Why did you leave the Catholic Church?

[ronnok20]

Be aware, that if you faith is shaky, (although renewed somewhat now, Praise God!), this forum may not be the best place for you to be. It depends on why you faith was shaken in the first place.

I know that as a technical revert, but more of a convert, I personally find these forums very helpful. But that is because I tend to focus on threads in which we can show how no doctrine in the Catholic Church contradicts scripture.

I was moved to tears when I read about the typology of Mary and the Ark. Absolutely beautiful.

On the other hand, I know other reverts sometimes find their faith is shaken because sometimes there is still a “language barrier” and it can be hard to overcome at times.

But either way, welcome to the forums and I pray that God will continue to renew your spirit through these forums.

God Bless,
Maria

My faith actually wasn’t shaken. My faith in the RC is what was shaken or should I say broken.

 

[MariaG]

My faith actually wasn’t shaken. My faith in the RC is what was shaken or should I say broken.

That is a shame that your faith in Christ* and* in His Church was not enough to withstand the attacks of Satan.

:bible1: Lk 10:16 - “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

I sincerely pray that this scripture will not apply in your case.

May God keep you safe.
Maria

 

[ronnok20]

That is a shame that your faith in Christ* and* in His Church was not enough to withstand the attacks of Satan.

:bible1: Lk 10:16 - “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

I sincerely pray that this scripture will not apply in your case.

May God keep you safe.
Maria

I do not believe that if one is not RC then the satanism thing applies, that is udderly ridiculous and despicable to assume such a thing.

 

[MariaG]

I do not believe that if one is not RC then the satanism thing applies, that is udderly ridiculous and despicable to assume such a thing.

I know that Christ’s Church is His Church in which the fullness of truth of the gospel resides. You at one time did also, enough to join it. You now have allowed doubts to cloud you to this truth. Who would have placed those doubts there?

May God keep you safe.

Maria

 

[Suat]

I know that Christ’s Church is His Church in which the fullness of truth of the gospel resides. You at one time did also, enough to join it. You now have allowed doubts to cloud you to this truth. Who would have placed those doubts there?

Stupid question on my part perhaps, but what is to say that you do not have it backwards and ronnok20 has it correct? What if Satan was the one convincing him/her that the Catholic Church was the true church and God was the one who lead him/her to where he/she currently is? Obviously you are convinced that you have the right church, but ronnok20 likely holds the same belief about his/her church. So both of you can use the Satan argument equally if you so choose.

 

[MariaG]

I do not believe that if one is not RC then the satanism thing applies, that is udderly ridiculous and despicable to assume such a thing.

I see part of the problem.

I did not notice that it was Blessedmama who I originally wrote to, and then you replied as if it were written to you. I thought it was blessedmama and replied as to her original post of renewing faith, and then your post of leaving the Catholic Church.

However, I never said that if one is not Catholic, then Satan is misleading you. I did however say that if one was led to the Catholic Church enough to convert and join, and then walks away, one is being misled by Satan and allowed doubts to come between you and Christ.

 

[ronnok20]

I see part of the problem.

I did not notice that it was Blessedmama who I originally wrote to, and then you replied as if it were written to you. I thought it was blessedmama and replied as to her original post of renewing faith, and then your post of leaving the Catholic Church.

However, I never said that if one is not Catholic, then Satan is misleading you. I did however say that if one was led to the Catholic Church enough to convert and join, and then walks away, one is being misled by Satan and allowed doubts to come between you and Christ.

My whole problem with that is that the RC is not bigger than Christ which means that one can find Christ in other churches besides the RC. Nothing came between Christ and myself.

 

[MariaG]

Stupid question on my part perhaps, but what is to say that you do not have it backwards and ronnok20 has it correct? What if Satan was the one convincing him/her that the Catholic Church was the true church and God was the one who lead him/her to where he/she currently is? Obviously you are convinced that you have the right church, but ronnok20 likely holds the same belief about his/her church. So both of you can use the Satan argument equally if you so choose.

Not a stupid question.

Very True. I then can look to history and see the historic views of the Early church, the interpretation of scripture of the early Church, and see that it is the Catholic Church that reflects this view.

I can also look at scripture and it’s promises about the Church being a pillar and foundation of truth (1Tim 3:15) and can again look at history and see this church, the historic Church is the Catholic Church.

I have faith and reason. Sometimes we are asked to walk purely by faith. But walking by faith, does not equal stop thinking critically. Scripture commends those who search the scriptures comparing Paul’s message to that of the rest of Scripture, (OT).

We are called to do the same. We can search Scripture and see what the Catholic Church says about it. We can go even farther and see what those who were taught about the apostles said about it. Or we can rely on the interpretation of men who popped up 1500 years after the fact.

And so when we have two conflicting interpretations of scripture, who should we believe?

 

[MariaG]

My whole problem with that is that the RC is not bigger than Christ which means that one can find Christ in other churches besides the RC. Nothing came between Christ and myself.

One can find Christ in churches other than the Catholic Church.

However, there are ultimate truths. Through no fault of their own, some people have been given an incomplete or erroneous truth but still are trying to serve Him through the Truth that they have, Christ, and what is written on their hearts.

However, one is placing one’s soul in immortal danger when one walks away from the Church that Christ founded. Christ was quite clear in scripture about following those in authority over us. He told the apostles to do what the Pharisees told them to do because they sit in the seat of Moses. And once the New Covenant was in place, we are bound to obey the Church that Christ gave the authority to for His New Covenant.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[ronnok20]

One can find Christ in churches other than the Catholic Church.

However, there are ultimate truths. Through no fault of their own, some people have been given an incomplete or erroneous truth but still are trying to serve Him through the Truth that they have, Christ, and what is written on their hearts.

However, one is placing one’s soul in immortal danger when one walks away from the Church that Christ founded. Christ was quite clear in scripture about following those in authority over us. He told the apostles to do what the Pharisees told them to do because they sit in the seat of Moses. And once the New Covenant was in place, we are bound to obey the Church that Christ gave the authority to for His New Covenant.

God Bless,
Maria

The ultimate disagreement between us lies here: You believe that the RC is was and always will be the real church of Christ. I believe that it was many years ago before the Reformation. I believe that many have been led out of the RC by the Holy Spirit including myself.

 

[MariaG]

The ultimate disagreement between us lies here: You believe that the RC is was and always will be the real church of Christ. I believe that it was many years ago before the Reformation. I believe that many have been led out of the RC by the Holy Spirit including myself.

The problem with your belief, and being led out of the Catholic Church, is that now you must look to scripture alone.

Where in Scripture alone does it tell us the Catholic Church, the Church whom Christ placed in authority over us, would lose that authority and it would be given to a new church, which would then bring new interpretations of Scripture never seen before in the History of Christianity?

Scripture DOES warn us to be ONE. Scripture also warns us that there will be those who come along and will twist scripture to their own destruction. Who came along?

God Bless,
Maria

 

[paarsurrey]

I believe that many have been led out of the RC by the Holy Spirit including myself.

Hi
This is impossible; Holy Spirit telling a Catholic one thing and telling another Christian quite an opposite thing. There is some misunderstanding somewhere definitely.How to resolve it?
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi – a peaceful faith in Islam bridging gaps between faiths/denominations/religions/agnostics

 

[Ahimsa]

Hi
This is impossible; Holy Spirit telling a Catholic one thing and telling another Christian quite an opposite thing.

Why is it impossible?

 

[ronnok20]

The problem with your belief, and being led out of the Catholic Church, is that now you must look to scripture alone.

Where in Scripture alone does it tell us the Catholic Church, the Church whom Christ placed in authority over us, would lose that authority and it would be given to a new church, which would then bring new interpretations of Scripture never seen before in the History of Christianity?

Scripture DOES warn us to be ONE. Scripture also warns us that there will be those who come along and will twist scripture to their own destruction. Who came along?

God Bless,
Maria

We do not look at scripture alone. We look at scripture, tradition and reason in that order.

 

[kujo313]

Hello,

I am asking this question to those who were members of the Catholic Church and then left - either to join another Church or to stop being religious altogether.

The question is:

What was the reason that you left the Catholic Church?

Where did you go?

Why did you chose where you went?

I felt empty there. Every Mass was quoted from Memory. Over 20 years later I can STILL quote everything. It was when I walked into the Black Horse Chapel at Fort Hood, Texas where I first heard “For there is no difference: all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” I was then invited to “confession” right at the altar. I immediately felt the Holy Spirit fill me. I’ve never felt that love before. I knew then that “church” wasn’t about a ceremonial way of doing things like in the catholic church, but it’s personal. Jesus became personal.
I knew what boldly going to the Throne of Grace was about.

I ended up at a Pentecostal Church where many of my family members ended up. Not only did they believe in the Holy Spirit moving as in Acts 2, but they was reminded daily about the wages of sin and the Grace of God. As Christians, we CAN fall back into sin and we can also be lifted back up when we fall.

I stayed at that Pentecostal Church not because many of my family members were there, but that, through the Word, overall, we NEED to be born again! I have some Spiritual Gifts that I can use to edify the Body of Christ.
If God decides to run a Sunday morning of nothing but prayer for that time I’m there instead of the traditional same thing, then so be it.
I’ve NEVER seen a catholic mass interrupted with a spontanious movement of the Holy Spirit into prayer or worship. I’ve NEVER been brought to tears during the music.

 

[TheGoodLife]

I’ve NEVER seen a catholic mass interrupted with a spontanious movement of the Holy Spirit into prayer or worship. I’ve NEVER been brought to tears during the music.

Funny you mention that. I haven’t left the Catholic Church, but I agree that its mass can be monotomous at times. It’s gotten to the point where I’m just going through the motions during mass because I’m not inspired there anymore. Us parishioners are all together under one roof, but not really connecting and genuinely interacting with each other. Many people leave directly after communion, as if mass is just another thing on their checklist to hurry up and get done. I don’t feel that connection anymorewith my church that I once had, especially since many of the original leaders there have left. I get more inspiration from my own reflections to Christ at home.

 

[kujo313]

Funny you mention that. I haven’t left the Catholic Church, but I agree that its mass can be monotomous at times. It’s gotten to the point where I’m just going through the motions during mass because I’m not inspired there anymore. Us parishioners are all together under one roof, but not really connecting and genuinely interacting with each other. Many people leave directly after communion, as if mass is just another thing on their checklist to hurry up and get done. I don’t feel that connection anymorewith my church that I once had, especially since many of the original leaders there have left. I get more inspiration from my own reflections to Christ at home.

I see the Mass as not just something that is repeated week after week, but that it’s supposed to be LIVED.
Do you confess your sin as soon as you commit it or do you wait until Mass? Since you’re saying “I confess…” out loud, so are the people around you. Do you forgive them? Out loud? The “binding and loosening” comes alive then.
Do you confess your creed in public? When people see you, do they call you a “Jesus Freak”? Does His Light shine where ever you go?
Do you call God your “Father”? Do you praise His Name? Do you pray for His Will here on earth? Do you ask Him to spiritually feed you?
Forgiveness of sins: Jesus said whatever you measure you’ll be measured by. So, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” can say “forgive me just the same way I forgive others.” If you bring back some one’s sin, you’re asking God to remind you of yours.

Communion. Jesus said to invite the poor into your house. Do you invite the needy over? Do you bless the needy personally? One family was out of gas and I gave them gas money. People could really use it nowadays.
The disciples also broke bread (ate) in other’s homes. We’re supposed to commune with others.

Do you have an altar at home? A prayer closet?

I’m sorry to say that all of this became alive and personal AFTER I left the catholic religion. (No, you CAN’T ball up all the other religions together)
I tried to go back but I see the Holy Spirit being bound there for a “Holy Day of Obligation”, “Feast of Pentecost”, where a Mass is said, repeating the same things that I just said the Sunday before. (“I confess”, Apostles Creed, “Our Father”, etc.)

The Pentecostal church that I go to (can’t speak for others) is full of the Holy Spirit and let’s Him run things. I feel the Life of Christ there. Not only do I feel good there, but I get “spanked” by the Holy Spirit when I need it.

 

[MariaG]

We do not look at scripture alone. We look at scripture, tradition and reason in that order.

If you had truly done that, there is absolutely no way you could have left the Catholic Church for any Protestant denomination.

 

[MariaG]

I felt empty there. Every Mass was quoted from Memory. Over 20 years later I can STILL quote everything. It was when I walked into the Black Horse Chapel at Fort Hood, Texas where I first heard “For there is no difference: all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” I was then invited to “confession” right at the altar. I immediately felt the Holy Spirit fill me. I’ve never felt that love before. I knew then that “church” wasn’t about a ceremonial way of doing things like in the catholic church, but it’s personal. Jesus became personal.
I knew what boldly going to the Throne of Grace was about.

I ended up at a Pentecostal Church where many of my family members ended up. Not only did they believe in the Holy Spirit moving as in Acts 2, but they was reminded daily about the wages of sin and the Grace of God. As Christians, we CAN fall back into sin and we can also be lifted back up when we fall.

I stayed at that Pentecostal Church not because many of my family members were there, but that, through the Word, overall, we NEED to be born again! I have some Spiritual Gifts that I can use to edify the Body of Christ.
If God decides to run a Sunday morning of nothing but prayer for that time I’m there instead of the traditional same thing, then so be it.
I’ve NEVER seen a catholic mass interrupted with a spontanious movement of the Holy Spirit into prayer or worship. I’ve NEVER been brought to tears during the music.

NO pentecostal service should EVER be INTERUPTED by a spontaneous movement of the HolySpirit. Paul specifically speaks to this in Corinthians.

However, I do understand that if you were just saying the prayers by rote in the Catholic Church, then you truly were not praying and pleasing God.

What you need to realize however, is that just because you did not open your heart to Christ’s knocking in the Catholic church does not mean others say things by rote and fail to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the hardest thing to realize is that the problem was not in the Church you were in, but within yourself. It is a humbling thing to realize the number of years one wasted, and sometimes is easier for people to assume that God is not there in the first place instead of admitting any fault of their own.

You should someday, find a Charasmatic service close(or not so close ) to you.

May God bless you,
Maria

 

[Beachcomber]

I left because I needed space. I had gone to Catholic school just prior and during Vatican 2 (I’m showing my age!) and the emphasis was more on being scared of God and making sure to do rituals rather than on the love of God and the person of Jesus.

God is both merciful as well as just, but I really felt scared of Him; that if He could send children to Purgatory (which is what the teaching sisters said) for such sins as fighting with their siblings, then I was out of there.

I didn’t go to any other church, but read the Scriptures on my own. Heavenly Father in the Bible was not the frightening figure of my catechism class, I discovered. It’s been 30 years or so and I am carefully checking things out again.