Catholics & Catholicism

Question:

I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee.

Welcome home and Amen to that! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

Hello Mike: I was brought up in mainline Protestant denominations (started off as a Congregationalist, later became a Methodist).  It is becoming more and more clear to me that the Roman Catholic Church is right on most – perhaps all – of the important social issues of today.  That list would include opposition to homosexual "marriage" and opposition to abortion at the top. It makes sense that the one true church would take the obviously correct stance on these two issues, which I believe are the seminal issues of our generation.  Most major Protestant denominations seem to be taking a pass on these and other issues and in fact some of them are vocal and active supporters of allowing homosexual "marriage".  So I am beginning to understand where you are coming from.

Response:

I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself.

Bring the zeal and fervor from your past church to improve the Catholic Church … One of my basic principles is that we Catholics can learn a lot from other religions … the love of the Bible of the fundamentalist Protestants … the proselytizing out of love by the Jehovah Witnesses … the service and tithing of the Mormons … the love of tradition of the Jew … the 6 times of day prayers of a Muslim … As you have found … none of those are the Church founded by Jesus …The Catholic Church is … but Catholics following those devotions would indeed be better Catholics … Be seeing you In the Village Number 6

Response:

I think you can also add the Church’s teachings on marriage and divorce. Read what Jesus says on the subject, the Catholic Church and then most Protestant Churchs. Yet the world makes fun and mocks the Church for being "too conservative". Mike

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson Hello Mike: I was brought up in mainline Protestant denominations (started off as a Congregationalist, later became a Methodist).  It is becoming more and more clear to me that the Roman Catholic Church is right on most – perhaps all – of the important social issues of today.  That list would include opposition to homosexual "marriage" and opposition to abortion at the top. It makes sense that the one true church would take the obviously correct stance on these two issues, which I believe are the seminal issues of our generation.  Most major Protestant denominations seem to be taking a pass on these and other issues and in fact some of them are vocal and active supporters of allowing homosexual "marriage".  So I am beginning to understand where you are coming from.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

First of all welcome home… second of all don’t try to make much of an impression on most of the anti-catholics that post here.  According to them they know what you think and do far better than you do. Sad but true.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson First of all welcome home… second of all don’t try to make much of an impression on most of the anti-catholics that post here.  According to them they know what you think and do far better than you do. Sad but true.

Isn’t that the truth!  It gets old real quick. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

A great post, and welcome back. I myself had fallen away from the RCC for a time – Ironically, I learned more about my faith and religious heritage by being away from it for a time – probably more so than if I had never left it. It really is "the true Church" founded by Christ and His disciples. The RCC needs to be somewhat more evangelical in its practices and outlook, and evangelical Protestants need to really and honestly look at the roots of the Christian church – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Welcome home and Amen to that! Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

Response:

AMEN Brother! I converted myself while trying to "save" my wife who was a cradle Catholic. She would go to Church and I would stay home and watch Jimmy Swaggert on TV. On day he said that if anyone researched the Early Church they would find that it did not resemble in any way the Catholic Church. Great I thought! This is how I will convert by dear wife. I went out and bought several books and started studying the Early Church Fathers. I then discovered that Jimmy could not have studied them for it was obvious that the Early Church had very Catholic teachings. That was the beginning of my conversion to Church. People object to what they "think" Catholics believe. Once they "know" what we really believe and the scriptural basis for it I find they feel like someone who has been lied to by someone they trusted. Mike Tennyson

A great post, and welcome back. I myself had fallen away from the RCC for a time – Ironically, I learned more about my faith and religious heritage by being away from it for a time – probably more so than if I had never left it. It really is "the true Church" founded by Christ and His disciples. The RCC needs to be somewhat more evangelical in its practices and outlook, and evangelical Protestants need to really and honestly look at the roots of the Christian church

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Welcome home and Amen to that! Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – AMEN Brother! I converted myself while trying to "save" my wife who was a cradle Catholic. She would go to Church and I would stay home and watch Jimmy Swaggert on TV. On day he said that if anyone researched the Early Church they would find that it did not resemble in any way the Catholic Church. Great I thought! This is how I will convert by dear wife. I went out and bought several books and started studying the Early Church Fathers. I then discovered that Jimmy could not have studied them for it was obvious that the Early Church had very Catholic teachings. That was the beginning of my conversion to Church. People object to what they "think" Catholics believe. Once they "know" what we really believe and the scriptural basis for it I find they feel like someone who has been lied to by someone they trusted.

But the real mystery is why such people will not read the Early Christian Fathers, or even glimpse at the Lives of the Saints. I guess they’re afraid of what they might find out. But why?? BAM

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – AMEN Brother! I converted myself while trying to "save" my wife who was a cradle  Catholic. She would go to Church and I would stay home and watch Jimmy Swaggert on  TV. On day he said that if anyone researched the Early Church they would find that it did not resemble in any way the Catholic Church. Great I thought! This is how I will convert by dear wife. I went out and bought several  books and started studying the Early Church Fathers. I then discovered that  Jimmy could not have studied them for it was obvious that the Early Church had very Catholic teachings. That was the beginning of my conversion to  Church. People object to what they "think" Catholics believe. Once they "know"  what we really believe and the scriptural basis for it I find they feel like someone who has been lied to by someone they trusted. But the real mystery is why such people will not read the Early Christian Fathers, or even glimpse at the Lives of the Saints. I guess they’re afraid of what they might find out. But why??

 If they could just reflect on the mind behind the councils…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BAM

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was a Protestant evengelical (called myself a Fundamentalist) and usually attended the Baptist church. Most of what I was told Roman Catholics believed was from non-Catholics (yet I believed what I was told) After years of study, particularly of the Early Church Fathers , I realized that the Catholic Church was the indeed the Church founded by Jesus. Today, I have a sense of peace and closeness to the Lord I never experienced in a Protestant Church. The teachings of the True Presence as well as the Authority of the Church (Tradition) let me know I am practicing a faith that has been around for 2,000 years and will be here forever. I pray that all you Protestants out there that attack the Church be careful. For the sake of your souls do not just believe what you have been told, investigate the Church yourself. We do not worship the Pope. We do not worship idols. We do not belive the Bread "transforms" into Flesh (we believe in Transubstantiation, which is the opposite of transform) We believe Jesus is the only Son of God We believe He died for our Sins. We believe in the necessity of Baptism for Salvation We believe in the Authority of the Church (Apostolic Succession) We believe in the Trinity. Brothers and Sisters, let us Love each other as the Lord commanded. We believe more in common than we disagee. Vivat Jesus! Mike Tennyson Hello Mike: I was brought up in mainline Protestant denominations (started off as a Congregationalist, later became a Methodist).  It is becoming more and more clear to me that the Roman Catholic Church is right on most – perhaps all – of the important social issues of today.  That list would include opposition to homosexual "marriage" and opposition to abortion at the top.

        And how will that make your life better in this life or the next? Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It makes sense that the one true church would take the obviously correct stance on these two issues, which I believe are the seminal issues of our generation.  Most major Protestant denominations seem to be taking a pass on these and other issues and in fact some of them are vocal and active supporters of allowing homosexual "marriage".  So I am beginning to understand where you are coming from.

Response: