From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home

catholic.com ^ | Drake McCalister

[NYer]

Drake and Crystal McCalister were both Pentecostal pastors in the Foursquare Gospel denomination for thirteen years from 1991-2004. After an unexpected encounter with the Catholic Church, Drake began to study the claims of the Church. After five years of study, prayer, prophetic surprises and more reluctance than you can imagine, Drake resigned his pastorate and brought his wonderful wife and three daughters home to the Catholic Church. The only job Drake could find after resigning from his Church was selling cars. He went from preaching Jesus on Sunday to selling cars on Monday. Drake is now pursuing his Masters in Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and writes daily reflections on the readings for Mass for www.catholiccall.com.

[NYer]

Drake and Crystal McCalister were guests on this week's The Journey Home. Perhaps you will have an opportunity to watch the replay during the week.

Good morning ping!

[Judith Anne]

What a great story! Thanks for posting it, it’s very encouraging this morning. ;-D

[TSgt]

I found that the Catholic Church’s teachings were the most biblical

Really? I'm curious which Bible he was using...

[EAGLE7]

There are several teachings of the Catholic Church that are very biblical and the Catholic Church SEEMS to be closest to the earlier Churches. However, there are also several teachings that seem to run counter to Biblical ones. I was born Catholic and went to a Catholic Church in my youth. But I also went to a non-denominational Church in my late teens and early 20’s.

[TSgt]

My experience is that it is 20% biblical and 80% ritual and I’ve attended several masses including sects such as St. Pious X, etc..

In fact, I know of few Catholics who read their bible let alone carry one to church.

Not bashing here, just a factual observation.

[kingpins10]

I agree, from a former Catholic.

[PatriotGirl827]

Great story! I saw bits and pieces of the show last night, but hope to catch the whole thing later.

[sayuncledave]

Wonderful, NYer. Thank you for posting. I’ll be trying to catch the replay when I get a chance. I love seeing this.

[sayuncledave]

Respectfully, TSgt, we follow, and listen to, the Word of God. That includes the Holy Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Church. My Bible’s here at work with me, every day. And at both Novus Ordo and Tridentine Latin Masses, we have multiple readings from the Bible, and most prayers are directly of and from the Bible. Not attacking, just trying to enlighten, respectfully. Have a good morning, FRiend.

[wideawake]

Really? I'm curious which Bible he was using...

Probably the one that was not edited by the Reformers to reflect their personal tastes and the tastes of their paying clients.

[katana]

There are some parts of Roman Catholic dogma, including the infallibility of the Bishop of Rome, which would keep me, in good conscience, from becoming a Roman Catholic. Frankly, in some respects I would be more at home in the Greek Orthodox Church. But I certainly consider Catholics to be my brothers and sisters in Christ. Many of them may not feel the same about Orthodox and Protestant Christians, and I believe “their way or the highway” is a tenet Rome still teaches, but so be it. I would rather see us all united against the real enemy, in all his many faces and forms.

[Campion]

My experience is that it is 20% biblical and 80% ritual and I’ve attended several masses including sects such as St. Pious X, etc..

Mass is not meant to be a Bible study, and it's not a "sermon sandwich." Most healthy parishes have Bible studies going on, adult religious ed, etc. There are also some very fine audio Bible studies (college-level stuff) by Scott Hahn and others.

Mass is worship. If you're used to an evangelical service, it's no wonder it seems like "80% ritual". It's really "100% prayer". Good liturgy is supposed to be like a visit to heaven. You're there to pray, not so much to learn (in the sense of "acquire information").

In fact, I know of few Catholics who read their bible

Bible reading is strongly encouraged by the church. Maybe the Catholics you know simply aren't being obedient to the teachings of their faith. That's not really the Church's fault, is it?

let alone carry one to church

OTOH, there's not much reason to carry a Bible to Mass, since the readings are in the Missal, already excerpted so you don't have to flip pages to find them. (And yes, the chapter-and-verse citations are there, too, if you want to look up the context.)

[narses]

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[massgopguy]

The Pope is not infallible, the Sacraments are.

[TSgt]

I have encountered many Catholics in my life. Most are family but I also have many friends that are Catholic. I know them and their lives intimately. From my life experience I can tell you unequivocally that most Catholics DO NOT read or study the bible.

I appreciate what you are saying with regard to worship however I maintain that it is 20% biblical and 80% ritual.

Just the other night my brother-in-law was telling me about how they knew when to stand or sit during Christmas mass based on the ringing of the bell, etc...

It’s simply not biblical.

[OpusatFR]

Thank you! What an uplifiting witness.

[OpusatFR]

Thank you! What an uplifiting witness.

[Cronos]

You could say we had already "reformed the reform."

Yes, the FourSquare Pentecostal group did do that

[Cronos]

I must say that, on the whole, if you’re going to pick a Protestant denomination, Foursquare is a good place to be. It is firm in its moral teachings, and with its focus on living for Jesus, a person will inevitably grow closer and more like Jesus the longer he attends.

Ever notice? Converts to Catholicism never back-bitch about the groups they come from