this is Catholic. This is all Catholic. It can’t be! No, it can’t be!’ LOL!

With friends it’s even harder actually! They’re like ‘Are you trying to be funny? Because, normally, you’re very funny. We’re waiting for the funny part’

Dear rwillenborg,
Of this much you can be sure: If the world hates you because of the church you are in, you can be pretty sure you are in the RIGHT place.
Why ?
Look around.
We may have not quite yet created our own hell on earth, but we are getting pretty close.
We live in a society which desperately hopes that all the RCC professes and has stood for in the last 2000 yrs will NOT be proven true.

Hang in there, follow your heart to God.

PS, check your PM’s

 

[rwillenborg]

Sure would be nice if the link posted the names of these denominations not just pick out a number. Anyone can make a statement and call it fact without documentation.

I couldn’t find the details online, but I have seen this book at my local library in the reference section. Perhaps there’s one at your local library, too?
We go every week with the kids, so I think while they’re staring at the fish tank next time we’re there, I’ll actually take a peek at it!

 

[DL82]

So, I spent a VERY long time away from anything related to Christian thinking, spending all my adult life as an atheist and, on my better days, agnostic. My familiarity with the Christian faith growing up was very limited, so I’m kind of looking at this with new eyes.
I pray to the Holy Spirit daily. I read Scripture daily. I really try to let the Holy Spirit guide me. My protestant acquaintances assure me that the RCC is NOT the place for me, but how can that be possible if that’s where Scripture and the Holy Spirit are leading me? The Catholic ideas of purgatory, and honor to Mary and especially the Eucharist all jump out at me from Scripture.
I really want to follow the Lord’s will for me, and the pull to the RCC is overwhelming. How could this be wrong?
I ask this with a charitable spirit and hope to get answers of the same. Thanks in advance for your time!

It’s wonderful that these concepts jump out at you from Scripture. The Scriptures were written by the Catholic Church, and speak the truth about Christ’s life, love and teaching. Your protestant acquaintances have had years of being told by their churches that this is the ‘wrong’ way to interpret scripture. Your ‘new eyes’ are a blessing.

I’d suggest getting a hold of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and beginning to read through it. You will find that it is rooted and grounded in the Scriptures. See if you can agree with Catholic teaching. If you think there might be something in this, sign up for RCIA (it may be a little late to be received this Easter, but it’s never too early to start), you don’t need to make any commitment to become Catholic at the end, it’s just a place to meet like-minded enquirers and ask your questions about the faith to someone who (ought to) be in a position, not necessarily to answer them all, but to direct you to ways of finding those answers for yourself.

God bless.

 

[peary]

So, I spent a VERY long time away from anything related to Christian thinking, spending all my adult life as an atheist and, on my better days, agnostic. My familiarity with the Christian faith growing up was very limited, so I’m kind of looking at this with new eyes.
I pray to the Holy Spirit daily. I read Scripture daily. I really try to let the Holy Spirit guide me. My protestant acquaintances assure me that the RCC is NOT the place for me, but how can that be possible if that’s where Scripture and the Holy Spirit are leading me? The Catholic ideas of purgatory, and honor to Mary and especially the Eucharist all jump out at me from Scripture.
I really want to follow the Lord’s will for me, and the pull to the RCC is overwhelming. How could this be wrong?
I ask this with a charitable spirit and hope to get answers of the same. Thanks in advance for your time!

Be assured that if you feel a strong inclination to Christ’s Church, then that is where the Holy Spirit is leading you. Welcome home!

Pay no attention to your friends on this matter…with Christ, you must say, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”

You are on the right track. God bless you!

 

[graceandglory]

I pray to the Holy Spirit daily. I read Scripture daily. I really try to let the Holy Spirit guide me. My protestant acquaintances assure me that the RCC is NOT the place for me, but how can that be possible if that’s where Scripture and the Holy Spirit are leading me? !

I hope you don’t mind my responding. You see, I was protestant for most of my adult life. So in many ways I still remember how to think like a protestant, bible believing, evangelical, non denominational Christian.

How do you know that the Holy Spirit is guiding you to the Catholic Church? Mormons claim the same thing. They “just know” something is true because there is a “burning in their bosom.” As an evangelical non-denominational, bible only Christian, we sounded a lot like Mormons, when we told of how we “just knew” the Holy Spirit was leading us. How can that be true, that the Holy Spirit guided tens of thousands of Christ-loving people in tens of thousands of different “truths?”

As a Catholic however, we believe in Faith AND Reason. We believe God’s truth CAN be known, and it’s much more certain than just a “feeling” that the Holy Spirit is guiding you.

More on Faith and Reason here
catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304fea1.asp

And here:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html

God bless you as you continue in your journey toward God’s Truth.

"All truth is God’s truth, insofar as it is true."

 

[graceandglory]

If the Catholic Church is were you are drawn, then go and fellowship in company with Catholics

See! Didn’t I tell you! I still remember how to think like a protestant!

Using this reasoning, if you are “drawn” to radical muslim fundamentalism, go and hang with the Taliban. I say, the truth can be known.

 

[rwillenborg]

I hope you don’t mind my responding. You see, I was protestant for most of my adult life. So in many ways I still remember how to think like a protestant, bible believing, evangelical, non denominational Christian.

How do you know that the Holy Spirit is guiding you to the Catholic Church? Mormons claim the same thing. They “just know” something is true because there is a “burning in their bosom.” As an evangelical non-denominational, bible only Christian, we sounded a lot like Mormons, when we told of how we “just knew” the Holy Spirit was leading us. How can that be true, that the Holy Spirit guided tens of thousands of Christ-loving people in tens of thousands of different “truths?”

As a Catholic however, we believe in Faith AND Reason. We believe God’s truth CAN be known, and it’s much more certain than just a “feeling” that the Holy Spirit is guiding you.

More on Faith and Reason here
catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304fea1.asp

And here:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html

God bless you as you continue in your journey toward God’s Truth.

"All truth is God’s truth, insofar as it is true."

Aha! See, that’s EXACTLY what I’m talking about! I mentioned this VERY THING in an earlier post. These acquaintances of mine. They are “evangelical non-denominational, bible only Christians” and they all truly love Christ, yet, they have such wildly differing beliefs. I don’t understand how this is tenable. I’m not trying to sound like a jerk here, I really just don’t get it.
And then, of course, when I said I felt drawn to the RCC they were all like ‘No, the RCC is false, answering to men, blah blah blah’ and I was like ‘No, I don’t think that’s quite true’ and they are all appalled when I say that this is really where I feel drawn. I really don’t see what’s so appalling about this!!
And the thing is I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. Faith and reason are married, always have been, always will be. I think this is why the Catholic faith is so appealling to me. My evangelical friends, who do truly love Christ, and whose hearts I admire deeply, simply aren’t interested in the reason part. Please understand, I’m not suggesting they are unreasonable. I am just saying that their hearts took them to their respective churches and that was quite enough for them. I think faith like that is beautiful, and a blessing, but unfortunately, that sort of faith is not a gift that I have.

But again, EACH one of these people LOVES Christ with all their hearts. They LOVE the Lord, and they think such very different things about, well, everything. Again, I just don’t understand how the Holy Spirit, who I truly believe they are praying to , can lead people in such different directions.

I almost forgot to mention. Thanks for the links. I’ll look at them shortly!

 

[joe370]

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear in my initial post as to what my point is.
Actually, your post kind of makes my point.
The Holy Spirit led your father AWAY from the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit is leading me TOWARDS the Catholic Church. How can that be? Why would the Holy Spirit lead one person to one set of doctrines and lead another to another set of doctrines when both people were simply asking to be led towards the Truth?
I guess, after floating around in the la-la land of agnosticism for so long, I’d really like to find the Truth and I’m getting so many comflicting views from so many angles. I simply want to do God’s will and be in His Church.

I’m seeking the Truth, whatever that might be, and I don’t understand how there could possibly be conflicting truths.

Does that clear up my point at all?

I can totally relate to your struggle, for I had the same struggles as a former Lutheran, at least until I found the historical church of Matthew 16:18…,John 14:16, John 16:13, Acts 1:8 and 2, and Matthew 28:20. If you believe that the Holy spirit is guiding Jesus’ apostolic church, of Matthew 16 into all truth, then all you have to do is find that church - right? People will always disagree with you but who cares. Find the church of Matthew 16 and you will have found the pillar and foundation of truth!

Good luck friend on your journey…

 

[T_More]

rwillenborg, if I may offer my opinion from someone who intends to enter the Church, I think I understand what you are trying to convey. For me, when I decided to walk away from being a JW, it was quite a while before I started to resume my spiritual life. I started with the question, do I believe in Christianity? I decided that I did, after much prayer. I then decided to do some serious historical research. What I found written by the Early Church Fathers was astounding to someone from my background. After reading some very reasonable apologetics (of which I am still plowing through) such as Scott Hahn, Thomas Howard and Peter Kreeft, my intellectual inquiries are being more than satisfied. And what has made it even more compelling is the fact these men are converts. They are some of the most brilliant theologians in the world today, and some of them were very anti-Catholic. To me, the reasoning is beyond sound. The “emotional” part has come since then, as I have felt such joy in everything I have found in the Catholic faith. I attended my first Mass last week and after it was over, I had never felt so moved after a religious ceremony in my life. Why? Because of my research, I prepared myself for what the meaning of everything in the Mass was. I am far from being up to speed on everything (when to kneel, etc.) but I know when I enter RCIA this summer this will aid me greatly. If you feel pulled, don’t fight it as there is a reason for it. I will pray for your journey!

 

[rwillenborg]

rwillenborg, if I may offer my opinion from someone who intends to enter the Church, I think I understand what you are trying to convey. For me, when I decided to walk away from being a JW, it was quite a while before I started to resume my spiritual life. I started with the question, do I believe in Christianity? I decided that I did, after much prayer. I then decided to do some serious historical research. What I found written by the Early Church Fathers was astounding to someone from my background. After reading some very reasonable apologetics (of which I am still plowing through) such as Scott Hahn, Thomas Howard and Peter Kreeft, my intellectual inquiries are being more than satisfied. And what has made it even more compelling is the fact these men are converts. They are some of the most brilliant theologians in the world today, and some of them were very anti-Catholic. To me, the reasoning is beyond sound. The “emotional” part has come since then, as I have felt such joy in everything I have found in the Catholic faith. I attended my first Mass last week and after it was over, I had never felt so moved after a religious ceremony in my life. Why? Because of my research, I prepared myself for what the meaning of everything in the Mass was. I am far from being up to speed on everything (when to kneel, etc.) but I know when I enter RCIA this summer this will aid me greatly. If you feel pulled, don’t fight it as there is a reason for it. I will pray for your journey!

that might be one of the most beautiful and honest things I have ever read on CAF! I appreciate your prayers, I certainly do. Thank you!
I think the leap for you, as a JW, to ‘swim the tiber’ as they say around here, was much farther than it was for me. If I may ask, what even started you looking, and why did you start looking to the RCC? I’m just curious. Thanks for your post! Honestly, it warmed my heart and I really believe the RCC is right when she calls herself ‘Home’. There are just a few lingering issues I am trying to sort out.

 

[rwillenborg]

I can totally relate to your struggle, for I had the same struggles as a former Lutheran, at least until I found the historical church of Matthew 16:18…,John 14:16, John 16:13, Acts 1:8 and 2, and Matthew 28:20. If you believe that the Holy spirit is guiding Jesus’ apostolic church, of Matthew 16 into all truth, then all you have to do is find that church - right? People will always disagree with you but who cares. Find the church of Matthew 16 and you will have found the pillar and foundation of truth!

Good luck friend on your journey…

Thank you, Joe! And see, that’s just it, I really believe Christ founded ONE church. It wouldn’t make sense to found more than one, would it? Besides, he’s always talking about ‘Church’ not ‘Churches’ so it leads me to believe that he was establishings ome unified body.
And, the RCC makes a strong case for that to be her. I checked out some books on the eastern orthodox church, too. I’m hoping to better understand the schism (who left whom, really) so maybe that will clear up some more issues for me. too.
Thanks for the encouraging words!