What Is So Hard To Accept About The Catholic Faith

[Livin_the_MASS]

I would like to know from our Protestant brothers and sisters, why they can't accept The Truth.

There is One Truth. I know they have been told alot that the Catholic Church has the fullness of Faith (which it does!), it is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.

I am wondering why when the Truth is given it is ignored?

If you would please explain the problem of accepting The One Truth! Why?


In the love of Christ
God Bless
Jason

[Paladin D]

It is hard to accept something, that you believed to be false. It isn't such an easy process, it takes time. With some, it's longer than others. I had to go through the same thing.

[Mickey's_Girl]

Actually, this topic is over on the "Converts Anonymous" board, too. (Sorry, I don't know how to link.)

There is a wide gulf between Protestant and Catholic (in some ways). The whole of Catholic theology builds upon itself, piece by piece. If you have been raised as a Protestant and have had a long and fulfilling walk with Jesus (as I have), it's difficult to accept Catholicism just wholesale (as the "One Truth"). It takes time. You have a lot of just plain *learning* to do, plus you have to learn to see things that you've always "known" (salvation, baptism, communion) in a completely different light. It's sort of like if you lived your whole life as an American and then you are told that you must be British, starting tomorrow. It's not totally foreign, but the angle is utterly different.

I do not come from a tradition that vigorously emphasizes "sola scriptura" because we also believe that the Holy Spirit can work directly in your life, and that you must trust in his guidance, always using the Bible as the measuring-stick. I don't have the hang-ups that more Calvin-influenced denominations seem to have about supernatural things (like the Eucharist) or even believing in "tradition" (after all, biblical interpretation is based on traditions). But to have to start believing in a whole parcel of new ideas about Mary (for instance)...well, this is difficult.

If God wants me in the Catholic church, I will be obedient to his will. I also know that if that happens, I will know *for sure* that's what he wants. I am not at that place yet, and no one claiming to have "the truth" can make it happen before I'm ready. God's timing is perfect.

I say all this in the spirit of sharing and charity, which is the same spirit I assume Jason had in asking the question. Please note that I will not be drawn into tit-for-tat arguments over small phrases in my overall post, and I would appreciate no document-dumping. I'm doing enough reading already. Thanks!

MG

[Mickey's_Girl]

PS. I just realized I was in the "debate" section, oops. Y'all can debate. I'll stand back and watch. ;-)

MG

[Livin_the_MASS]

Thank You for your honest reply. So it is basically because they are raised to look at things in a different light? See on Scott Hahns conversion story he said when ever he preached like Johns Gospel, he would talk over Chapter 5 in depth and then skim over 6.

So it would be well said it's alot to take in at once? See I work with a friend who is baptist and he told one time "you will not tell me everything I've been taught and that my family has lived for is wrong." Mind you this is over a 2 year period of talking about our faiths.

Is it scary? Because I noticed like a anger come out of him like it was making him upset not in a mean way but in a fearful way.

Is there fear?

God Bless
Jason

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Mickey's_Girl' date='May 1 2004, 09:42 PM'] There is a wide gulf between Protestant and Catholic (in some ways). The whole of Catholic theology builds upon itself, piece by piece. If you have been raised as a Protestant and have had a long and fulfilling walk with Jesus (as I have), it's difficult to accept Catholicism just wholesale (as the "One Truth"). It takes time. You have a lot of just plain *learning* to do, plus you have to learn to see things that you've always "known" (salvation, baptism, communion) in a completely different light. It's sort of like if you lived your whole life as an American and then you are told that you must be British, starting tomorrow. It's not totally foreign, but the angle is utterly different. [/quote]
This is how I felt towards my journey towards Catholicism.

I spent my life learning [b]some[/b] of Catholicism, but mainly a mix of different Protestant doctrines. I grew up with something different, and then when I started my journey, it felt as if I was somehow a [b]new Christian[/b] again in a sense, or [b]changing the suit[/b]. The feeling is scary yet amazing, you're not sure what you will find when you explore deeper. It's as if you charted the East side of the America, but now you're leaving the East and charting the West. That is why I must becareful not to put so much on myself, considering I spent 16 years learning Christianity and living it the way I knew how. I only been a [b]knowledable Catholic[/b] for a little over a year now. But it helps to be a non-Catholic Christian beforehand, I know some of the basics (Christ as Lord, 10 Commandments, etcs).

It. Takes. Time.

[Mickey's_Girl]

[quote name='Jason' date='May 1 2004, 07:54 PM'] 1. "Thank You for your honest reply. So it is basically because they are raised to look at things in a different light? See on Scott Hahns conversion story he said when ever he preached like Johns Gospel, he would talk over Chapter 5 in depth and then skim over 6."


2. "So it would be well said it's alot to take in at once? See I work with a friend who is baptist and he told one time "you will not tell me everything I've been taught and that my family has lived for is wrong." Mind you this is over a 2 year period of talking about our faiths.

Is it scary? Because I noticed like a anger come out of him like it was making him upset not in a mean way but in a fearful way.

Is there fear?"

[/quote]
(I really need to get more technologically advanced. I've numbered the quotes because I can't figure out how to get them to stay in the nice shaded quote box, and then be able to write in between them.)

1. As for John 5 and 6, do you mean ch. 6 as being the Real Presence? It's an awfully long chapter, so I wasn't sure what you were going for (haven't read Hahn on that).

The sermons I have heard on the subject (not terribly many) have usually taken it metaphorically, meaning "accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross". Or tying into the "I am the bread of life" idea, meaning if you don't have Jesus, you can't have eternal life. (Not sure what v. 55 is supposed to mean, there. ) ;-)

A sideline--I'm planning to read Hahn's book about Mary. I actually have never had a real problem with the idea of the Real Presence, so probably won't read his book on that.

2. Definitely, a lot to take in at once. Because, as your Baptist friend said, it's like telling someone everything they've thought their whole life is totally wrong. If, indeed, your friend said this after 2 years, he probably IS afraid. I could be wrong, but my guess is that you are making headway, and that God is working on his heart. I mean, if that's the best he can do, it sounds like he's stumped. :-) I'm praying for him.

Going from sincere, devout Protestant to believing Catholic is a HUGE deal. Get on the "Converts Anonymous" board and check out people's stories and links. Homeschoolmom is a good example. For many people, the church is hub of their social life, and "crossing the Tiber" not only means changing churches, but changing cultures. If you have a family to be concerned with, it's even scarier.

Paladin D is right. It takes *time*. And Jason--I applaud your sincere efforts to see the other point of view. We who are not yet "home" appreciate it.

MG

[homeschoolmom]

Hey, my ears were burning... and low and behold, you were talking about me. Jason, the explainations given to you here are dead on. The American one day/British the next annalogy is quite right. Similar and yet very different. Words that we have in our vocaburlaries even have different meanings and get used wrong. I don't think that cradle Catholics or die-hard Protestants realize the chasm that lies between them... It's bigger than many think. And jumping it is very scary. Imagine, Jason, if you were told that everything you believed was sort of right, but not quite... That's scarier than dealing with people telling you that Christianity is completely wrong... (Because you know they are way off the mark.)

[Livin_the_MASS]

Thank You again, I won't get into Theology to much on this thread. I would love to hear more stories and feelings on what people went through during their conversion.

I know that God is the Only One who converts anyone! Has anyone in your life touched you in an area to bring you this far? Like by example?

I'm a revert, I was raised Catholic, baptized, confirmed, everything, but I didn't really know. My teenage years (lets not go there), I started to stray, went to a couple protestant services and I just didn't feel right . Came down with a health condition that runs in my family. Got scared, got on my knees one night said a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide me to put me where I should be, because I didn't know.

I went to a daily Mass, after that God took over and changed my life like never before. For me I would have to say it was my openess that did it that allowed God to do His work. I admitted that I needed God and I didn't know anything. God gets the credit because He gave me the grace to be open.

I never did a study of religion or nothing. I was a child lost thats for sure. I started to go to Eucharistic Adoration, and thats where Truths were revealed to me. I would bring my Bible along or a book of a saint, I don't know how many times my mouth dropped when something was revealed to me. Then it was like I needed to share it with the world, which usually ended up being only my mom at first.lol

God took pity on me a sinner thats for sure. But I loved it and still due. I have fallen in love with our God! Once (by Gods grace) I understood the Truth I thirsted for more and still am thirsty!

Enough of me I hope to hear more good insights from others and the way they feel now and what they felt at first, whatever you want to say, please share it!

God Bless,
Jason

[ilovechrist]

funny..
only the Catholics are posting in here, when the question is for the non-Catholics... i'm still learning about the Truth as it is, being a teen, so... i'll get back to ya on what my Protestant friends are saying..

[Livin_the_MASS]

[quote name='ilovechrist' date='May 1 2004, 10:58 PM'] funny..
only the Catholics are posting in here, when the question is for the non-Catholics... i'm still learning about the Truth as it is, being a teen, so... i'll get back to ya on what my Protestant friends are saying.. [/quote]
That's ok, if I left just it for our Protestant brothers and sisters (who haven't converted yet) I might not get any answers Let us call it, (the walk home) than! Open to all to put how they feel or what they went through becoming Catholic or struggles with things in the process of looking into Catholicism.

God Bless
Jason

[Sojourner]

[quote name='ilovechrist' date='May 1 2004, 10:58 PM'] funny..
only the Catholics are posting in here, when the question is for the non-Catholics... i'm still learning about the Truth as it is, being a teen, so... i'll get back to ya on what my Protestant friends are saying.. [/quote]
MG is not a Catholic, just so you know. She's currently Assemblies of God.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Mickey's_Girl' date='May 1 2004, 09:17 PM'] Going from sincere, devout Protestant to believing Catholic is a HUGE deal. Get on the "Converts Anonymous" board and check out people's stories and links. Homeschoolmom is a good example. For many people, the church is hub of their social life, and "crossing the Tiber" not only means changing churches, but changing cultures. If you have a family to be concerned with, it's even scarier. [/quote]
Jason, MG and homeschoolmom are right on in their assessment of the situation.

The difficulty for me came on two fronts. Homeschoolmom was exactly right when she said "Imagine, Jason, if you were told that everything you believed was sort of right, but not quite" -- that's definitely a part of the equation. (For me, this wasn't maybe as big a deal as for others because I was going through a huge period of questioning everything about my faith anyway -- but it was still difficult. Learning to see things like justification in a slightly different light, learning the different customs of the church, etc.: There's a massive learning curve, and it's something you have to accept with your heart as well as your head, so it really takes time).

The second front was the one that was more difficult for me. When I first talked to my parents about it, when I was only toying with the idea of reconciling with the Church, my father went off for about an hour and half, talked to me about how horrible a decision it would be for me, how it would drive a wedge between me and my family ... it was [i]bad[/i]. And I was very close to my church, involved with many people's lives, etc. I'm a single woman, and my church was very much like a family to me, a very secure place to be. It was an act of faith for me to make this move, and it took a while to come to the place where I was ready to trust God to catch me. Which he has.

[Livin_the_MASS]

Thanks Sojourner!,
So friction from family members can cause some issues, I'm sure each is different some worse than others.

But as you told your story I could see out of that problem, God gave you strength to do what you needed to do!

[quote]It was an act of faith for me to make this move, and it took a while to come to the place where I was ready to trust God to catch me. [b]Which he has.[/b][/quote]

Bold added by me.

I have heard stories on E.W.T.N. that people where in danger of losing their family over converting to the Catholic Church, they went broke the news to their family and God's grace took over from there. "With God anything is possible"

Interesting thanks for sharing.

God Bless
Jason

[Mickey's_Girl]

[quote name='Sojourner' date='May 2 2004, 11:18 AM'] MG is not a Catholic, just so you know. She's currently Assemblies of God.

[/quote]
Thanks for setting the record straight, Sojourner. Yeah, I still rep the Pentecostals over here.

MG

PS. Hmm. Do I sound Catholic? It gives one pause...