Posted on 01/03/2012 3:30:48 PM PST by Gamecock
Not many people get the opportunity to attend seminary. In an amazing way I have attended two. The first was training for the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland and the second at a conservative Evangelical seminary in England.
Raised a Catholic . . . but not knowing God Like most boys in the Republic of Ireland in the 1980s, I was brought up a Roman Catholic. My parents taught me to live a good life, say my prayers, and attend mass every Sunday. I believed there was a God, but I didn't know him personally. I prayed as my mother taught me, but I never knew whether or not God was really listening. I attended confession monthly and did many penances. Conscious of my sinfulness, I hoped that God would accept me into heaven if I did enough good works. I tried to live the best life I could. It was like balancing the accounts, hoping that my credits (good works) would cancel my debits (sins). Zealous to please God, I was just eleven years old when I decided to become a Roman Catholic priest. I told the local priest, but he said I would have to wait until I was eighteen before I could enter the seminary.
During my teenage years I got involved in much sinful behaviour. I rebelled against God and disobeyed his commandments. I loved my sin, but I hated that miserable life and started to cry out to God. I realise now that God was working in my heart. He showed me I was a sinner. I longed to be right with him. This became the focus of my life. I knew that I needed to be saved from my sins. I went on a pilgrimage to a famous Roman Catholic shrine. I ate oatcakes, drank black tea, and crawled on my knees around the Stations of the Cross over three days to do penance for my sins. I fasted and meditated but never knew pardon for sin. I wanted to know forgiveness, but how?
Training for the priesthood
At the age of nineteen, and after checking different possible organisations, I finally decided to join the Society of Missions to Africa (SMA). They are a society of priests who live together in small communities in different parts of the world, seeking to convert pagans to the Roman religion. I entered the Roman Catholic Seminary located in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. During my two years at seminary, I learned about religion and philosophy but there were no biblical studies. I attended daily mass and monthly confession but, alas, there was no teaching on forgiveness for sin. We had set times of prayer as a community - morning, evening, and night. I heard many talks that were focused on pleasing God by doing charitable works and buying favour with God through the church. I also heard a lot about how to use psychology to counsel people spiritually. Not once did I hear how to be reconciled to God through Christ who alone could forgive my sins.
I began to read the Bible (a Protestant translation my parents had given to me). As I read it, I asked the priests serious questions about the religious rituals in the Roman Catholic faith, but they couldn't show me any scriptural basis whatsoever for so much of their superstition and their many traditions. I discovered that the Bible does not promote the veneration of Mary as practiced in the Roman Catholic Church. The official teaching of the Roman Church is that Mary does not necessarily answer prayers but rather intercedes on the Catholic's behalf and prays for them. However, the Bible teaches that she is a sinner: in the famous 'Magnificat' she is found praying to God her Saviour. Mary knew she had sinned and we find her rejoicing in God her Saviour, the one conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit - Jesus Christ her Lord.
I realised that rosaries and prayers to the saints have no scriptural basis. Mary is addressed in Roman Catholic prayers (eg 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee'), but the Saviour teaches us to pray to the Father directly. Indeed, the Bible warns us against ritualistic prayer. This described me exactly: outwardly very holy and pious, but inwardly my heart was sinful and corrupt. Also, the Roman Church teaches its followers to pray to the saints. There is a saint for almost every circumstance, such as St Christopher for travel, St Anthony for lost property, St Martin de Porres for healing, St Joseph for the dying, St Vincent de Paul for the poor, and St Jude for lost causes. Unable to find anything in Scripture to support these things, I asked the priests many questions, and I was told that these Church traditions could not be questioned.
I was conscious of my sin and longed to have assurance of salvation. I asked the priests but I was told that we could never be sure of salvation until we died. I was instructed to attend the priest for confession, but I did not find that in Scripture either. The Bible instructs us to confess our sins to God, not to human priests. I also realised that as a priest I would have to hear people's confessions and absolve them. I was confused. How could I forgive other people's sins, when I did not even know forgiveness myself? I now realise that the Lord was lifting the veil from my eyes to show me that true faith and forgiveness for sin is to be found in Christ alone.
Eventually, I left the Roman seminary in 1995. The Society had decided that I was not suitable, but the Lord, through his Word, had shown me the errors of Rome and that I shouldn't continue training for the priesthood. I had entered the seminary thinking that I would find God's answer to my sins. When I left, I thought that I had finished with God - but he hadn't finished with me! Over the next two years I lived in Dublin and continued my search for God. I went to various Protestant churches and also met people from different cults. One cult told me that if I was to be baptized again, then I would be born again. This sounded too much like the Roman Church and its teaching of justification by works, so I had nothing more to do with them.
Going to England
I went to London in preparation for nursing studies. On the first night I met a man who told me how I could know forgiveness for sin. He gave me a leaflet that emphasized the need to trust in Jesus Christ alone. I read this leaflet many times, but still had no peace with God. Although well physically, I became very depressed spiritually.
I knew that I was condemned if I was not converted. The Bible told me that if I did not believe then the wrath of God abode upon me. Then I read 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit' (Rom. 8:1). This was a constant challenge to me. I was alone in a huge city with no one to turn to for spiritual help. How my heart yearned to be right with God.
While pursuing my nursing studies, I met some students who seemed to know God. I attended their church where the Bible was central to the whole service. The sermon was preached from the Bible - that was something completely new to me. Deep down I knew these people were genuine Christians. I asked many questions and started to attend the church regularly. About this time, a small Christian group was meeting in my halls of residence. I went along aiming to disrupt the meetings, but slowly began to be drawn to Christ. I saw that they had something that I didn't have - peace with God and a real love for Christ. They knew the reality of 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom. 5:1). One of them gave me J. I. Packer's book, Knowing God. I read the book and saw that I too could know God in a personal way.
My conversion
One Sunday morning, 8th February 1998, I was listening to a sermon from Luke 10:30-37 about the Good Samaritan. The preacher spoke of Jesus Christ being like the Good Samaritan - coming to help us in our wretched sinful state - while revealing that the Holy Spirit gives new life to lost sinners. He also urged the listeners to repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness. I called upon Jesus Christ to save me, 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved' (Rom. 10:13). There and then, I knelt down in my room and prayed, 'O God, I know that you have sent your Son Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners. Will you save me? I trust in Christ alone and ask that you would come into my life by the power of your Holy Spirit and make me new.' I felt a huge weight of guilt and sin taken from my heart. As soon as I opened my eyes a deep sense of peace came over me. At that moment I knew that I was a Christian and truly forgiven of all my sins. The Bible became the living Word of God and he was speaking to me as I read. I realised that we are not saved by works but by grace, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast' (Eph. 2:8,9). I was baptised in London as a believer in September 1998. After my baptism I struggled with temptations and trials, but the Lord was my constant refuge: 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble'(Psa. 46:1).
My life as a Christian
On my first visit back to Ireland, I did not know of a Christian church, so I went to mass with my parents. I realised the priest was re-enacting a sacrifice that was accomplished once and for all on the cross of Calvary (Heb. 9:26; 1 Pet. 3:18). For this reason, I couldn't attend the Roman Catholic mass any longer. As a young Irish man, swearing was second nature to me. Very soon after my conversion this dried up. Worldly pursuits like drinking in pubs and going to nightclubs ceased. Prayer and communion with God became a whole new area of experience. I had learned formal rote prayer as a young boy, but now I began truly to pray from my heart. This is still an amazing experience to me: to be able to lift my heart to God as my Father and know that he is listening and will answer my prayers according to his will.
My family were upset that I had left the Roman Catholic faith. At first they thought it was another religious phase I was going through, but they soon realised that this was different. However, the Lord gave me opportunities to share the true gospel with them. About a year later my youngest brother was converted. What joy filled my heart!
Since my conversion, the Lord has taught me so much from his Word. I am especially thankful to one man from the church in London who helped me to study the Bible. We did a complete overview of the Scriptures together, as well as an in-depth study of the doctrines of grace (Calvinism). The glorious truth that God is sovereign in salvation and reaches out in mercy to sinners is truly humbling and amazing. That God, the Creator and Sustainer of the world, should call wretched sinners to himself illustrates his grace. What a joyful day it will be when all his people are united with him in heaven.
Christian service and ministry
About a year after my conversion I was seeking the Lord about serving him. One Lord's Day evening after the service I was praying to the Lord asking him where he wanted me to serve. I read 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5 and was profoundly challenged. I had never studied this portion of God's Word before. It was impressed on me that this was how the Lord wanted me to serve him - to preach the Word. I graduated and worked for a year in the National Treatment Centre for Alcohol and Drugs. Some of the patients were hardened criminals; others were involved in sordid areas of society due to their addictions. I realised the psychological treatment was not dealing with their real problem: their unpardoned sin. I couldn't witness openly to the patients but some enquired what kept me through the difficult times in my life. I told them that it was my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they were amazed. Both my housemate and a Roman Catholic friend were converted and baptised during this time. It was a great privilege to see the Lord use even me to win sinners to Christ. I conducted a Bible Study in Colossians with some Jehovah's Witnesses. They began to seek Christ but their leaders visited and put an end to it. I pray for these people, that the Lord would open their eyes to his truth. As I taught young boys in a Crusaders Class I soon realized that children can be taught the deep truths of Scripture in a simple, understandable way.
The Lord opened up the way for me to study at London Theological Seminary. The lasting memories of my time there are of the nightly prayer meetings with fellow students and the godly men who taught us theology and prepared us for the ministry.
I began to read the Bible (a Protestant translation my parents had given to me). As I read it, I asked the priests serious questions about the religious rituals in the Roman Catholic faith, but they couldn't show me any scriptural basis whatsoever for so much of their superstition and their many traditions. I discovered that the Bible does not promote the veneration of Mary as practiced in the Roman Catholic Church...
Christians are tasked by God to preach the Gospel in truth.
The word of God says to believe in Jesus Christ as God and Savior and be saved.
It says nothing about the zillion errors Rome foists off as ersatz Christianity, such as Mary being a “co-redeemer” or priests as “another Christ.”
If you have legitimate differences with what Catholics believe, fine, we’ll debate with you our differences, for instance the use of the term “co-redemptrix” and “alter Christi.” But when you repeat over and over and over again the same pathetic lies, yes, we will call it slander.
In this case, you may not have been aware that this person was lying. You can, however, check out the curriculum at Maynard and confirm for yourself that he is. Therefore, you have no excuse to perpetuate this lie.
Why do Catholics seem to feel obligated to accuse former Catholics of lying when they relate their own personal life experiences with Catholicism which don’t match up to other Catholic’s ideal of what Catholicism should be like?
No other Catholic lived my life. They didn’t experience, hear, or see what I experienced, heard, and saw. They CANNOT tell me that what I know by experience is a lie because they weren’t there to experience it themselves.
They may not like what they’re hearing but that’s just too bad. Life just rots sometimes.
Too many former Catholics who grew up in different parishes relate experiences and teaching that I received and the same errors show up time and again. Sure, they don’t match the *official* Catholic teaching but to have such consistency in the teaching of error means that there is more going on than most Catholics would care to admit. The chances of various unrelated Catholic relating near identical teachings and experiences is phenomenal if it were just by chance.
It’s too consistent to write off as chance. It’s a indication that there’s something wrong internally in the RCC which Catholics are not willing to recognize and admit.
Oh really? “we achieve the salvation God desires for us through perseverance in both faith and works.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I] “But these verses, and many others, teach us that our performance of good works is necessary for our salvation.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I] “these verses also teach us that we all will be judged by God according to our deeds. There is no distinction between the "saved" and the "unsaved." [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I] “Jesus' teaching on the separation of the sheep from the goats is based on the works that were done during their lives, not just on their acceptance of Christ as Savior. In fact, this teaching even demonstrates that those who are ultimately saved do not necessarily have to know Christ.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I] It would appear that the RCC relies so much on works that they don’t even “necessarily have to know Christ> Don’t tell us Catholics don’t believe that they are not saved by “Christ + works. We can read. Unless you meant that Catholics don’t even necessarily have to know Christ and that it’s all works. Is that what you meant?
>>You are NOT saved by Christ+works<<
Oh really?
“we achieve the salvation God desires for us through perseverance in both faith and works.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I]
“But these verses, and many others, teach us that our performance of good works is necessary for our salvation.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I]
“these verses also teach us that we all will be judged by God according to our deeds. There is no distinction between the "saved" and the "unsaved." [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I]
“Jesus' teaching on the separation of the sheep from the goats is based on the works that were done during their lives, not just on their acceptance of Christ as Savior. In fact, this teaching even demonstrates that those who are ultimately saved do not necessarily have to know Christ.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I]
It would appear that the RCC relies so much on works that they don’t even “necessarily have to know Christ>
Don’t tell us Catholics don’t believe that they are not saved by “Christ + works. We can read. Unless you meant that Catholics don’t even necessarily have to know Christ and that it’s all works. Is that what you meant?
I can also say that we who aren't and weren't Catholics can certainly agree with you, for the catholics we have ministered to say very similar things. Much is common in why they leave the Catholic church, but even moreso once they begin their walk with the Lord away from catholic teachings it's stunning how the Lord brings them up to par as they read His Word and experience Him how He wants to be known to them.
It's also exciting as He shows them His truth....they'll call to tell you their discoveries...much amazed and delighted to finally "see". It's a wonderful thing whenthey are "free" to know Him...see for themselves as He speaks to their hearts and minds thru the Scriptures.
That's not true. They do indeed teach that works are necessary for salvation. It was drilled into me as a Catholic and it's part of the official Catholic doctrine via Council of Trent.
Just let a non-Catholic say *salvation by grace through faith in Christ without works so that no man can boast* and Catholics come along and start throwing James 2 around.
And then there's this....
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct06.html
CANON XX.-If any one saith, that the man who is justified and how perfect soever, is not bound to observe the commandments of God and of the Church, but only to believe; as if indeed the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life, without the condition of observing the commandments ; let him be anathema.
CANON XXIV.-If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.
CANON XXXII.-If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, as that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose [Page 49] living member he is, does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life,-if so be, however, that he depart in grace,-and also an increase of glory; let him be anathema.
The Evil One often presents error as truth. Unfortunately, these lapsed and poorly catechized Catholics are unable to see it for it is is. They trade the Eucharist for a “feel good” pseudo-Christianity.
They are made-up terms which dishonor the Triune God by robbing Him of His singular glory while trying desperately to give to men the honor which belongs to God alone.
No small error. The hubris it takes to even hold that thought comes from a very dark place indeed.
There is one Redeemer and one Christ. If that is not enough for Roman Catholics, they're in more trouble than they can imagine.
They are made-up terms which dishonor the Triune God by robbing Him of His singular glory while trying desperately to give to men the honor which belongs to God alone.
No small error. The hubris it takes to even hold that thought comes from a very dark place indeed.
There is one Redeemer and one Christ. If that is not enough for Roman Catholics, they're in more trouble than they can imagine.
CANON XX.-If any one saith, that the man who is justified and how perfect soever, is not bound to observe the commandments of God and of the Church, but only to believe; as if indeed the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life, without the condition of observing the commandments ; let him be anathema.Troubles you?
Funny how everyone is changing the subject, which was that this man claims to be an ex-Catholic who went through training to be a priest at Maynard Seminary, and was not taught the bible or about redemption.
Wow, presently, you have a giant extended family. I guess that proves that Maynard doesn’t teach the bible, and their entire web page is a hoax?
Interesting. —> THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY: A BELIEF SINCE APOSTOLIC TIMES
Father Clifford Stevens
The Assumption is the oldest feast day of Our Lady, but we don’t know how it first came to be celebrated.
Its origin is lost in those days when Jerusalem was restored as a sacred city, at the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337). By then it had been a pagan city for two centuries, ever since Emperor Hadrian (76-138) had leveled it around the year 135 and rebuilt it as (Aelia Capitolina) in honor of Jupiter...
Read on
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/AOFMARY.HTM
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, not of works so that no man may boast.
We are not bound to works to earn salvation, and any works we do is in obedience to God, not the RCC, who has no authority over the believer.
They make no trades..period....they leave and then Christ leads them on the path that HE wants for them..at last! ...and good for them that they do for then they are truely free to learn about Christ, His word, and their faith as He wants them to know and that on a personal level. .....and then they soar!
I thank God for every one of those who had the courage to step away from the catholic church....and I pray more will hear God's call before it is too late.
You say they were "poorly catechized"???? I say God knew they were seeking the truth and prevented the false teaching from taking them down....He's good about things such as that when individuals are truly seeking Him.
Even Roman Catholic Priests have found the truth in God’s word and left the Catholic Church..here are some interesting portions of their testimony’s:
- He was ordained as a priest and served five parishes:
“The monastic life and the sacraments prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church did not help me to come to know Christ personally and find salvation...I realized that the man-made sacraments of my church and my good works were in vain for salvation. They lead to a false security.”
- Served for 13 years “as a missionary in the congregation of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate.
“My (catholic) theology has taught me that salvation is by works and sacrifices....my theology gives me no assurance of salvation;... the Bible offers me that assurance....I had been trying to save myself on my works...I was stifled in a setting in which I was pushed to do good works to merit my salvation.”
- He received training of “four years of high school seminary,... two years in the novitiate, ...three years of philosophy,... and four years of theology (the last after ordination).” ....He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in Washington, D.C.....served as a diocesan priest in San Diego, California and entered the Navy as a Roman Catholic chaplain:
“Upon questioning Rome’s Beliefs,..... “At first I did not understand, but gradually I observed a wonderful change in mother. Her influence helped me realize the importance of the Bible in determining what we believe. .....We often discussed subjects such as the primacy of Peter, papal infallibility, the priesthood, infant baptism, confession, the mass, purgatory, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven...... In time I realized that not only are these beliefs not in the Bible, they are actually contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture. .................Relying on works:.... .......I finally understood that I had been relying on my own righteousness and religious efforts and not upon the completed and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ...... The Roman Catholic religion had never taught me that our own righteousness is fleshly and not acceptable to God,..... nor that we need to trust in his righteousness alone...during all those years of monastic life I had relied on the sacraments of Rome to give me grace, to save me.”
- He was pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rayville, Louisiana.
“...the Holy Spirit led me to judge Roman Catholic theology by the standard of the Bible. Previously, I had always judged the Bible by Roman Catholic doctrine and theology.” .......Mass contrary to scripture...... “In my letter of resignation from the Roman Catholic Church and Ministry, I stated to the bishop that I was leaving the priesthood because I could no longer offer the Mass, as it was contrary to the Word of God and to my conscience.”
- The Order of Hermits of St. Augustine and became a priest after 17 years. He was given orders to continue studying until he achieved a Ph.D. in chemistry and was then “transferred to the headquarters of the Augustinian order in the United States.”
Superstition....... “In the United States the Roman Catholic Church is on its best behavior, putting its best foot forward because of its critics and opponents. ......In a Roman Catholic country, where it has few opponents or critics, it is a very different matter. ......Ignorance and superstition and idolatry are everywhere, .....and little effort, if any, is made to change the situation.... Instead of following the Christianity taught in the Bible the people concentrate on the worship of statues and their local patron saints.”
...................Idols and Statues. ...........”When I met in Cuba a genuine pagan who worshiped idols (a religion transplanted from Africa by his ancestors), I asked how he could believe that a plaster idol could help him...... He replied that the idol was not expected to help him; it only represented the power in heaven which could. ......What horrified me about his reply was that it was almost word for word the explanation Roman Catholics give for rendering honor to the statues of the saints.”
http://carm.org/testimonies-ex-roman-catholic-priests
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