Reasons for Converting to/from Catholicism

[Emily]

In Psalms it says that he was so beaten, he was totally unrecognizable. My prayer was answered when "The Passion" was made. I told my mom then, that I knew this movie would reach those that were being called but weren't answering Our Lord. I told her that it would force people into a corner with the question, "Do you believe?. . . Or do you not believe."

What I loved was that they made it very realistic, not so much a movie as a documentary. I think you hit the nail on the head, it does force people into a corner. Is He real, or is this a fairy tale? The movie made Jesus real for me. I don't know how or why. Just the amazingness of God's beautiful and incredible GRACE. Like the song puts it:

But I'll never be the same
Because He changed my life when He became
Everything to me
He's more than a story
More than words on a page of history
He's the air that I breathe
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet
He's everything, everything to me

:nod

And now I have met someone online that actually had the experience! Blows me away.

I didn't put this in my original post (cuz my testimony is too long as it is!! haha) but a few months before being born again, when the movie was still out in theatres, I was online in a chat room (not a religious chat room either, just a regular chat room) and a guy messaged me and he asked, have you seen "the passion of the Christ"? and I said, no, not yet. He said he had seen it, and that he used to be an atheist, and now he was a Christian, and it was because of that movie. :shocked Needless to say I was very intrigued. That was really a big catalyst to me seeing that movie, because this "chance" encounter really put it on my heart that I HAD to see this movie.

Another note on this movie ... this movie was definitely, totally 100% the "thing" that gave me the swift kick in the pants I needed to get right with God. Obviously its the Holy Spirit that regenerated me, but I just mean that this movie was the means, or the "vehicle" for the Holy Spirit to pierce my heart. And pierce it did. :pray I know there are many people who saw this movie and nothing happened to them. They're still the same, God is still not "real" to them yet. I think God knows what we each need to be saved, and I believe He presents each of us with the opportunity to be saved in a unique way tailored just for us. And of course, all in His perfect time. And too ... people can choose to reject Him. I don't know how, but it happens. Wide is the road, and many will travel it. :ohno

We know that the Bible says, if you look for Him, you will find Him. If you knock, He will answer. I didn't even realize it at the time, but looking back I realize that I was searching for Him, and He revealed Himself to me. :yay I'm so grateful He did, SO grateful.

His grace, mercy and love is just unending and unfathomably HUGE. How can people NOT be in love with Him?? :scratch

And may as say, speaking for all the believers in the world, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! I know you've already been welicomed in, but I wanted to welcome you myself, my sister.

This was so touching to me. Thank you LisaJo!! :hug

I hope people keep these testimonies coming!! I love reading them!! They are so moving. :)

God help us all, let us all be more in love with You LORD, with every passing day. :pray

[Abigail]

I agree, Emily; please keep sharing, everyone!

I'm learning so much about exactly who is responsible for a person's becoming a follower of Christ, and it's not other people, although they do "plant the seeds" oftentimes... In every case, it's truly a work of the Holy Spirit; often in unaccountable ways and in unlikely people. I guess Paul was the first one, wasn't he?

I started this thread partly as a personal search into how and why people becomed saved, and partly to search into why these discussions break down so frequently into denominational disputes.

I think we're on the right track with both; thank you all for the blessing of your testimonies.:bighug

Abigail

[DJHere]

I agree, Emily; please keep sharing, everyone!

I'm learning so much about exactly who is responsible for a person's becoming a follower of Christ, and it's not other people, although they do "plant the seeds" oftentimes...
Paul did write:

5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor. 3)

I love all the testimonies they are so heartwarming.

[pegmo]

Back to the Passion of the Christ.....this was the movie that triggered my conversion as well. I saw it once with my family and had no intention of seeing it again.

However, I kept getting this impression that I was supposed to go see it again by myself....and I resisted it for about 3 weeks. Because it wouldn't go away, I finally went again by myself on a quiet afternoon.

After it was over, I sat in the theatre for about 20 minutes with this thought running through my head: Why would someone voluntarily submit to this? Of course being raised Catholic, I knew the story, but I felt like I was missing something.

Again, I felt led...this time to go to a Christian book store (never been in one before in my life) and went to the bible section thinking I needed to just bone up again on the basics of Christianity. In all the bibles, I zeroed in on a little paperback called "the New Believers Bible - First steps for New Christians". I bought it because it had a little summary section in front that looked like it would be a quick read.

I started reading it - the section was called, "How you can know God", and it truly was like the first time I had ever heard this....I got to the part about the sacrifice of Jesus, and for the very first time in my whole life I made the connection to me personally and my sin.....and understood the significance of His atonement......I just started sobbing, uncontrollably....and I pretty much saw all my sin in a review.....I was in prayer to the Father and Jesus and it was the most amazing experience of my life.

Although I didn't really know what had happened, since I didn't understand the concept of born-again....I knew something significant had happened. It took my awhile to figure it out, but my life has been turned upside down since.

Amazing how the Holy Spirit has used that movie with so many.....praise Jesus and praise the Holy Spirit and praise the Father for his mercy for lost people like me.....

[Sparkles]

What Pegmo said aplies to me 100%.
Honestly Its like If I had the gift of writing I would have written that word for word about myself.
Weird
:thumb

[pegmo]

Emily, if you come up with any good tips for freeing elderly parents from the bonds of Catholicism, please pass them along!

[pegmo]

Sparkles wrote: What Pegmo said aplies to me 100%.
Honestly Its like If I had the gift of writing I would have written that word for word about myself.
Weird


Wow! Isn't that neat...and weird!

[LisaJo]

I sure hope more people visit here and post their testimonies. I have enjoyed reading about everyone so much and how each of us is affected in a unique way. Let's keep this thread going!
:welcome:welcome:welcome:welcome:welcome
Lisa Jo

[Emily]

WOW Peg and Sparkles!! That is so awesome!!! :yeah It really is amazing how that movie has worked the LORD's Will! It got me to thinking how even the bookstore, and how that is working God's Will as well! How the right book you needed was in the right spot, and the author that wrote the book and his place in God's Will too. So cool. God is so amazing. :yay

I have nothing on helping elderly parents tied to the bondage of catholicism. :ohno Nothing I ahve done thus far has worked. Even my mother who accepted Jesus is still going to Catholic church and still watching Catholic television and still defending the church. :ohno Its very frustrating and breaks my heart, but I will never ever ever ever give up on them. I know the LORD hears my prayers and I know He is perfectly, flawlessly just and full of grace and mercy and will not let me down. :nod

I am coming to terms with the concept that they may never fully release the Catholic church, even on their death bed. I just have to trust the Lord. I unfortunately can't take them in to the kingdom, if I could "register" for them it'd be done already. :heh But I can't. They have to make that decision for themselves. And if they choose to reject the LORD, well ... I'll know that through my prayers and the prayers of my born again family, we did everything we humanly could, God did everything He could and they chose to reject Him. :idunno God is perfect, that's all I know, and anyone who rejects Him is a fool. And I won't remember them when I'm in paradise. :ohno But I pray it never comes to this ... I pray that the Lord will melt away the hardness in their hearts and clear up the confusion that has come along in their old age, and be AWESOME and incredible in His mercy and show these lost sheep His amazing Glory. Peg your parents and all of your Catholic loved ones will be in my prayers!! I pray that you are with ALL OF THEM in the Kingdom of God, worshipping Him with them forever!! :pray

Lord help us all!

[pegmo]

Emily, it just reminds me what a MIRACLE of GOD it was for my family to have the veil lifted and see the real Jesus and believe in Him. I don't know the why or what-for of it....but I am so grateful. My words to my siblings and my husband's siblings and our friends seem to fall on deaf ears. But for some reason my words about what Jesus did in my life seemed to quickly help transform my husband and children. Why? I don't know. I wish I really understood more clearly how God works so I could more clearly understand my role. I know its not about me, but I want so much for everyone else to have the Truth. Its so painful to watch the words fall to the ground.....