Confused About My Faith

[YoureAChristianMan95]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum and joined so I can perhaps get some help. All my life I've been a practicing Catholic and was brought up in the faith by my mother. A year ago my dad who never attended church suddenly "found Jesus" after attending a service at his friend's Baptist church. So now my dad asks me to come along so I agree so as not to start an argument (in my house we usually do as dad asks). I'm now caught in a very strange position. I've been a Catholic all my life and suddenly my dad wants us to go to the Baptist church with him every Sunday. I've told him im Catholic but he hesitates saying "it's about JESUS not Catholic or Baptist". I haven't been going to my Catholic church weekly for a year now and I'm so confused and sacred of losing my Catholic faith. Ive made friends at the Baptist church but I'm not willing to let go of my Catholicism and Baptist just isn't for me. My dad gets mad when I try to let him down easily and tell him how I really feel and it usually starts a fight. What should I do? How can I get back to the Catholic Church which is like a home away from home for me without triggering my dad?

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[chevyontheriver]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum and joined so I can perhaps get some help. All my life I've been a practicing Catholic and was brought up in the faith by my mother. A year ago my dad who never attended church suddenly "found Jesus" after attending a service at his friend's Baptist church. So now my dad asks me to come along so I agree so as not to start an argument (in my house we usually do as dad asks). I'm now caught in a very strange position. I've been a Catholic all my life and suddenly my dad wants us to go to the Baptist church with him every Sunday. I've told him im Catholic but he hesitates saying "it's about JESUS not Catholic or Baptist". I haven't been going to my Catholic church weekly for a year now and I'm so confused and sacred of losing my Catholic faith. Ive made friends at the Baptist church but I'm not willing to let go of my Catholicism and Baptist just isn't for me. My dad gets mad when I try to let him down easily and tell him how I really feel and it usually starts a fight. What should I do? How can I get back to the Catholic Church which is like a home away from home for me without triggering my dad?

If your father is correct about it being about Jesus and not Catholic or Baptist, then your wanting to attend a Catholic Church is just as acceptable as him wanting to attend a Baptist Church.

It's wonderful that your father finally found Jesus. It really is wonderful. But his finding Jesus should not mean that you, who had found Jesus before he did, have to change to make him feel fulfilled. You never lost the same Jesus he so lately found.

If your father needs to fight about all of this he has actually already lost. Go and tell the Baptist pastor that you are there against your will and your father is not allowing you the liberty to believe according to your conscience.

It's a tough thing balancing honoring your father, which you must do, with honoring God as you have been taught as a Catholic, which you also must do.

 

[Albion]

How can I get back to the Catholic Church which is like a home away from home for me without triggering my dad?

I don't know. It depends on your dad's temperament. However, it appears that he sees one church as being as good as another so long as we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. He's no doubt been taught that somewhere. He may also have been taught that certain Catholic doctrines or practices are wrong, but you didn't mention that in your post, so I'm assuming that that isn't what's driving his thinking.

There is nothing wrong with attending services of a denomination you don't belong to, but to do it routinely does raise some questions, as you are aware. So, I would try to suggest that because you hold other beliefs--even though you do feel that a personal relationship with Christ is most important--you would be glad to accompany him occasionally, but that it's 'too much' for him to expect you to worship in the Baptist church as regularly as he does.

And, by the way, you undercut your opposition to a great degree by the fact that you do not attend services at the Catholic church. For you to sell this line of explanation to him, you
will probably have to show some real attachment to the Catholic Church, not just claim an affinity with Catholicism.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum and joined so I can perhaps get some help. All my life I've been a practicing Catholic and was brought up in the faith by my mother. A year ago my dad who never attended church suddenly "found Jesus" after attending a service at his friend's Baptist church. So now my dad asks me to come along so I agree so as not to start an argument (in my house we usually do as dad asks). I'm now caught in a very strange position. I've been a Catholic all my life and suddenly my dad wants us to go to the Baptist church with him every Sunday. I've told him im Catholic but he hesitates saying "it's about JESUS not Catholic or Baptist". I haven't been going to my Catholic church weekly for a year now and I'm so confused and sacred of losing my Catholic faith. Ive made friends at the Baptist church but I'm not willing to let go of my Catholicism and Baptist just isn't for me. My dad gets mad when I try to let him down easily and tell him how I really feel and it usually starts a fight. What should I do? How can I get back to the Catholic Church which is like a home away from home for me without triggering my dad?

What is your mother doing about all of this?

 

[Soyeong]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum and joined so I can perhaps get some help. All my life I've been a practicing Catholic and was brought up in the faith by my mother. A year ago my dad who never attended church suddenly "found Jesus" after attending a service at his friend's Baptist church. So now my dad asks me to come along so I agree so as not to start an argument (in my house we usually do as dad asks). I'm now caught in a very strange position. I've been a Catholic all my life and suddenly my dad wants us to go to the Baptist church with him every Sunday. I've told him im Catholic but he hesitates saying "it's about JESUS not Catholic or Baptist". I haven't been going to my Catholic church weekly for a year now and I'm so confused and sacred of losing my Catholic faith. Ive made friends at the Baptist church but I'm not willing to let go of my Catholicism and Baptist just isn't for me. My dad gets mad when I try to let him down easily and tell him how I really feel and it usually starts a fight. What should I do? How can I get back to the Catholic Church which is like a home away from home for me without triggering my dad?

Hello,

If it is about Jesus and not about Baptist or Catholic, then it shouldn't just be about attending a Baptist church every Sunday, but rather a 50/50 split would be a reasonable compromise where he was also willing to attend a Catholic church. If either church has evening services or services throughout the week, then attending both would also be an option.

 

[HereIStand]

It understandable that your father wants you to encourage you to attend the Baptist church. You have to decide though. If that's not what you believe, then tell him. He might become angry because he is probably not indifferent about where you attend.

 

[HereIStand]

Hello,

If it is about Jesus and not about Baptist or Catholic, then it shouldn't just be about attending a Baptist church every Sunday, but rather a 50/50 split would be a reasonable compromise where he was also willing to attend a Catholic church. If either church has evening services or services throughout the week, then attending both would also be an option.

In Catholicism, I don't know if a person can take communion if he's actually joined a Protestant church.

 

[Albion]

No, but if you are referring to the dad, he probably wouldn't value the Catholic Eucharist anyway and, as a Baptist, he is not accustomed to receiving Communion very often. He could of course attend, which I think is what Soyeong had in mind.

 

[Soyeong]

In Catholicism, I don't know if a person can take communion if he's actually joined a Protestant church.

I had just attending in mind, but that is a good point because it is an issue that will likely come up. It wouldn't be a bad idea for them to make appointments with the pastor and the priest to get their advice on their situation.

 

[RaymondG]

How old are you and do you help out with any of the bills in your house? This would help estimate what you should and should not be able to do while you are living there.....

 

[NeedyFollower]

This is interesting in that I attended a catholic church with my wife and we would also attend a protestant church . The trouble is " We did church " but were in no way in the narrow way which leads to life ...many people believe in God and Jesus but have no love . Do not confuse loving ( and even attending ) church with loving and serving God. We get "comfortable " with traditions ( whether catholic , protestant or the many offshoots . ) What got Jesus crucified was an unwanted TRUTH that was a threat to the religious of his day . ( He was crucified by believers . ) So belief is not the same as faith and church attendance is not the same as love. Ask the Lord to give you understanding . I am of the opinion that our whole life is given in service to God through Christ Jesus ..not what we do on Sunday mornings ( and Sunday nights and Wednesday nights if a baptist . ) Read the scriptures with much prayer . Many churches "sell " assurance of salvation via The Roman Road but the way is actually narrow . May the Lord our God be your guide into all truth .

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

Neither Baptists nor Catholics nor anybody else ha s a lock on the Truth and that should be what you seek.Dont believe what anybody says .Be like the Bereans....check out what the Bible says...get aBible that you can understand and read Galations or Romans....see for yourself who is closet to what the Bible actually says. God demands that we “rightly divide the Word”. I will pray that God leads you in your search

 

[tampasteve]

Following. I feel for you, and will pray. Perhaps this would be better suited to the Catholic Group forum as you have stated your desire to remain Catholic? Personally I think that many posts are just making the OP more questioning and possibly confused, which is not going to help the situation.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

This is interesting in that I attended a catholic church with my wife and we would also attend a protestant church . The trouble is " We did church " but were in no way in the narrow way which leads to life ...many people believe in God and Jesus but have no love . Do not confuse loving ( and even attending ) church with loving and serving God. We get "comfortable " with traditions ( whether catholic , protestant or the many offshoots . ) What got Jesus crucified was an unwanted TRUTH that was a threat to the religious of his day . ( He was crucified by believers . ) So belief is not the same as faith and church attendance is not the same as love. Ask the Lord to give you understanding . I am of the opinion that our whole life is given in service to God through Christ Jesus ..not what we do on Sunday mornings ( and Sunday nights and Wednesday nights if a baptist . ) Read the scriptures with much prayer . Many churches "sell " assurance of salvation via The Roman Road but the way is actually narrow . May the Lord our God be your guide into all truth .

I am hoping it was just a lapse in concentration when you said that Jesus was crucified by Believers...He was crucified by religious people in accordance withGods will...Truth is,you and I and all the rest of the worlds sinners put Him on that cross......but I hope we don’t have to go into all of that......it has been tackled here before.".God bless

 

[Truthfrees]

hi there my friend

there is a lot of good advice here but if you would like to talk to Catholics about this maybe start a thread in the OBOB forum: One Bread, One Body - Catholic

God Bless you

praying for you

 

[chevyontheriver]

In Catholicism, I don't know if a person can take communion if he's actually joined a Protestant church.

If he's actually joined a Protestant church, but it sounds like this person is being compelled to attend a Baptist church and compelled not to attend a Catholic church. So communion should be no problem at all, even if the father has forced the joining of the Baptist church. It wouldn't have been a free choice.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

If he's actually joined a Protestant church, but it sounds like this person is being compelled to attend a Baptist church and compelled not to attend a Catholic church. So communion should be no problem at all, even if the father has forced the joining of the Baptist church. It wouldn't have been a free choice.

If he's actually joined a Protestant church, but it sounds like this person is being compelled to attend a Baptist church and compelled not to attend a Catholic church. So communion should be no problem at all, even if the father has forced the joining of the Baptist church. It wouldn't have been a free choice.

I take Communion like the early Believers.....in my home.
It’s the worship behind it that counts.....God knows my heart

 

[NeedyFollower]

I am hoping it was just a lapse in concentration when you said that Jesus was crucified by Believers...He was crucified by religious people in accordance withGods will...Truth is,you and I and all the rest of the worlds sinners put Him on that cross......but I hope we don’t have to go into all of that......it has been tackled here before.".God bless

Hi brother .. maybe I should have said that devout believers in God handed Him over to the gentiles in accordance with the predeterminate council of God to be crucified ( not meaning to throw blame on the Jews ) and yes ..I AM Guilty of His blood as is everyone so that every mouth may be stopped . It is interesting that Jesus said that they will take you before the assemblies ...people that kill you will think they are doing God a favor ..If they called Jesus bezzlbub , what will they call His ( Jesus') servants ? So , again ..the atheist is not the crucifier of the truth ..it is the believer . This was demonstrated from the time of Paul . ( Grievous wolves will enter into the flock drawing men after theirselves ) and on through the reformation and into the present day ...and they shall with fain words make merchandise of you . It seems a form of religion is always preferred over a truth that has a cost .

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

@

You raised some very good points...I don’t think it is the Believer thAt crucifies the Truth.....I think Paul found a better term....”false brethren”......but I know where you are coming from and you gave me some new stuff to think about and I thank you for that. God bless you,fine sir!