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elfdream
Member
| Joined: | Sun Sep 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| First Name: | Sharon | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Regular Baptist , Independant Baptist, Non denom to Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 17th, 2007 12:07 pm |
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My Christian Roots of my family stretch back to Plymouth Colony. Deacon John Doane was my ancestor and Michael Woods, one of the first settlers of Albemarle Co. VA established several Presbyterian churches there. There were Quakers and Methodists. My dad had a great whatever uncle who was part of a gospel group around the time of the Civil War. We have testimonies writted down of the great faith of these people. My mother was a "Bible Believing' fundamentalist and made sure we said our prayers at night and went to church on Sunday. I responded to an 'altar call' when I was about eight years old and was baptized soon afterwards. When I graduated high school I attended, as expected, Bob Jones University. I won't go into the rules and regulations and the rampant anti-Catholicism there but suffice it to say that I did NOT graduate from there. The good thing is I met my husband of nearly 30 years there.
While I was growing up I was never quite satisfied with some of the explanations of some of the scripture verses that were preached at me. For instance we believed the Bible was literally 100% true. Why did we not also believe Jesus when he said "This IS my body and my blood? Why all of a sudden did things go symbolic? When Once Saved Always Saved was preached I would always found verses that contradicted that. When questions were asked it was always "Those people were never really saved to begin with!" I was never completely convinced about the 'rapture' theory. It seemed to me that good works were somehow required and yet I saw very few people around me actually doing good works. Birth Control was a biggie. We were told to trust God with our lives, our jobs, our health etc but we couldn't trust him to give us the right amount of children? That he was somehow NOT in control of that aspect of our life? That he would give us the right job but somehow give us more children than we could afford? I also loved Communion or the Lord's Supper. I wanted to partake of it every Sunday but I was lucky if they did it once every three months. It didn't make sense. I was an obedient submissive student though and decided that these teachers and preachers who had been to seminary and had theological training knew better than I did. I read my Bible. I prayed. I was always deep in Scripture. I attended Bible studies and did all the right things. I still had my questions.
When I was a teen-ager I was visiting the house of a cousin and she happened to have the biography of St. Therese there! This person was not a church goer so I have no idea how that book wound up in her possession. I read it and while I was not moved to seek more information then I went away deciding that Catholics were just as much Christian as anyone else.
For a year we attended a church that my husband grew up in. It was almost cult like in its approach to the scriptures and it all revolved around the opinions of one man. It was harsh. It affected us for a long time afterwards. My husband joined the Army and while moving from here to there we came in contact with all kinds of Christians and enjoyed their company and we realized that they weren't bad and that we could 'fellowship' with them and lightning wouldn't strike us.. After the Army we attended a Conservative Baptist Church and then couple of Fellowship Bible Churches. They were good people and I liked being there but for some reason one day I stopped going to church. Just stopped. I told people I needed some spiritual R&R. During that time away I explored Budhism, other denominations like Quakerism.. and was almost agnostic. Its funny to recount but one day I was watching a U2 video and decided that if those guys with all their fame and fortune could still believe in God then so would I. I also met a Catholic couple who were very devout and faithful and I remember thinking they had some kind of 'air' about them that was almost otherwordly. I can't describe it...just that a kind goodness seemed to ooze out of them! They were patient and helpful and always had a good work for everyone. I liked them and remember wishing that I could have whatever ever it was they had. I don't know if the seeds for returning home were planted then or not. I just know they made a big impression on me.
I started cleaning a couple of beautiful old Episcopalian Churches about that time and I would read the literature that was lying around about the beauty of liturgical worship services. I was intrigued. I then began to wonder about the different Protestant Demonimations and I became convinced that someone somewhere out there had the 'truth'. The idea of God having his truth fractured and scatterd among a thousand denominations seemed cruel. Were we just supposed to pick one and hope for the best? I know people say the Spirit led them to believe this and that but too many people were saying the same thing and were being led in different directions. Then one day I realized that God had ONE way for the Hebrews to worship him. One way..the right way and surely somewhere in this vast Christian landscape someone was doing it right. I prayed a prayer and looking back on it it was God's grace that led me to do this. I prayed "Lord show me your truth and please don't let me be deceived by the words of any man or the whispers of my own heart. Don't let me be afraid of moving out of my own comfort zone. I'll become a Quaker or a Catholic, just show me your truth!"
He gave me that which I requested.
I read some on my own and one day I stumbled onto Beliefnet.com and I visited the Catholic forums. There was a poster there named Bible Catholic and a Priest who answered all my questions and my objections and wonder of wonders they used the Bible to do it!. I also found Steven Ray's site 'Defenders of the Catholic Faith' and it was full of people like me who had gone through similar journeys. It was the letter of St. Ignatius concerning the Body and Blood of Christ that clinched it for me. I realized that deep down I had always believed that and the Catholic Church was 'home'.
The final catalyst for moving forward was cancer. We caught it early but it was enough to shake everyone up....but I told my husband that I wanted to start the RCIA program and be confirmed. It threw him for a loop but after conferring with his Paster (from a seeker style Emegent Church) he was told "IF it brings her closer to Jesus, don't worry about it. My children were supportive and that Easter I was confirmed. I've been attending Mass alone for four years. I'm still learning and stumbling along but I am convinced that I did the right thing and that I am in the right place. I like to describe myself as a "Happy Catholic'.
So it was the internet of all things that brought me 'home to Rome..and I'm thankful for it and hope that others who use it for a resource make the same discoveries I did.
Last edited on Mon Sep 17th, 2007 12:11 pm by elfdream
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How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man's city? How do you expect to reach your own perfection by leading someone else's life?
Thomas Merton
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Sep 17th, 2007 02:26 pm |
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elfdream wrote: So it was the internet of all things that brought me 'home to Rome.
Welcome to the Coming Home Network. We're glad to have you here with us, and look forward to your participation. Hopefully you can help others find their way home as well.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1271 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 17th, 2007 02:40 pm |
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| Dear Elfdream, Thank you for sharing the beginning of your journey with us. You have reinforced what many here have found, that the one true church of Jesus Christ is the catholic church, and we only have to look at it with a sincere approach to learn that. I am somewhat familiar with BJU having lived here all my life. I know some good things about it, but also, as you say, some small-minded and prejudiced things about it too. I am very glad you were able to think for yourself, explore history, and come to the conclusion that led you to the Holy Eucharist! I look forward to hearing more from you. God bless
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elfdream
Member
| Joined: | Sun Sep 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| First Name: | Sharon | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Regular Baptist , Independant Baptist, Non denom to Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 17th, 2007 03:13 pm |
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| Thank you so much for the welcome! I look forward to spending time here.
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How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man's city? How do you expect to reach your own perfection by leading someone else's life?
Thomas Merton
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Lisa
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Kennerdell, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 41 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lifefime Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 03:29 am |
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Hi Sharon!
What an incredibly lovely story! Thank you so much for the UP-lift! I surely needed it today! We are all walking our paths and it is wonderful to walk that path hand in hand with friends! Thank you for sharing your story with us!
May God Bless you!
Lisa
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Don't be afraid to try something new! Professionals built the Titanic, and Amateur built the ARK!
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elfdream
Member
| Joined: | Sun Sep 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| First Name: | Sharon | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Regular Baptist , Independant Baptist, Non denom to Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 10:46 am |
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Thank you for the welcome and the compliment. I'm glad I was able to help make your day a little better.
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How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man's city? How do you expect to reach your own perfection by leading someone else's life?
Thomas Merton
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susiedear
Member
| Joined: | Thu Oct 12th, 2006 |
| Location: | Twin Cities, Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 186 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Pentecostal / Evangelical / Catholic! |
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 09:09 pm |
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From one Happy Catholic to another, Welcome, Sharon! I'm so glad that you have found this forum.
Elizabeth
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But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. St. Augustine
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