Baptist or Catholic?

Question

My faith is in crisis. my family is catholic. my best friend and his family is Baptist. so i was curious about the Baptist church and i asked him if i could join him one day. i was never induced, in fact i was a pain in the neck insisting on going.

Ive already been to the Baptist church twice. today they let me accept Christ. my friend told me THAT doesnt mean ive switched religions knowing that being a baptist is in no way a religion.

im positive i havent done anything wrong. its just my faith is in crisis. if i talk to a priest he will just tell me to shut up and do as he says. the reverend wil tell me its ok. so i dont know. i mean, its the same God we're dealing with here right?

Answer 1

First I am not a Baptist and I'm not a Roman Catholic.

So I'm pretty neutral here.

It sure sounds like you've met God, face to face for the first time in your life. And that's a good thing.

It sounds like the message the Catholics never told you was being taught in that Baptist church.

And you should Praise God for that.

You've become a Christian for the first time in your life, not a Baptist!

Pastor Art

Answer 2

Well, if your particular priest has a "shut up and do what I say" attitude, try a different priests. They are all individuals, and some respond differently than others.

Yes, it's the same God we are dealing with! In the Catholic faith, your formal "I accept Christ" happened (or should have happened) at your confirmation. Perhaps you weren't really interested in what was going on when you received that Sacrament, or perhaps you didn't receive it at all. Either way, you should call a priest and ask about that, because that seems to be what you are looking for spiritually.

It sounds like you may not have a very good understanding of the Catholic faith. Baptists put things more simply and sort of limit the whole Christian experience to accepting Christ and not much else. Catholicism has a lot of systems/tools/assistance in growing in your faith and becoming more like Christ, which you may or may not be interested in.

BTW, the Baptist church does not LET people accept Christ. They are not in control of who is a Christian and who is not, though I admit, some branches of the Baptist denomination are convinced that if you aren't part of their group, you're destined for hell. It's fine if you want to learn more about Baptist theology -- there's nothing wrong with that at all! -- but you should also take the time to learn more about the faith you were raised in.

Answer 3

I'm sorry you are going through this. Today something WONDERFUL happened ... by 'accepting Christ' into your life, you are finally 'growing up' enough to realize that you MUST change and grow as a Christian your WHOLE LIFE. I'm sorry your priest is so 'old school' about this. Why don't you try calling or going to a few different Catholic churches to see what they have to offer you, and also a few Episcopalian churches. It's okay if you decide to stay in the Baptist church ... you will STILL be a Catholic. In fact, if you were 'born' a Baptist, and became a Catholic, you would still be a Baptist even after your confirmation into the Catholic church. Yes, it's the SAME GOD we are dealing with ... and GOD doesn't really CARE about your 'religion' ... God cares about YOU ... and as long as you are a good person who is trying to do the right things, then you're FINE. And if you aren't fine, then God has ALREADY FORGIVEN YOU and that is the BEST 'saftey net' there is.

Answer 4

whatever can be found in the Baptist Church, has never been lost in the Catholic Church.

Go to a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference.

Attend a Life in the Spirit Seminar.

Live a Cursillo in Christianity Weekend.

They are all there for you in the Catholic Church. You can accept the Lord Jesus as your "personal savior" to your heart's content, praise God, or speak in tongues. Whatever turns you on! Jesus said, seek and you will find. It is time to seek.. but seek first in the Catholic Church. Don't be afraid. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot find the Lord in the Catholic Church. Go to a Bible Study at your parish. Join a prayer group. Go to daily mass.

You are being called to shine the light for the rest of your Catholic Family, that their Catholic Faith will be renewed.

I think it is absurd that you say the Baptist Church, "let" you accept Christ. Are you not receiving communion? Are not living a Sacramental Life in the Church. That is Jesus.. that is accepting Jesus... that is the real deal, brother. Don't be dissuaded. I have been there and done that. The Holy Catholic Church is the Mother Church, the Body of Christ, the True Vine.

Answer 5

Accepting Christ into your heart is wonderful! Consider it a reconfirmation of the baptism you recieved as a baby. For the baptists and other denominations, it means you've accepted Him as an adult. It says to God that you love Him and still want His Holy Spirit with you, the same as what you recieved as a Catholic child. Your baptist friend is right in saying you have not switched religions. All of it is all about Christ... whether Catholic OR Baptist practices. (Also I think it is a beautiful thing you "accepted Christ"... you are worshipping God any time you humble yourself at His alter... whatever church you are in)!

Also, yes... it's the same God your dealing with there... although I cannot imagine a real priest telling you to shut up and just do what he says. I've known a couple of priests in my life and they aren't like that. They are kind and filled with the Holy Spirit. I've also known many, many pastors and reverends, trust me... they are people, just like priests are. If you are persuaded toward Baptist that is fine, but be prepared to meet with all kinds of different people and the trouble that can follow.

The main thing is to be connected to a church in which you can be spiritually safe and healthy. A church where you can grow spiritually and a church through which you are positioned to serve God in the best and the easiest ways for you.

You'll be in my prayers...

+PAX

Answer 6

You are correct. Your faith is in crisis. But the Catholic Church is the one true Chruch and is the keeper of the truths of God. So before you let her go, talk to your family and with a good and holy and merciful priest or spiritual director who can clarify things for you. Go for a good confession and say sorry for your sins. Explain to the priest about the crisis in your faith. Try to know more about the Catholic Church before you leave because you will be missing the Eucharist - the real Body and Blood of Christ and all the other wonderful graces found in the Catholic Church. You are on the right path. So you should be leading the people to the true Church and not the other way around. It is the same God. But Christ established His real church and it is safer to be on the true church than one that changed the rules for questionable reasons. God bless and Good luck. Ask Mary and God to help you in your present crisis. Ask God to enlighten your mind as to the right thing to do. Ask your guardian angel to lead you to the right path so that you can go to heaven someday.

Answer 7

Same God. Very different understanding. Very different system of worship.

As a Catholic, you accepted God the day you were baptized, and you personally affirmed that fact as a mature Christian, the day you made your Confirmation.

Furthermore, Catholics "accept" Jesus Christ in the most personal and intimate way possible, every time they receive holy communion ... and that typically begins around the age of 7 or 8 ... and it should continue forever.

By comparison, our baptist friends deny the necessity or power of the sacraments, and their communion will never be anything more than crackers and grape juice, so instead of experiencing Christ alive and glorious and "in the flesh" you'll only be able to read about him, in the scriptures.

The last guy to settle for a deal this lousy was Adam, but at least he had Eve and Satan to blame for it.

What's your excuse?

Answer 8

Pastor Billy says: if Catholicism is the whole Christian pie and the Baptist community is but a piece of it, why not have the whole pie???

Study your faith, it's origin, it's history. Learn about the saints their stories, their conversions how they accepted Jesus as Catholics. Learn about the origin of scripture, the bible, who compiled and when it was written.

I think you own to yourself and your family an explanation of Catholicism before you leave it's Oneness in Christ for something else.

Finally go ask a priest don't be afraid

Answer 9

Personally I don't think Baptists and Catholics are all that far apart. Both give you "something to do" for your salvation, Catholics giving you a relationship with Christ through the Church, and Baptists giving you that relationship through acceptance of Jesus as your "personal savior." Both look at your relationship as choice. Both look at your continued relationship with works that mark you out as faithful.

Both hold to the same basic Christian beliefs found in the Nicene, Apostle's, and Athanasian creeds; one just doesn't articulate them.

I wouldn't look at what you've done as being wrong. You've enriched your faith in Christ by visiting another church and showing your love for God. I believe the Lord looks at the heart, and these are the fruits of true faith. Worship in the way that shows your love for Him.

Answer 10

This one is quite easy, but sometimes you have to be able to step back from the situation and look at it fromthe outside.

My husband and his sister both accepted the Lord outside of the Catholic church. Theywere both raised in the catholic church and had never been told of their current sinful state and that they MUST accept this fact and ask forgiveness and start living for Jesus instead of self.

My husband left the Catholic Church as he studied and learned more and more. My sister in law stayed in theCatholic Church. She did not go on to study and grow after this life altering event.

Now, according to the bible, I would say they reacted quite the same as other people in the bible. I will use Abraham and Lot for this example, NOT their lives, but how they reacted to God and his word.

Abraham stayed close to God and learned more and more and grew closer and closer to God with every passing year.

Lot chose to go live amongst sinful people and did not study, nor grow, yet remained true to God. God counted both men righteous and that matters a great deal.

THere are mature and immature Christians, but belief in Jesus Christ and the knowledge of why we believe in him is what matters. The rest is all detail and fruit.

Answer 11

Talk to your priest
Go to a Catholic Charismatic prayermeeting
Get the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read it.
Most of what you find attractive in the Baptist Church (you did not say which type of Baptist denomination) can be found in the Catholic Church