Why Is Catholicism So Unattractive to Evangelicals?

[Jeanne_S]

To fully appreciate the enormous gift present in the Eucharist,spending time before the Blessed Sacrament on a regular basis ,is a good practice,I think for many,the gift of Our Lord,fully present in the Eucharist, has become routine for so many,something taken for granted. In the Adoration Chapel,one is placed into a very intimate experience.Looking directly at the Real Presence of Our Lord,in the humblest of forms,the Host,really gives one reason to pause and really embrace this gift. That we can spend time,personally with God,whenever we desire is amazing!

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

It’s theoretically non denominational but the Pastor is Andy Stanley, who is the son of Charles Stanley, a famous Baptist pastor. The church is called Northpoint Church. Google “coffee in church”.

Thanks. I will look up Northpoint Church.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Yes, I have noticed Catholic parishes are less friendly than Evangelical ones. The very first parish I attended basically no one would talk to me. I then moved into a “friendly” parish and what a difference that made. But I find you can attend Mass at a different parish for several weekends and no one basically cares you are there. At an Evangelical Church someone would have taken pains to greet you and probably sign you up for a ministry.

I think having several thousand parishioners in one parish is a factor, as is having parishioners who have been attending for decades. But at least at the start this lack of friendliness can have an impact on a shy introvert such as myself.

As another introvert I’d much rather not be singled out for greeting and have them pushing a ministry on me, I’d much rather work my way into something slowly on my own.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Years ago we were taught to be quiet and reverent when going to mass. Don’t turn around and look at other people, say your prayers and be quiet. Why is this so hard for protestants to understand? I know that they talk loudly and drink coffee inside their churches but we (maybe I should say, I was) were taught to be respectful in the presense of our Lord. Now after mass, out in the the foyer, it is pure pandemonium, lots of talking and excitement, imho.

From what I’ve seen children have always been taught to be quiet and reverent in church. I don’t ever remember children (other than the very young) being loud and boisterous in church. After church is and always has been as you describe, and the kids still pick any dandelions and clover for Mother Mary.

 

[EIF5A]

As another introvert I’d much rather not be singled out for greeting and have them pushing a ministry on me, I’d much rather work my way into something slowly on my own.

I’m glad I’m not the only introvert here. I was like, “Am I the only one who wouldn’t be disappointed that people won’t greet me and try to get me into a ministry program?”

 

[zaffiroborant]

I think Catholics and Evangelicals speak totally different languages. The words each use and the allusions, memes hold different meanings or no meaning at all for the other. Evangelicals are in general more likely to “testify” or “witness” their own experiences because their culture is open to and expects it more than the Catholic culture. They are more likely to discount written prayers as truly holding any meaning for the speaker and have little experience with it themselves. Ritual is seen as smothering a relationship with God by putting it ahead of direct intercourse with God, or something that is done in lieu of a relationship with God.

Getting back to the OP and the linked blog, I would like to know what special gift the author of the blog has been given to discern that “our pews are packed with Catholics going through the motions”? I certainly don’t make that ugly assumption about the people I see in church on Sunday. I don’t know their thoughts as they recite the confiteor, I don’t know how they feel or what they think when the receive the Eucharist. Nor would I make it about those attending another church whose practices seem odd or outlandish to me.

 

[Tommy999]

I think Catholics and Evangelicals speak totally different languages. The words each use and the allusions, memes hold different meanings or no meaning at all for the other. Evangelicals are in general more likely to “testify” or “witness” their own experiences because their culture is open to and expects it more than the Catholic culture. They are more likely to discount written prayers as truly holding any meaning for the speaker and have little experience with it themselves. Ritual is seen as smothering a relationship with God by putting it ahead of direct intercourse with God, or something that is done in lieu of a relationship with God. .

Very good insights, zaffiroborant. I think your observations are spot on about how evangelical Christians believe in general.

As an evangelical myself, I have come to appreciate the self-discipline and ability of devout Catholics to do an objective inventory of where they are at spiritually and for their wisdom and spiritual maturity. Sometimes as a whole, I think that evangelicals need help in that area.

“our pews are packed with Catholics going through the motions”

? I certainly don’t make that ugly assumption about the people I see in church on Sunday. I don’t know their thoughts as they recite the confiteor, I don’t know how they feel or what they think when the receive the Eucharist. Nor would I make it about those attending another church whose practices seem odd or outlandish to me.

Agreed. I think people should be careful not to judge the hearts of Christians from other denominations, because – as you mentioned – there are cultural differences. That’s Jesus’ job to the do judging.

Sometimes I’ve found that it can be quiet ones who don’t draw attention to themselves who can be the strongest and most mature Christ followers. They just don’t advertise it like some do. Like the old saying, “the proof is in the pudding”. They will know us by our fruits, not by how we look in church when we are worshipping. Just my two cents.

 

[Michael68]

I would say a lot of it is how you are raised

 

[TC3033]

I’m glad I’m not the only introvert here. I was like, “Am I the only one who wouldn’t be disappointed that people won’t greet me and try to get me into a ministry program?”

Huh, when I tried the non-denominational church in town they never asked me to join a ministry program. Maybe it’s because very few (I won’t say none) don’t do this to newcomers.

And my point, as an introvert, Mass can be very exclusionary and singles out non-Catholics which can be extremely tough for us non-Catholic introverts.

 

[EIF5A]

Huh, when I tried the non-denominational church in town they never asked me to join a ministry program. Maybe it’s because very few (I won’t say none) don’t do this to newcomers.

And my point, as an introvert, Mass can be very exclusionary and singles out non-Catholics which can be extremely tough for us non-Catholic introverts.

Do you mean exclusionary as in the Catholics formed cliques or that Mass had a particular order and prayers and recitations that are not universal in Christianity?

 

[MSSheBear]

I attended Evangelical churches close to twenty years and there was definitely a push to do some ministry. A pastor’s wife one time informed me that a new attender should be plugged into a ministry after attending three weeks. Yes, that was scary then and it is now.

The Evangelical churches have small groups, mother’s groups, ladies bible studies, men’s groups, men’s bible studies, movie nights which helped the introverts socialize. This is called “fellowshipping.” This was in churches much smaller than the Catholic parishes I am familiar with.

So a true introvert will not feel connected with a Catholic parish until they join the choir.

 

[TC3033]

Do you mean exclusionary as in the Catholics formed cliques or that Mass had a particular order and prayers and recitations that are not universal in Christianity?

From my experience, cliques, but it can be pointed out as an introvert it’s not the most fun to sit in the pew by yourself at communion time no matter the reason.

But like I stated earlier in this thread, in the mailers and church directory an asterisk is placed by my name to denote a non-Catholic, and at Parish Festival time I’m not assigned a duty or task like all the other members were, because I’m not Catholic.

 

[TC3033]

I attended Evangelical churches close to twenty years and there was definitely a push to do some ministry. A pastor’s wife one time informed me that a new attender should be plugged into a ministry after attending three weeks. Yes, that was scary then and it is now.

The Evangelical churches have small groups, mother’s groups, ladies bible studies, men’s groups, men’s bible studies, movie nights which helped the introverts socialize. This is called “fellowshipping.” This was in churches much smaller than the Catholic parishes I am familiar with.

So a true introvert will not feel connected with a Catholic parish until they join the choir.

Huh, I’ve been attending for almost 40years now (on and off 10 or so) and have never been approached/pressured to join anything. They did mention Wed night bible study at announcements, but that’s about it.

Seems as though I’m being told my feeling and experiences were “wrong”, when only answering the question through my experience.

 

[Peter_J]

From my experience, cliques, but it can be pointed out as an introvert it’s not the most fun to sit in the pew by yourself at communion time no matter the reason.

I’ve never been a Non-Catholic (well, except for 9 months or so back in the 70s, but that was just a phase ) but I can relate because of my experience visiting an Episcopalian parish several times a dozen or so years ago: I liked it well enough, except for the way people looked at me when they noticed that I wasn’t going up at communion time. That made me uncomfortable.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I attended Evangelical churches close to twenty years and there was definitely a push to do some ministry. A pastor’s wife one time informed me that a new attender should be plugged into a ministry after attending three weeks. Yes, that was scary then and it is now.

The Evangelical churches have small groups, mother’s groups, ladies bible studies, men’s groups, men’s bible studies, movie nights which helped the introverts socialize. This is called “fellowshipping.” This was in churches much smaller than the Catholic parishes I am familiar with.

So a true introvert will not feel connected with a Catholic parish until they join the choir.

Agreed. I think Catholics socialize through ministries almost as much as Protestants, choir, Knights of Columbus, St. Paul de Vincent, food banks, Eucharistic ministries, Bible Groups, women’s groups - that is where the action is, certainly very little interaction at Mass. So, in the end, the Catholic is really under as much pressure as the Protestant to interact in ministry, although I agree it is easier to be left in peace if that is your preference.

Also, I agree that one way or another, God works through us all. I was so impressed by the Baptist Church that forgave that white supremacist who went and killed like 9 of them. Remember that the next time someone says you need the Eucharist to be a complete Christian. I know a lot of people who take the Eucharist all the time who couldn’t touch that example. They seem to dwell in a parallel universe (Dante’s circles of hell, anyone? joke!). That said, there are also any number of regular partakers of the Eucharist who do act like that.

The bottom line is the conversion is internal; Mass and coffee hour are supplements, whether your place of worship combines them or not.

 

[punisherthunder]

It has to do with them wanting to rely on themselves and not having to answer to anyone for what they do.

My wife’s first cousin is an evangelical/Pentecostal fanatic. She attends a church where the preacher talks all about the enemy (Satan). Not only that, but the preacher also condones "confronting, fighting, and defeating the enemy (in addition to encouraging the purchase of take-home communion kits ).

So this cousin actually went to some Christian supply store and purchased some sort of oils and incense. She also blessed some holy water herself. Late in the evening she decides to perform some sort of backwoods Pentecostal exorcism on herself and her home in order to rid any trace…of the enemy.

At some point she was saying a prayer when her vial of holy water was knocked from her hand and any time she tried to pick it up, the vial was struck down from her hand multiple times I tried putting a call into her to tell her that this sort of behavior should never be done by herself and that confronting Satan is not advisable.

It all fell on deaf ears with her claiming that she “didn’t need anyone but Jesus”. Would you believe 4 days later she was driving her brand new car and ALL the lugnuts came off one of her wheels along with the entire tire and she proceeded to crash head on into a tree causing a severe neck injury Naturally she blamed Satan, and she was back into square one of exorcising things herself. My point with all this is that non-Catholics don’t want to submit to the will of the Church.

 

[EIF5A]

It has to do with them wanting to rely on themselves and not having to answer to anyone for what they do.

My wife’s first cousin is an evangelical/Pentecostal fanatic. She attends a church where the preacher talks all about the enemy (Satan). Not only that, but the preacher also condones "confronting, fighting, and defeating the enemy (in addition to encouraging the purchase of take-home communion kits ).

So this cousin actually went to some Christian supply store and purchased some sort of oils and incense. She also blessed some holy water herself. Late in the evening she decides to perform some sort of backwoods Pentecostal exorcism on herself and her home in order to rid any trace…of the enemy.

At some point she was saying a prayer when her vial of holy water was knocked from her hand and any time she tried to pick it up, the vial was struck down from her hand multiple times I tried putting a call into her to tell her that this sort of behavior should never be done by herself and that confronting Satan is not advisable.

It all fell on deaf ears with her claiming that she “didn’t need anyone but Jesus”. Would you believe 4 days later she was driving her brand new car and ALL the lugnuts came off one of her wheels along with the entire tire and she proceeded to crash head on into a tree causing a severe neck injury Naturally she blamed Satan, and she was back into square one of exorcising things herself. My point with all this is that non-Catholics don’t want to submit to the will of the Church.

What’s a take-home communion kit?

As part of the new evangelization, we need a massive effort to teach and learn Church history. It may fall on deaf ears on some atheists, but perhaps Protestants may see the truth.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

What’s a take-home communion kit?

As part of the new evangelization, we need a massive effort to teach and learn Church history. It may fall on deaf ears on some atheists, but perhaps Protestants may see the truth.

If the Catholic church is the truth, then why not leave it up to God? If it is all what the Catholics on this board proclaim it to be, why would there be a need to have a huge effort to teach and learn the Church? Don’t you think that if the Catholic church is the truth, etc. that God will guide non-Catholics towards the Catholic church? Don’t you think that there would be no need for teaching, etc. if the Church is all what those who belong to it says it is?

 

[FollowChrist34]

As part of the new evangelization, we need a massive effort to teach and learn Church history. It may fall on deaf ears on some atheists, but perhaps Protestants may see the truth.

Judging by this thread, I’d say we should start at home and work from there. I hope the author of our OP article isn’t reading this…he’ll revert to Evangelicalism.

Seriously, what has happened to catechism - on both sides. Why is it that so many Catholics AND Protestants are so out to lunch on the basics? Perhaps this is nothing new, perhaps a majority of Christians have always made a mockery of their faith - I guess that would make sense.

 

[FollowChrist34]

If the Catholic church is the truth, then why not leave it up to God? If it is all what the Catholics on this board proclaim it to be, why would there be a need to have a huge effort to teach and learn the Church? Don’t you think that if the Catholic church is the truth, etc. that God will guide non-Catholics towards the Catholic church? Don’t you think that there would be no need for teaching, etc. if the Church is all what those who belong to it says it is?

The Catholic believes that the universal Church is all Christians. What you are seeing here is not Catholic teaching. We stand in communion with all Christians - imperfect communion with the Protestants, but they are our brethren before God. When you run into a Catholic who acts or says anything not in accordance with this belief - they are wrong about the Catholic Church - think of it as Westboro Baptist Catholicism - and shake the dust off your shoes and take your peace back unto you.