I Was Invited To A Bible Study....

[missionseeker]

First off, it is a Protestant Bible study with people I do not actually know except for the two who invited me. It makes me nervous for many reasons

 

 

1. I'd be the only Catholic in a group full of protestants

2. I don't know anyone

3. I usually avoid bible studies that do not have a course number next to them. 

4. It's at mcDonalds. 

 

 

However, I never hang out with anybody here and that would be a nice change. 

 

 

:idontknow:

 

 

 

[Nihil Obstat]

If it were me, I would not bother. But I am not that social, and that kind of social interaction does not do much for me. I would go if they were friends and I had reason to assume that everyone would be respectful, but I would avoid it even more so if I expected it was going to turn into Protestant apologetics. Depends on how one assesses the situation, I suppose.

 

I tried a Catholic bible study on campus a couple years ago, and even that was not doing it for me. The curriculum was very limited. It was relatively decent in what it did cover, but I was interested in doing quite a bit more, so the program itself was very constraining.

Also the guy who was running the program had a one-size-fits-all approach that just assumed everyone in the program was an unchurched cafeteria Catholic at best. Felt condescending, even though I understand it was not his intention.

Edited April 15, 2013 by Nihil Obstat

[Kateri89]

I think you should go and then give your interpretation with your Catholic beliefs in mind.  Don't tell the Protestants that you're Catholic.  They might find merit to what you're saying and then at the end you should say "Oh by the way, that's what Catholics believe" and then they'll be like   :shocking:   :notworthy:

[Basilisa Marie]

Find out if it's a hardcore theology bible study or a "spiritual" bible study or a "how does this make you feel" bible study.  Also find out if most of the people are hardcore mainline protestants or are non-denoms.  If it's a spiritual or "feely" bible study with people who don't hate Catholics and would value your point of view, I'd totally go.  If it's hardcore theology and you don't feel comfortable on your own, don't go.  If they're hardcore and want to secretly convert you, don't go.  

 

When I was in high school my best friends were a big mix. All of us were serious about our faith, but there were a couple Catholics, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, and a couple non-denoms. The non-denoms were really spiritual and knew their bible back to front, the Methodist and Presbyterian definitely knew their history and were conversant in the finer points in theology, and me and the other catholics were somewhere in between. We ALWAYS would talk about religion because A) we focused on what we all had in common and B) we were open to learning from each other without feeling threatened by someone secretly trying to convert someone else.  My point in bringing this up is to say that if the group turns out to be pretty in line with both A and B, I think it might be worth your time.  

 

There's no harm in going to the first meeting to check it out - that's probably what I'd do in your situation. 

 

[eagle_eye222001]

First off, it is a Protestant Bible study with people I do not actually know except for the two who invited me. It makes me nervous for many reasons

 

 

1. I'd be the only Catholic in a group full of protestants

2. I don't know anyone

3. I usually avoid bible studies that do not have a course number next to them. 

4. It's at mcDonalds. 

 

 

However, I never hang out with anybody here and that would be a nice change. 

 

 

:idontknow:

 

 

I in general caution against going to a non-Catholic Bible study unless you are strong in the faith.

 

It depends on your relationship with the two who invited you I think.  You reasonably trust/know these two people?

 

 

You do want to hang out with people though....:think:

 

Give it a trial run.  Go 2-3 times, and then evaluate it.  Is it fruitful?  Productive?  Are these people respectful of what/if anything you have to say?

 

 

Bottom line, I think its worth checking out and rolling the dice.  Proceed cautiously of course. :crusader2:  

 

My experience with this is that it is not so much a Bible Study per se, but rather a "this is how I feel about this passage" deal.

 

Since it seems you'll be by yourself, you may want to make it a policy to "not debate" and instead at the most share your perspective if warranted and appropriate.  If you get into a debate, you will likely quickly find yourself outgunned and frustrated.  I am not trying to judge your speaking ability, but you are in foreign territory without support.  Best play it safe and quiet and make friends....as that is your primary goal now.

[missionseeker]

well. I doubt they'd be rude, or even overly preachy. The seem open to Catholicism actually, I've talked with them about it before. 

 

I almost have a degree in theology, and I took several scripture classes. So I'm not really worried about that. I wouldn't be out of my league. If I even did speak. It's just strange territory is all

[eagle_eye222001]

well. I doubt they'd be rude, or even overly preachy. The seem open to Catholicism actually, I've talked with them about it before. 

 

I almost have a degree in theology, and I took several scripture classes. So I'm not really worried about that. I wouldn't be out of my league. If I even did speak. It's just strange territory is all

 

 

The odds are quite on your side I see......roll the dice!

[MissScripture]

I would try it and see how it goes. What is the worst that could happen? Its not like they'll convert you.

[CrossCuT]

I was part of a christian group at a previous college and I was the only Catholic there.

It was lead by a girl that was some run of the mill christian faith and at first ..I didnt mind it. It was nice to be with other Christians but after a little while when their Theology started showing....it started to irritate me. 

EVERYTHING was so superficial it was boring...there was no depth to any of the conversations, and one time that specifically irritated me was that we were going to show a movie to the campus (a christian movie) and we were told to go "save" people using a tiny pocket book consisting of a total of 6 pages. They even gave us a daily quota of people to save....after that I was like yeahhhhhhhh not sure that it works that way.  :sos:

 

And I never went back.

[Papist]

I think you should go and then give your interpretation with your Catholic beliefs in mind.  Don't tell the Protestants that you're Catholic.  They might find merit to what you're saying and then at the end you should say "Oh by the way, that's what Catholics believe" and then they'll be like   :shocking:   :notworthy:

 

This is basically what I would do. Simply give my understanding, being a Catholic perspective.  I would be sure to not tell anyone his interpretation is wrong.  If/when the group began to get hostile to your Catholic perspective, I would gracefully bow out.  But perhaps, after a little conversation of authority re where do we go to settle our different interpretations?  

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I voted "yes" but in reality No seemed to harsh and you didn't have a "I don't know enough about you or the other people who invited you to make a discerned judgment" button. In truth I would generally agree I would probably lean away from any group that is hardcore trying to convert you, unless you like apologetics and defending the faith in which case go for it. The purpose is especially difficult to think about. It being at McDonalds may be a sign either way to make everyone more comfortable and more relaxed to share openly and friendly, or more neutral so as to be a black widow of theology so to speak.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I voted "yes" but in reality No seemed to harsh and you didn't have a "I don't know enough about you or the other people who invited you to make a discerned judgment" button. In truth I would generally agree I would probably lean away from any group that is hardcore trying to convert you, unless you like apologetics and defending the faith in which case go for it. The purpose is especially difficult to think about. It being at McDonalds may be a sign either way to make everyone more comfortable and more relaxed to share openly and friendly, or more neutral so as to be a black widow of theology so to speak.

[Amppax]

Do you want to go? or would going to this be more of a courtesy to those who asked you? 

[MIKolbe]

I would say go.

 

talk about John 6.

[CrossCuT]

I think you should go and then give your interpretation with your Catholic beliefs in mind.  Don't tell the Protestants that you're Catholic.  They might find merit to what you're saying and then at the end you should say "Oh by the way, that's what Catholics believe" and then they'll be like   :shocking:   :notworthy:

 

As soon as you open your  mouth about certain topics in faith, they will know youre catholic! I wouldnt put it past them to smell the Catholic scent on you as soon as you walk in the door!!!

:dead: