As an Evangelical Protestant, echoing the words of Baptist Preacher Charles H. Spurgeon, I cared about what the Holy Spirit revealed to me, but had little regard for what he had revealed to others, especially those in the first centuries–some who knew the apostles personally.
I was convinced that the earliest Christians were basically “Protestant“ in their theology and practice and only became corrupted with “Catholic stuff“ in later centuries. I thought Protestants had the claim to authentic continuity back to the apostles.
But I was very mistaken and the more I studied the early Fathers of the Church, starting with Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, (disciples of Peter and Paul), Papias, Irenaeus, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, and others, I became convinced the early Church was Catholic. Intellectual honestly and spiritual integrity forced me to become a Catholic. As the old maxim says: “The water is always cooler and cleaner as you draw closer to the source.” I had gone back to the early Church and the truth was clear and refreshing.
So here are a few of the quotations that rocked my world and make me stand up and take notice and eventually contributed to my decision to become Catholic. I will add more as time allows. For excellent books to find this wonderful historical information, click here.
Why They Leave The Church
The beloved disciple St. John, apostle and evangelist, was noted for his unswerving kindness. One instance of his charity is the story of the young man he met at one of the cities in Asia. Our saint, in delivering a sermon, noticed a young man, fair and attractive, who gave great promise of growing up to be a man worthwhile. St. John had to return to Ephesus. Before leaving he entrusted this young man to the care of the bishop, giving strict charge that the boy should be instructed, trained, and finally baptized and confirmed. All this the bishop did conscientiously.
However, His Excellency later loosened the reins, as it were, and was less watchful over his charge. A group of wicked youths lured our young man into their company. Their talk and their behavior led him away from religion and stifled every sense of sin to the point that he became the head of a band of robbers. [A church I know kept their flocks in very closed and tight-gripped atmosphere and non-member can't go in their church without a member accompanying and only if the non-member is being invited for conversion.]
Some time later St. John returned. When he asked the bishop about the young man the latter replied: "He is dead."
"What did he die of?" asked St. John.
"He is dead to God," replied the bishop. "He has turned a robber, and instead of being in the Church with me, he has gone to a mountain where he lives with wicked men like himself."
The holy apostle burst into tears. He called for a horse and guide, and, old as he was, he rode off to find this young man in the mountains. He was taken prisoner by the guards set about the robber camp. He insisted on seeing the robber chief. When our saint met the young man he cried out:
"Son, why do you thus fly from me, your father, unarmed and an old man? There is room for repentance. Your salvation is not impossible. I will answer for you to Jesus Christ."
The young man had taken flight from St. John, but at these words he stopped, thought a moment, threw away his weapons, and burst into tears of sorrow. St. John brought him back to the true fold.
Why do Catholics fall away from the Church in our day?
This is an important question, because every year thousands of Catholics give up the practice of their faith. They leave the true fold. Why? In considering the causes we would like to help those who are out of the Church and who would like to come back, and we want to warn everyone of you to avoid these causes.
1. Proud people leave the Church. They are too proud to bend their wills to the authority of God's Church, too proud to accept the suggestions and corrections of their spiritual shepherds. Once they have left the Church they are too proud to come back.
2. Ignorance causes people to leave the Church, ignorance of the true teachings of the true fold, ignorance of the means needed to stay in the grace and friendship of God. Take stock, everyone of you. You must continue to learn about your religion, even after you have finished the catechism or have made your first Holy Communion. In general, Catholics who stray from the sheepfold do not know the simplest truths of their faith.
3. Another certain cause of leakage is carelessness in attending Sunday Mass. The surest and quickest way to lose your faith is to miss Sunday Mass through your own fault. And the closest step to missing Mass is regularly coming late to the Holy Sacrifice.
4. Materialism makes many leave the Church. They want money, fine clothes, the best cars, social position, the things of this world. They cannot see the value or even the meaning of the spiritual.
5. Mixed marriages drag many out of the fold. Statistics prove that. Beware of them.
6. Bad marriages are another cause, a big one today, with so many divorced people running around. Find out as soon as you begin to get serious about anyone, whether he or she was married before. Your eternal salvation depends upon it.
6. Bad marriages are another cause, a big one today, with so many divorced people running around. Find out as soon as you begin to get serious about anyone, whether he or she was married before. Your eternal salvation depends upon it.
7. Indifferentism causes many to fall away. They repeat the senseless, unreasonable and illogical sentence: "One religion is just as good as any other." Logic proves that false. Each religion teaches something different. All can't be right. This shallow idea that it does not make any difference what you believe, has led some to leave the Church. Ours is not the easiest religion to live. These lost sheep choose an easier one. Generally the Catholic who falls away does not join any other church. He goes to no church.
8. Still another reason for lost sheep is bad company. We see that in the story about St. John and the splendid young man who was led into a wicked life by sinful companions. How happy was St. John and how happy were the angels in heaven when the young sheep who was lost was brought back to the fold.
You might be able to add another reason or two to these causes for the loss of sheep from the true Church. Should you know of anyone who has wandered away, no matter how hardened and hopeless his case may seem, invite that individual to come back in. And you who are still in the bosom of Mother Church, consider carefully the causes
I have outlined, the reasons we have lost sheep - pride, ignorance, missing Mass, materialism, mixed marriages, bad marriages, indifferentism, and bad company.
Be warned. Be prepared.
Beware of these causes.
The true nature of christian religious confessions.
All of Them Believe in Something Different!
************************
“In the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from the very seat of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep (Jn 21:15-19), down to the present episcopate.
“And so, lastly, does the very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house.
“Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as it is right they should…With you, where there is none of these things to attract or keep me… No one shall move me from the faith which binds my mind with ties so many and so strong to the Christian religion…For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church.”
St. Augustine (AD 354-430 )
Against the Epistle of Manichaeus AD 397
[Contra Epistolam Manichaei Quam Vacant Fundamenti]
**********
“To be deep in history is to cease being a Protestant.“
Cardinal Newman
Conscience, Consensus, and the Development of Doctrine
**********
“If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (but I thought the Bible was the sole foundation?)
St. Paul
1 Timothy 3:15
**********
“Having founded and built the Church, the blessed apostles entrusted the episcopal office to Linus, who is mentioned by Paul in the Epistles to Timothy; Linus was succeeded by Anacletus; after him, in the third place from the apostles, the bishopric fell to Clement, who had seen the blessed apostles and conversed with them, and still had their preaching ringing in his ears and their authentic tradition before his eyes. And he was not the only one; there were still many people alive who had been taught by the apostles. . . . In the same order and the same succession the authentic tradition received from the apostles and passed down by the Church, and the preaching of the truth, have been handed on to us.”
St. Ireneaus (c. 130-200)
Against Heresies
**********
“But look at the men who have those perverted notions about the grace of Jesus Christ which has come down to us, and see how contrary to the mind of God they are. . . . They even abstain from the Eucharist and from the public prayers, because they will not admit that the Eucharist is the self-same body of our Savior Jesus Christ which flesh suffered for our sins, and which the Father of His goodness raised up again.“
St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. AD 106; disciple of Peter and Paul)
Epistle to the Smyrnaeans
**********
“ It is to Peter himself that He says, ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.’ Where Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church, no death is there, but life eternal.”
St. Ambrose of Milan (c. a.d 340 – 397)
Commentaries on Twelve of David’s Psalms
**********
“He has come too near to the truth, and has forgotten that truth is a magnet, with the powers of attraction and repulsion. . . . The moment men cease to pull against [the Catholic Church] they feel a tug towards it. The moment they cease to shout it down they begin to listen to it with pleasure. The moment they try to be fair to it they begin to be fond of it. But when that affection has passed a certain point it begins to take on the tragic and menacing grandeur of a great love affair. . . . When he has entered the Church, he finds that the Church is much larger inside than it is outside.”
G. K. Chesterton
The Catholic Church and Conversion
**********
“There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads; this one will not admit Baptism; that one rejects the Sacrament of the altar; another places another world between the present one and the day of judgment; some teach that Jesus Christ is not God. There is not an individual, however clownish he may be, who does not claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and who does not put forth as prophecies his ravings and dreams.”
Martin Luther
**********
“I never approved of a schism, nor will I approve of it for all eternity. . . . That the Roman Church is more honored by God than all others is not to be doubted. St, Peter and St. Paul, forty-six Popes, some hundreds of thousands of martyrs, have laid down their lives in its communion, having overcome Hell and the world; so that the eyes of God rest on the Roman church with special favor. Though nowadays everything is in a wretched state, it is no ground for separating from the Church. On the contrary, the worse things are going, the more should we hold close to her, for it is not by separating from the Church that we can make her better. We must not separate from God on account of any work of the devil, nor cease to have fellowship with the children of God who are still abiding in the pale of Rome on account of the multitude of the ungodly. There is no sin, no amount of evil, which should be permitted to dissolve the bond of charity or break the bond of unity of the body. For love can do all things, and nothing is difficult to those who are united.”
Martin Luther to Pope Leo X, January 6, 1519
more than a year after the Ninety-Five Theses
quoted in The Facts about Luther, 356
**********
“There is one God and one Christ, and one Church, and one Chair founded on Peter by the word of the Lord. It is not possible to set up another altar or for there to be another priesthood besides that one altar and that one priesthood. Whoever has gathered elsewhere is scattering.“
St. Cyprian of Carthage
Letter to his Clergy and to All His People
**********
“The Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although scattered throughout the whole world, yet, as if occupying but one house, carefully preserves it. She also believes these points of doctrine just as if she had but one soul, and one and the same heart, and she proclaims them, and teaches them, and hands them down, with perfect harmony, as if she possessed only one mouth. For, although the languages of the world are dissimilar, yet the import of the tradition is one and the same. For the churches in Germany do not believe or hand down anything different, not do those in Spain, not those in Gaul, not those in the East, nor those in Egypt, nor those in Libya, nor those which have been established in the central regions [Palestine] of the world.”
St. Ireneaus (c. 130-200)
Against Heresies
**********
“When therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek among others the truth which is easily obtained from the Church. For the apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her [the Church] most copiously everything which pertains to the truth; and everyone whosoever wishes draws from her the drink of life. Let us suppose that the apostles had left us no written records. Would we not have been able to follow the precepts of the tradition that they handed down to those to whom they entrusted the Churches? It is this precept of tradition that is followed by many barbarian nations that believe in Christ who know nothing of the use of writing, or ink.”
St. Ireneaus, (c. 130-200)
Against Heresies
**********
“The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ He says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. And to you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever things you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, they shall be loosed also in heaven.’ And again He says to him after His resurrection: ‘Feed my sheep.’ On him He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep; and although He assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet He founded a single chair, and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?”
St. Cyprian, AD 251
The Unity of the Catholic Church
**********
“But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition”.
St. Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp, disciple of John)
(Against Heresies 3:3:2 [A.D. 189]).
**********
Why are Evangelicals Turning to Catholism!
*******
Muslim converts to CATHOLICISM
This is a tribute to all those people who have found the truth,
the true meaning of love and peace, through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
LYRICS;
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
come give to us o saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
as when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice;
so when You call Your family Lord, we follow and rejoice.
with joyful lips we sing to You, our praise and gratitude,
that You should count us worthy Lord, to share this heavenly food.
the mystery of Your presence Lord, no mortal tongue can tell;
whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell.
You give yourself to us o Lord, then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in Your name in truth and charity.
***
From Muslim to Catholic: Conversion Testimony
Testimony of conversion of a former Muslim now a Catholic
Testimony of conversion of a former Muslim now a Catholic
From Atheist to Southern Baptist to
Catholic Christian (Devin Rose)
Devin Rose, the author of If Protestantism is True, is a former atheist,
turned evangelical, turned Catholic apologist. He is a remarkably charitable
gentlemen who now uses his website to disseminate free articles and
podcasts in an effort to defend the Catholic faith.
If Protestantism is True is Devin's first book of Catholic apologetics.
I had the opportunity to read the Kindle version, but there is a paperback
available now. Devin also has another book coming out called The Roman
Road (title may change) which looks like it will be of equal interest.
Without any further Devin-love, here is my review:
"Eminently readable...a teachable rhythm...end notes to take up your next
few months, Devin Rose in If Protestantism is True has written a fine book
and a wise gift to anyone interested in Catholicism and why a Protestant
might convert. Devin prods his reader to consider the beliefs and state of
Protestantism today and what that implies to its logical end--converting his
insights into a useful rhetorical strategy the title gives away. Part high-brow
theology and part anecdote from his own personal experience, Devin offers
a reader from any background an opportunity at engaging the concerns
that any serious convert to Catholicism takes up."
***
Jehovah's Witness to Catholicism -
an Interview with Gus Lloyd
Former Jehovah's Witness, Lou Everett, is interviewed on
Catholic radio Sirius/XM on the show Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd.
Lou Everett shares his fascinating story of life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses
and his eventual conversion to the Catholic Church.
Catholic radio Sirius/XM on the show Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd.
Lou Everett shares his fascinating story of life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses
and his eventual conversion to the Catholic Church.
To learn more visit: www.ourcatholicconversion.com
***
Neil Babcox - Protestant Pastor becomes Catholic
Ave Maria! After being a Protestant Pastor for over 30 years, first in a nondenominational church and then in three Presbyterian churches,Neil Babcox makes the journey home to the Catholic Faith on the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, 2006. While most Protestant converts find Catholic devotion to Our Lady an extremely difficult obstacle to becoming Catholic, for Neil it was just the opposite: Her irresistible tenderness drew him into the fullness of Christ's Church. Neil spent his first Easter with the Franciscans of the Immaculate and shared his story with AirMaria.com in two episodes. Watch Neil in this first episode as he shares how the Immaculate brought him home; he also was on EWTN, Marcus Grodi's The Journey Home on May 21st 2007 where Neil shared more of his story. Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! After being a Protestant Pastor for over 30 years, first in a nondenominational church and then in three Presbyterian churches,Neil Babcox makes the journey home to the Catholic Faith on the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, 2006. While most Protestant converts find Catholic devotion to Our Lady an extremely difficult obstacle to becoming Catholic, for Neil it was just the opposite: Her irresistible tenderness drew him into the fullness of Christ's Church. Neil spent his first Easter with the Franciscans of the Immaculate and shared his story with AirMaria.com in two episodes. Watch Neil in this first episode as he shares how the Immaculate brought him home; he also was on EWTN, Marcus Grodi's The Journey Home on May 21st 2007 where Neil shared more of his story. Ave Maria!
"New Exodus of Protestants
Coming Home to Rome"
Since 1998, we have seen the first signs of an avalanche of
conversions and re-conversions.
This year 2009 over 150,000 joined the Roman Catholic Church,
an increased of 80,000 from last year who converted
to the Catholic Church in the U.S. alone.
In 1998, more than 88,000 Protestants were received into
theCatholic Church (and more than 73,000 adults were baptized,
many of them from Protestant backgrounds) and the Protestants
[now] coming into the Church are the most devoted Protestants,
people deeply committed to Scripture and prayer.
What accounts for this Protestant exodus at the twilight of the 20th century?
SOURCES:
"A River Runs to It: A New Exodus of Protestants Streams to Rome"
By: Brand Wilcox
conversions and re-conversions.
This year 2009 over 150,000 joined the Roman Catholic Church,
an increased of 80,000 from last year who converted
to the Catholic Church in the U.S. alone.
In 1998, more than 88,000 Protestants were received into
theCatholic Church (and more than 73,000 adults were baptized,
many of them from Protestant backgrounds) and the Protestants
[now] coming into the Church are the most devoted Protestants,
people deeply committed to Scripture and prayer.
What accounts for this Protestant exodus at the twilight of the 20th century?
SOURCES:
"A River Runs to It: A New Exodus of Protestants Streams to Rome"
By: Brand Wilcox
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
"Truth Exposed"
Part 1 - Introduction 4 Former Ministers Becomes Catholic
Part 2 - Methodist Pastor comes back to Catholic Church
Part 3 - Bible Scholar Rejected Dean's Position
at Protestant Seminary to Become Catholic
Part 4 - "Mary made us Catholic"
Assembly of God Minister Larry and Joetta Lewis
Part 5 - Lutheran Pastor Finds Truth in the Catholic Church
Assembly of God Minister Larry and Joetta Lewis
Part 5 - Lutheran Pastor Finds Truth in the Catholic Church
Part 6 - Types of Pain Once You Become Catholic
Part 6 - Types of Pain Once You Become Catholic
***
Michael Cumbie and Steve Ray are both former Baptist that converted to Catholicism. They share the misconceptions they held against Catholicism by: assuming that Catholic doctrines are wrong by focusing on "practices" with prejudice; that Catholics are blind and Catholicism is "deceiving" the people; that Constantine influenced the Catholic Church and that the Bible is forbidden to be read. They actually attack a "caricature" of the Catholic Church and fail to know the "true" teachings of the Catholic Church.
Former Pentecostal Pastor leading his congregation
all to Catholicism by teaching first.
***
all to Catholicism by teaching first.
***
Journey Home - Marcus Grodi - Steve Ray - Former Baptist
A true believer now.
***
Journey Home - Marcus Grodi - Steve Ray - Former Baptist
A true believer now.
***
Former Assembly of God Minister, Now a Catholic - Tim Staples
(Saint Joseph Communications) Timothy Staples a former baptist pastor and now catholic apologist explains this belief of protestant christians and the implication on politics due to dispensation teology.
El ex pastor bautista Timothy Staples y ahora conferencista católico explica en que consiste esta creencia de los cristianos protestantes y sus implicaciones en la política debido a la teología de la dispensación.
There is another way. You don't have to find yourself in their shoes when your life ends... Jesus is the answer. Love and blessings I wish to you, in Christ's name.
No comments:
Post a Comment