Protestantism

» pink101 - Major Reason For Cross Overs

In response to Major Reason For Cross Overs posted by Brother_Jones:
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I think you are bringing an issue to the surface that had never crossed my mind. I wonder if others get the same message.
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But, as long as you have it on the table, I have to wonder about how much of a problem it might be. Is it growing?
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If I assume it is growing and that it may be of some concern to Protestant leaders, I have to blame Protestantism and especially Evangelicalism. Why? Why do you think I put the blame on them?
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It is because they have taken the focus off from Jesus and put it on the idea of being CHURCHED. That is the major failure of Christian Fundamentalists and Evangelicals(Same thing more or less).
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As soon as the Catholic leadership figures it out, they'll get involved in an all out effort to proselytize those people in Evangelical circles that are there because it's the thing to do. I could predict a major swing away from Protestantism to Catholicism. I also hear that Protestant churches are growing in situations where the membership gets credit just for showing up at once-a-week services. They have Christian Rock Bands and live wide open lives just like Catholics and the church takes care of their sins. They just have to do penance of one type or another.
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It's the nature of religionism.
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"When rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."
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In the meantime, a lot of societal destruction has taken place.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Major Reason For Cross Overs

In response to Major Reason For Cross Overs posted by pink101:

It is because they have taken the focus off from Jesus

bingo

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» Migisi - What's the attraction?

In response to Finding the starting point. posted by Brother_Jones:
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What's the attraction to Catholicism? Since my generation, there's been a mass exodus of baptised Catholics (Americans) from the RC Church. Have you had an opportunity to ask a Protestant who's crossed over what their reason was?

-- posted by Migisi

» Brother_Jones - What's the attraction?

In response to What's the attraction? posted by Migisi:

Have you had an opportunity to ask a Protestant who's crossed over what their reason was?

I do have one specific family member who went from conservative church to Espiscopalian because he found someone there who understood what he was going through and who loved him and who loved God. This may sound like a very simple argument but maybe after all the discontended people left the Catholic Church you spoke about, maybe it got down to really dedicated ones and then God was able to bless the effort. I don't think God is really interested in having a big group that sorta puts up with Him. He is delighted when He finds two or three that understand what it is all about. Most of us would do well to seek out just a couple of people to truly learn what God is doing in their lives. That is why the coffee shop type experience that I have every Tuesday with my bible buddies is about the most important thing I do all week.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» _Boanerges_ - the coffee shop

In response to What's the attraction? posted by Brother_Jones:

That is why the coffee shop type experience that I have every Tuesday with my bible buddies is about the most important thing I do all week.

http://kansascitygraffiti.blogspot.com/2...

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» Migisi - What's the attraction?

In response to What's the attraction? posted by Brother_Jones:
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...from conservative church to Espiscopalian because he found someone there who understood what he was going through and who loved him and who loved God.
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There was no one in the conservative church who loved him? Boo hoo. And no one loved God either? Yikes! Doesn't say much for conservative churches. But Episcopalian isn't Roman Catholic. Have you asked a Protestant-turned-Catholic why they switched? I'd ask, but I don't know any.
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This may sound like a very simple argument but maybe after all the discontended people left the Catholic Church you spoke about, maybe it got down to really dedicated ones and then God was able to bless the effort.
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Simple is good. In reality, how many realtors can one Catholic parish support? The discontented moved on to more fertile ground... to the Protestant mega-churches where all the money is now.
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I don't think God is really interested in having a big group that sorta puts up with Him.
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Perhaps God isn't, but the Catholic dioceses is definitely interested. Empty pews means no cash in the collection. Papa needs a new Popal limo. (wink)
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He is delighted when He finds two or three that understand what it is all about.
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I'd be delighted too. Ha!
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Most of us would do well to seek out just a couple of people to truly learn what God is doing in their lives.
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I'd like him to do a couple of things. Paint my shed and vaccuum my car. Tee hee.
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That is why the coffee shop type experience that I have every Tuesday with my bible buddies is about the most important thing I do all week.
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All I hear at my diner are hog prices and weather reports. Wanna hear about religion, you have to go to the bars after Sunday service. It's 'Jesus Christ!' this, and 'God dammit!' that, when the Chicago Cubs or Bears are playing.
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(Just a lil levity, Jones.)

-- posted by Migisi

» paper_turtle - Major Reason For Cross Overs

In response to Major Reason For Cross Overs posted by Brother_Jones:

Brother Jones wrote:
the best and brightest are going to Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, and Catholic directions because they want the spirituality they see in those faiths.
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When I first got a computer and started searching online for spiritual resoources, I discovered, to my surprise, that the sites which I found most helpful were not the Protestant ones. I was looking for places which asked the hard questions about living one's daily life, and the meaning of existence. I didn't want to be preached at, or given someone else's answer. I wanted spiritual "meat." And I found it at Catholic (and Jewish) sites, not Protestant ones.
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I was originally a Methodist, but I became an Epsicopalian not because of the ritual, or the "churchiness" of that denomination. I joined that church because of the people in it, and how they so very clearly lived Christian love in every aspect of their day, with everyone they met.
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My son, who is 21 (and his friends, who were daily guests at my house while my son was in school), were/are also interested in struggling with the difficult issues. They don't want easy answers. They can see how very complex the modern world is, and they intuitively grasp that easy answers will not suffice. I think they are representative of the larger culture which is searching for something substantive.
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My ex-husband was a Catholic. I took Catholic instruction, but decided against converting for numerous reasons. He and I attended church together--one week at his church, and the next week at mine. We both felt equally at home in either church.
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I have to say I have never felt very much at home in a Fundamentalist/Conservative/Evangelical church. I have always felt monitored, evaluated, judged--even when I didn't open my mouth and did my best to just quietly and subtly fit in.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - The Falderow

In response to Major Reason For Cross Overs posted by paper_turtle:
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It is difficult to address issues of the day in most Evangelical circles where reality is defined according to biblical prophecies.
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It is impossible to deny the fact that so much religio/policial energy is directed toward Middle East goings-on with Israel and the World of Islaam. The effect short circuits any reasonable effort toward finding a realistic approach to our international relationships. We are hung up on what God has to say in [His] Revealed Word--the Holy Bible. It's preached at us by television evangelists, conservative news brokers, in churches, and from our religious friends and relatives. It's a constant barage of b.s. about the End Times. It's hot and heavy here in our discussion threads and the falderow is on the news 24-7. We cannot escape it unless we just go deaf and dumb, blind and stupid.
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The over-kill is pandemic. We are suffering burn-out and playing directly into the hands of world dictatorship.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Jekyll and Hyde

In response to Major Reason For Cross Overs posted by paper_turtle:

I was looking for places which asked the hard questions about living one's daily life

Yes, yes, yes. Lord yes.

I can relate to something Migisi brought up. I left the greatest Church myself. And lots of others left the Church of Christ. Maybe just for one reason. To find a better reality than being taught to believe that I was involved in grandiosity. I thought of myself as omnipresent in my youthful Church because the arrogance of it was a basic pride of believing that God's best were better than everybody else because we practiced over and over the labeling of ourselves.

A few months ago my wife and I thought very seriously about going back to a local Church of Christ that we have heard some amazingly good things about. It is kinda scary, because in some ways this generation is much like what must have been going on in the first century when on any given day you didn't know which village Jesus was going to pop up in.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» _Boanerges_ - uhmmm...

so.. I guess my coffee shop link was a waste of time!...

oh well.. off to Seattle..

-- posted by _Boanerges_