Feeling Torn...

[Jenka]

Hello again all,

I suppose I should start as to why I'm feeling torn. As some of you may know I grew up as a non-practising Catholic.
When I got serious about my faith I left Catholicism and moved to Protestantism.
I have been there ever since..however every so often I feel this tug back towards the Catholic church. There are parts of it I miss, and it seems, that the protestant churches cannot fill.
It seems easy to say: "well just go back to the Catholic church." but my family, though I feel they would...support me, I don't think would agree.

Also a lot of my friends are Protestant and can be..well..rather hash when looking at the Catholic faith. I know my converting back would raise a few eyebrows and I would be going alone. (knowing no one in the Catholic community)

It's very daunting, and well...I'm confused.
Do I stay where I have been for years (mostly Baptist) or do I go back to the Catholic church and risk losing people?

It's really tough, and I don't know what to do.

~Jenka

 

[twosid]

Also a lot of my friends are Protestant and can be..well..rather hash when looking at the Catholic faith. I know my converting back would raise a few eyebrows and I would be going alone. (knowing no one in the Catholic community)

It's very daunting, and well...I'm confused.
Do I stay where I have been for years (mostly Baptist) or do I go back to the Catholic church and risk losing people?

It's really tough, and I don't know what to do.

~Jenka

They look at the Catholic faith harshly because they are ignorant of what Catholics believe and practice.

I'd put God before your friends and find out who your friends really are.

 

[Dream]

Go to whichever Church you believe that Jesus Christ established here on earth.

 

[AMDG]

You know that God comes first. Pray for wisdom and courage. If your decision is to rejoin the Catholic Church (the Church Jesus founded) you'll probably be wanting to do some major studying to be absolutely sure. Just don't be surprised if God decides to have your family want to join you. Nothing is impossible for God, just don't get in His way.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Hello again all,

I suppose I should start as to why I'm feeling torn. As some of you may know I grew up as a non-practising Catholic.
When I got serious about my faith I left Catholicism and moved to Protestantism.
I have been there ever since..however every so often I feel this tug back towards the Catholic church. There are parts of it I miss, and it seems, that the protestant churches cannot fill.
It seems easy to say: "well just go back to the Catholic church." but my family, though I feel they would...support me, I don't think would agree.

Also a lot of my friends are Protestant and can be..well..rather hash when looking at the Catholic faith. I know my converting back would raise a few eyebrows and I would be going alone. (knowing no one in the Catholic community)

It's very daunting, and well...I'm confused.
Do I stay where I have been for years (mostly Baptist) or do I go back to the Catholic church and risk losing people?

It's really tough, and I don't know what to do.

~Jenka

It seems we should go the way the Spirit tugs ~ pulls and pushes us.

My brother left the Church many years ago...
He went to a protestant church for a few years.
Felt that he ached for the Eucharist...and he obeyed the pulling from the Spirit and returned to the Catholic Church.

He converted his friends with him, those who would listen to why he reverted.
As for the others...he made a choice to obey the Lord, & not what others wanted for him.

God Bless you and bring you much peace.

 

[HisKid1973]

You go where you feel the Lord is calling you and let you light shine..When we get to the judgment seat of Christ, we won't be there because we belonged to the right church. We will get there because of our faith in Christ Jesus for our salvation. Tell them it is the same Jesus that provides salvation to the baptists, provides it to the catholics..Remember wheat and tares are growing together at all the churches. You just live your life maturing in the Spirit that they cannot deny you have Christ living in you..shalom..kim

 

[isshinwhat]

These words gave me comfort years ago:

If I am not seen again in the old places,
on the village ground,
say of me, "lost to men."
Say I am adventure bound, for love's sake.
Lost on purpose to be found."

--St. John of the Cross

Welcome to losing yourself. You are in good company.

 

[Proeliator]

Hello again all,

I suppose I should start as to why I'm feeling torn. As some of you may know I grew up as a non-practising Catholic.
When I got serious about my faith I left Catholicism and moved to Protestantism.
I have been there ever since..however every so often I feel this tug back towards the Catholic church. There are parts of it I miss, and it seems, that the protestant churches cannot fill.
It seems easy to say: "well just go back to the Catholic church." but my family, though I feel they would...support me, I don't think would agree.

Also a lot of my friends are Protestant and can be..well..rather hash when looking at the Catholic faith. I know my converting back would raise a few eyebrows and I would be going alone. (knowing no one in the Catholic community)

It's very daunting, and well...I'm confused.
Do I stay where I have been for years (mostly Baptist) or do I go back to the Catholic church and risk losing people?

It's really tough, and I don't know what to do.

~Jenka

Personally, I called this taking the scenic route back to the Church. I too was away from God for a while, and came back through the Protestant church. Why, not too many months ago I was a rabid Calvinist on these forums! I too felt that some tug, and lost friends because I responded to it. But much greater is the satisfaction of answering the Call of God, than denying Him, for an earthly friendship.

 

[Jenka]

Thank you all for being so encouraging.
This sunday I am going to Mass, I'm thankful that my parents have never made me feel like I am wrong to do so.
But it can be difficult going alone..

However, I think I'll stay on this path awhile and see where it leads me.

I can only assume I am being called as I have not really been influenced by anyone to rejoin the Catholic chruch, (if anything I have been warned against it)
Yet still I feel drawn.

The Holy Spirit?

I'm beginning to think so.

Your Sister in Christ,
~Jenka

 

[Rhamiel]

Think it out, this could just be nastalgia for the past, you grew up non-practsing Catholic right? could this just be wanting to "do it right" when you were a kid. The worst thing that could happen is you go back to being Catholic and it is really hard and then a few years latter you are really unhappy in the Church.

But the thing you have to ask yourself, look at the early history of christianity. What does it look like, it has bishops and the recognition of the eucharist as the body of christ. The Church is not some invisible thing but a real Church that God placed to lead us to Him. Look at all of the Church, the Catholic the Orthodox the Coptic, all of them that were set up by apostles, they all look similar to each other (in so much as the idea of the Church as a visible thing and the reality of the sacrements) look at all the man made fellowships created over the past few hundred years. What do they look like?

 

[ConanTheLibrarian]

Ultimately, the only valid reason for choosing a church is to ask yourself, "Is it true?" I'm in RCIA now, coming in from the Lutheran Church. Sometimes, there will be costs, but we must be intellectually honest. If your friends really are friends, they will stand by you and respect you in your decision. Check out sites like Catholic Answers and EWTN.

On my desk at work, I have a quote from St. Augustine, "It is love that seeks, that knocks, that finds, and is faithful to what it finds."

 

[Rhamiel]

How did mass go?

 

[brokenandbeautiful]

I'm kind of having the same struggle, except the opposite (I'm Catholic right now). I don't think there's an easy answer, but the most important thing is to research the beliefs of each choice very thoroughly and define your own beliefs as much as possible before choosing. Don't just jump in based on a feeling or because you worry what others might think. If your family truly loves you and your friends are truly your friends, they will respect whatever decision you make, even if they don't agree with it.

I pray God will lead you to where he wants you to be.

God Bless.

 

[GorrionGris]

Think it out, this could just be nastalgia for the past, you grew up non-practsing Catholic right? could this just be wanting to "do it right" when you were a kid. The worst thing that could happen is you go back to being Catholic and it is really hard and then a few years latter you are really unhappy in the Church.

But the thing you have to ask yourself, look at the early history of christianity. What does it look like, it has bishops and the recognition of the eucharist as the body of christ. The Church is not some invisible thing but a real Church that God placed to lead us to Him. Look at all of the Church, the Catholic the Orthodox the Coptic, all of them that were set up by apostles, they all look similar to each other (in so much as the idea of the Church as a visible thing and the reality of the sacrements) look at all the man made fellowships created over the past few hundred years. What do they look like?

Amen

 

[namericanboy]

A hearty amen..
We need to pray for and encourage those struggling and not try to make them think they have be where we think we should be...