I'm very confused with how to approach this problem. Any suggestions?

Question

So I am pretty much a full-fledged Catholic. I've gone through all of the ceremonies: Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, etc. You know the deal.

At any rate, I really do not know what to think of the Catholic Church anymore. A lot of their policies just do not seem to integrate with what the Bible says, so I'm very wary about what to believe religion-wise anymore.

But that's not the issue.

The issue is that my sister had a Baby in August and in October asked me to be his Godfather. The Baptism is in March of next year. I'm a freshman in college and I'm trying to figure out how I should be feeling about a religious ceremony in a church that I'm shaky over now. But I do not want to disappoint my sister and my family either. It's not like I plan on leaving the church, I'm just not sure of where I stand with it.

I think I've basically been rambling this whole time, but I think you answerers may get the idea of what I'm trying to ask.

How would you feel in this situation?

Answer 1

I don't think you should question where you are with the church, but instead question where you are with God. THat is the important relationship. WHen you promise to be a Godparent you are promising to take care of your sister's child in time of need, and help raise him spiritually and help him find his relationship with God.(A relationship with God, is not synonymous to a relationship with a church)

I would talk to your sister and ask her what exactly she feels is the "godparent's role" in her son's life. Tell her you are having some reservations because of what the church is telling you, and what youfeel the Bible is telling you. She will understand. I don't think you will disappoint her as long as you are upfront about your feelings now. She chose you for a reason. She must trust you a great deal.

And, it's a good thing to question, this is how you grow as a person. Don't give up on God, he has a plan.

Answer 2

As a non Catholic I am not sure how good this advise will be but anyway here goes.

1) Your faith in Christ is what will save you not whether you are Catholic or protestant

2) In my church (Methodist) as a Godparent you promise to be responsible for the Spiritual upbringing of the child should the parents not be there. So - and remember your promise is to God not the Catholic Church - don't focus so much on the religious ceremony but on the promise that you are making to God - that this Child will be brought up as a Christian.

I pray that God will guide you during this time of uncertainty and will show you the way He wants you to go

God Bless

Answer 3

I personally believe that Catholicism is a christian cult. It's not the true faith. Whereas true christians believe in salvation by faith alone, Catholics believe in a kind of faith plus works contrary to Ephesians 2:8,9. That doesn't mean that there isn't true christians in the catholic church. But I really believe the true one's will soon be leaving the catholic church. If you know anything about bible prophecy, the bible speaks of a false church that it calls the 'whore of babylon' that will appear in the end times. Interestingly, this false church, which will be connected to the anti-christ and will have a false prophet(probably an end time pope who is a total heretic) will be centered in Rome, according to the bible. I don't believe any church could go into Rome and move the catholic church out. If we are in the time I think we are(the end times), which is what I believe, then that church must be the catholic church. I believe the catholic church will just water down it's doctrine and open it's arms wide(which is exactly what it is doing right now) and accept all religions under it's wings, for this end time church will be a one world religion.
in Revelations 18:4 God says " And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; The fact that God is calling people to leave that church and He calls those people "my people" tells me that there is true believers in that church that he is calling to come out. I believe the true believers in the catholic church will leave it soon. I used to know a woman who was a devout catholic and I believe she was a true believer in Christ and I used to tell her that I really believed that someday she would leave the catholic church. She used to tell me I was crazy. Try the Calvary Chapels, if there is one in your area. They stick to the word of God literally and teach it verse by verse. If there is no calvary chapel, find a church that teaches the word literally and verse by verse.

http://www.excatholicsforchrist.com/

Answer 4

Talk to your sister. Be honest with her, she might want you to be the godfather out of respect or honour, it might not be primarily religious. If she still wants you to be the godfather father after she knows your doubts and concerns, then agree to be the godfather.

If is looking more for someone to help her raise her child in the Church she will find someone else and you will just have to be a great uncle.

A friend of mine asked me to be his daughter's godfather. I am not religious be was raised catholic. I felt honoured, but had many of the same doubts you did. I told my friend how I felt (honoured and doubtful that I would do a good job) and asked him what he was looking for in a godfather. My friend and his wife were respectful.

I hope this helps you out a bit.

Answer 5

Your family desrves support from you and I think there is nothing wrong with being there on the religious ceremony.
However you are sought of between a rock and a hard place now because deep down inside of you there is a war going on. I once found myself in such kind of situation but the thing to do is to follow your convictions. I followed what the bible says as this is the standard that God gave us to follow and church comes second after God's word. I think its good if you can discuss this issue as a family and resolve it together. God bless

Answer 6

I am a Pastor in The Assemblies of God Church, my brother does not go to church, but his wife's family is Catholic. I am his Daughters Godfather. I disagree with a lot of what the Catholic church does.

Answer 7

Go be a godfather. You do not have to agree with the gory theological details to make a commitment as a supporter/surrogate parent/(pick a term) to your sister's kid. (Indeed, you could do that even if you had nothing to do with the Church at all.) So, keep your reservations to yourself, continue studying the situation, and you may eventually conclude, as I did, that the whole Catholic theological scene is hogwash.

Answer 8

For what it's worth I'd deal with the two issues independently.

Whether you want to be the kid's godfather and accept the responsibility that goes with it is the important issue.

Whether you want to attend a Catholic baptism is another issue. I would consider that to be a trivial formality.

Answer 9

Without plagiarizing the bible. I would suggest you think about your beliefs before you answer your sister. There is time for you to think. Let your sister know your feelings and talk with her about your wavering. The fact that she asked you about being the Godfather shows she both trusts and respects you.I don't doubt that she'll help you through this test of faith.

Answer 10

First you should pray and ask God for guidance.

Prov 3:5-6
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Then read your Bible. There is much knowledge to be found in your Bible. Finally, talk to your sister. This is a huge commitment. In all honesty, I don't think you should make a life-long commitment to her that you will raise her child in a church that you already have doubts about. If you are finding their teachings to be contrary to the Word of God, then He is telling you that there is something wrong there. Seek His face and He will guide you on the right path.