Reasons for Converting to/from Catholicism

[SpeedRacer]

Hi Speedracer, I just wanted to make a suggestion about a church possibility. The Calvary Chapels are usually very straight forward, strictly word based, and although they fit into Protestant category of course, they don't really call themselves by any sect of Protestantism. Their only concern is preaching the Word, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. There's no signing up, they won't call you unless you make friends with somebody & give your number. I too got really sick of the Protestant pinball machine, bounce bounce ping ping, who's opinion will I be afflicted by today? This is the most straighforward system of "church" I've found. None are perfect though. In any case, I'll pray God sends you to the right place for you.

Thanks for your prayers and suggestion

[jbjr68]

Two Things

1. The Holy Catholic Church was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is not man-made.

In Peace and Love

:ohno

[αρμαγεδδων]

Ok I'm not as knowledgable as most and rather new, I can say as of now I have no church, Why? well I can't support any church that, allow abortion, allows same sae union for a start.
I also believe that communion is very important as it is a symbol for Christs preparring to leave this earth.
So where does that leave me? I am a batized Anglican but recent allowances in what I have writen above are turning my head, Catholacism places so much in the VM that she is almost god like and such a rich church it is!
Othrodox seems to be the right direction but wich one?
I have attended many prodestant, or evangelical and find them more into entertaining then following any scripture.

Now this is my opinion and I hope no one is offended, I came to the board to learn many things, not just the Rapture.

Also sorry if this jumps around a bit and is not the greatest puncuation I am disabled so I find it hard to write and use grammer, as well spellcheck would not work.
Darrell:scripture

[goinghome]

Ok I'm not as knowledgable as most and rather new, I can say as of now I have no church, Why? well I can't support any church that, allow abortion, allows same sae union for a start.
I also believe that communion is very important as it is a symbol for Christs preparring to leave this earth.
So where does that leave me? I am a batized Anglican but recent allowances in what I have writen above are turning my head, Catholacism places so much in the VM that she is almost god like and such a rich church it is!
Othrodox seems to be the right direction but wich one?
I have attended many prodestant, or evangelical and find them more into entertaining then following any scripture.

Now this is my opinion and I hope no one is offended, I came to the board to learn many things, not just the Rapture.

Also sorry if this jumps around a bit and is not the greatest puncuation I am disabled so I find it hard to write and use grammer, as well spellcheck would not work.
Darrell:scripture

You might check to see if there is a Calvary Chapel in your area. There are many of them and most of them are very biblically sound and could care less about the entertainment factor. I have to warn that a few here and there have gone astray in the past and been cut off from the Calvary Chapel group. So be sure they are on the list of the CC website.

http://www.calvarychapel.com/?show=Churches

You can also listen to many of them online to test them out first.

[Because_He_Lives!]

You might check to see if there is a Calvary Chapel in your area. There are many of them and most of them are very biblically sound and could care less about the entertainment factor. I have to warn that a few here and there have gone astray in the past and been cut off from the Calvary Chapel group. So be sure they are on the list of the CC website.

http://www.calvarychapel.com/?show=Churches

You can also listen to many of them online to test them out first.

For the most part Calvary chapels are bibically sound. I attended one recently in my area and it was an expository Bible service. Thats good because I need to learn all I can about the Bible.
Also, Roger Oakland recommends Calvary Chapel. Apparently he has spoken at a number of them across the country and he told me that "most are good and not apostolic"

Good luck to you. :)

[Berean Girl]

I also vouch for them!!! :yeah

[Debbie M.]

[QUOTE=Abigail;151354]I've experienced something
IMHO, the whole issue of "church discipline" gets sidestepped in many churches, Catholic and protestant alike...because of what? Apathy? Fear of bad press affecting donations/membership numbers? Fear of appearing "judgmental"?:idunno


I believe it is a "spirit of religiousity" thats at work there. Praying first for an unsaved catholic to be free from this spirit is most likely a good first step to witnessing to them. For some reason , God seems to put me with catholics!!!:idunno,,,, and I find witnessing to them to be extremely difficult ! They are SO indoctrinated, its not even funny. I find most of them would rather have their "religion" than the truth, than Jesus. And the whole Mary worship thing is sickening (its really idoltry). I do believe that Roman Catholism is a front runner in the one world religion that is coming upon us, and the pope, sorry to say, is human , and therefore fallible. (and the pope is NOT "Jesus on earth" ) Their entire teachings are biblically wrong but yet sooooo many are deceived!!! unreal. But God is continually leading people OUT OF this religion into a relationship with HIM. Praise God. In the meantime, i try to be as gentle (as possible) in talking to catholics and helping them to come to Christ, the ONE TRUE GOD.

[Abigail]

[quote=Abigail;151354]I've experienced something
IMHO, the whole issue of "church discipline" gets sidestepped in many churches, Catholic and protestant alike...because of what? Apathy? Fear of bad press affecting donations/membership numbers? Fear of appearing "judgmental"?:idunno


I believe it is a "spirit of religiousity" thats at work there. Praying first for an unsaved catholic to be free from this spirit is most likely a good first step to witnessing to them. For some reason , God seems to put me with catholics!!!:idunno,,,, and I find witnessing to them to be extremely difficult ! They are SO indoctrinated, its not even funny. I find most of them would rather have their "religion" than the truth, than Jesus. And the whole Mary worship thing is sickening (its really idoltry). I do believe that Roman Catholism is a front runner in the one world religion that is coming upon us, and the pope, sorry to say, is human , and therefore fallible. (and the pope is NOT "Jesus on earth" ) Their entire teachings are biblically wrong but yet sooooo many are deceived!!! unreal. But God is continually leading people OUT OF this religion into a relationship with HIM. Praise God. In the meantime, i try to be as gentle (as possible) in talking to catholics and helping them to come to Christ, the ONE TRUE GOD.

Yes; that's the same thing I've experienced; the "religiousity" you speak of is so different from a true faith in Jesus Christ. The religious education I experienced in the RCC made it difficult to even discern the difference in the two. We were taught from a very early age that the RCC was the one "true" church; I remember any questions we had that challenged that in any way were met with a harsh response.

I know that many Catholics who have posted on this board claim that this was not the case for them, but unfortunately it was in my experience. I don't know how different it may have been for me, having been also in a predominately Catholic geographic area. I would assume that Catholic claims of exclusivity would be harder to maintain in an area where Catholics are a minority, but that is just a guess. Family dynamics also play a big role as well...

The home bible study I attended that really got me started reading scripture for myself was a simple gathering where we took turns reading scripture aloud. The leader was really more of a facilitator, and largely confined himself to expanding on the scripture we were reading by noting parallels in the Old Testament that related to the New Testament verses we were studying, for example.

Our bible study group had members from a number of denominations, too. We had a starting premise of simply reading scripture together, and avoided any discussion of denominational teachings that a particular scripture may have brought to mind. I think that this decision was wise; it avoided arguments and off-topic discussions...and, most importantly, kept us reading!!

Looking back, I do think that the group made a real effort to AVOID reading the really "hot button" scriptures that would have challenged Catholic teachings. Instead, we were simply guided and encouraged in becoming comfortable in reading the Bible for ourselves. The Holy Spirit, of course, did the rest, for those who were searching, like myself.

I do know what you are saying by "indoctrination," though. It seems that I was always protected by the Holy Spirit from being unduly influenced by Catholic doctrine that was not in alignment with scripture. I can't explain it in any other way. I suppose that's why I was never truly comfortable in the RCC.

I do think that you are also right in GENTLY "planting seeds" of truth with the Catholics you meet. Sometimes I tend to forget that sometimes we are to plant the seeds, and another will come along to water them; know what I mean??

For what it's worth, if the Catholics you are meeting do not believe in the inerrancy of scripture as a starting point, evangelizing them will be so much more difficult. I remember the friend who invited me to the bible study asked whether I believed that the Bible was the word of God...I said yes; somehow I knew that despite never having read it!! However, I do believe that most Catholics will agree that the Bible is the Word of God, so I still think that encouraging, facilitating, helping them to become comfortable in reading scripture for themselves is the best way...the Word will not return void, after all. You're simply lighting the way...:candle

[jbjr68]

[QUOTE=Abigail;151354]I've experienced something
IMHO, the whole issue of "church discipline" gets sidestepped in many churches, Catholic and protestant alike...because of what? Apathy? Fear of bad press affecting donations/membership numbers? Fear of appearing "judgmental"?:idunno


I believe it is a "spirit of religiousity" thats at work there. Praying first for an unsaved catholic to be free from this spirit is most likely a good first step to witnessing to them. For some reason , God seems to put me with catholics!!!:idunno,,,, and I find witnessing to them to be extremely difficult ! They are SO indoctrinated, its not even funny. I find most of them would rather have their "religion" than the truth, than Jesus. And the whole Mary worship thing is sickening (its really idoltry). I do believe that Roman Catholism is a front runner in the one world religion that is coming upon us, and the pope, sorry to say, is human , and therefore fallible. (and the pope is NOT "Jesus on earth" ) Their entire teachings are biblically wrong but yet sooooo many are deceived!!! unreal. But God is continually leading people OUT OF this religion into a relationship with HIM. Praise God. In the meantime, i try to be as gentle (as possible) in talking to catholics and helping them to come to Christ, the ONE TRUE GOD.

As a former RC I can vouch for what you are saying Debbie. My heart was very hardened and it took a lot of time to reverse that. I think that it is pride that is the major problem. Catholics for the most part prefer to be called Catholics rather then Christians. :scratch All the RCC add-ons just mix them up and keep them from the truth.

[kc5ift458]

ABIGAIL I WAS VERY MUCH JUST LIKE U. I WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FROM K-JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I CAN SAY THAT I REALLY DID GET A GOOD EDUCATION. BECAUSE I AM SLOW IN MATH AND SOMETIMES I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DIRECTIONS I WAS BETTER OFF IT SOME OF THE SLOWER CLASSES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. THAT WAS IN THE DAY WHEN THEY STILL SAID PRAY IN PUBLIC SCHOO.. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO UNTILL THE SIX GRADE WE I DECIDED TO BECOME A NUN. I GRADUATED ONE DAY FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THE NEXT DAY I ENTERED THE CONVENANT. THE NUNS WERE NICE TO ME BUT THEY HAD TO GET ME TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS. I WAS REALLY UPSET UNTIL I WENT TO A REHAB CENTER FOR THE BLIND. I CAN SEE WITH ONE EYE BUT I AM LEGALLY BLIND. HANCE THE BIG LETTERS. THE NUNS TOLD MY MOM THAT IT WAS TO DIFFICULT FOR ME FROM THE ASPECT OF BEING STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THE WORK. AT THAT TIME I COULD WALK. AT THE BLIND SCHOOL THEY FIGURED OUT I HAD MILD CEREBRAL PALSEY. I MOVED FROM MY HOME TOWN TO SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. I LOVE IT. AS I GOT OLDER I GOT A LITTLE BIT WORSE WHERE I NEEDER A PUMP AND A PACEMAKER. I HAVE BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN I CAME TO S.A. I WAS CATHOLIC. I SPEMT 10 YEARS IN DIFFERNT NURSING HOMES. I HAD A GOOD FRIEND THAT WENT TO OAK HILLS CHURCH WHICH IS NOW CALLED OAK HILLS. I LOVED LEARNING ABOUT THE BIBLE AND EVERYTHING WAS SO DIFFERNT AND PEOPLE DID NOT RUN OUT OF THE CHURCH AS SOON AS THEY COULD. IN FACT YOU COULD NOT GET THEM TO LEAVE. I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE 1984 AND I GOT SAVED AT A CARMEN CONCERT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IMERSED IN BAPTISM. MANY OF MY FRIENDS WERE ALSO CATHOLIC AT ONE TIME BUT NOW GO TO OTHER CHURCHES. I ALWAYS TRY TO GET ALL MY ATTENDANCE TO ACCEPT CHRIST. I AM SO HAPPY THAT MY SALVATION IS NOT CONTIGENT UPON GOOD WORKS BUT ON GRACE. I KNOW THAT NO CHURCH IS PERFECT BECAUSE WE ARE IMPERFECT PEOPLE HOWEVER THE MOST INPORTANT THING IS A TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. LEARNING, LIVING, AND SPREADING HIS HOLY WORD.

THAT IS MY SHORT STORY.
I WAS TIRED OF A DEAD FAITH THAT PRAYED TO OTHERS WHO ARE NOT TO BE PRAYED TO. I DON'T SAY THAT THERE ARE MANY CATHOLICS THAT WILL BE SAVED. AFTER ALL IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR IMPHASES IS. YOU CAN'T PRAY AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO A SINNER JUST LIKE ME. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, BUT GOOD WORKS WILL NOT SAVE U JUST LIKE MY POEM SAYS.

Trust in Him
by: Donna Marie Hardigree
If You want to see Him your good works will not save you.
The little secrets that you hope that others will not find.
But Jesus knows your every step and does not lead You blind.
Sometimes it is that free will that sometimes makes it hard.
This world is filled with sadness this world is filled with woe.
But if you trust in Jesus He will show you where to go.
I know my words or simple but I know that they or true.
If you want to know my Jesus come and give your heart too.
You still will know sadness and the many trials within
But if you trust in Jesus He will help you carry on.

Copyright ©2007 Donna Marie Hardigree




http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=12155367