Conversion Story - Matt Enloe (former Baptist) [prepare to be amazed!]

1 posted on 08/08/2007 1:31:35 PM PDT by NYer

To: Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

Look forward to your comments!

2 posted on 08/08/2007 1:32:37 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)

“According to my childhood church, tradition and memory meant nothing, only Faith.”

Just so everyone is clear, that is NOT what Sola Scriptura means. That could be inferred from the context, though I don’t think that is what the author meant. That is also not really the position of many Protestants. Just getting out in front of the possible straw man. Good read.

3 posted on 08/08/2007 2:11:29 PM PDT by cdcdawg

Catholic and Proud of It BUMP

"Trying to remind Catholics of Distributism..."

4 posted on 08/08/2007 4:33:02 PM PDT by Siobhan (America without God is dead.)

I figured this was a Romney pump....

5 posted on 08/08/2007 4:36:01 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Molon Labe)

What a detailed and well-documented journey.

However after reading the article and clicking back to FR I realize the print is too small now. Maybe we should post everything in that Reader's Digest big print:)

6 posted on 08/08/2007 6:12:17 PM PDT by twin2

That misreading of scripture has converted and kept many people in the Catholic church. But if God had intended to save him, he would have understood the actual meaning of the words of Christ and he would have known they, like most of the teachings of Christ were hidden from the unsaved and not literal.

The Last Supper was actually the Last “passover “ and the 1st Lords Supper.

Gods intervention to end the slavery of His people by the Egyptians held many types that pointed to Christ’s death .

We see as a prime example the final plague God brought on the Egyptians.
Every 1st born was to die at the hand of Gods avenging angel.

God gave specific orders on how the jews were to be protected from that sword of death.

They were to have a perfect Lamb and to slaughter him. They were to spread the blood of that lamb over the drop posts ( in a shape similar to a cross) When the angel saw that blood he would pass over that home and the people inside were preserved from the plague.

God gave specific instructions on how to eat that Lamb, that passover meal was to be a ritual that would be celebrated in remembrance of the grace and salvation of God for His people.

That meal prefigured Christ, on the night Jesus was betrayed they celebrated the meal that prefigured His coming .

Christ OUR PASSOVER LAMB would be slain, and many would be saved that were under His blood.

There was a piece of matzo broken into 3 parts.

One pieces was broken and the hidden piece it was wrapped in white linen ( as Christ dead body was in the tomb ) it is called the aphikomen

When the meal is finished the host breaks off olive-size pieces of matzoh from the aphikomen and distributes them to all. They each eat it, in a reverent manner. Sometimes there is a blessing, “In memory of the Passover sacrifice, eaten after one is sated.”

It was at THIS point during the Last Supper Jesus broke the bread and passed bits to His disciples; however, Jesus added the significant words given in Luke 22:19),

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying,[b] This is my body which is given for you:[/b] this do in remembrance of me.

The symbolic broken matzo wrapped in white linen was the symbolic body of Christ revealed in the passover meal. Jesus was revealing the prophetic nature of the passover and the passover meal.

Consider that Jews had a probation against the eating of blood, yet not one disciple asked Jesus what He meant. That is because they understood when he took the APHIKOMEN into his hands, this broken Matzo that had been hidden in a linen wrap was symbolic of HIM.

Matzo has no leaven, leaven is a sign of sin. Jesus was sinless.
The Matzo had been broken as His body would be broken .

It was wrapped in linen as He would be and be hidden for a time.

This is the exact spot where Jesus proclaimed “This is my body which is given for you.” as he held that broken Matzo

The next step of the ritual meal is drinking from the wine-goblet called the “Cup of Redemption.” That’s when Jesus said,

“This cup is the New Testament (Covenant ) in my blood, which is shed for you.”

The Passover meal was a REMEMBRANCE of the deliverance of the Jews. Just as the passover was a type of Christ so is the Passover meal.

Jesus was telling them this, and He was telling them NOW instead of the remembrance of the passover, their eyes were opened and the meaning revealed NOW they were to do the mean in remembrance of HIM, of His blood, the blood of the Lamb of God.

As He held that bread He was revealing the mystery that the symbolism held.

Think of the words the apostles used

1Cr 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

The broken matzo was a type of Christ, who’s body would be broken for them.

Then in the passover tradition

The host now takes the third cup of wine, “the cup of redemption,” or “the cup of blessing,” and offers the main table grace blessing. (In Jewish tradition, the main blessing comes after the meal.) Then they all drink from the third cup.

Luke 22:20,

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you’.”

Here is what the apostles and disciples said at the Lords table

1Cr 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

The were recalling “remembering” the PASSOVER ritual. THEY understood that Jesus was revealing a spiritual truth about the passover being a prophetic meal that prefigured HIM.

The Passover was fulfilled on the day that Christ died, and so from that day forward that meal not longer held a prophetic promise of a future savior, but it was now a remembrance of the completed work of salvation at the cross.

7 posted on 08/08/2007 6:47:14 PM PDT by ears_to_hear (Pray for America)

At the early age of 7 I had my first confrontation with my very religious Grandmother. We were enjoying the infrequent quarterly observance of Communion, as the Pastor read the passages from the Gospels regarding the Lord's Supper. Oddly enough, I observed the congregation around me behaving in a less reverential manner than that which I was raised to adhere myself to. They seemed almost bored, or annoyed that the service was taking longer than the traditional length of 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, and were most impatient to leave. Afterwards, I asked my Grandmother why people had behaved that way. Being the protective yet wonderful woman that she was that recognized my early intelligence she gave it to me straight.

All that at age 7, huh?????? It's clear that Matt is making this all up. Make sure he gets to the Confessional before next Sunday --- a dozen Hail Mary's or a rosary or two should atone for his obvious prefabrication here.

8 posted on 08/08/2007 7:03:46 PM PDT by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)

To: ears_to_hear

That’s a great read. Thx.

9 posted on 08/08/2007 7:04:42 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)

Oh? Isn’t that a bit presumptuous on your part?

10 posted on 08/08/2007 7:23:00 PM PDT by Pyro7480 ("Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, esto mihi Jesus" -St. Ralph Sherwin's last words at Tyburn)

"my early intelligence"

Matt must have been exceptional! I hardly remember what was going on in church when I was 7, but I do remember watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday night while my mom pinned my hair up in preparation for Sunday.

11 posted on 08/08/2007 8:14:27 PM PDT by suzyjaruki (Why?)

12 posted on 08/08/2007 9:43:07 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

I do remember what went on in our church when I was 7, and even today I can remember one of my memory verses.

13 posted on 08/09/2007 3:50:46 AM PDT by tessalu

“All that at age 7, huh?????? It’s clear that Matt is making this all up. Make sure he gets to the Confessional before next Sunday -— a dozen Hail Mary’s or a rosary or two should atone for his obvious prefabrication here.”

Ouch! Too early (if ever) in the morning to read such an uncharitable statement.

14 posted on 08/09/2007 6:45:54 AM PDT by OpusatFR

At 7 years old, I was an Altar Boy ... I definitely knew what was going on at Mass. I was far from unusual.

15 posted on 08/09/2007 6:50:39 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)

To: ArrogantBustard

I have memories from four years of age that my much, much older siblings wish I’d forget!

16 posted on 08/09/2007 6:53:25 AM PDT by OpusatFR

Four? I’m impressed ... my earliest “church” memories go back to about 5. I got to sit with my Mom in the choir loft ... the view was spectacular.

17 posted on 08/09/2007 6:55:46 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)

To: ArrogantBustard

I remember runing up and down a little incline (that seemed like a hill at the time) on the church lawn after mass while my parents stood nearby talking to the priest of Cure d’Ars Church. Very sunny morning, quite warm.

I must have been about four at the time. Don’t remember the service though.

18 posted on 08/09/2007 6:58:24 AM PDT by OpusatFR

My earliest religious memory is that of a 6 year old, standing in the vestibule of the 2nd Baptist Church in Fairfield, Texas.

I couldn't remember being baptized, so I called my father knowing that it would have been done late so I should remember it, but did not. No baptismal record was ever found.

So this fella grew up and got saved in a Baptist church, had Baptist parents and Baptist Grandparents and never got baptized...

Catholics would buy into this but I doubt a Baptist could be found that would believe this story...There may be some elements to this story that are true but I wouldn't put much stock in it...

19 posted on 08/09/2007 7:09:28 AM PDT by Iscool (OK, I'm Back...Now what were your other two wishes???)

To: ArrogantBustard; Uncle Chip

As I think about it, I do remember being in church with my parents and brothers. Maybe the reason I don’t have specific memories (at 7 yrs. old) is because I just accepted my parents beliefs as being true and our practice of religion as being a natural part of our family life together. Routine.

20 posted on 08/09/2007 7:46:47 AM PDT by suzyjaruki (Why?)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794