What do you miss most as an ex-Evangelical?

[JesusforMadrid]

I have met probably over a hundred former Catholics who now attend Evangelical churches. (Estimates are that perhaps 1/3 of US Evangelicals are former Catholics. Here in Spain, it is more like 90%). Many confide in me that they miss certain things at times from their former denomination: liturgy, a sense of tradition, some even say a greater focus on Mary (which honestly surprises me since I am pretty anti-marian).

I wonder what ex-Evangelicals miss most about their churches. I have read several ex-Evangelicals such as Peter Kreeft, whom I like, and Scott Hahn, whom I think is rubbish.

I have honestly met only one ex-Evangelical in my life, whose conversion was mostly for professional reasons (he teaches at a Catholic school). He misses contemporary praise and worship songs, in depth bible studies and going to a church where people actually know and pray for one another.

I know there are several more here, though. I am not looking for a debate, just honest opinions. What do you miss?

 

[pnewton]

I miss the music, not so much the praise songs, but the classic hymns, many of which are not appropriate to Catholic Mass. I miss the fact that almost everyone sings at Church. I miss the structured Bible study, although that was always hit or miss.

 

[Alexius]

I have met probably over a hundred former Catholics who now attend Evangelical churches. (Estimates are that perhaps 1/3 of US Evangelicals are former Catholics. Here in Spain, it is more like 90%). Many confide in me that they miss certain things at times from their former denomination: liturgy, a sense of tradition, some even say a greater focus on Mary (which honestly surprises me since I am pretty anti-marian).

I wonder what ex-Evangelicals miss most about their churches. I have read several ex-Evangelicals such as Peter Kreeft, whom I like, and Scott Hahn, whom I think is rubbish.

I have honestly met only one ex-Evangelical in my life, whose conversion was mostly for professional reasons (he teaches at a Catholic school). He misses contemporary praise and worship songs, in depth bible studies and going to a church where people actually know and pray for one another.

I know there are several more here, though. I am not looking for a debate, just honest opinions. What do you miss?

Before I answer, I want to ask how one can be “anti-Marian?” I’m sorry, but this sounds peculiar; I mean how can one be against the Blessed Mother of our Lord and still be a Christian?

Anyway, I do miss a couple things about evangelicalism. I miss being at liberty to determine doctrine by my own interpretation and conscience. I miss the freedom from church canon law and the tolerance to not worry a ton historical Church doctrines. I also miss the lifestyle of carelessness I used to live and the teaching of “once saved, always saved.”

I would not, however, go back. The fullness of Christ was truly lacking…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[Cat]

I am an ex-evangelical who converted to Catholicism in 2004.

I agree, I miss the music, although I am discovering that if Catholics are given the proper musical accompaniment and leading (by the cantor), they love to sing. They also love to listen to good music.

I miss children’s plays and pageants. The Catholic church has a lovely children’s mass on Christmas Eve, but it is pretty simplistic compared to the complex dramas and musicals that I used to do with my children’s choirs.

I miss PIONEER CLUBS! I realize that the Catholic Church has CCD classes and that many Catholic schools offer Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. But they’re not Pioneer Clubs.

But more than anything I miss is my friends. Of course I have friends in the Catholic church that I love. But I miss many of the people that I worked and prayed and cried with. I especially miss all the children that I worked with in various children’s ministries over the years. These people seemed to disappear once I became Catholic. It’s sad to be split.

 

[DaveBj]

The music, specifically, Southern Gospel music. I may be the only Southern-Gospel-piano-playin’ Catholic in the whole state of Alabama.

I also miss the preaching. I’ve heard it said that Evangelicals have about 85% of the truth, but an average Baptist preacher can do more with that 85% than all but the best Catholic priests that I’ve heard.

DaveBj

 

[sea_oat]

I’m curious. What, exactly, defines an “evangelical?”

 

[mastda]

I have met probably over a hundred former Catholics who now attend Evangelical churches. (Estimates are that perhaps 1/3 of US Evangelicals are former Catholics. Here in Spain, it is more like 90%). Many confide in me that they miss certain things at times from their former denomination: liturgy, a sense of tradition, some even say a greater focus on Mary (which honestly surprises me since I am pretty anti-marian).

I wonder what ex-Evangelicals miss most about their churches. I have read several ex-Evangelicals such as Peter Kreeft, whom I like, and Scott Hahn, whom I think is rubbish.

I have honestly met only one ex-Evangelical in my life, whose conversion was mostly for professional reasons (he teaches at a Catholic school). He misses contemporary praise and worship songs, in depth bible studies and going to a church where people actually know and pray for one another.

I know there are several more here, though. I am not looking for a debate, just honest opinions. What do you miss?

JFM, I am enjoying your posts as you are a very entertaining antagonist and I like your zeal. However my guess is that this attitude of yours will not last for more than 50 posts before you either stop posting or become a humble poster.

I am a Catholic Revert who spent 10 years away from Catholicism. I started in the word of faith movement (Hagin, Dollar, Savelle, Copeland, Hinn etc) and spent 7 years listening to that. Then I spent 3 years hopping from church to church to church to church to church to church etc., Then because of my father who was dying of cancer, it gave me time to spend about 15 months not attending any church regularly but studying on subjects like salvation and wondering how all these christian deonominations could have so many different views on so many issues. Long story short I go my answer in the Catholic Church where I thought I would never find it.

Ok now to your question: You know what I miss? I miss the fellowship, the comradery and a place of belonging for me and my family. I am a sales manager who is a very social person and I enjoy speaking with people and when we reverted back to Catholicism all our protestant friends deserted us. In the worlds eyes I would be considered a succesful businessman with a nice lifestyle but the truth is outside of my wife and boys whom I adore, my wife and I have absolutely no social life. I don’t want secular friends as I am around non christians all day long. When we were part of a protestant church the fellowship was amazing we had many friends and we were always getting together with other families. Especially now that my eldest son is almost 16, I would really love for him to be part of an “On Fire” youth group like the ones I used to see. Not just a youth group that goes to baseball games 3 times a year.

I know I am going to get grief now from the other catholic posters for saying this but the truth is that we catholics can learn a lot from protestants in this area. We do a poor job of promoting fellowship amongst parishioners.

BTW JFM, please explain 2 things 1) how is Scott Hahn is rubbish? and 2) what do you mean by evangelical?

 

[Kendy]

I have met probably over a hundred former Catholics who now attend Evangelical churches. (Estimates are that perhaps 1/3 of US Evangelicals are former Catholics. Here in Spain, it is more like 90%). Many confide in me that they miss certain things at times from their former denomination: liturgy, a sense of tradition, some even say a greater focus on Mary (which honestly surprises me since I am pretty anti-marian).

I wonder what ex-Evangelicals miss most about their churches. I have read several ex-Evangelicals such as Peter Kreeft, whom I like, and Scott Hahn, whom I think is rubbish.

I have honestly met only one ex-Evangelical in my life, whose conversion was mostly for professional reasons (he teaches at a Catholic school). He misses contemporary praise and worship songs, in depth bible studies and going to a church where people actually know and pray for one another.

I know there are several more here, though. I am not looking for a debate, just honest opinions. What do you miss?

I miss the the friendly, communal atmosphere.

Kendy

 

[apophasis]

I have met probably over a hundred former Catholics who now attend Evangelical churches. (Estimates are that perhaps 1/3 of US Evangelicals are former Catholics. Here in Spain, it is more like 90%).

Since Spain is well known for being RC, of course the number would be at least 90 percent. But please tell me, is there a strong Evangelical, Biblically based movement going on in Spain these day? Are you a native of that country?

 

[lak611]

Ok now to your question: You know what I miss? I miss the fellowship, the comradery and a place of belonging for me and my family. In the worlds eyes I would be considered a succesful businessman with a nice lifestyle but the truth is outside of my wife and boys whom I adore, my wife and I have absolutely no social life. I don’t want secular friends as I am around non christians all day long. When we were part of a protestant church the fellowship was amazing we had many friends and we were always getting together with other families. Especially now that my eldest son is almost 16, I would really love for him to be part of an “On Fire” youth group like the ones I used to see. Not just a youth group that goes to baseball games 3 times a year.

Have you thought about possibly starting a youth group in your parish, or maybe starting a coffee hour or social after Mass? My parish has a youth group. I don’t know too much about it, since I am single and have no children, but I do know that it also has youth from another neighbourhood parish so it is pretty large. My parish also has coffee/donut socials after Mass quite regularly. We also have an adult Bible study on Sundays. Perhaps God is calling you to begin some type of program at your parish. Since you are an extrovert, you may be just the man for that type of thing!

 

[GregoryPalamas]

Our Eastern Catholic Church is a loving, participating, Bible Studying group of people. Our priest is as good a preacher as I’ve ever heard. There are only two things I miss about the Protestant Churches I pastored. 1. Covered dish dinners and 2. A strong emphasis upon missions.

CDL

 

[tundramom]

I don’t miss a thing! At first, I missed the praise/worship music… then a group started at my church with contemporary songs… and I was asked to be part of it. I find that I am the one who points out this or that in this song or that song that doesn’t gel with Catholic theology. I’ve become something of a kill-joy in the music planning! I love some of the music, but I don’t think that it all belongs in the Mass.

I started a Bible study with the Jeff Cavins Bible timeline, and it’s been very successful. I think that all of us who have converted owe it to our individual parishes to be committed not only to the Magesterium, but to the growth of the faithful Catholics who might not know what they’ve had all along. Some, I know, go through the motions and don’t see what a gift they’ve been given. Those of us who have converted owe it to the Church to remind those who have gone into a sort of complacency what a joyous thing it is to belong to the full Body of Christ!!

in Christ
Steph

 

[lak611]

Those of us who have converted owe it to the Church to remind those who have gone into a sort of complacency what a joyous thing it is to belong to the full Body of Christ!!

This also goes for those of us who are reverts. Until I came back to the Church, I never knew what a joyous thing it is to belong to the full Body of Christ either.

 

[santaro75]

JFM, I am enjoying your posts as you are a very entertaining antagonist and I like your zeal. However my guess is that this attitude of yours will not last for more than 50 posts before you either stop posting or become a humble poster.

I am a Catholic Revert who spent 10 years away from Catholicism. I started in the word of faith movement (Hagin, Dollar, Savelle, Copeland, Hinn etc) and spent 7 years listening to that. Then I spent 3 years hopping from church to church to church to church to church to church etc., Then because of my father who was dying of cancer, it gave me time to spend about 15 months not attending any church regularly but studying on subjects like salvation and wondering how all these christian deonominations could have so many different views on so many issues. Long story short I go my answer in the Catholic Church where I thought I would never find it.

Ok now to your question: You know what I miss? I miss the fellowship, the comradery and a place of belonging for me and my family. I am a sales manager who is a very social person and I enjoy speaking with people and when we reverted back to Catholicism all our protestant friends deserted us. In the worlds eyes I would be considered a succesful businessman with a nice lifestyle but the truth is outside of my wife and boys whom I adore, my wife and I have absolutely no social life. I don’t want secular friends as I am around non christians all day long. When we were part of a protestant church the fellowship was amazing we had many friends and we were always getting together with other families. Especially now that my eldest son is almost 16, I would really love for him to be part of an “On Fire” youth group like the ones I used to see. Not just a youth group that goes to baseball games 3 times a year.

I know I am going to get grief now from the other catholic posters for saying this but the truth is that we catholics can learn a lot from protestants in this area. We do a poor job of promoting fellowship amongst parishioners.

BTW JFM, please explain 2 things 1) how is Scott Hahn is rubbish? and 2) what do you mean by evangelical?

I experience the same thing. Devout Catholic friends are almost impossible to find. I am alone in my faith and all the people on here ever say is, it isn’t a social club.

what a bunch of rubbish. Jesus had friends.

 

[santaro75]

Have you thought about possibly starting a youth group in your parish, or maybe starting a coffee hour or social after Mass? My parish has a youth group. I don’t know too much about it, since I am single and have no children, but I do know that it also has youth from another neighbourhood parish so it is pretty large. My parish also has coffee/donut socials after Mass quite regularly. We also have an adult Bible study on Sundays. Perhaps God is calling you to begin some type of program at your parish. Since you are an extrovert, you may be just the man for that type of thing!

that is the other tired response. “why don’t you start a club”. no offense but our shepards need to teach us to love eachother not just grab and go or sacraments.

 

[JesusforMadrid]

However my guess is that this attitude of yours will not last for more than 50 posts before you either stop posting or become a humble poster.

I suspect you are right. Catholic apologists have become better in the past few years, so now the arguments for the veracity of Evangelicalism or Catholicism are more ethereal, more opaque.

In my experience, the Evangelical church works better in practice than the Roman church, is growing more and changes more lives. Sorry, that is my anecdotal experience, I don’t mean to offend anybody by saying that. Showing that it works better in theory is more time consuming and tiring.I will quickly hit the wall of my own theological training.

BTW JFM, please explain 2 things 1) how is Scott Hahn is rubbish? and 2) what do you mean by evangelical?

In my opinion, Scott Hahn commits an error that many Ex’s do (both Protestant and Catholic): he doth protest too much. I get the feeling he jettisons reason for the sake of justifying his decision to switch denominations. Also, he argues that he was an anti-Catholic bigot and now has seen that that is wrong, hardly a good argument for defending his new faith. By the way, the most vociferous and unreasonable Evangelical apologists are mostly Ex-Catholics.

I personally like Peter Kreeft and would consider him one of the great Christian apologists of our time. I have read his summary of the Catechism. Except for the reasoning on the Catholic view of Mary, which is weak, I find it at least plausible, albeit not entirely convincing.

“Evangelical” means exactly what we all know it means: a protestant with a high view of scripture and a “low church” style.

 

[JesusforMadrid]

Since Spain is well known for being RC, of course the number would be at least 90 percent. But please tell me, is there a strong Evangelical, Biblically based movement going on in Spain these day? Are you a native of that country?

Spain is a Roman Catholic country in terms of history, tradition and number of beautiful churches, but certainly not in terms of practice. Only about 15% of Spaniards (including my wife) attend mass weekly. Spain is possibly the most anti-clerical country in Europe and in the same breath, most Spaniards will tell you that they are Catholic and that they hate the RC church, which of course is terribly sad. The RC church has very little influence on the hearts and minds of the people, as evidenced by some of the most liberal abortion laws in Europe, legalised homosexual marriage, and lowest birth rate in Europe (with Italy).

There is a growing Evangelical presence, driven by mostly Romanian and South American immigrants. Many of the pastors in Spain are ex-Catholic priests and theologians. Yet reaching the average Spaniard is difficult.

Pray for Spain.

 

[JesusforMadrid]

Before I answer, I want to ask how one can be “anti-Marian?” I’m sorry, but this sounds peculiar; I mean how can one be against the Blessed Mother of our Lord and still be a Christian?

I am not anti-Mary, the mother of Jesus. I think she was a wonderful Christian woman and was blessed, not because of her own merit, but because of Jesus (as are we all). I am against calling her such titles as those found in the Rosary and, of course, against Marian devotion, because:

1. I think it is not justifiable biblically
2. It was not practiced by the apostles
3. It is not sufficiently justified by the writings of the Early Church Fathers; and
4. In practice (and I have met a lot of Marian devotees), I have found it takes away from devotion to God. I have heard too many times here in Spain “I don’t have a personal relation with Jesus but I do pray to Mary”.

I hope that clarifies it: I am not anti-Mary, just anti-Marian devotion.

 

[Brian_C]

The classic hymns and veryone singing in a respectful manner. People think in terms of two extremes. Either you just sit there and mouth the words like many Cahtolics or you must jump up and down and clap your hands like you just drank bottle of Tobasco Sauce…There is a middle ground of full participatory but restrained, respectful siging.

That’s about it. We actually do sing a few of the old standards in our parish but it’s usally my wife, the choir, and I…

Honestly, I can’t believe more ex-evangelicals haven’t commented yet on your OP. Give this thread time. There are hoards of us on here. There are plenty of ex-evangelicals in the US who have converted to Catholicism given today’s trend toward non-denominational mega-churches…

You live in Spain; where else are evangelicals going to draw converts from but the Catholic Church? I have serious doubts though that a full 1/3 of US evangelicals are former Catholics. Perhaps 1/3 of converts to evangelical churches but not a full 1/3 of total evangelicals…

Hey, not meaning to be uncharitable to any of our evangelical friends, but…it’s much easier to be an evangelical…

 

[rr1213]

I miss the fellowship, the comradery and a place of belonging for me and my family. I am a sales manager who is a very social person and I enjoy speaking with people and when we reverted back to Catholicism all our protestant friends deserted us.

I belonged to a small Episcopal congregation that lost a significant number of families due to the turmoil taking place in the Episcopal Church. We have a group of about six families that meet occassionally for dinner and fellowship to continue the friendships we had at that church. We are now, for the most part, worshipping at different churches. We have headed in different directions to different denominations (sad in a way, but also supportive of comments I’ve made in other threads about how Protestants in the US are not as divided as many Catholics think). My point in saying this to you is that perhaps that is something you could try with some of your friends from your former Protestant Church. Maybe get a group together for dinner every other month or so. It’s tough I know…