"I still don't understand why you and your wife want to be Catholics?"
I received these words in the comments section by an anonymous poster. It is a fair question. If this blog is to have meaning, I must answer it.
I have explained that our previous Lutheran Church was straying, in our opinion. The greater Evangelical Lutheran Church was starting to allow same-sex marriages and openly gay pastors who were not celibate. Perhaps our main reason for leaving was our local church's treatment of the Eucharist. It was not exclusively the body and blood of Jesus Christ, but a recruitment tool for increased church membership. Our pastor convinced the church council that allowing non-baptized persons to receive the Eucharist made them "feel welcome." The church didn't even require that people "believe" before receiving communion. Essentially, there was no requirement to receiving communion at all, except that a person get in line and hold out their hand. I am not criticizing our old church, although I know it seems that I am. That church played an important role in our faith journey. They were free to change their communion policy, and we were free to disagree - and to leave. We still love and respect the people of that church.
Becoming Catholic is more for us than leaving an old church with which we disagreed. We are also seeking. We are seeking the church that Jesus Christ himself founded. We are seeking a relationship with Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, and the Communion of Saints that only the church can deliver. We are seeking a fellowship with Christians who understand our desire and respect for the Eucharist. We are not looking to reject protestant Christians, but to embrace all Christians. The word catholic, after all, means universal, and is sometimes used to refer to all of Christianity, and not just the Roman Catholic Church.
We are enjoying the process. My wife was a life-long Lutheran, but I became a Lutheran after a single two-hour class. The process of becoming Catholic has been spiritual, enlightening, and rewarding. Our priest has made sure of that and has been very generous with his time. It is taking us several months, but it has been a good transition. Patience is a virtue I sometimes lack, and I am anxiously looking forward to my confirmation and first communion next month. My wife is also enjoying this very much. She goes to adoration every week and has learned to pray the Rosary.
Perhaps my words do not do justice to the joy we are feeling. Our relationship with Christ, and each other, has been strengthened.
Like the prodigal son, we are coming home to the mother church and we feel welcome.
I have explained that our previous Lutheran Church was straying, in our opinion. The greater Evangelical Lutheran Church was starting to allow same-sex marriages and openly gay pastors who were not celibate. Perhaps our main reason for leaving was our local church's treatment of the Eucharist. It was not exclusively the body and blood of Jesus Christ, but a recruitment tool for increased church membership. Our pastor convinced the church council that allowing non-baptized persons to receive the Eucharist made them "feel welcome." The church didn't even require that people "believe" before receiving communion. Essentially, there was no requirement to receiving communion at all, except that a person get in line and hold out their hand. I am not criticizing our old church, although I know it seems that I am. That church played an important role in our faith journey. They were free to change their communion policy, and we were free to disagree - and to leave. We still love and respect the people of that church.
Becoming Catholic is more for us than leaving an old church with which we disagreed. We are also seeking. We are seeking the church that Jesus Christ himself founded. We are seeking a relationship with Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, and the Communion of Saints that only the church can deliver. We are seeking a fellowship with Christians who understand our desire and respect for the Eucharist. We are not looking to reject protestant Christians, but to embrace all Christians. The word catholic, after all, means universal, and is sometimes used to refer to all of Christianity, and not just the Roman Catholic Church.We are enjoying the process. My wife was a life-long Lutheran, but I became a Lutheran after a single two-hour class. The process of becoming Catholic has been spiritual, enlightening, and rewarding. Our priest has made sure of that and has been very generous with his time. It is taking us several months, but it has been a good transition. Patience is a virtue I sometimes lack, and I am anxiously looking forward to my confirmation and first communion next month. My wife is also enjoying this very much. She goes to adoration every week and has learned to pray the Rosary.
Perhaps my words do not do justice to the joy we are feeling. Our relationship with Christ, and each other, has been strengthened.
Like the prodigal son, we are coming home to the mother church and we feel welcome.
Hi it's me again :-)
I can understand your position for leaving a particular church because of abuses in communion. I don't know too much about the Lutheran religion but I know that it's similar to Catholicism in some ways but not all. However, to jump from a religion with problematic doctrines to another faith with problematic doctrines and teachings is hard for me to understand why.
In Acts 17:11 says: 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
In other words it's prudent to search the Scriptures when hearing new doctrines to see if Scripture supports it.
Why not a church that focus on teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? There are many good Bible churches around that are probably available to where ever you are.
Anyhow, best wishes to you and your wife as you journey into Catholicism. My only advise would be to keep your eyes focused only on Jesus, not Mary, not the saints nor even the Pope but soley on Christ Himself. You can never go wrong with that;-)
Christ's peace be with you!
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:43 AM
Funny how you are told to ignore those whose lives were given to us to serve as examples of how most perfectly to imitate him.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:22 PM
In response to th poster who said this:
"My only advise would be to keep your eyes focused only on Jesus, not Mary, not the saints nor even the Pope but soley on Christ Himself."
The Roman Catholic Church is Christ's Church, this IS THE CHURCH CHRIST FOUNDED.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:50 PM
Thank you for your blog. I have enjoyed reading it. I am a life-long ELCA Lutheran who has also watched her church turn from the church of her childhood, particularly the respect for Communion. I married a Catholic and have attended mass regularly for over a year now and am greatly moved by the respect the Church gives to the Mass and to God. I am thinking of converting so we can be a family of one faith, but I want to reconcile this with my personal faith. Your journey has certainly given me inspiration and encouragement about the process. I too was scared to death about the idea of confession. I am glad it was a great experience for you.
~Katherine
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:08 PM
Why go from ELCA to Catholic, and not become MS? The MS has not taken on these liberal issues.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:20 AM