Why Convert???

[Markie Boy]

After Mass we had a pot luck today. I got to sit with the priest and the group of active members. They mentioned a non-denom church that has some kind of ecumenical prayer chapel.

They all liked this idea. I took a leap and asked the priest, wasn't it formerly frowned upon to have joint things like the prayer. He said it used to be, but not any more.

Then I asked about salvation for protestants, and nobody seemed to think it was a problem.

I came away from this talk wondering why anyone needs to be Catholic?

 

[ripple the car]

Edit; Sorry, Markie, I didn't understand your post. Forgive me.

 

[Tomm]

After Mass we had a pot luck today. I got to sit with the priest and the group of active members. They mentioned a non-denom church that has some kind of ecumenical prayer chapel.

They all liked this idea. I took a leap and asked the priest, wasn't it formerly frowned upon to have joint things like the prayer. He said it used to be, but not any more.

Then I asked about salvation for protestants, and nobody seemed to think it was a problem.

I came away from this talk wondering why anyone needs to be Catholic?

There are good strong reasons to convert, but you shouldn't doubt or regret about this just because of certain members of the Church.

 

[Markie Boy]

Yes - it was surprising. But I totally see why the Church doesn't evangelize - why bother if everyone else is good where they are?

My brother is in a local Baptist church, and they have so much more in the way of community, Bible study, youth group, and many more young families. How in the world would I ever convert him from that to a lukewarm environment, with few young families and almost no extra studies, that will tell him he's OK where he's at?

 

[Rhamiel]

St. Athanasius lived in a time when almost the entire Church in the East and much of the Church in the West was corrupted by Gnostic heresies

We live in similar times with Modernism killing the spiritual life of millions upon millions

Stay strong brother

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I would like to someday convert, because Christ founded One Church, and that is the Catholic Church.

There are many wonderful, dear, and devoted Orthodox and Protestant Christians out there. Through their faith and their works, God can save them, too.

But if one is already in the Barque of Peter, why leave?

I think the question isn't why a Catholic should leave to become protestant. Rather, if salvation can be found outside of the Catholic Church, why should a Protestant become Catholic?

 

[ripple the car]

Edit; forgive me, I didn't understand the question. Or the problem. Markie, Rhamiel has given some great answers. God bless you; Christ bless you.

 

[Markie Boy]

Yes - that's the biggie - why should a protestant convert if they can have salvation? And possibly a better church environment?

In my experience, teaching is pretty thin in Catholicism today.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Well, would one rather follow Christ through a man-made denomination, or through the Church which He founded?

I think the first thing to do is convince the protestant that the institution known as Roman Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded and not the body of believers. Remember, protestants have a different opinion of what the Church (big C) is.

 

[ripple the car]

Yes - that's the biggie - why should a protestant convert if they can have salvation? And possibly a better church environment?

In my experience, teaching is pretty thin in Catholicism today.

I think that is up to each individual soul, Markie. Some folks ask questions which lead them out of Protestantism, some don't. My advice with your brother, or with anyone, is just be a light. Appreciate them for who they are and where they are with Christ. And if they someday ask questions, or get curious about the roots of their faith, you can be there to answer.

I think the first thing to do is convince the protestant that the institution known as Roman Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded and not the body of believers. Remember, protestants have a different opinion of what the Church (big C) is.

Maybe. I think it kind of depends on what questions, if any, the person in question might be asking in relation to the issue.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I know that I am not Catholic, but I was born and raised Catholic and remained in communion with the Catholic Church until I was 22 years old. Having been on both sides I may be able to provide some helpful in-sight. I know that this is the Catholic forum so I don't want to come across the wrong way being that I am a guest in your house and all.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Here is an article I found that may be helpful in answering the OP's question. It if fairly recent (Jan 2018) so I think the statistics should still be accurate.

Why Stay Protestant? – Matthew Schultz – Medium

Edit: I just wanted to note that I posted this article for informational purposes only. Not to try to encourage anyone to become protestant.

 

[disciple Clint]

After Mass we had a pot luck today. I got to sit with the priest and the group of active members. They mentioned a non-denom church that has some kind of ecumenical prayer chapel.

They all liked this idea. I took a leap and asked the priest, wasn't it formerly frowned upon to have joint things like the prayer. He said it used to be, but not any more.

Then I asked about salvation for protestants, and nobody seemed to think it was a problem.

I came away from this talk wondering why anyone needs to be Catholic?

Well, there is a substantial difference between the Protestant and Catholic Theology. In general you have a difference between faith and works or faith alone as a basis for salvation. Additionally there is the question of the Sacraments as they relate to salvation and sanctification. There is also the issue of Scripture alone or Scripture and tradition. There is substantial difference in the Eucharist as well. There are many other differences. You might want to look at some of the writings of Scott Hahn to get some perspective.

 

[Tutorman]

Yes - it was surprising. But I totally see why the Church doesn't evangelize - why bother if everyone else is good where they are?

My brother is in a local Baptist church, and they have so much more in the way of community, Bible study, youth group, and many more young families. How in the world would I ever convert him from that to a lukewarm environment, with few young families and almost no extra studies, that will tell him he's OK where he's at?

I was shocked when I first became Catholic that there were none of those things, I remember asking my Priest why this was and he told me no one was interested in that stuff or no one would step up to help.

 

[Markie Boy]

Yeah - I'm familiar with the differences - and Faith Alone is a no go for me, as it's just not Biblical.

It's so sad when you come to the RCC from a protestant church, and then they give you this all mixed up concept that protestants are all good to go, but wait their doctrine isn't right. The only logical conclusion from that would be doctrine does not matter.

 

[Markie Boy]

I was shocked when I first became Catholic that there were none of those things, I remember asking my Priest why this was and he told me no one was interested in that stuff or no one would step up to help.

Yes - the Catholic parishes I know have way more money and way more people than the Baptists - but the Baptists seem to do more with less. That's something.

 

[Rhamiel]

I think the first thing to do is convince the protestant that the institution known as Roman Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded and not the body of believers. Remember, protestants have a different opinion of what the Church (big C) is.

Great point
I think you have to show them that “the invisible body of all believers spread out across denominations” is not a biblical idea

While the Church described in Scripture has a spiritual component is not contested by anyone, but it also has a unified institutional component as well, with the appointment of Elders (Priests) and Deacons being done by the Apostles instead of being done independently by the local congregations. When the local congregations had a serious dispute the answer was not “agree to disagree” or to split up into two denominations who teach different things, the issue was dealt with by a Council in Jerusalem and the different congregations abided by the decision of the Council

Next we can look at early Church history, while not as authoritative as Scripture, these were Bishops and communities who were directly connected to the Apostles, and that can not be overlooked.
Pope Clement was the fourth Bishop of Rome and his reign would have taken place while St. John was still alive in exile, Clements epistles are the earliest Christian writings that are not a part of Scripture and since they happen while St.John is still alive they might be the only non canonical Christian writings we have from the Apostolic Era
The Epistles of Clement and the Didache
represent some of the earliest Christian writings we have, both of them support the institutional nature of the Church as well as a Catholic understanding of Apostolic Sucession and Sacramental/Liturgical theology

 

[Rhamiel]

Yes - the Catholic parishes I know have way more money and way more people than the Baptists - but the Baptists seem to do more with less. That's something.

If you have seen some of my posts over the past few weeks you will know I have serious problems with how the Church is dealing with things. Everything from dealing with the sex abuse crises, to watering down teachings, to oppressing Traditional Catholic communities.

And while I have a great deal of respect for Baptists and other Protestants, I think we need to avoid “the grass is always greener on the other side” mindset, these communities have their own particular problems that they are dealing with. Some the same as ours, some specific to that denomination

 

[Rhamiel]

Yeah - I'm familiar with the differences - and Faith Alone is a no go for me, as it's just not Biblical.

It's so sad when you come to the RCC from a protestant church, and then they give you this all mixed up concept that protestants are all good to go, but wait their doctrine isn't right. The only logical conclusion from that would be doctrine does not matter.

If we look to the great Saints of the counter-reformation, the mystic poet St John of the Cross, missionaries like St Francis DeSales and St Francis Xavier, one who only went from Switzerland to France, one who went from Spain to Japan and China, but both devoted themselves to saving souls and preaching the Good News! None of these heroic men would have said that doctrine does not matter.

The heresy of modernism has intrenched itself in many parts of the Church and has taken root for over 60 years, it will take time and hard work to undo all the damage that has been done

 

[ripple the car]

If we look to the great Saints of the counter-reformation, the mystic poet St John of the Cross, missionaries like St Francis DeSales and St Francis Xavier, one who only went from Switzerland to France, one who went from Spain to Japan and China, but both devoted themselves to saving souls and preaching the Good News! None of these heroic men would have said that doctrine does not matter.

The heresy of modernism has intrenched itself in many parts of the Church and has taken root for over 60 years, it will take time and hard work to undo all the damage that has been done

Beautiful, Rham. You say things very well. And kindly.