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JesusIsAll,
I was apologizing because, in my opinion, the way I worded my message seemed to say Catholics are not Christ's sheep and those who follow such faith should be immediately dropped from your life. Hence the following reply from JGIG and possibly yourself about sharing the view to change with the family in love. I overlooked mentioning the process and jumped to a potentially extreme end result. I did not mean to come off that way but only realized in hindsight that I had. My intention had what JGIG and yourself mentioned within it but it was never concretely expressed and, I believe, should have been. :-)
 
Thank you everyone for the very thoughtful responses. I would never do this to cause trouble with my family or chaos. I love my family very much but I want to live by God's true word. I want to worship God the best I can and please him. I was taught since I was little how important mary is but now I question it. I mean the only way to the father is through Christ, bottom line. Then my church tells you to pray to mary and so forth. I'm just confused and lost in all of it.
 
Godgivesmestrength said:
Thank you everyone for the very thoughtful responses. I would never do this to cause trouble with my family or chaos. I love my family very much but I want to live by God's true word. I want to worship God the best I can and please him. I was taught since I was little how important mary is but now I question it. I mean the only way to the father is through Christ, bottom line. Then my church tells you to pray to mary and so forth. I'm just confused and lost in all of it.
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I don't know much about the Catholic Church, but praying to Mary isn't going to help you. You should always be praying to God, though.
 
I completely agree ressurection33. I guess the hardest part is worrying that I've been taught wrong all my life. Or what I've believed since a child is a lie. It's scary to think about, at least for me.
 
firework said:
JesusIsAll,
I was apologizing because, in my opinion, the way I worded my message seemed to say Catholics are not Christ's sheep and those who follow such faith should be immediately dropped from your life. Hence the following reply from JGIG and possibly yourself about sharing the view to change with the family in love. I overlooked mentioning the process and jumped to a potentially extreme end result. I did not mean to come off that way but only realized in hindsight that I had. My intention had what JGIG and yourself mentioned within it but it was never concretely expressed and, I believe, should have been. :-)
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Thinking I'd missed something, I read your post again, and still don't see where you went there, maybe this what you were thinking? You can't put everything in one post, and your post was very good, I thought. But I wasn't even replying to anything in a critical way, just adding some stuff, my thought that a person 18 years old, very young, with family complexities as they can be, the dictates of love and respect for elders, was merely adding that two cents to your good post about the divisive aspect of the gospel. What you said is a fact. It was also wishing to point out that turning the gospel into a familial war, where we are antagonists, thinking we're doing well by pulling out our spiritual swords and Bible thumping people, is not good, usually only serves to affirm to people why they hate Christians. This had in mind the zeal that can come with youth, where we want to make a stand on truth we're enthusiastic over, any youthful zealotry I had only serving to demonstrate how it rubs people the wrong way, when it wasn't necessary or productive. It's like message boards. Pretty much, you state your case. Beyond that, whole threads become dog eat dog, repetitious slop, page after page, and that's senseless rancor I don't recognize the Christianity of, anyway.

Also wanted to offer a person can operate as a Biblical Christian in a Catholic environment, the same way we are called to operate in an unbelieving world, which is more void of God, that maybe a person could think of this approach, which may also spare some family pain for a time, at so young an age. But, for my part, I was only adding some ideas, didn't have anything in mind critical of anything you said, at all. If anything, I thought your post cut to the chase, only wondering if too much to the chase, as we older buggers know things.

But, come to think of it, I wouldn't mind infiltrating a Catholic congregation, if there was any honest way to do it, just subtly being a Bible Christian. Could be an interesting challenge, and possibly an opportunity. There's something to be said for this young person maybe being a light among those Catholics, for a time, as you mention, reading the Bible and slipping some useful truth in here and there. It could even sharpen one's skills, at dealing with people who aren't Bible believers, moving forward in life. Just some other ideas, on the practical side. I do often think we need to think of ways of being Christian in all circumstances, that there's more to life in Christ than stuffing ourselves with doctrine and platitudes, like, for instance, people to love, that we have some responsibility towards, in this regard.
 
Godgivesmestrength said:
Thank you everyone for the very thoughtful responses. I would never do this to cause trouble with my family or chaos. I love my family very much but I want to live by God's true word.
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I'm so relieved to hear you're careful of your family! You sound wise for your age, and the Lord bless and keep you. Just walk in the light and do your loving best in the situation, knowing you're not going to change the whole world around you. I tried once. It doesn't work.
 
I guess all this came up from a friend talking about her Protestant church. Asking me questions about mine and why we do certain things? I felt ashamed that I couldn't even answer some questions. I began questioning myself and dove into the bible. My family is very important though and respect them and their beliefs 100%. Thank you JesusIsAll, God bless you for all the help you have given to me!!
 
Godgivesmestrength said:
I guess all this came up from a friend talking about her Protestant church. Asking me questions about mine and why we do certain things? I felt ashamed that I couldn't even answer some questions. I began questioning myself and dove into the bible. My family is very important though and respect them and their beliefs 100%. Thank you JesusIsAll, God bless you for all the help you have given to me!!
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No, I should be thanking you! Who knows? You gave me a "wonderful, awful idea." Maybe I'll one day report back my activities, as a Protestant spy.
 
JesusIsAll,
You are so easy to love :-) I was thinking exactly along the lines you mentioned when apologizing....maybe cutting too directly to the chase due to experience with age thus leaving out potentially vital bits for those who do not see things as 'given'. I did not think you were responding as a negative toward me; I took it as "in addition to". I am just hyper-critical of myself so that I might be fair in correcting others for growth.....plank/splinter :-) May our Lotd be with you as well as the OP and others helping <3
 
firework said:
JesusIsAll,
You are so easy to love :-) I was thinking exactly along the lines you mentioned when apologizing....maybe cutting too directly to the chase due to experience with age thus leaving out potentially vital bits for those who do not see things as 'given'. I did not think you were responding as a negative toward me; I took it as "in addition to". I am just hyper-critical of myself so that I might be fair in correcting others for growth.....plank/splinter :-) May our Lotd be with you as well as the OP and others helping <3
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How kind of you, and thank you! There are a couple people I wish you'd talk to, who can get me in the frame of mind of this favorite video, and I've been trying to find out where Jenn's house is,

[video=youtube;LbDW3lHamxc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbDW3lHamxc[/video]​

It really is funny, what you said of your post my exact reaction. It was completely truthful, but here I'm thinking, "Hold it! Please! This person is 18 years old, too young to be told how starkly it can hopelessly suck!" (Godgivesmestrength, move along, nothing to see here...) I was seriously thinking, looking back on mistakes of youth, I'd more quietly learn the things of God, not be in any hurry, given a chance to do some things over again, spare any family disruption until I'm at a place of complete autonomy as an adult, and just know that, if somebody is not really in Christ, they need salvation, first, which is the work of God in the repentant individual who agrees with God their need of Christ, not some debate of all doctrinal minutia, or hypocritically hurling stones at sinners.

Put it this way: if you just convinced a Catholic not to pray to Mary (which you probably wouldn't accomplish, anyway), if that's all you did, changed some habit, some behavior, you've accomplished nothing eternal. The battle is for souls, not debate points or legalistic behavior modification, and, without the Spirit, nobody understands the things of God, anyway. I fear a lot of the grand debates around here are a whole lot to do about nothing, and no sense dragging this into the family. You let people know who you are, where you stand, and you shouldn't have to do this much more than once for many people: they'll get it the first time, accept or reject what you believe, or even who you are. I know I'd find it most irritating, anybody camping on my doorstep, trying to sell me something I don't want to buy, and be irritated for good reason. Some things don't advance Christ, more often our love and kindness the voice Christ wants others to hear, who already know we're Christian and don't need to be constantly reminded. But if people see something in you they'd like to have, such as your peace, your joy, a gift, sometimes this can be the strongest witness there is.

Anyway, getting a handle on life and the world is a big enough job when young, without embarking on what, more often than not, is tilting at windmills, in the name of the Lord, only. With respect to reasoning with some very Catholic Catholics, they've been at it for a very long time, can throw an entire encyclopedia of their traditions at you, as well private exegetical slants they use, could make the conversation go around in circles, until one of you dies. (If you, they wouldn't even give you space in their cemetery.)

The Lord keep you, too!
 
Hello :)
I can't form any opinion other than what is derived from scripture, but I interpret the scripture as follows:

Christ is our High Priest in whom we have salvation. He is our mediator between us and God. He is the ultimate authority. He died for our sins and it is only through Christ as our Lord that we can find forgiveness. No human being has the authority over the forgiveness of our sins. I confess my sin to God through Jesus when seeking forgiveness.

I confess sins to brothers and sisters in Christ in hopes that they will pray with me and help keep me accountable. I would also confess sin to a brother or sister if I have personally wronged them.

In sum, Jesus is our everything. He is our hope, the ultimate authority, and our savior. I can't find hope of peace or hope of forgiveness for sin in mankind, only through Jesus. In the end, it will be Christ our Lord who judges...not a human being.
 
Don't worry whether or not you've been taught wrong all your life. Yesterday is in the past. Today, the now, is what matters.

Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

My point from this verse: Choose today to serve and seek God :)

Also, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight. " (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trust that God will lead you as you seek him.This verse can be applied to many areas of our lives, but I'd also like to share another one with you from the book of James (ch. 1):

[SUP]5 [/SUP]If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It's very clear that you want to understand, you're seeking God's truth...Continue to ask Him and seek. And again,

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.


Trust Him to give you guidance as you seek Him. He is a good father!

Matthew 7:9-11
9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?



You'll be alright sweetheart. We're here and happy to help you the best we can as you continue to seek His truth! We might not always have the best answers, but we will certainly do everything we can to guide you as you seek Him! It's okay to question, it's okay to doubt and wonder, but what matters is that you are relentless in looking for the truth and following Him no matter what that might mean.

He will never leave you or forsake you, (Duet. 31:6).

I'll leave you with one final verse:

Romans 8:36-39

37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Godgivesmestrength said:
I completely agree ressurection33. I guess the hardest part is worrying that I've been taught wrong all my life. Or what I've believed since a child is a lie. It's scary to think about, at least for me.
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Scary as it is, you should consider yourself very blessed to see what you see. In these last days Protestant churches are sliding into apostasy at an alarming rate, & you have your eyes opened to truth. Grace & mercy has been poured out on you.:)

If your family are as devout as you say, prepare for heated arguments, for they stoutly believe in their religious system. I hope they love you more than it.

Another thing to consider is, why you? Perhaps the Lord has a purpose for you much bigger than you imagine. Whatever it is, just remember..... He who calls you out equips you for your journey.:)
 
Hi Godgivesmestrength, I posted in your other thread of the same nature. Maybe this site could be of some help to you in answering the many questions you have: Catholic Answers
Also, I'm Catholic and have had a lot of the questions you are having, so if you want to chat or message me, I could maybe help you a little. God bless. :)
 
Godgivesmestrength said:
I posted this on another thread but got no response. :( I was raised Catholic and have been all my life, I'm 18 now and beginning to see a lot of flaws in my church. For one, I don't understand why I need to confess my sins to a priest and not directly to God. I came to this website to find out about other dominations and there teachings. I want to switch to a Protestant church but fear what my family will think of me. It scares me what will happen if I do make the switch. My grandparents especially are devout Catholics and would look down on me for this. I can't help but feel lost and confused where I am in my faith. Someone please help lead me in the right direction.
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You have to fear God,and not your relatives,for will you be not in the truth,and lose your soul because you are afraid of your relatives.

The truth it would seem,because of the things they do,that is not biblical,is that when the Roman Empire embraced Christianity,and the Bible,they did not get rid of their religious ways,and go strictly by the Bible,but held unto their religious ways,and dragged them in to the Bible,and it kind of became their foundation for the interpretation of scriptures,which they do some things that is a grave error,especially in the position of the Pope,and exalting Mary,which Jesus said do not exalt her,for anybody that does the will of God is as blessed as her,and even went to the point of pointing at His disciples,and saying behold My mother,brothers,and sisters,for whoever does the will of God,the same is My mother,brother,and sisters,and Jesus always called Mary,woman.

Which if you gather the scriptures that testify against them,and their beliefs,you can present it to your relatives,which they probably will not heed to it,for they too are afraid of people,and honor them,and will arrogance,not wanting to admit they are wrong,keep them from being saved.
 
I understand what you are saying mpaper but if they are in the wrong doesn't mean I can't love them. I will always respect their beliefs it's not my place to tell them what to do. Also, thank you seala God bless!!!
 
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