Dr. Brian J. Kopp: My Conversion Story

Mary's Remnant ^ | Not stated, but article is timeless ... | Dr. Brian J. Kopp

[mlizzy]

Sometimes you just don't appreciate all you have and all that has been given to you. Sometimes it takes another to challenge your thoughts, beliefs and preconceived notions, in order to make you see that which has been sitting right under your nose all along. God sometimes uses others, and even their own errors and misconceptions, to wake us up to His presence and the Truth He has preserved for us in His Roman Catholic Church.

Throughout college, in all my pre-med courses, I was constantly taught the Darwinian dogma, that we are all the products of the blind forces of evolution, and that there was no purpose, rhyme nor reason to evolution. The orthodoxy that reigned then was that man was simply a physical being, the result of nothing more than chance. I ate it up. If they had offered a minor in evolution, I would have received it, for I took every evolution, anthropology, and archeology course my "liberal arts" college offered. I teetered precariously on the edge of the despairing atheism that is the home of those who embrace this philosophy, this hypothesis. At that time, I simply was not mature enough or well read enough to realize that this "objective scientific" position, of humanistic atheism, was neither scientific nor objective. The ego and rebellion of young adulthood is ripe for the stroking of the intellect that these errors of humanistic philosophy produce. "Man's mind is the highest power on Earth" and "Scientific knowledge is our God," could well have been the banner over the science building where I spent so many hours studying. more...

[mlizzy]

God works in mysteriously ways. After posting articles from Natural News and links to Mercola, I received a number of comments calling both men "a**holes," "frauds," "snake-oil salesmen," "quacks," and so on. This is not MY belief, however, but I was steered to a Dr. Brian J. Kopp through my posts, and I'll be forever grateful for same.

With Christmas around the corner, I think of the oils Frankincense and Myrrh. And through Dr. Kopp, there's some gold that can be found as well.

[sr4402]

Memorizing select portions of Genesis chapters One through Three help significantly. The Scriptures have to be taken by faith in accordance with good doctrine.

Memorizing Genesis 1:1 Lifts up the Spirit and the Soul and is foundational for a Godly Perspective.

Memorizing Genesis 2:16,17 was extremely helpful in understanding good doctrine.

[oyez]

I have had a problem with some denominations leaving a gap between the inception of the church and The Reformation.

[mlizzy]

I looked them up!

Genesis 1:1

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

[mlizzy]

I have had a problem with some denominations leaving a gap between the inception of the church and The Reformation.

I've only looked into two different denominations, Lutheranism of which I was for over 30 years (however, not a "good" Lutheran for that whole period of time), and Catholicism. I learned about the Catholic Church not so much by words (however I DID read a lot about the lives of the saints), but through the actions of those who attend daily Mass. My husband, but then boyfriend, would walk as best he could in the blinding snow whipping sideways into his face for over two miles to daily Mass (and back!). I thought there's either something very very important being handed out at Mass ... or ... he's absolutely out of his mind and I best re-think our impending marriage. Anyway, long story shorter, I join him at the Breaking of the Bread every day and have been for the past 25 years. I also recite the daily Rosary, go to Reconciliation, and take all that the Catholic Church offers to help one walk upright in the winds.

[sr4402]

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Yes, that's right. God created the heavens and the earth out of Nothing. He decreed it and it was by His Sovereign Power. Man did not create the Heavens (all the Universe we see at night), nor the Earth. God did. It is an answer easy enough for a child to understand but Theologians still stumble over it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Yes, Evolution cannot explain where death came from, nor the total extent of it. But the Scriptures explain it precisely.

Spiritual and Physical Death came upon the World through Adam and Eve's disobedience (Romans 5:12), death was not the normal (in Creation) until they did so. The day they ate, they died Spiritually that day, there bodies followed by the effects of Sin logically.

Romans 5:12 shows that this act plunged ALL Mankind into Sin and Death. Thus ALL are in need of Salvation and Redemption (That there are no exceptions). I believe this is the underpinning of what St. Augustine wrote regarding Salvation.

Romans 3, Psalm 14 and 53, all say that as a result "No One Seeks for God", "No one Understands God" and "No One does Good". That without God none of these things happen. That is why when you see any of these things happening, God is at work and we need to help folks understand what is happening. They need to hear the Good News - The Gospel.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

I think Dr. Kopp should read the book of John again! Personally, I do not know what Bible church’s he attended whereby he thought we have abandoned teachings of Christ as well as making sin something that isn’t addressed.

I’m a Presbyterian. I am NOT proud of some of the General Assembly’s sidings and DO NOT agree with them. So, I direct my offerings at times directly to help something in my church or mission work versus their wasteful objectives. As in ALL governing bodies, whether religious or public, or private, you have to choose your way in all of them. Will you cheat the government (which is really all other taxpayers-those who work), will you cheat/steal at work, will you cheat/steal shopping, etc.

I believe my sins are to be directly given to Christ, not through an earthly man so I don’t agree with confession. I also do not get enough meaning through the Catholic services rituals and memorization.

[mlizzy]

I think Dr. Kopp should read the book of John again! Personally, I do not know what Bible church’s he attended whereby he thought we have abandoned teachings of Christ as well as making sin something that isn’t addressed.

I've heard tell that Dr. Kopp is a FReeper, so hopefully he'll see your comment and post back to you. I DO know, however, that it would be very difficult to *get enough meaning* through the Catholic Church without receiving the Eucharist, the "sum and substance" of the Catholic faith and the more times a week, the better!

I realize you first need to believe in the faith, before making the step to be a Catholic and receiving the Eucharist in the first place, but that is where their power lies -- in their distribution of the Host, the Real Presence of Christ Jesus.

However, I'm curious ... why would you stay with a faith that you are *not* proud of and *do not* agree with (all of the time) and have to *choose your way* in, instead of finding a faith you believe in all the way?

[rwa265]

I’m sure Dr. Kopp has thouroughly studied John, particularly Chapter 6. That is the very foundation of the Roman Catholic belief that we truly receive the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. If God can rain down manna from heaven, if Jesus can multiply loaves and fishes, why can’t He, through His representatives on earth, turn bread and wine into His body and blood?

[BenKenobi]

Same here. I had a problem with that gap too, as a historian.

Now at least it all makes sense...

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Dear mlizzy,

The doctor I mentioned in this story, my residency director and a dear friend, passed away last month at age 58 from lung cancer. Please keep him in your prayers.

God Bless,
Brian

[mlizzy]

I certainly will Dr. Kopp.

I'm really enjoying your writings. If there are others at another source, please let me know.

[Dajjal]

Bumpus ad summum

[Brian Kopp DPM]

If there are others at another source, please let me know.

Here's some blogs where I post occasionally: http://www.summorumpontificum.net/
http://faithreasonandhealth.blogspot.com/
http://latininpatton.blogspot.com/ (This one is mostly just pictures and articles from our local TLM.)