Converting from Catholic to Protestant

[Lotar]

I can hardly wait for the "Eternal Security of the Believer" Christians to arrive!

I just won't argue with them

 

[Lotar]

So now I have something else to feel guilty about

Nobody said that Christ's way is the easy way, infact He said the opposite. I don't want to discourage you, I am glad that you are seeking, but I need to inform you that Protestantism isn't really any "easier" than Catholisism.

 

[finchuck]

So then what is somebody that believes in God, has received the sacraments up until Confirmation, tries to act the way God would want him to, but doesn't go to church?

Am I not considered a Catholic anymore?

This is confusing. I understand that Christ should be the #1 priority in somebody's life, but circumstances permitting, that can't be the case for everybody. Where does that leave them? On the outskirts waiting until they CAN put Christ in front?

 

[Bruce S]

Finchuck,

I noticed your new and you have no blesssings so here is 5000, go and buy yourself a fancy avatar or something.

Hey! Not fair...FOUL ball!

Bribing a defecting Catholic with Blessings isn't Kosher. Pay that man with the handouts no mind here ... they are DESPERATE now...grin.

 

[Plan 9]

You know, I love being a Christian. Why does it seem as though I should put on my ball and chain now and drag it around behind me, just like I did before I was one?

 

[ej]

Check your blessings Bruce

 

[Matrona]

That's how I feel at times. I prefer to consider myself a Christian trying to get myself right with God. Everyday I try to act more like Jesus. I try to be a good person, I try to do the right thing, and for the most part, I am succeeding.

Howdy Finchuck,

I hope nobody jumps on me for putting my two euros in here, since I'm neither Protestant nor Catholic. And I was a Protestant who thought about becoming Catholic, but I became Orthodox instead, so you could kind of say I've been all over the place.

However, at times, mostly in the past as I've taken a new path recently, I've sinned. My question is this: Can a Catholic be forgiven of a sin if he/she doesn't go to confession? My conscious sometimes gets the best of me and I dont want to HAVE to go to confession and be "punished" everytime I commit a sin. I'd rather just turn around and try to live the life that God wants me to live without the priest's consent.

Here's the thing about the sacrament of penance. The reason you do it in front of a priest is so that he can help you overcome your sin. I am probably not qualified to answer this to your satisfaction (we do confession differently in Orthodoxy). Have you ever sworn a friend to secrecy before telling them a secret about yourself? (Maybe it's just us girls who do that, I don't know! ) What confession does is it gives you someone to talk to about your sin, who can give you advice, and help you get the sin off your chest, without having people on earth hold it against you.

I come from a Protestant background and to a degree I can sympathize with your anxiety regarding confession. All I can say is that it is not nearly as bad as you think, even when what you have to confess is really awful. I did some WILD stuff in my teen years... and I have YET to shock anyone when making a confession. And another thing... when I'm walking up there to make confession (the longest walk in the world I tell ya), and all that anxiety is bearing down on me, I think, "I hate confession!" But when I'm walking away afterwards, I think, "I love confession!"

As you may be able to tell, this is all new to me. I'm only 20 and I never really looked into my religion much at all. It wasn't until recently that something occurred in my life that I had to overcome and I turned to God for help. I researched the Christian faith and as I read its values, I thought to myself "I can do this." But then when I look at the Catholic values, I sometimes think "I can't do this."

Hey, I'm 20 too! I was a "spiritual seeker" until this year, which is when I found where I belong.

Conversion, even from one Christian denomination to another, is a very serious thing and shouldn't be undertaken lightly. Even if your online discussions leave you utterly convinced that Protestantism rules, I would still suggest having at least one conversation with a Catholic priest. I can't say how that might affect your religious journey, but if you convert, at least you'll know for a fact you didn't do it without giving all sides a chance.

I am a good person, I know that. But I make mistakes. All I want is to get right with God and live the way he'd want me to live without all the hassles of rituals, customs, traditions, etc. getting in the way.

The important thing to know is that, as legalistic and strange as some Christian customs might seem, they're meant to help you experience God's grace. You might want to read about the sacraments and the symbolism involved, to find out why the Catholic Church might do such things that appear on the surface to be rather strange. You've got nothing to lose by getting more information, right?

At any rate I wish you godspeed on your journey and that whatever decision you end up making, that it will be the right one for you.

 

[Bruce S]

I don't know the exact dynamics of Catholic confession, you should probably go to thier forum to ask about that. But as far as I know, you need to confess to a priest, and if you die without confessing a mortal sin you go to hell, but everything else just racks you up time on purgatory.

Right. One of the REAL benefits to OUR WAY, is the fast lane to heaven. Die, and if you are one of us, and have turned your life over to Jesus, and confessed, you are IN ... NOW, this second.

The other side takes the slow path. They get to "fry" for a tad before the detrius of the little stuff is burned off, this one is one of OUR side's best selling tools. Grin.

Or, you could still "obtain" an INDULGENCE, yes, they still have those, now they don't sell them like they USED TO, but they ARE still officially granted by the Pope. That burns off a centrury of suffering or two.

Silly notion that Purgatory thing [to MY way of understanding things.] I know the RCC's have chapter and verse that they still twist into justifying this.

BUT, being the RCC with the memory that goes WAY BACK, I can still recall their insistance on LIMBO.

Now, if you think Purgatory is odd, Limbo is stranger. It is the place where unbaptised Babies went to languish, outside of heaven, FOREVER. If you didn't have a dunk in water, and the right words, you stayed outside of God's grace forever.

Of course, the "INFALLIBLE" doctrines of today, have now overulled the "INFALLABLE" doctrines of yesterday, and that isn't doctrine anymore.

Ah...the rules change, you went to HELL for eating meat, no longer do, you went to Limbo and no longer do. I had a discussion here on this, the RCC's claimed that eating meat didn't send you to hell, but we CERTAINLY WERE TAUGHT THAT IT DID, clearly, loudly, and with fear and trembling did believe it was so.

Funny how MEN decide how you go to where and for what....

Fuming here, the memories of the stuff that turned me off coming back again. Sorry.

 

[finchuck]

I think I am going to try and go to Confession for the last 10 years of my life and see how I feel after that. I just feel sorta funny and find it kind of arbitrary that God might reject me if I don't tell my sins to a priest.

I know that God already knows that I'm sorry for anythng and everything that I've done.

 

[Lotar]

So then what is somebody that believes in God, has received the sacraments up until Confirmation, tries to act the way God would want him to, but doesn't go to church?

I wrote this earlier, it's not quite finished yet, but is mostly agreed upon. Catholics and the Church of Christ have a slightly different take on it (mostly on the works portion), but for the most part agree.

On Salvation



Works play no part in salvation. Works come about as a result of salvation. If one does not have works, it is because they do not have salvation, not the other way around. To say that works are required for salvation, says that we are saved at least partly because of our own merit, which we know not to be true.

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Works are a result of salvation, but that does not mean that works cannot come for some other reason as well. All dogs are mammals, not all mammals are dogs. All who are saved have works, not all who have works are saved. If works are absent, it is because salvation is absent. Not salvation is absent because works are absent.

Galatians 2:16
nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.


James 2:26
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

How do I know I am saved, and when am I saved?

Giving your life to Christ. Repenting and accepting His forgiveness for our sins, seeking and following His will through prayer and scripture, by having faith and the works to demonstrate it. It is stated this way because of the common trend in the Church today is, "I'm a Christian because my Mom/Dad were", have "because I was baptized". It's teaching that the faith must be yours, not your parents; it's not genetic.

No, not everyone will be saved who thinks that they are. Saying some prayer your pastor made up, getting baptized, being a basically good person, saying you believe in Jesus, or being "born a Christian" are common reasons people give for why they are saved. Unfortunately none of these things are going to get you to heaven.

How do I know others are saved?

You will know them by their fruit. Though we can never truly know their hearts.

Is it available only to Evangelical Fundamentalists, or can Mainline Protestants, Anglicans, Catholics and Orthodox partake of this relationship?

All Christians have it.

What was that like? And were you saved the moment before that? In other words, how did you know?

Actually, I don't know when the exact moment was for me. Thoughts who can pinpoint when usually were not raised in the church, or left the church and came back. I can say that in tenth grade was when I first made a real effort to apply my faith.

How do I know I am saved? Because I believe that Christ died and rose again for my sins. I have repented and turned from my sins, and make an effort to seek His will.

Romans 10:10
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Religious feelings are no basis for faith, or a reason to believe that one is saved. If you merely follow your feelings, who knows where you'll end up? There are Muslims, Mormons, and Buddhists that get that feeling. Pray, and follow the word of God, don't rely on feelings.

The reason that Evangelical Christians focus on the personal side of the faith is that many people don't realize that it is an essential part of salvation. The downside is that some people seem to think we teach, pray this prayer and you go to heaven. Or you don't really need a church; you can be fine on your own. But it's just like how some people at other churches think you just need to show up on Sundays, or sometimes only on holidays. Salvation is through Grace alone, but faith without works is dead.

It's not just enough to believe, or be baptized.

Am I not considered a Catholic anymore?

I don't know, you'd have to ask them.

This is confusing. I understand that Christ should be the #1 priority in somebody's life, but circumstances permitting, that can't be the case for everybody. Where does that leave them? On the outskirts waiting until they CAN put Christ in front?

All it has to do with is what is most important to you. It is always possible to make time.

I know it's hard, but when you do go out on a limb and follow His will, He always provides for you and blesses you.

 

[Bruce S]

Check your blessings Bruce

Thanks. But I just gave them back to you. I got out, and want to stay out. Grin. I don't take "candy" from strangers, not even ones that seem like "nice guys."

I got my blessings the old fashioned way, gave up EWTN for Lent.

ROFLM..."X"O

 

[Lotar]

Right. One of the REAL benefits to OUR WAY, is the fast lane to heaven. Die, and if you are one of us, and have turned your life over to Jesus, and confessed, you are IN ... NOW, this second.

The other side takes the slow path. They get to "fry" for a tad before the detrius of the little stuff is burned off, this one is one of OUR side's best selling tools. Grin.

Or, you could still "obtain" an INDULGENCE, yes, they still have those, now they don't sell them like they USED TO, but they ARE still officially granted by the Pope. That burns off a centrury of suffering or two.

Silly notion that Purgatory thing [to MY way of understanding things.] I know the RCC's have chapter and verse that they still twist into justifying this.

BUT, being the RCC with the memory that goes WAY BACK, I can still recall their insistance on LIMBO.

Now, if you think Purgatory is odd, Limbo is stranger. It is the place where unbaptised Babies went to languish, outside of heaven, FOREVER. If you didn't have a dunk in water, and the right words, you stayed outside of God's grace forever.

Of course, the "INFALLIBLE" doctrines of today, have now overulled the "INFALLABLE" doctrines of yesterday, and that isn't doctrine anymore.

Ah...the rules change, you went to HELL for eating meat, no longer do, you went to Limbo and no longer do. I had a discussion here on this, the RCC's claimed that eating meat didn't send you to hell, but we CERTAINLY WERE TAUGHT THAT IT DID, clearly, loudly, and with fear and trembling did believe it was so.

Funny how MEN decide how you go to where and for what....

Fuming here, the memories of the stuff that turned me off coming back again. Sorry.

Bruce, all this is going to do is cause problems. That is not at all what I was saying, it would do us all good if you deleted this post.

 

[ej]

Thanks. But I just gave them back to you. I got out, and want to stay out. Grin. I don't take "candy" from strangers, not even ones that seem like "nice guys."

I got my blessings the old fashioned way, gave up EWTN for Lent.

ROFLM..."X"O

Well if we're gonna play it that way... I gave you 10,000.

 

[Godzman]

Both protestants and catholics are equally christians, some theology of both I agree and disagree with.

 

[Lotar]

I think I am going to try and go to Confession for the last 10 years of my life and see how I feel after that. I just feel sorta funny and find it kind of arbitrary that God might reject me if I don't tell my sins to a priest.

I know that God already knows that I'm sorry for anythng and everything that I've done.

I don't know what Catholics would say, but we would say that just going to confession isn't going to save you either. Also, how do you know when the last 10 years of your life will be? Christ could return, or you could die tomorrow.

The Christian life may not always be easy, but God definately does bless you for following it. Plus you won't have that guilt hanging over your head.

 

[finchuck]

I meant I haven't been to Confession in 10 years.

 

[Godzman]

I don't know what Catholics would say, but we would say that just going to confession isn't going to save you either. Also, how do you know when the last 10 years of your life will be? Christ could return, or you could die tomorrow.

The Christian life may not always be easy, but God definately does bless you for following it. Plus you won't have that guilt hanging over your head.

Amen

 

[Bruce S]

Well if we're gonna play it that way... I gave you 10,000.

hahahaha

Hey, I'm gonna go BANKRUPT again, if I continue this game.

Hmmm. Wanna swap bibles? I want a RCC one, I wanted to look up something in Maccabbes, and darn, mine was missing that one. Honest.

I think I need to keep going to the Catholic Book store too, the Christian one that I normally go to is woefully lacking in the RCC stuff....grin.

OK OK, nuff of the tweaking....

 

[ej]

No really... I had 22,000+ you had 4,000+ and I gave you 10,000

Heck, keep them in your bad grace, but don't hark on about it!

 

[Lotar]

I meant I haven't been to Confession in 10 years.

Okay. I guess I misunderstood you.

Anyways, as Protestants, we believe that you can confess directly to God. But one thing to remember, for both Protestants and Catholics, confession isn't about being sorry, but repenting. To repent means that you turn away from your sin, and make a real effort to not repeat.