What do you miss most as an ex-Evangelical?

[AlegreFe]

I think appearances are decieving and there are very few, if any Catholics who blur those lines. I now believe that just as that line is drawn clearly in my heart, it is in others as well.

:yup: On mine too!

MariaG:

I think that when you have not drawn the line yourself (or recognize the line that has been drawn by God?), it is harder to see if others have.

Absolutely! Very good point!

MariaG:

I know I did not fully let go of my belief that many Catholics may blur this line until I had been praying about something for years. Years. And finally, one night in my room, I cried out and asked Mary to pray for me, that I could no longer do so. My prayer was answered very quickly and I came to see how Christ is pleased when people ask His mother to pray for them. God answered the prayer, but He is pleased to do so from the Prayers from Mary.

emphasis added

Most Absolutely True!

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one
another and pray for one another, that
you may be healed. The fervent prayer
of a righteous person is very powerful.
Jas 5:16

And what person more righteous than Mary?! None! http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Angelblinking.gif

 

[AlegreFe]

I don’t get to watch the Mass on EWTN every day, but I do enjoy it when I get to watch it. I just wish I could hear good preaching in the parish I attend --so far I’ve belonged to three parishes and haven’t heard consistently good preaching in any of them

I only find it in one church that I attend. That is why I still try to tune in to the Sunday Mass on EWTN! I watch the Daily Mass but I sometimes miss the Sunday Mass on EWTN because I actually go out to Mass on Sunday then go to my mom’s house to be with the family.

But don’t let it get to you. That is the beauty of the Catholic Mass. Our Source, Center & Summit of our Faith does not rely on the Priest and his homilies. You know what the Source, Center and Summit of our Christian life is right?
Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist! :yup:

That is the difference between a Protestant service and the Catholic Mass. We truly have Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist! No matter how good a protestant sermon can be, they still don’t have Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Some denominations believe they do however, even though it’s not true.

So just keep that in mind. We are being fed by the liturgy of the Word then by the liturgy of the Eucharist when we are at Mass!

Also keep in mind that we walk by faith and not by sight or feelings that you might get from a “good sermon.”

You are in my prayers and also in Mary’s as I just asked her to pray for you too.

 

[AlegreFe]

We don’t need to concern ourselves with the sin (or possible sin) of others.

I’m afraid you’re wrong on this one. We are all connected and therefore we are our brothers’ keeper. We are to admonish the sinner. We are to pray for sinners and to try to help with the Holy Spirit in prayer to convert sinners. We can’t just be “Jesus and me” Christians.

 

[AlegreFe]

I also miss the small community “feeling”. All of the Catholic parishes in my urban city are huge. I came from a small (200 member) protestant church where everybody knew everybody. It has been very hard to make close friendships in a parish of 5,000 where many people only attend a one-hour Mass on Sunday and you never see them at other times.

The fellowship can go both ways. Have you approached anyone in your parish and voiced your wanting to become friends? I know it seems strange but have you? If this is what you really want then go after it.

I myself am satisfied with my relationship with Jesus Christ as I receive Him at every Mass I attend. I also know of several other Catholics in one of the Parishes as I attend a prayer group there.

Maybe you can start your own prayer group or bible study where you can actually meet people and become a little closer as you would be in a smaller group if you start a prayer or bible study group.

Pray to the Holy Spirit and see if you are called to start such a group whether prayer or bible study.

Mary3:

However, I’m ever grateful to have the fullness of faith. Would not go back for any reason!

 

[MariaG]

I’m afraid you’re wrong on this one. We are all connected and therefore we are our brothers’ keeper. We are to admonish the sinner. We are to pray for sinners and to try to help with the Holy Spirit in prayer to convert sinners. We can’t just be “Jesus and me” Christians.

Yes, you are correct in this manner.

What I meant was in a much more limited sense.

I don’t have to stop doing something that is good, because someone else abuses it.

In other words I can drink a glass of wine even though others are alcoholics. Maybe not around the alcoholic, but I can still drink wine. Wine is a good thing and I should not curtail my activities based on the possibly sinful things others do when they drink.

In the same way, my devotion to Mary should not be affected by the possibility that others may go to far and worship her. My good and right actions are not affected by their sin (IF they worship Mary) and in this sense, I should not concern myself about their possible sin, change my actions, based on someone else’s sin.

Although again, just as I would not choose to drink in front of a known alcoholic lest they stumble and fall, I don’t pull out my Rosary and ask my fundamentalist friends to pray the rosary with me lest I cause them to “see” my actions and misunderstand. I even censor my words and rarely use the word “devotion” to Mary with them unless I clarify and explain in some way. Most when they think of “devotions” they think of their “daily devotions” which are to God alone. It is the same as worship to them.

But thanks for the follow up, because I can see where my words could be confused and I should have chosen more carefully.

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

 

[Veritas41]

But don’t let it get to you. That is the beauty of the Catholic Mass. Our Source, Center & Summit of our Faith does not rely on the Priest and his homilies. You know what the Source, Center and Summit of our Christian life is right?
Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist! :yup:

You are in my prayers and also in Mary’s as I just asked her to pray for you too.

I hope I didn’t come across as disgruntled and ready to leave the Church. I’ve actually come to accept it (it bothered me more when I first became Catholic because I had been blessed to have a couple of pastors who taught me so much about the Christian faith from their theologically deep and Scripturally based sermons). Even with good sermons, I got to the point where I left church feeling like I hadn’t really worshipped God, and it was frustrating. But as a Catholic, I’ve never felt that way. I always get to worship the Lord as He intends, no matter how poor the homily is, and the privilege of receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is beyond words. But when I look around at my fellow parishioners, many of whom don’t really know the Catholic faith that well, I wonder how individuals and even whole parishes might be transformed if Catholics received better instruction in their faith from the pulpit?

 

[AlegreFe]

Yes, you are correct in this manner.

What I meant was in a much more limited sense.

I don’t have to stop doing something that is good, because someone else abuses it.

In other words I can drink a glass of wine even though others are alcoholics. Maybe not around the alcoholic, but I can still drink wine. Wine is a good thing and I should not curtail my activities based on the possibly sinful things others do when they drink.

I agree with you.

MariaG:

In the same way, my devotion to Mary should not be affected by the possibility that others may go to far and worship her. My good and right actions are not affected by their sin (IF they worship Mary) and in this sense, I should not concern myself about their possible sin, change my actions, based on someone else’s sin.

I see what you mean with this. Just because someone else takes their devotion of Mary too far to as to forget about Jesus does not mean that we should not stay with our devotion to Mary.
Although I cannot imagine someone forgetting about Jesus when they have a devotion to Mary. That just seems strange to me. But if indeed this is happening we should pray for those people.

MariaG:

Although again, just as I would not choose to drink in front of a known alcoholic lest they stumble and fall, I don’t pull out my Rosary and ask my fundamentalist friends to pray the rosary with me lest I cause them to “see” my actions and misunderstand.

I agree. But I would still like to explain the Rosary to someone so that they don’t misunderstand.

MariaG:

I even censor my words and rarely use the word “devotion” to Mary with them unless I clarify and explain in some way. Most when they think of “devotions” they think of their “daily devotions” which are to God alone. It is the same as worship to them.

That is so strange to me why they would think that the word “prayer” or “to pray” can only mean “worship” to God. That is where our “definitions” differ when it comes to prayer.

MariaG:

But thanks for the follow up, because I can see where my words could be confused and I should have chosen more carefully.

I’m glad you could make yourself clear on your words and what you said before. I just misunderstood. Thanks.

 

[AlegreFe]

I hope I didn’t come across as disgruntled and ready to leave the Church.

Not at all my friend. Especially not disgruntled in any way.

Veritas41:

I’ve actually come to accept it (it bothered me more when I first became Catholic because I had been blessed to have a couple of pastors who taught me so much about the Christian faith from their theologically deep and Scripturally based sermons). Even with good sermons, I got to the point where I left church feeling like I hadn’t really worshipped God, and it was frustrating.

This is understandable. :yup:

Veritas41:

But as a Catholic, I’ve never felt that way. I always get to worship the Lord as He intends, no matter how poor the homily is, and the privilege of receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is beyond words.

Isn’t that great?!! I love my Cathoilc Faith and I love Jesus who is in all the Tabernacles in every Catholic Church all over the world!

Veritas41:

But when I look around at my fellow parishioners, many of whom don’t really know the Catholic faith that well, I wonder how individuals and even whole parishes might be transformed if Catholics received better instruction in their faith from the pulpit?

Isn’t that sad? It absolutely is. That is why many Catholics leave the Church. And you’re right, we should have good priests who actually teach from the pulpit. I have never come across a priest who hasn’t taught strongly from the pulpit but there are some better than others.

We have to pray for our Priests. We should never stop praying for Priests. Our Blessed Mother especially loves these Priests as they are her sons and they have a special place in her heart because her Son Jesus Christ is the High Priest in which these Priests stand. So ask Mary to pray for all our Priests. When you say the Rosary, say one for our Priests please.

 

[RNRobert]

I’ve read alot of stories of those who left the Catholic Church to become Protestant and of those who left Protestant to become Catholic, and I notice a fundamental difference in their stories.
Catholics generally leave the faith for the following reasons:

They didn’t know their faith that well to begin with, and when a non-Catholic comes along who really seems to be “on fire for God” and quotes Scripture passages that “prove” Catholicism is wrong, and so they leave.

They have a problem with certain teachings of the church (i.e, contraception, serial divorce and remarriage, priestly celibacy, etc.) and leave to find a church that is more accomodating.

Or. sadly, they had a bad personal experience while in the Catholic Church (sexual abuse, etc.).

However, when reading about Evangelicals becoming Catholic, there was a different set a circumstances that come into play. To begin with, these individuals loved Jesus very much and wanted to love and serve him as much as possible. Secondly, none of these ex-Evangelicals ever had an unkind word to say about their former churches. In fact, many expressed nothing but gratitude for their former church affiliation for helping them to grow in faith. Yet, as much as they loved being Evangelicals, there seemed to be something lacking. Covert to Catholicism Thomas Howard wrote a book whose title I believe says it best: Evangelical is Not Enough. These converts learned alot about Jesus from their evangelical affiliations, but it wasn’t as fulfilling, something they only found by becoming Catholic.

 

[Veritas41]

I’ve read alot of stories of those who left the Catholic Church to become Protestant and of those who left Protestant to become Catholic, and I notice a fundamental difference in their stories.
Catholics generally leave the faith for the following reasons:

They didn’t know their faith that well to begin with, and when a non-Catholic comes along who really seems to be “on fire for God” and quotes Scripture passages that “prove” Catholicism is wrong, and so they leave.

They have a problem with certain teachings of the church (i.e, contraception, serial divorce and remarriage, priestly celibacy, etc.) and leave to find a church that is more accomodating.

Or. sadly, they had a bad personal experience while in the Catholic Church (sexual abuse, etc.).

However, when reading about Evangelicals becoming Catholic, there was a different set a circumstances that come into play. To begin with, these individuals loved Jesus very much and wanted to love and serve him as much as possible. Secondly, none of these ex-Evangelicals ever had an unkind word to say about their former churches. In fact, many expressed nothing but gratitude for their former church affiliation for helping them to grow in faith. Yet, as much as they loved being Evangelicals, there seemed to be something lacking. Covert to Catholicism Thomas Howard wrote a book whose title I believe says it best: Evangelical is Not Enough. These converts learned alot about Jesus from their evangelical affiliations, but it wasn’t as fulfilling, something they only found by becoming Catholic.

so true!

 

[Mary3]

The fellowship can go both ways. Have you approached anyone in your parish and voiced your wanting to become friends? I know it seems strange but have you? If this is what you really want then go after it.

 

[Wick]

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus. I’ve read down to #75 on this “What do you miss most…” forum and I’m not certain that this is where I should leave this thought. Nevertheless I shall.

About 24 hr ago while sitting in my office in the hospital I heard the Lord say “Well do you miss the church terribly?”. Initially I struggled with the implications which I assumed from that question. Even while trying to stir up personal conviction over my current less formal relationship with church buildings after 50 years of doing various ministry in them I “felt” no charge or accusation or remonstration from Him. So today it occurred to me that my answer may not be the point of the question. I googled “do you miss the church terribly?” and up came this forum. I count it precious to listen in on a dialogue of those concerned with truth, seekers after God who both miss some past experience of Him and yet enjoy much of the present life of Christ’s body where they are.

My wife and I spent much of the Spring of ’08 in Czech Republic. When we were with other church goers it was in the “International Church” of Praha. Most who attended were themselves missionaries, workers and families of the many “Evangelical” works in eastern Europe. On any other day of the week I was about the City where Cathedrals are in abundance. In many of these, great music was being played in concert for a modest fee, while others had become museums, cultural warehouses of the “good and holy, and pure and of good repute” stuff of the past. This has been our experience in other areas of Europe (outside of London or Paris).

Every where there was a prevailing feeling that folks treasured many good and noble and precious benefits associated with the work of the Church, while they feared any role of authority for the Church in cultural or political life. Your question never occurred to me to ask of those I met there. But I think that there are things that I miss from any and all of the churches with which I’ve been a part over the years whether Roman, Eastern, Anglican, Baptist, Mennonite, Amish, Presby or Methodist.

The part that looked most like Jesus was the good part. Bible study among humble hearts, soup lines with folks of compassion, working alongside colleagues who trusted Him, singing both high and “low” music, quiet or forte out of a heart of Joy in Christ have all been “great moments” in the church. I miss those moments in the Church continuously until the next such moment in the church. While the “Evangelical” plainly does not have a lock on these moments, neither does the Catholic. Two or Three gathering and His name are enough. A building just lets more folks in on the good stuff.

Yes I guess I do miss some evangelical church moments, terribly.

 

[1edyson]

instead of missing stuff, I’d love to see our united brothers BRING those things that they miss most into the Church, and add those gifts, when appropriate. Mass wouldn’t be appropriate for certain things, but if you have a passion for the music, bring it for church groups, if you miss the bible studies, START THEM! I think that the Catholic Church has great potential in being enriched by all the gifts converts can bring and could use a lesson or two from our non-Catholic Christian brothers!

 

[rr1213]

The Anglican liturgy of the Episcopal Church. Full participation by the parish in singing hymns.

 

[thequeen]

I do not miss anything about growing up in a pentecostal church because I have the fullness of truth in the catholic church and I think that scott hahn is right on I watch him on ewtn whenever I have the chance