I have a problem

[BlackIris]

I just thought I would share this, because I've seen the other thread about going to a Lutheran service.

My dad is a Protestant. He didn't practice it much before, but he is now going to church everyday and attending bible study classes. He wants me to go his church (and I did before). I also attended their camp and honestly, I almost swayed to their side. However, they have taught me a very important thing: reading the bible. I didn't do that before. I was born a Catholic and studied in a Catholic school, but I didn't really practice it and I didn't go to mass on Sunday. Reading the bible and praying to God to guide me to the right path has brought me back to the Catholic faith (for real this time and not just by name). I am young in faith, but I will try my best to learn more about being Christian.

Well now I go to mass every Sunday, but my dad still wants me to try go to the Protestant church he has suggested. He told me that I will learn more about being Christian. I don't know what to do. Sure I do want to know more about what Protestants believe...plus the differences and such but yeah... they have taught me some things that I find a bit erroneous and unbiblical... I was wondering if I could go just to accompany him. If ever I do that, I will still go to mass after.

 

[judechild]

Yes, you may go with him; yes, you must still go to Mass

 

[epiclesis]

Sure, you can go. But you can't partake in any sort of "communion" that they have, and you still have to go to Mass. It isn't recommended if you aren't stable in your faith and may easily be swayed. Then it's a near occasion to sin. I wouldn't recommend going until you are firm in your faith after your reversion.

You can learn how to be a Christian by being Catholic - after all, we are the first Christians.

 

[BlackIris]

Sure, you can go. But you can't partake in any sort of "communion" that they have, and you still have to go to Mass. It isn't recommended if you aren't stable in your faith and may easily be swayed. Then it's a near occasion to sin. I wouldn't recommend going until you are firm in your faith after your reversion.

You can learn how to be a Christian by being Catholic - after all, we are the first Christians.

Not recommending me to do so is too late Before I started attending Mass, I actually went to my dad's church. I'm just glad that God led me back (through them haha). Well the unstable faith is a thing of the past (I hope)

Yes I do know we are the first Christians Another thing I can't take: They do not consider Catholics as Christians

 

[epiclesis]

Yes I do know we are the first Christians Another thing I can't take: They do not consider Catholics as Christians

Well then I would certainly not go. I don't want to be in a place like that.

I cannot imagine there is anything of that situation that will benefit you or be edifying to your soul.

 

[BlackIris]

Well then I would certainly not go. I don't want to be in a place like that.

I cannot imagine there is anything of that situation that will benefit you or be edifying to your soul.

These are probably the only reasons why I will agree to go:
1. The "not considering Catholics as Christians" thing aside, they do teach some good things that are essential to being a good Christian.
2. I've made some friends, who accept me as I am. They are really nice people.

Well my attendance will be rare. I'll try my best to explain to my dad why I don't want to go. I hope he'll understand..

 

[Rhamiel]

my dear sister

do not go

you are young in the faith, you said that you have felt swayed before, your dad goes there and you have a history with this church, they do not respect the Catholic faith as a Christian religion

all of this adds up to it being a bad idea

i have visited Protestant services before, but never on a regular basis
you know the saying about food, you are what you eat
well the same is true about ideas, what you feed your mind is what you will end up thinking

I am so glad that this church got you reading the Bible,
God bless our Protestant brothers and sisters for their love the Holy Bible

but do not let this gratitude lead you out of the Catholic Church

 

[Rhamiel]

do you mind me asking how old you are?

 

[BlackIris]

my dear sister

do not go

you are young in the faith, you said that you have felt swayed before, your dad goes there and you have a history with this church, they do not respect the Catholic faith as a Christian religion

all of this adds up to it being a bad idea

i have visited Protestant services before, but never on a regular basis
you know the saying about food, you are what you eat
well the same is true about ideas, what you feed your mind is what you will end up thinking

I am so glad that this church got you reading the Bible,
God bless our Protestant brothers and sisters for their love the Holy Bible

but do not let this gratitude lead you out of the Catholic Church

Brother, I'm already a bit unwilling to go. Thanks for your insight on this. I understand.

do you mind me asking how old you are?

I'm almost 20. I know why you're asking, but understand that I do not come from a Western background Ignore the Australian flag there. It's not where I was raised.

 

[Rhamiel]

God bless you sister

 

[Virgil the Roman]

One ought not go. Protestant services only endanger and chip away at your faith; as Protestant churches are filled with erroneous and heretical doctrine. When I was younger and like yourself, I went to various Protestant churches; I nearly was sucked in. They had me convinced that Catholics were horrible pagans and the Catholic church was the Harlot of Babylon: all a pack of lies.

Christ established only one Christian Church and one true Church only: the Holy Roman Catholic Church. All Protestant sects and denominations are established by men, such as Luther, Calvin, Beza, Zwingli, Knox, etc.

Please STAY away from Protestant churches, they were not established by Christ. One returns to the Holy Roman Catholic Church because, one learns historically that Christ established her as his One, true Church. Why would one want to go to an imitator or even worse an impostor? (Strong words, but bear with me.)

Now, I love my Protestant friends (they are my best friends) and my older brother is Protestant: however, I will not attend a Protestant service; unless it be for a wedding or a funeral, and then my participation, only passive.

I know it is tought, difficult, and hard. However, if the Saints and Martyrs could stay strong and not give in to worshipping in the Protestant Churches, particularly to the Catholic recusants, who went to mass at a time, when one received the death penalty in England from attending Mass or harbouring a priest, then we can as well! God provides!

Remember He promises us, in this scripture verse:

"And....[our Blessed Lord] said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful."
(II Cor. XII:ix-x).

Stay strong!

I invite my Prot friends to Holy Mass or Divine Liturgy all the time. I tell them, that it is very holy and mysterious. And it is the very same essential Mass that the Apostles worshiped---And it is. Churches adorned with statuary, and filled with incense and icons: It is the place a where Heaven truly meets Earth.

Catholics may only participate in Protestant services passively from what I have been told. Hence, we cannot and must not pray erroneous prayers; nor may we partake of their "communion", which is not the True Body and Blood of Christ. When I was younger, I participated in a Prot service and even their "communion;" that was a mortal sin for me to do so. As today, it is a sin for Catholics to partake of non-Catholic communion.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I have been to protestant churches. Hindu temples. Buddhist meditation groups, humanist meet ups. I have searched too 4a baha'i temple but it is too far away. I would like experience of zen. None of this stops me from going to mass each sunday, afaik in communion with the RCC, and even more often than just Sundays to be honest.

However maybe this is advice for me but not for you.

 

[Rhamiel]

it has to be on a case by case basis

the question at the end is, does it bring you closer to God or further away from God?

learning about other religions can be good, fellowship with other christians can be good
but the only question is, does it lead you closer to God
anything that is a temptation to lleave the Catholic Church is NOT from God

 

[ebia]

I'd think twice about going to a service somewhere that doesn't respect your faith as being a legitmate Christian faith - at least if that's the official position coming from the pulpit - until you've got the confidence to deal with that.

 

[ebia]

I would not go. ...

It's interesting how few words need to be swapped to turn that rant around.

 

[Dark_Lite]

They do not consider Catholics as Christians

If for no other reason, you should not go because of this. Such a viewpoint will taint all of their theology. Bigotry cannot engender love or understanding.

 

[BlackIris]

I understand what you people are saying. Whenever I did attend, it was passively and I didn't take communion.

I don't want to go, but the last time I refused, my dad got mad at me. Okay maybe it's the tone of my voice that made him mad. I don't really know what happened. In the end he said something about accompanying him or something. The last time he checked up on my church attendance, I told him that I don't want to go to his church because I'm not Protestant. Well he went off Skype without saying goodbye. The point is, I don't know how to make him understand. It's really hard for me. However, where I am right now, the Protestant path is not something I'm going to take.

Please pray for me

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I just thought I would share this, because I've seen the other thread about going to a Lutheran service.

My dad is a Protestant. He didn't practice it much before, but he is now going to church everyday and attending bible study classes. He wants me to go his church (and I did before). I also attended their camp and honestly, I almost swayed to their side. However, they have taught me a very important thing: reading the bible. I didn't do that before. I was born a Catholic and studied in a Catholic school, but I didn't really practice it and I didn't go to mass on Sunday. Reading the bible and praying to God to guide me to the right path has brought me back to the Catholic faith (for real this time and not just by name). I am young in faith, but I will try my best to learn more about being Christian.

Well now I go to mass every Sunday, but my dad still wants me to try go to the Protestant church he has suggested. He told me that I will learn more about being Christian. I don't know what to do. Sure I do want to know more about what Protestants believe...plus the differences and such but yeah... they have taught me some things that I find a bit erroneous and unbiblical... I was wondering if I could go just to accompany him. If ever I do that, I will still go to mass after.

I don't know, but I think that if in the past you almost became a Protestant, that might be a bit of stumbling block ? If you do go, maybe also try to read up on Catholic apologetics, get some books by Scott Hahn and maybe share them with your dad (though not in any forceful way) , read the Catechism, receive the Sacraments regularly and don't miss Mass for the Protestant church. It might also be a good idea to ask your priest typically I avoid going to Protestant churches just because the teachings might confuse me... if you do go, make sure you don't receive Communion there (this is not allowed for Catholics)

Also, just based on my experience.. the people at the church might try to convert you to Protestantism, especially if they don't consider Catholics to be Christians, and that's just difficult to deal with.

God bless

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I understand what you people are saying. Whenever I did attend, it was passively and I didn't take communion.

I don't want to go, but the last time I refused, my dad got mad at me. Okay maybe it's the tone of my voice that made him mad. I don't really know what happened. In the end he said something about accompanying him or something. The last time he checked up on my church attendance, I told him that I don't want to go to his church because I'm not Protestant. Well he went off Skype without saying goodbye. The point is, I don't know how to make him understand. It's really hard for me. However, where I am right now, the Protestant path is not something I'm going to take.

Please pray for me

Prayers for you if at a particular time it is more charitable to go than to not go, perhaps it's alright to go, but it's still always good to read up on Catholic apologetics.. also whenever I visit Protestant churches I don't participate very much - I just observe passively - because I don't want to give the wrong impression like i agree with everything or am Protestant.

Pray for your dad, I'm sure he loves you and has good intentions and wants to help you, but unfortunately he might not be understanding Catholicism in the right way. Maybe he believes that you being Protestant is better for your soul. Maybe try to talk to him about religion in a very casual, open way, where each of you just share what brings you closer to God.. I don't know... sometimes it's better to not mention the topic overly much

God bless

 

[BlackIris]

I don't know, but I think that if in the past you almost became a Protestant, that might be a bit of stumbling block ?

Ah sorry maybe you misunderstood my op. I almost believed some of the things they have said, but of course, I asked God for help, checked the bible and read up on Catholic defense. I don't just blindly believe anything that anyone says. You see, I've never really thought about converting to Protestantism. The "swaying" part is what actually brought me closer to Catholicism

Anyway, thanks for your suggestions!

Prayers for you if at a particular time it is more charitable to go than to not go, perhaps it's alright to go, but it's still always good to read up on Catholic apologetics.. also whenever I visit Protestant churches I don't participate very much - I just observe passively - because I don't want to give the wrong impression like i agree with everything or am Protestant.

Pray for your dad, I'm sure he loves you and has good intentions and wants to help you, but unfortunately he might not be understanding Catholicism in the right way. Maybe he believes that you being Protestant is better for your soul. Maybe try to talk to him about religion in a very casual, open way, where each of you just share what brings you closer to God.. I don't know... sometimes it's better to not mention the topic overly much

God bless

Thanks for this!

Well my dad is being lured in more and more It was his friends who brought back his Protestant side. While I'm glad that he is strengthening his Christian faith through attending services and bible studies, there is one problem: when one just listens to hand-picked verses...(especially from people who don't consider Catholics Christians) I guess the best way to learn about Christianity is to actually read the bible as a whole and with God's help.

Haha well I don't mention the topic unless he actually asks. You see we live in different countries. I am now studying overseas, so we don't get to talk a lot.