Going To A Non-denominational Church

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
[quote name='Giolla' post='1750608' date='Jan 13 2009, 06:09 PM']I'm going to his service on Saturday night then I will attend Mass on Sunday. He's doing this all by himself and he just needs a shoulder to lean on. I won't receive their "communion" or anything I'm simply there for support. He has a history of disdaining religion and was an atheist. So I think baby steps are in order for him, because I know him.[/quote]
gotcha btw, i do think it's great your brother is going to church.

[quote name='Giolla' post='1750638' date='Jan 13 2009, 06:27 PM']I'm firmly grounded in the faith. I'm even going through discernment to become a priest. But what he needs is an easy going atmosphere where he can listen to the gospel. as I said I'm strictly Catholic but he needs to be eased in. I don't think this was directed to me.[/quote]aha, a reason why i was confused, thought you were a girl (the screenname threw me off)

[MithLuin]

Personally, I love listening to Christian music, and I don't generally inquire as to which church all of the band members attend! As long as there is nothing wrong with the message of the song, and it praises God, hey, it's good with me.

It is all about God, and our relationship with him, true. And because of that...there are times when we can all be Christians together, in love and unity, and there are times when the sad divisions between us...do cause real harm.

I enjoy having fellowship with all Christians, and I think it is important for Catholics to acknowledge the brotherhood of all baptized believers.

But I am proud to be Catholic, too, and I am very grateful for all the graces the Church provides in furthering my relationship with God.

[Guest nvzbl]

[eagle_eye222001]

[quote name='nvzbl' post='1750859' date='Jan 13 2009, 11:10 PM']...

listen:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-dPvBDv5o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-dPvBDv5o[/url][/quote]

Nice video.



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Now playing: [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/michael+w.+smith/track/awesome+god"]Michael W. Smith - Awesome God[/url]
via [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/"]FoxyTunes[/url]

[Giolla]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1750863' date='Jan 14 2009, 12:13 AM']+J.M.J.+

gotcha btw, i do think it's great your brother is going to church.

aha, a reason why i was confused, thought you were a girl (the screenname threw me off)[/quote]

Giolla (pronounced Gilla) means servant or apostle in the Irish language

[Giolla]

I never went to a Protestant service so I'm not sure what its like. I hope nothing anti-Catholic is said.

[eagle_eye222001]

[quote name='Giolla' post='1750982' date='Jan 14 2009, 12:59 AM']I never went to a Protestant service so I'm not sure what its like. I hope nothing anti-Catholic is said.[/quote]

Do not place your hope high. My Grandma went to my aunt's Protestant service as a "nice" thing to do and ended up stopping due to the nonstop anti-Catholic rhetoric.

I would not assume all Protestant services are guilty of this, however from what I have read and hear, a fair amount pound away at Rome.



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Now playing: [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/london+philharmonic+orchestra+%26+london+voices/track/evenstar"]London Philharmonic Orchestra & London Voices - Evenstar[/url]
via [url="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/"]FoxyTunes[/url]

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='eagle_eye222001' post='1750992' date='Jan 14 2009, 01:25 AM']Do not place your hope high. My Grandma went to my aunt's Protestant service as a "nice" thing to do and ended up stopping due to the nonstop anti-Catholic rhetoric.

I would not assume all Protestant services are guilty of this, however from what I have read and hear, a fair amount pound away at Rome. [/quote]
On the other hand, I was Protestant for 34 years and I never heard anything anti-Catholic from the pulpit. Contrary to Catholic teaching? Yes. Bashing Catholicism? No.

[MithLuin]

I have always been Catholic, but I was part of a non-denominational fellowship in college. In four years, there were 2 instances where the Catholic church was bashed. In one case, it was a personal testimony from a guest speaker - he had been 'raised Catholic' but did not come to know Jesus until much later in life. He had quite a bit of bitterness about the church he was raised in. In the other case, a piece of literature handed out at a retreat went out of its way to point out that Catholics weren't really Christian at one point. After it was passed out, the adult leader of the fellowship got up and publically apologized, saying that it was uncalled for. (It was a reflection on grace, if I recall correctly.) I thought it was really a good thing that I didn't have to say anything to provoke that apology - whoever noticed the indiscretion wasn't Catholic.

Basically, I always felt respected in this group, even though Catholics were a tiny minority.

It really depends upon the particular church, and where you are. Hopefully, there won't be any Catholic-bashing there, but I would say to go expecting something very different from a Catholic mass. Usually, non-denominational liturgy is very unstructured (at least in comparison). So, probably no vestments, communion might not be every week, a big emphasis on music-as-worship, and preaching based on Bible passages, yes, but not on the liturgical cycle that we have. But since each nondenominational church is unique, maybe none of my guesses will be correct! For your brother's sake, try to find the positive, and not be too critical of what you don't like.

[Ziggamafu]

[quote name='nvzbl' post='1750859' date='Jan 14 2009, 12:10 AM']you too.

and i never said the eucharist wasnt important.
in regards to (my) music ministry: look at christian music. do i need to ask if they are catholic before i let my kids listen to it???



i defend the Catholic church but i defend all of Christs churches.

listen:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-dPvBDv5o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-dPvBDv5o[/url][/quote]

There is only one Christ.

The Church is Christ's Body.

Therefore there is only one Church.

As Christ possesses a body both visible and invisible, so too does the Church.

Christ founded - and structured - one Church; as Messiah, the Son of David, he gave the office of key-bearer to the same man whose name had been changed to "Rock" in one of only two instances in the entire New Testament when the term "church" is used. Any congregation of Christians that places itself outside of full communion with that One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is therefore not in full communion with Christ and may only pretend to be worthy of the title, "church". A gathering of twenty individualists does not one communion make.

Having said all that, of course there are beautiful and true things to be found in denominational Christianity, just as there are in pagan religions. So of course we can happily utilize songs in which there is nothing that is opposed to Church teaching.

[MithLuin]

From the Phorum Guidelines:
[quote]Negative Criticism of Other Religions
A post or comment that negatively criticizes (as opposed to constructively criticizes) a different religion in a way that is harmful to open ecumenical dialogue.

"The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter." Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church." - [i]Catechism of the Catholic Church, 838[/i][/quote]


Be careful how far you go with that. I know we technically refer to them as ecclesial communities, not churches, in Church documents. But to pretend that our connection and relationship with other Christians is no different from our relationship with pagans is absurd. The fact of the matter is that we have to specify that they are not in [i]full[/i] communion with us, because there is a great deal of communion - a common baptism, a common faith in Jesus, the same Bible, etc.

The one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church is a mystical body. I would not be so quick to assume that those who attend other churches are not part of it. Those who knowingly and willingly reject the Catholic faith and put themselves outside of it - sure. But the Church does not consider people who unwittingly attend schismatic churches to be themselves schismatic. Ponder on that for a bit.

[dUSt]

[quote name='nvzbl' post='1750847' date='Jan 13 2009, 11:00 PM']NO, what i am saying what is [i]important[/i] is [b]GOD.[/b][/quote]
So, does this mean that it doesn't matter if they are Christian? Judaism, Hinduism, Islam.. all just as good as being Christian?

If this is not what you are saying, then you missed my point.

Just like Christianity has Jesus, and the other religions do not, Catholicism has the Eucharist, which the other Christian denominations do not.

You see?

Christianity contains more truth than non-Christian religions because they have JESUS.
Catholicism contains more truth than other Christian religions because we have the EUCHARIST.

We should be striving to bring everyone into the FULLNESS of truth, and not be satisfied with people just saying that they believe in a God.

[MissyP89]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1751230' date='Jan 14 2009, 02:04 PM']Christianity contains more truth than non-Christian religions because they have JESUS.
Catholicism contains more truth than other Christian religions because we have the EUCHARIST.[/quote]

I would extend this to include all seven Sacraments and/or Sacred Tradition.

[quote]We should be striving to bring everyone into the FULLNESS of truth, and not be satisfied with people just saying that they believe in a God.[/quote]

IAWTC. However, being Protestant is certainly better than nothing, and is a start on the journey to coming into full communion with Rome.

[Guest]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1751230' date='Jan 14 2009, 03:04 PM']We should be striving to bring everyone into the FULLNESS of truth, and not be satisfied with people just saying that they believe in a God.[/quote]

That's what phatmass has done for me. When I came here I was satisfied with just believing in God and Jesus. I struggled with the emphasis being set on the cathoic church being the church with the complete truth. I found it much easier to interpit scripture and cling to being saved by faith. It is really easy to turn on tbn laying on your couch and feel holy and with no need to venture out in the crazy world.

As Ive made clear in other post I have not been practicing all the time. It would be easy to take the cop out and go back to expecting God to save me through my faith. But what about Jesus saying I have to eat his body and drink his blood to recieve eternal life ? If I turn my back on the cathoic church (which im aware now is the church christ founded) then im refusing to take up my cross and I cannot be a decisple of Christ.

So I basically think it boils down to understanding what you're accountable for. God knows the number of hairs on your head. So he knows if you are denying him with your actions to, even if you claim that your not. Being catholic is tough and I dont think there is anything easy about it. Going to mass every week and coming to grasp with actually eating and drinking the flesh and blood of the lord is heavy. But I also believe there are great rewards that come along with it.

Edited January 14, 2009 by Guest

[Guest]

[quote name='MithLuin' post='1751042' date='Jan 14 2009, 10:07 AM']From the Phorum Guidelines:



Be careful how far you go with that To pretend that our connection and relationship with other Christians is no different from our relationship with pagans is absurd.[/quote]

Its also very offensive and not rooted in love.