 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 06:22 pm |
|
Dear Kim,
With such a naughty girl  , even the Blessed Mother may need more than two hands. I imagine with her fourth hand she is directing you to go stand in the corner for ten minutes!!!
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 06:38 pm |
|
Intercessor wrote: Dear Kim,
With such a naughty girl , even the Blessed Mother may need more than two hands. I imagine with her fourth hand she is directing you to go stand in the corner for ten minutes!!!
Uh-oh! I'm not even Catholic yet and I'm getting into all kinds trouble. Do you think they'll kick me out when they find out about me??
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 06:47 pm |
|
Well, when you leave the spiritual limbo we've been discussing and enter the beautiful world of Catholicism, you will see that Mother Church knows what to do with troublemakers. 
Why, even here on this forum there is a mod just waiting to lock this thread if we don't get it back on track.
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 06:51 pm |
|
Intercessor wrote: Well, when you leave the spiritual limbo we've been discussing and enter the beautiful world of Catholicism, you will see that Mother Church knows what to do with troublemakers.
Why, even here on this forum there is a mod just waiting to lock this thread if we don't get it back on track.
Oh no! Forum limbo! I'll behave!
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 251 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 07:26 pm |
|
Kim M. wrote: Annie said: That's because Mary was standing next to you patting your hand and telling you, "everything is going to be all right, Sweetie."
Becky said: "As David Emery said recently to Mark, the Blessed Mother has one hand on your shoulder and with the other she is pointing the way for you."
Okay, was she patting my hand or touching my shoulder?
Mary is allowed to move around, you know! 
I struggled with the Rosary for a long time, then when my illness first struck hard, it was my constant companion -- especially through MRIs and spinal taps and countless other "fun" tests! Even if I couldn't have the physical rosary in my hands, I could count on my fingers!
Now I often imagine as I pray the Rosary that Mary is seated and I am on the floor next to her with my head in her lap. She comforts us as our Mother and leads us always to her Son, Jesus.
As we pray the Mysteries of the Rosary, we are led deeper and deeper into the Gospel. They are called "mysteries" because we can really never comtemplate the depth of them -- there's always something new to consider and meditate upon!
I love the Rosary!
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 08:51 pm |
|
That was beautiful, Didi. Thanks for sharing. 
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
DaQuodJubes
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 31st, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 16 |
| First Name: | Dan | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Former Lutheran |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 09:27 pm |
|
Kim,
I really admire your concern for doctrine and how thoroughly you want to investigate everything. When I served as a Lutheran pastor, I had a lot of adult converts. Most of them became Lutheran because they liked the congregation, or the preaching, or the liturgy, or even location. I can't think of anyone who actually studied the teachings first, and for the most part, people seemed pretty ambivelent to what was taught in the new member classes. Even among cradle Lutherans, it was hard to find people who really cared about theology. I'm sure this the case with many Catholics, as well, who know the basics, but leave the details for others.
My move into catholicism was pretty quick. I was already in agreement with 90% of what the Church teaches, and for me, I had already come to the realization that Lutheranism left much to be desired. For me, once I realized that I wasn't a Lutheran anymore, I was only looking for 3 things. The Liturgy, The Biblical Teaching on the Eucharist (which left out everything but Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and perhaps Anglicans), and the right understanding on Justification, which left out all protestants, and the Eastern Orthodox. So you can say that I became Catholic because there were no alternatives. The other issues were not big ones for me, but I have in the process accepted all the teachings of Rome as my own. But there are a number of things that I want to continue studying in order to understand why something is so, what difference it makes, how it shapes our liturgical and prayer lives, and so on.
At the same time, I think that studying the teachings of the Church is a life-long pursuit. There are a lot of stones on the path of this journey, but if we stop to examine each and every stone, we'll never get where we are going. I don't mean to say that anything is unimportant. I don't think, for instance, that one really has to fully understand nominalism or realism, or be able to understand the difference between Nestorius and Eutyches, etc. etc. I think that a book like Bouyer's Spirit and Forms of Protestantism is going to go too deep for most people on this journey.
And while theological investigation is virtuous because loving God means loving those things He reveals to us, I think that it is possible that one can use it as an excuse. To use the analogy of the path, it is possible that the reason we spend so much time examining the stones is because of apprehension about stepping forward. I don't know if that is you, or not. But it is something to watch out for, in my opinion.
____________________
http://www.beatvsvir.blogspot.com
God in His omnipotence could not give more,
in His wisdom He knew not how to give more,
in His riches He had not more to give,
than the Eucharist. - St. Augustine
|
|
|
Truthseeker
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 457 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 10:07 pm |
|
Kim M. wrote: CajunRick wrote: Kim M. wrote:
Joining the Catholic Church is no small thing. I must be ready to accept and agree with all of its teachings to join. I'm not there yet. Not even close.
Granted, for me, I was returning to the RCC. At the time, I was afraid it would make me go to hell and I would bring my kids to hell with me. but, I HAD to find where the truth was. You mention needing to agree with everything, and I understand that, but, if you have determined that Christ established this Catholic church, then you should follow Him here whether you have accepted all the teachings or not, because you need to follow Christ. And, if you do believe the RCC is His church, you will come to accept the teachings, because you will learn to trust the church that Christ built.
I know it's hard. I came first and learned (and accepted) later. At my first confession, I even confessed that I was a heretic, because I didn't even believe in confession, was just doing it because Christ's church told me to. And now, a few years later, I am willing to accept all teachings, because I trust Jesus and His church that He put here to guide me.
Hope that helps.
Love, Laura
____________________
Lord, please make my will your Will!
|
|
|
Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 2227 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 10:25 pm |
|
| Anyone going through the limbo of the conversion process should read Chesterton's volume, The Catholic Church and Conversion (I linked to the online version). It's a short book. You'll love it and be able to relate to so much from your own personal experience.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2100+ papers & web pages (free) & 17 apologetic books (4 sale: 15 E-Books: $25)
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 11:09 pm |
|
Dan, I'm trusting that God will reveal to me what *I* need to know to continue going forward. In this world full of half truths it's very easy to give in and not question. Everyone seems to think they have "the truth". I will be held responsible before God for what I believe and do. So I think it's important to be at peace inside about what I believe. I could never be a Mormon or a JW because there is too much wrong with those systems of belief. Both claim to be "the true church". Obviously, they are not. The Catholic Church also claims this. I think they have a lot more proof to stand on.
One reason I'm reading the Bouyer book is to get a fair assessment of Protestantism from someone who has delved into it and has found it wanting. I want to find out why he found it wanting. It is said that nominalism has influenced much of Protestantism through Martin Luther. I want to understand why and how. I want to see how it's influenced me so I can change, if need be. We're all a product of our culture and the past that influenced it. You can't swim in water and not get wet. Protestantism has colored my thinking for the last 18 years of my life. Much has colored Protestantism. That's a lot of influencing!
I felt perfectly content for a long time as a Protestant because what I read in Scripture and what I saw being done in my churches seemed to line up for the most part with what I thought Scripture said. But I became disenchanted with Protestantism when I really looked hard at all the different beliefs espoused by the many different Christians I was encountering online. I began to wonder how anyone could be right when there were so many different interpretations. Then I was presented with the belief that the doctrine of sola Scriptura was possibly not correct. It shocked me to think that anyone would not use only Scripture as their instructor (along with the Holy Spirit's enlightenment). Once I began pondering and researching that thought, it opened up a whole new world to me. I discovered the early church fathers and the Catholic Church's history, and I felt a surge of hope rise within me that this re-inventing of the wheel mentality was no longer necessary.
But the Catholic Church hasn't made it easy for me! There are many doctrinal issues I am tripping over in this new path. But I am trusting that God is holding my hand and will walk me through.
To become Catholic is to buy into some very unusual beliefs (speaking here as a Protestant) not clearly represented in Scripture or in my familiar world of Protestantism. It's like visiting a foreign land with a whole new language and new customs, yet some things seem familiar. The one thing that is sustaining me in my journey is that of what I see in the early church fathers and the fact that Catholicism is the historic church with apostolic succession. I believe it testifies to what Christ said about protecting His church.
So while I'm studying quite a bit, I know there will be things I will never resolve. But I will need to come to a place of peace about them, and only God can bring me there. I trust that He will if this is where He is leading me. And it certainly seems to be so.
This will not be a hurried journey, but I hope it's not too long.
Last edited on Thu Mar 6th, 2008 11:10 pm by Kim M.
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 251 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 12:36 am |
|
Kim M. wrote: So while I'm studying quite a bit, I know there will be things I will never resolve.
Don't be so sure! I struggled with a lot of things, too, as I began studying the faith. Especially things, to me, that seemed so old fashioned or that I never really had exposure to growing up. Even though I'm a cradle Catholic, my mother is a convert and didn't convert until long after all four kids were born, so we really didn't grow up with a lot of Catholic customs or teachings.
God has worked on my heart and I've had so many "aha!" moments along the way (as I'm sure I will continue to). Then once God opens our hearts to a deeper understanding, we look back and think "Why did I have a problem with that??!!"
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 02:47 am |
|
Didi wrote: Kim M. wrote: So while I'm studying quite a bit, I know there will be things I will never resolve.
God has worked on my heart and I've had so many "aha!" moments along the way (as I'm sure I will continue to). Then once God opens our hearts to a deeper understanding, we look back and think "Why did I have a problem with that??!!"
That's a comfort, Didi. Thanks! I would like to have everything resolved. I've just heard so many newer Catholics saying that they couldn't resolve some things. Perhaps I got a peek into their journeys a little too soon and God has some future "aha's" for them.  That would be wonderful!
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 02:49 am |
|
Dave Armstrong wrote: Anyone going through the limbo of the conversion process should read Chesterton's volume, The Catholic Church and Conversion (I linked to the online version). It's a short book. You'll love it and be able to relate to so much from your own personal experience.
Thanks for the tip, Dave. You are a fount of wisdom and knowledge!
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
MichaelStEdmund
Member
| Joined: | Fri Dec 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 95 |
| First Name: | Michael | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Convert from pentacostal/charismatic/holiness background |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 03:46 pm |
|
Kim M. wrote:
<snip>
But the Catholic Church hasn't made it easy for me! There are many doctrinal issues I am tripping over in this new path. But I am trusting that God is holding my hand and will walk me through.
To become Catholic is to buy into some very unusual beliefs (speaking here as a Protestant) not clearly represented in Scripture or in my familiar world of Protestantism. It's like visiting a foreign land with a whole new language and new customs, yet some things seem familiar. The one thing that is sustaining me in my journey is that of what I see in the early church fathers and the fact that Catholicism is the historic church with apostolic succession. I believe it testifies to what Christ said about protecting His church.
<snip>
It's certainly not an easy transition. I remember telling people - even after I'd come into the Church - that there was still a world of difference between my cradle Catholic wife and myself. She swam the Catholic ocean like a fish. I was still clumsily bumping around in my scuba gear, waiting for my gills to finish sprouting.
____________________
"Faith seeking understanding" - St. Anselm of Canterbury.
|
|
|
Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 415 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 04:52 pm |
|
MichaelStEdmund wrote: It's certainly not an easy transition. I remember telling people - even after I'd come into the Church - that there was still a world of difference between my cradle Catholic wife and myself. She swam the Catholic ocean like a fish. I was still clumsily bumping around in my scuba gear, waiting for my gills to finish sprouting.
lol Michael, that is a very funny analogy!
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
|
|
|
Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 2227 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 08:09 pm |
|
| Yes; excellent, apt, and funny analogy indeed. I find this to be especially true of various liturgial and devotional aspects and things like confession, where cradle Catholics are so much more advanced, having lived these things their whole lives, with us converts being "late starters" and often bumbling fools before we catch on.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2100+ papers & web pages (free) & 17 apologetic books (4 sale: 15 E-Books: $25)
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
|
|
|
abbycat
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 17th, 2008 |
| Location: | Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 189 |
| First Name: | abby | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Non-Denomational Charismatic, Lutheran |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 03:20 pm |
|
Hi Kim ... I thought I'd step out here and respond to your question. I feel for you, Kim ... truly, I do. That is right where I seem to find myself right now. I am a 63 year old woman, divorced 2 years ago after a 40 year marriage. I have 3 adult children, thankfully all solidly grounded Christians. I have always been in an Evangelical/Charismatic church, up until about 6 years ago when I became part of an Evangelical Lutheran Church. A friend recommended it, and after I had gone for awhile, I was very drawn to the wonderful rich liturgy and reverence. Well, now it seems that my particular church is focusing less and less on the internal spiritual world of people and more and more on the "out there" .... the evangelization of the larger world. There is nothing wrong with this at all, but there must be a balance. I firmly believe there can be a balance between our spiritual journey and our outreach to the rest of humanity. Sadly, my church seems to be losing sight of the necessary, contemplative, life. So, as with you .... even though our situations are different ... we are both in a form of "limbo" I suppose .... I never thought I would find myself in this place in my journey. There are many things about the RC Church which I find very appealing ... the rich tradition, the history, the reverence, and the appreciation for the Eucharist. But, there are many things which do not speak to me and which I find to be stumbling blocks. So, here I am ... I am reading, and have been for a year or more, many fine books by solid Catholic writers, but I do long for a place to really "be" .... a place where I can feel totally on board. Alas, right now at least, it does not seem to be that way. About a year ago, I felt as if I was in what St. John of the Cross would call the "Dark Night of the Soul." I do not feel I am in that place any longer, but perhaps I am wrong. Take care and God's blessings upon you.
abby
____________________
<*)))><
|
|
|
Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 04:00 pm |
|
After I had read the catechism and written to my local priest about joining the Church, I mentioned that I realized that understanding the teachings of the Church would be a lifelong pursuit and the things I might not agree with (which I couldn't find any actually) I would have to trust that the Church had it figured out after 2000 years. That's what they pay those men in red suits for in Rome, to figure out things. I noticed that the Church had an internally consistent theology since they had not jettisoned anything over the years as the Protestants had. That was enough for me.
The final stage in this process is learning obedience. Once you understand you have to be obedient above all things you are good to go.
The being in-between part was bad. I couldn't go back to being a Protestant because I understood the nature of the Eucharist and other sacraments. But I couldn't yet join the Church because of bureaucratic bungling. So I kept visiting the cathedral every Friday afternoon and attending Mass and praying that God would let me into his Church somehow.
Pax,
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
|
|
|
BD
Member
| Joined: | Wed Mar 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Brett | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Non-denominational evangelical, Mennonite (Anabaptist), now Evangelical-Anabapti-catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 06:08 pm |
|
Kim, I resonate deeply with your story. I suppose you could call me a current Protestant in spiritual limbo.
Here's how I deal: I pray a lot. I suffer in body and spirit as I wrestle. I feel afraid.
I too have experienced God's "not yet" as I engage in a teaching ministry to my church. But that "not yet" might well be over.
One thing from within my own tradition has been really challenging me to make a decision soon. In my Mennonite theological tradition the early Anabaptist reformers emphasized the Christian life as one of Gelassenheit (in the original German), that is, yieldedness. For them it meant being yielded unto a martyr's death at the hands of other Protestant officials as well as the Catholic Church (a sad moment in our history for so many reasons). It meant being yielded to the church's correction and admonition. It meant being yielded to the call of God. For me, I have been challenged to be yielded to the Magisterium in my discernment about the rightness of Catholic doctrine. As a theologian, I honor deep thinking and critical study. Such efforts have brought me far along in the attempt to understand and believe Catholic teaching. But recently I've had to give over to God and His Church my last minor quibbles over doctrine. Yield and trust, God says to me. I trust that my unresolved questions will make sense once I am on the inside of Catholic life and practice, because ultimately that is only where it will make sense. Faith seeking understanding.
I can't help but reflect on the conversion of Augustine who struggled with the apparent lowly form and content of the Scripture as compared to the rhetorical elegance and gravitas offered in the writings of someone like Cicero. But it was only upon humbling himself by breaking his stiff-neckedness and kneeling to the "low" Scripture that he could then see that it opens up to an endless expanse of Truth and Beauty. He came to this point because he heard the humble sing-song words of a child calling him to "take and read" the Holy book, not the pith and power of academic argument. He was yielded. He clothed himself in Christ and thank God he did.
For me (and this may NOT be the case for you, I want to be clear about that!), I am confronted with the issue of demanding intellectual honesty and due diligence in discovering answers, yet also am challenged to be yielded to the teaching office of the Church that (I think!?) Jesus founded, which means I must check my pride at the door. My "intellectual honesty" has a tendency to be a code for stubborn pride. And as CS Lewis notes in Mere Christianity, that is the "great sin."
Thanks for starting this thread. It has been helpful for me.
____________________
Non abbiate paura!
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:16 pm |
|
abbycat wrote:
There are many things about the RC Church which I find very appealing ... the rich tradition, the history, the reverence, and the appreciation for the Eucharist. But, there are many things which do not speak to me and which I find to be stumbling blocks. So, here I am ... I am reading, and have been for a year or more, many fine books by solid Catholic writers, but I do long for a place to really "be" .... a place where I can feel totally on board.
Abby, you've been through a great deal of suffering recently. God uses suffering to soften our hearts and to remove film from our eyes.
It might help you to make a subtle but critical shift in your approach to this exploration. I found progress on the journey was so much easier once I shifted from
Do I agree with this? Do I agree with that?
to
Is the Holy Spirit telling me to embrace the Catholic Church as Christ's one true Church? If so, I must dutifully and obediently submit to His leadership. After obedience and submission, then I continue to learn what I am to believe as a member of Christ's one true Church.
As Henry explained elsewhere, it doesn't matter even if certain practices/beliefs (experienced as stumbling blocks) produce nausea or revulsion. Our revulsion has nothing to do with whether the practice or belief is true or worthy. It speaks rather to our personal history and conditioning or perhaps to a lack of understanding.
You are in my prayers, Abby.
BeckyLast edited on Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:19 pm by Intercessor
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:27 pm |
|
Annie wrote:
The being in-between part was bad. I couldn't go back to being a Protestant because I understood the nature of the Eucharist and other sacraments. But I couldn't yet join the Church because of bureaucratic bungling. So I kept visiting the cathedral every Friday afternoon and attending Mass and praying that God would let me into his Church somehow.
Annie, one is sometimes tempted to think that the greatest mystery of all is the mystery of how difficult it can be to get into the Catholic Church.
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:36 pm |
|
What a marvelous post, Brett!
Your seven words below pretty much cover what we must do.
BD wrote:
Yield and trust, God says to me.
God bless,
Becky
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
|
|
|
Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:36 pm |
|
BD wrote: One thing from within my own tradition has been really challenging me to make a decision soon. In my Mennonite theological tradition the early Anabaptist reformers emphasized the Christian life as one of Gelassenheit (in the original German), that is, yieldedness. For them it meant being yielded unto a martyr's death at the hands of other Protestant officials as well as the Catholic Church (a sad moment in our history for so many reasons). It meant being yielded to the church's correction and admonition. It meant being yielded to the call of God. For me, I have been challenged to be yielded to the Magisterium in my discernment about the rightness of Catholic doctrine. As a theologian, I honor deep thinking and critical study. Such efforts have brought me far along in the attempt to understand and believe Catholic teaching. But recently I've had to give over to God and His Church my last minor quibbles over doctrine. Yield and trust, God says to me. I trust that my unresolved questions will make sense once I am on the inside of Catholic life and practice, because ultimately that is only where it will make sense. Faith seeking understanding.
...
For me (and this may NOT be the case for you, I want to be clear about that!), I am confronted with the issue of demanding intellectual honesty and due diligence in discovering answers, yet also am challenged to be yielded to the teaching office of the Church that (I think!?) Jesus founded, which means I must check my pride at the door. My "intellectual honesty" has a tendency to be a code for stubborn pride. And as CS Lewis notes in Mere Christianity, that is the "great sin."
Thanks for starting this thread. It has been helpful for me.
Oh, this is me, to a T. The Church doesn't want us to go around with our brains unplugged. However, She wants us to understand that we needn't go reinventing the wheel all the time. That was what being a | | |
