Are they closeminded? or am I just wrong? Christians only please (sorry it's long)?

Question

For some background I was raised in an Athiest home and was sexually abused a lot as a child. So I became very depressed and I developed an eating disorder, started cutting, and abusing drugs in my teens.
I became a Christian in college, so I started going to Baptist church with my friends but left a couple months later because I tried talking to people at church about getting help for my problems. I was told that Satan was the one telling me to do all of this and if I was relying on Jesus, then I wouldn't have these problems. That upset me because I was doing the best I knew how to do. So I started going to Catholic church and found a lot more acceptance and support for my problems. I got help and am no longer using drugs, but I’m still having problems with the cutting. My priest gave me a rosary to pray and I haven’t cut myself once since I got the rosary. I was excited about this so I told my Baptist friends about and they jumped all over it saying I was worshipping Mary

Am I just wrong? I thought they should be happy that I’m not cutting anymore. I want to do the right thing, but it makes me so sad when they say I'm a mary worshipper and a pagan

wow lots of answers, I didn't expect this many. Thanks for answering, most of you were very helpful. I don't think I can pick a best answer since there were so many, but I think I have a better understanding now of what I should do.

In case anyone is curious I am getting outside help. I see a non-religious therapist and was in a hospital for a little while after attempting suicide.

As far as the rosary goes, I think I will keep praying it. I've been trying to stop cutting for 3 years, this has been the only thing thats worked. Clearly it is a gift from God. I'd been praying to God since I became a Christian to help me find a way not to cut, do drugs, or have an eating disorder anymore. I think the rosary must have been the answered prayer.

To the couple of you that mocked me, I hope you feel better about yourselves. I'm sure it must be fun to make fun of people who are hurting

Answer 1

You're doing great!

Don't let people tell you you're doing bad when you are progressing- just ask the one question that matters:

Does God delight in you?

"God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him!"

Answer 2

There are some major fundamental differences between Baptist theology and the theology of the Holy See.

A secondary consequence of the theological differences between the two, is that the Catholic Church,being much more hierarchically structured, is better able to "inflict" the structure that helps addicts break their addiction, than the Baptist Church.

By giving you the rosary, the priest is inflicting a structure upon you, that will break your addictions. Over time, you'll find other consequences of doing the rosary.

From the Baptist perspective, you are worshipping Mary. From the Catholic perspective, you are asking for help to be worthy of entering the Kingdom of God. The theology of each position depends upon how one selects the books that are canonnical, and then interprets those books.

If the Baptists did have the resources to help you, when you asked, then they failed you, and are being close minded.
[ This applies regardless of whether or not they knew how to help you. Perhaps the degree of close-mindedness is increased, if they did not know how to help you.]

If they did not have the resources to help you, then they are seeing at the theological differences between the two organizations, ignoring the changes in you.

Answer 3

Do you believe in praying the rosary? Then pray it. Does it help you to go to a Catholic Church? Then attend a Catholic Church.

Do the Baptists criticize you? Then stay away from them. Do they say unreasonable things? Then don't listen to their rants.

It seems rather obvious from your post that you've already decided which religion is best for you. Consider this reply an affirmation of your doing the right thing. Forget all the theological discourse. If it helps you, then is God not at work?

Answer 4

You're not wrong. It's by no means acceptable for so called "friends" to criticize you for getting better. I don't know why so many Protestants are against Catholics. I don't consider myself a Christian, but There's a place in my heart for Catholics. Out of the Christians that I've met, the most tolerant and the most helpful were usually Catholics. Don't let what they say get to you. I don't understand why some Protestants don't appreciate the veneration that Catholics have for Mary. Worship is a voluntary act. You can't worship anyone or anything without your consent. To respect and venerate someone or something is different than worship. You should do whatever works for you.

Answer 5

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With "friends" like that, I'd be depressed too. If using a rosary is helping you stop a destructive behavior, then how can it be considered wrong. Most Baptists I know take the bible literally, and by those guidelines, a case can be made that using a rosary is akin to Mary worshipping. Since the basic tenant of Christian faith is accepting Jesus as your savior, if that is what you've done and then if using a rosary is helping you, then I seriously doubt Jesus would condemn you for it.

Answer 6

The most important question you will ask yourself is "who do you say that Jesus is?"
While I do not beleive in praying the rosary , praying to Mary or the saints (it is not Biblical) I do believe that every man, no matter how devoted he is to God has some type of idol. The same Christians judging you regarding praying to Mary are likely observing Easter , a pagan oriented holiday that still carries much of its pagan tradition. Many of these same Christians likely sit for hours in front of the television set, or a computer, many exalt men and seek to please men ahead of pleasing God.
I am so thankful that oyu have stopped cutting yourself and are no longer using drugs. God's healing power is amazing and the church you went to before should have been more proactive in giving you the help and the counsel you needed. Yes, Jesus is our healer and deliverer and we do need to learn to depend on Him, but telling you this without showing you and helping you out of habits developed is not healing or helpful.
I would urge you to pick up the Bible and pray and ask for discernment and understanding about praying the rosary, praying to Mary- it is one thing to revognize her obedience and give credit where credit is due, but Mary has not ascended into heaven or been raised from the dead yet and neither are the Catholic saints - all believers are saints according to God's word by the way- God warns us of speaking to the dead and the Bible says that Jesus alone, not Mary and not the saints , but Jesus is our only intercessor.
I would reccomend that when you feel like cutting or doing something destructive that you read scripture- pick out some healing verses, verses in Psalms that bring comfort and memorize them. Find someone that you can trust not to gossip or look down on you and ask them to be your accoutability person- call them when you are feeling low or hurting and ask them to pray with you and remind you of Godly counsel.
Though I do not agree with those who stand in judgement and condemnation over the rosary issue, I don't judge but I will tell the truth regarding it- just as I hope those that care about me will make me aware of any idols that I might unknowingly hold up in my life.
God Bless you

Answer 7

Catholics do not worship Mary. They have reverence for her. Definition of the word pray is to ask or petition. We pray to Mary to pray for us.
We believe all the saints in Heaven can pray for us. Actually, although some people have been officially designated as saints, the Church teaches that anyone in Heaven is a saint.
Your Baptist friend probably are sincere but they are wrong.
I am glad you are getting the grace to overcome your problem and if you slip and fall in trying to overcome it, DON'T GIVE UP. I am sure any addiction is hard to overcome. I hope everyone no matter what their religious faith is will pray for you.
God love you.

Answer 8

well do know that there are many denominations in christianity, and who's to say which one is the best? perhaps baptist doesnt suit you, what about pentecoastal churches? or methodist?

ive heard of people going around searching for the one that they're able to identify with the most, perhaps you ought to do that too. additionally, if praying with a rosary would help you take your mind off, have you tried praying with a cross and the Bible?

im not insulting the catholics, i dun know it well enough to do anything like that. im just saying, you could try things out and figure which is the best for you. pray over it ya.

Answer 9

You did not ask for ANY of this to happen to you. Unless people know what you have gone through and unless they are going to be compassionate they really should shut their mouths. My parents are catholic and they are very christian people. You were given poor counsel hon. Life happens and it is not always spiritual. No I have never been sexually abused but I have been abused in different ways and people should not try to medicate a problem with a POOR choice of words. You are not wrong and what do the baptist care? It is obvious that these people worhsip judging others than the true and living God Psalm 62:1-5. HugsooooooooooooooE4G

Answer 10

There is so much judgement in the church as a whole today-- and it really is sickening and not at all what Jesus tell us to be.
If you found your spiritual home as a Catholic, then that's where you need to be.
Ask your Baptist "friends" why they wouldn't help you when you needed it most, as Jesus commanded. All they did was spout "Christianisms" at you and now they are judging you. Ask them if they didn't happen to think that you are now exactly where God wants you. No man-made church (as they all are on this Earth) is going to be perfect, but you obviously found where you were meant to be.
Sweetie, you keep going to your newfound home.

Answer 11

You need to get the help you need WHEREVER you get it the best. I am a member of a full gospel church, but one of my closest friends is Catholic. She is a wonderful prayer warrior and I know if I need someone to stand with me in prayer she is someone I can go to. Keep in mind, it is not the "name" you call yourself....it is what is in your heart. Since I have a feeling you are reading scripture these days, look up Romans 10:9-10.............that's all you need to know, whether you go to a Catholic church or a Baptist church or wherever.

Good luck and congratulations on getting your life in order. You must be a very strong person to be able to get through the things you have. God Bless You.