Should I move from an evangelical/fundemetalist background and convert to the Catholic Church.?

Question

I am seriosly thinking about it currently. I was raised catholic but was involved with evangelical churches for around 20 years.

I just find now that the more I read about church history, the more I pray about it and the more I hear about the catholic faith that it might be the right way for me.

I do believe protestants can be saved but the more I think, remember, reason the more I realise that that faith is limited and doesnt hold the full truth.

I am still unsure because I hold in high regard a number of leaders, Billy Graham, John Wimber, and I dont want to think those people were completly wrong. That would be silly.

Yet I logicaly can prove that the bible cannot be the only revelation of God and with many evangelicals believing only that I find it stupid. (If you step out of the group you do find the same).

Dont bother me with details about mary, purgetory etc, read www.catholic.com and you will see they are far cleverer than you.

Serious answers only!

As I said I have been evangelical for 20 years. I have a very stong understanding of the bible and used to be the one that could argue without equal about how the bible was the only source of truth.

Evangelicals have a very wrong view of Catholics and I am discovering in general that Catholics are a lot more "spiritual" and focused on Christ than I have seen in evangelical circles.

In many cases as someone mentioned the evangelical churches confuse Adrenelin with the holy spirit.

Please look at www.catholic.com before posting stupid comments. It just shows that evangelicals are closed minded because they are afraid that their faith is wrong.

Answer 1

Wow.
It's all about your relationship with Jesus.
If you can walk closer to Jesus by being a Catholic then awesome. As far as this "whole truth"; I find that GOD has that, and reveals it to us through the Holy Spirit. The church does not save us. Jesus finished work on the cross does. If you want to be Catholic then awesome! If you want the Catholic Church or the Evangelical Church to save you then I think you better re think your salvation.

Answer 2

If you feel that you will be closer to God by converting, then yes you should. I am currently studying the Catholic Church and its teachings, and may end up converting from the Baptist belief.

As a Protestant, I feel my faith stagnating. The Catholic faith is so rich and fruitful. I am finding more and more truths in the Catholic Church every time I study it. I would suggest reading 'Catholicism for Dummies' and 'Rome Sweet Home'. Those books will provide you many facts about the Catholic faith and scriptures that support Catholic traditions. I mainly read literature geared toward Catholic teenagers, because I consider myself to be a teenager in terms of my understandings of Catholicism; still young and impressionable. It helps make for an easy read and easy comprehension of their beliefs.

Answer 3

I think that only you can answer that question. I am not being disrespectful of your choice but putting something as important as your personal spirituality on a general discussion board is a bit odd as surely only you know whether the spiritual path you take is the correct one for you.

If you have thought about converting then have you discussed it clearly with a priest from the catholic church? He might be able to offer more clarity for you if there are issues that are troubling you concerning conversion.

At the end of the day our own sense of what is spiritually correct or not is what is important and if you feel that your needs would be better met in a different faith base then go for it. But you might also find that you are one of a growing number of people who are reluctant to confine their spiritually to one particular faith and choose to worship in a more broad based system of beliefs

Answer 4

Only you can decide to return to the Catholic Church.

But since you are already asking, I suggest that you keep on your journey until God leads you to wherever He is leading you.

Catholics do not say that Protestants are completely wrong. Many Protestant Christians are more devout than some Catholic Christians.

The Catholic Church teaches:

Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.

Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church.

All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 819: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819

May God bless you on your journey.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

I would attach myself to the Pentecostal denomination too and I'll agree that it's not perfect, nothing on this Earth is.

I'll also admit that if there's an anglican spokesperson and a catholic spokesperson being interviewed. More often than not I do agree with the catholic.

We all worship the same God and I think these denominations just devide us. I've been on marches (you'll know about marches of witness - did you go on Graham Kendrick's March For Jesus?) were evangelical pentecostals walk arm in arm with catholic brothers and sisters and it delighted me to see that.

However, you'll know about the warning at the end of Revelations, so I don't need to insult your intelligence by repeating it. I think that says it all.

Answer 6

The Bible is the measure by which we protect ourselves from heresies and false teachings. If a church or leader promotes things that cannot be back up by biblical teaching, then it is a false teaching.

What you really need to ask yourself is the fundamental question that separates catholics from evangelicals. Is the catholic church the true church because it follows a hierarchical practice from the first apostles, i.e. the papacy, bishops, etc. or are the protestant churches true churches because they deny the hierarchy and follow the message of Jesus and emphasize our personal relationship with Him?

Answer 7

You sound pretty intelligent and spiritual, so I'd say yes.

In my humble opinion, some protestant churches are for people who confuse God with adrenalin. They give people warm fuzzies, not true spirituality. It sounds to me like you are moving beyond the warm-fuzzy stage of your spiritual development.

There's a lot wrong with the Catholic church, but obviously I think it's the way to go for people who want to worship God in spirit and in truth on Sunday and not just be entertained.

Answer 8

Yes
Come home
All the others are derived from Catholicism and are Catholicism minus something
Everything I've looked for in Protestantism's almost uncountable divisions, I've found in Catholicism -and more.

If you don't have a Catechism of the Catholic Church get one because it puts so much of the Bible in perspective and shows how cohesive and blessed Catholicism in its fullness is

Answer 9

I think god is for everyone. You don't need any particular group to be a spiritual human being. What is religion anyway. It's a belief system most of which is based on mind coercion.which has resulted in the separation of human beings based on silly titles and teachings thrust upon you from the day you are born. We see it happening throughout the world today. You really don't need to be part of any group to be close to god.and you don't need to join an organisation to be a good person. |Don't forger the abuses which are covered up by religious groups who follow leaders with blind faith. Until these abuses are eradicated I would question joining all religious organisations bar any you find to be free of sin and allegations of abuse. You need to ask questions and find logical answers. Abusing children, suicide bombing and making millions cannot be construed as a miracle. It is organised crime really with an awful lot of silent victims.

Answer 10

A Christan is a person in the Christian bubble of delusion, and like with other bubbles of delusion they are the only ones who cant see how ridiculous (and in the case of Christians, repulsive - go to www.evilbible.com ) their beliefs are despite overwhelming evidence otherwise.

www.godisimaginary.com


God like to see people stoned to death and says that if you hit a slave and the get back up again then its alright because they are your property.

They are delusional, atheists are sane, come to their own conclusions, and when they do good deeds it is out of kindness instead of some sick need to get something back out of it when they die.



If you really read the bible then you will see evil things.