pastor now knows of my desire to convert

i am so unbelievably hurt right now i just cannot even begin to express it. i knew going into this conversation htat my old pastor was going to be highly upset with me and my decision to convert but i guess maybe i was expecting a little more compassion from a fellow brother. i could not have been MORE wrong.....

1st let me say that in NO WAY did he sway me from my decision, if anything he just confirmed it all the more.

he told me that the devil has blinded me to the truth, that the devil has a hold of my soul, that if i raise my children as Catholics that i will have to stand in judgement before God and explain to him why i condemned those poor little souls to hell, that i obviously haven't speant enough time in the word to have reached such a decision...and it goes on and on. i have been on the phone with him for over an hour trying to defend myself adn what i hold so dear to me adn trying to explain the misconceptions he has; the very misconceptions i once had as well.

i swear i could almost hear the man write my name on the prayer request list so he could pray for my eternal soul. he made me feel like the biggest idiot and the most worthless person that ever lived.

i told him i felt sorry for him if he believed most of what came out of his mouth because it was so untrue and that catholics do not believe half of what he accused me of. he kept asking me to show him where in the Bible does it say this and that? and because i was trying to get my kid dressed to play in the snow and was a little slow with my comments he said "see, you can't show me because it's not there is it?"

he said it was total bull that Christ built his church on Peter and that it's absolutely insane to confess to priests and that Mary in no way can be an intercessor and BLAH BLAH BLAH flippin BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!! i am so unbelievably angry right now.

he said he was going to send me some books that teach against Catholicism and since i seem to be so open to reading so much and studying would i read that? i said "well if it teaches against Catholicism why would i read it since they are the Church that Jesus Himself said the gates of hell would not prevail against" or however that goes (gotta forgive me i am ANGRY). well, he's going to send them anyway and whatever......... he said i needed to get back in church where i could actually hear the word of God adn i said i had been going to Mass thank you very much adn i hear the word of God just fine there. to which i get a bunch of garbage about how unbiblical any adn all Catholic teachings are.

there was a lot of awkward silent moments because i was really trying hard not to say somehting unChristian to a man i used to respect so much. what really got me though was when he said obviously i had the devil in my soul for me to be so blinded by such an obvious "religion of the devil". RAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he kept telling me to come back to his church where i was already a member so i could resave my soul. when i wouldn't answer he said "are you going to come back?" i said "i can't answer that no, because i'm happy and at peace where i am and i'm not comfortable at your church anymore" to which he said, "the devil is making you uncomfortable"

there is no way i would ever grace that church with my prescence EVER again after the abuse i just took from him. i cannot believe this a professed "man of God" to have spoken to me in the manner that he did.

i know i know i will hear 'pray for him kim, he just doesn't understand' which let me tell you, right now i REALLY don't want to hear that. i know it's the truth but i'm hurt.

oh oh then he went so far as to say that if he could adopt my kids so he could raise them correctly in the faith he surely would. i thought i was gonna blow my head right off my shoulders!!!!!!!!!!!!

/me takes a deep breath and crosses herself.

i don't know what else to say. thereselittleflower, if you happen across this, i know you had said somewhere in here that you weren't looking forward to the talk with you old pastor either. (i think i have the right person-do i? maybe it's suzannah-man i can't think) but anyway to whoever...i'll keep you in my prays and pray that yours is more understanding than mine was.....

__________________

I want his name and number.... seriously...

__________________

Oh Kimber, I'm sorry that you had to go through this verbal beating.

There's a great book called "Where is That in the Bible?" by Patrick Madrid. It's an awesome book, and it will help you to better answer questions from people outside Catholicism.

__________________

Kim you have my prayers. This is obviously more of the anti-Catholic vitriol that has been spewed about the ages. It's the same reason as prejudices. It's just something that is in-born in some people. They get it in their minds that Catholics are evil from something someone in their past has told them. Stand fast. Keep your faith. Follow your beliefs!

__________________
O first-enthroned of the Apostles,
Teachers of the Universe:
Entreat the Master of all
To grant peace to the world,
And great mercy to our souls!

Wow.

I am blown away by that, but not surprised. My advice is to love him anyway. Remember the words of Jesus, that you would be hated and reviled for following Him. Unite this pain to the Lord's Passion. You are participating in it. Rejoice. This will push you further and further into Christ's arms for refuge. Unite your pain to the Passion of Christ, offer it up to the Lord for this man's conversion of heart. Maybe pass along some of the literature you've read on the Catholic Faith... ask him to refute it. Ask him to prove it wrong.

You may win a soul for Christ. I cannot understand how someone who is "in Christ" can have such rabid hatred within them. I will pray for him.

__________________
"Hear and let it penetrate your heart my dear little one: let nothing discourage you, let nothing alter your heart or countenance. Also do not fear any illness or trouble, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?"

oh i'm sorry i forgot the biggie that i almost lost it on... when he asked if i would read some stuff he wanted to send me i said at first "well, as long as it isn't anything to do with Jack Chick" to which he said " oh the Chick tracts? they're awesome? why wouldn't oyu want to read those?"

i told him it didn't matter what denomination i was that i found them highly offensive and not to BOTHER sending me any of that. RAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________

It might help to call Father (Steve, right) and talk with him about it.

__________________

Hmm.

So, this God he's talking about... This God apparently condemns children Hell if their parents make an honest mistake, even if they raise their children to follow Jesus. Can you feel the love?



I can't imagine how awful this must be. This is a guy who's supposed to lead people towards God, and you're trying to get closer to God, and he's attacking you for it. How's this supposed to lead you closer to God? I mean, even if being in your previous church would be better, how are his actions going to bring that about? How is he reflecting Christ?

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I don't know what to say; I'm actually sort of stunned. I mean, I came to this post expecting to see that he'd been a little rude, not that he'd gone for the throat. And really, it isn't a good thing that I expected him to be rude; shouldn't my expectations of pastors be a little higher than that?

__________________
Save me / And when you see me strut / Remind me of what left this outlaw torn
I follow Christ; therefore I am
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
. I affirm the Nicene Creed.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:38-39

Kim,

Maybe alot of his discompassion was due to conviction. Admittedly, most of it is due to ignorance, but many people, before they realize the truth about the Faith, behave in the same manner you just described your pastor behaving.

I'll pray for him. And for you. God bless you and remember Jesus said people would act this way because of who He is and who we are in Him.

Love,

Michelle

__________________
Sometimes I wonder if I am patriotic enough. Yes, I want to kill people, but on both sides. --Jack Handey