What's new
By:
Filters
Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

I Don't Want to Be Catholic Anymore

  • Thread starter Future Protestant
  • Start date
F

Future Protestant

Guest
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
 
.
Hi and welcome Brother Future Protestant to our Christian fellowship in Christ. I am a former Catholic that I truly believe was as saved there as I am here: I had confessed Jesus as my Savior. Finally meeting evangelical Christians they asked if I was saved. Huh? I had little or no knowledge of biblical concepts and would argue with them, but then search for answers. The book of Galatians gave me a great many answers convincing me in my conversion. Much dogma controlling my life fell away allowing me to worship in the righteousness and true holiness of Eph 4:24. Religiousness and ritual fell away and following my Savior became a work in progress that continues today as God conforms me into the very image of Jesus (Rom 8:29); thus the statement many have uttered, be patient with me; God isn't finished with me yet.
Blessings in Christ Jesus. :wave2
 
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...
It's probably not going to matter that much unless you yourself can define your reasons to leave rather than having others do it for you.

I wouldn't honestly say protestants as a general group are any closer to God. I've sat in both as a member. No one needs a sect to be closer to God. Get closer to God in Christ on your own and you'll be fine either way and anyway.
 
Eugene said:
.
Hi and welcome Brother Future Protestant to our Christian fellowship in Christ. I am a former Catholic that I truly believe was as saved there as I am here: I had confessed Jesus as my Savior. Finally meeting evangelical Christians they asked if I was saved. Huh? I had little or no knowledge of biblical concepts and would argue with them, but then search for answers. The book of Galatians gave me a great many answers convincing me in my conversion. Much dogma controlling my life fell away allowing me to worship in the righteousness and true holiness of Eph 4:24. Religiousness and ritual fell away and following my Savior became a work in progress that continues today as God conforms me into the very image of Jesus (Rom 8:29); thus the statement many have uttered, be patient with me; God isn't finished with me yet.
Blessings in Christ Jesus. :wave2
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind words. I certainly feel that the Catholic Church is too ritualistic. They focus on rituals that are not in the Bible. I will seek out the advice of Evangelicals in my conversion process.
 
jaybird said:
what ritual is not from the bible?
Click to expand...
It was ritualism that eventually drove me out of the RCC. I particularly abhorred myself for kissing the feet of little 4' brass statue of Jesus on the cross on Ash Weds.

Jesus said, INSTANTLY, in my heart when I did it, "just what in the world do you think you're doing? You KNOW where I am and I am NOT in that little brass statue."

gulp, sorry man.
 
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...
Welcome to CF FP! Being a Catholic or a Protestant will not get you anything but Hell any way. I you will read Genesis 3 you will see that God walked with Adam (Man) in the evening, they Fellowshiped. Why tell you that? You're searching for the truth.

I am often, mistakenly, called a Baptist and I often, for ease, tell people that I'm a Baptist but boil it all down and remove the dross and out pops a Christian that is most comfortable in Corporate Worships with Baptist Church Members.

Your only task is to seek after God and He will indwell you through the Holy Spirit and when you feel at home in one Church, that will be where God will use you. May God blessw your search.
 
The Catholic Church belongs to a group of denominations known as liturgical in their worship. Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Greek/Russian Orthodox among a few others belong to this type of worship. They tend to have a organizational make up that tends to mimic the ancient Jewish Temple system. Instead of Sadducees, Pharisees etc, these liturgical churches use priests, bishops cardinals, etc. This layered administration places this type of organization between God and man. This type of Temple administration is unnecessary and obsolete.
Christ is our High Priest and any clergy should be there only to facilitate one's relationship with the Lord. Whenever a man tries to stand between God and a believer it sets the stage for corruption. People who try to do this are vainly attempting to maintain relevance. They can throw on all the robes they want to mimic royalty and make up all the rituals they want, but ultimately it is all futility. They are easily bypassed by just picking up your bible and reading for yourself. God is just a prayer away. Go find Him for yourself and let no man stand in your way.
Many Christian do indeed find the Lord in liturgical denominations and flourish in their walk with the Lord there. But if you are looking to leave then remember no man has a corner on God but all Christians have a piece of the Truth. Appreciate that tapestry of faith. Discern truth from deception among the Body of Christ. As you learn you will find confidence.
 
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...

Why do you need arguments for and against conversion? Arguments for your conversion I get, to strengthen your resolve, but if you don't feel like God is leading you while in the Catholic Church, why do you want arguments against doing it?

One aspect I have heard as a critism against churches are that some of them seem to welcome one group of people more and reject other types of people. So with that in mind, wherever you go keep the love of God on in your thoughts. If your community supports conservatives, liberals, traditional or non traditional church style, or even the economic state of a certain set of people (understands the needs of the poor but looks down on the rich, or visa versa, asks what's reasonable for the rich and doesn't understand the needs of the needy). If you came from a catholic community it might have been a more diverse group. Wherever you go in a church denomination keep that love for people wherever they are and don't let dynamics split up your love for Christian brothers and sisters. Where I'm from, many small churches struggle for memberships and look negatively on larger churches. But they still teach a sermon and give to the community so in my opinion they are still good for the spiritual sustenance that I look for when I go. Just a thought for your journey. :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...
I'm not going to do that! You decide.
 
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...
Hello "Future Protestant".

In my opinion, God could care less what box mankind puts you into just because you were born to a certain mother and father.

So, you born to a man and wife that were from the "Catholic" line. So what. Religions are man made. Is there any test that you can do to any stranger on the street and determine if they are Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, or even Buddhist or any other form of religion? Not at all.

You have said that you are unhappy with the methods of the Catholic Church. Well, then, get up out of your Pew, and, next Sunday, go to another church. Try an evangelical church, try a Baptist, try a Pentecostal church... get a hold of their written mandate of what they stand for and what their outlook is on the way they perceive scripture, baptism, salvation, communion and all the other foundational topics of our Christian beliefs.

When you find one that you feel represents your core fundamental way you want to worship.... stick with that.

I was born Protestant. I was raised as "associated Gospel" went to a Baptist Church for a while, then Pentecostal, then, for the sake of the kids being interested in going with their friends and enjoying the childrens program, we went to a Christian Reform church. Now, again, for the kids interest sake, we go to an Associated Gospel Church...

I am founded on my salvation in Christ. If I can keep the kids in the church and interested, I will go where they are happy to go.

All these churches preach salvation through Christ's death and resurrection, by faith. All teach that we need to serve the Lord. All teach some sort of "profession of faith" through water baptism. All preach that it is the acknowledgement of our sins, repentance, asking for forgiveness and that Christ is the only one who can forgive us these sins and give us His free gift of eternal life.

You cannot go wrong if this is the basics.

Just don't let anyone tell you that there is some magical, human conceived ritual that you have to go through to be Catholic or Protestant. You are a human, made in the image of God, searching for a method to worship Him. Your mom and dad may have given you your nose, hair color, height, and other attributes... they do not give you any unchangeable religious mandate.

Many people, in the Catholic church are saved and many are not... Many in the Protestant churches are saved, many are not......Some are comfortable with RCC methods, many are not. Many are not happy with the Protestant church ideal either.... It's all man made views of how to worship our Lord and Savior.
 
Hello

we are normally brought up by the traditions of our parents choice of denomination

until we get older and decide to make decisions which best suit our needs

God has called you to have a more intimate relationship with him through his son Jesus

the catholic church like many fellowships talks from scriptures about the knowledge of God

but what is missing in your life is actually knowing God personally and developing a personal relationship with him

a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus is taught and offered through many protestant fellowships

attending a protestant fellowship and just listening to there teaching will help to give you a better understanding and clarification

at some stage when you are ready through a fellowship or maybe a protestant christian friend to guide you

you will be offered an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

in protestant fellowships Romans 10.9 is a common guide that is to used to help us make a public declaration and confession

of our repentance and need to ask for forgiveness and acknowledge our belief that Jesus is the son of God and his sacrifice on the cross has redeemed us from our sin and that our spirit is reborn and we have been reconciled back to God and are now new creatures in Christ Jesus transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

this is an introduction to salvation and the journey to get to know Jesus and become more Christ like developing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and renewing our mind by reading the word of God which helps us to transform and fellowshipping with other Christians

this is all part of our discipleship and helps us to establish our foundation in Jesus as we learn to develop and grow in our personal relationship with him

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you Mathew 7.7

I hope this helps you a bit more

Peace
 
Last edited:
Future Protestant said:
Hello everyone. I am a young man that feels trapped in Roman Catholicism. I don't feel like the Catholic Church is leading me towards God. I feel like it is actually leading me away from God's truth. I have numerous problems with Catholic teachings and practices. I also don't feel comfortable in a Catholic Church setting. I am looking towards becoming an Evangelical Protestant. I feel like they are closer to God's holy word than the Catholic Church is. Can anyone here give me advice on leaving the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant? I need arguments for and against my potential conversion. May God bless you all.
Click to expand...
 
smaller said:
It's probably not going to matter that much unless you yourself can define your reasons to leave rather than having others do it for you.

I wouldn't honestly say protestants as a general group are any closer to God. I've sat in both as a member. No one needs a sect to be closer to God. Get closer to God in Christ on your own and you'll be fine either way and anyway.
Click to expand...
Much of the time, I just sit here reading and musing that the people posting here actually figured out how to operate a computer.

But, posts like yours are so uplifting! It is inspiring to see that some people, like you, honestly seem to understand what a relationship with Jesus is all about.
 
.
Hi Jan O, and welcome here in love in Jesus' name. I was RCC, didn't really know my bible, and sermons were in Latin. Circumstances being different, and knowing what I do now, I seriously doubt I would have stayed a member of them.

A friend I began working with asked me one day if I was saved; I had never heard the expression, and subsequent questions more or less trapped me into seeking a defence, and I began reading my Catholic bible. The small book of Galatians gave me a plethora of answers to my lack, and I would dig deeper. I ended up taking my bible to see my priest at the time, and he suggested that I was Lutheran after hearing my thinking after reading my Catholic bible.

It sounds as if you too have made up your mind, and hopefully truth is your guide. I will not bash Catholics, as I know many of them that are truly saved. Our terms of service on these forums prohibit discussion with the following rule.

TOS rule 2.2 RCC content in the End Times forum should relate to End Times beliefs. Do not start new topics elsewhere or sway existing threads toward a discussion or debate that may be viewed as ‘Catholic’ in nature.

The problems encountered in open discussion would become heated debate, and certainly not godly in nature. I do hope you find your place in the one and only Church made up of anyone who has ever called upon the name of the Lord.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Do you belong to this elite calling?)
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Blessings to you in Jesus' name. :wave2
 
Eugene said:
and sermons were in Latin.
Click to expand...
What church (parish) did you attend where the priest preached in Latin?
I've never heard of such a thing experienced by anyone born after 1900.
I was raised RC and the mass was in Latin when I was young but the sermons were always in English.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top