Evangelicals Becoming Catholic, why?

CatholicConvert.com ^ | May 10, 2011 | Steve Ray

[Salvation]

Evangelicals Becoming Catholic, why?

by Steve Ray on May 10, 2011

 

Below is an interesting YouTube video (really audio) of an Evangelical Radio show in which two Evangelicals discuss why so many Evangelical Protestants are leaving to join the Catholic Church.

The host and guest are trying to be honest in the show entitled  “Why Evangelicals are Returning to Rome.” Although towards the end of the video they are making some statements that are historically inaccurate (about Luther and the Popes); nevertheless, their questioning tries to be honest. It is interesting that they are taking note of a large exodus. I am one of those who Crossed the Tiber to Rome.

Furthermore, this was coming from a Protestant network that is decidedly anti-Catholic.  They are willing to discuss openly what has been happening for years now (the exodus of Evangelical ordained ministers to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches).  They also mention briefly EWTN, the program Journey Home and the moderator Marcus Grodi, a convert from Evangelical Christianity. It is obvious this is all new to them since they didn’t even know how to pronounce Marcus Grodi’s name.

The moderator Ingrid Slater asked Pastor Bob DeWay; “Let’s talk about the problem; what do you think is the seed bed (this is sort of a rhetorical question; everybody knows what a mess Evangelicalism is as a whole today doctrinally speaking).  What is setting people up for this disenchantment and the willingness to look to Roman Catholicism?”

Here are some of the Problems that Bob Deway lists, though they really have no explanation since they are blind to the real problems within Protestantism, which are things that cannot be fixed. If they were fixed they would be Catholics.
(1) The Seeker Movement took the Bible out of churches.
(2) People are not steeped in solid Bible teaching (yeah, but according to whose interpretation?).
(3) Big churches that don’t preach the Bible (who decides what should be taught??).
(4) The influx of mystical practices, contemplative prayer, the labyrinths.
(5) Seminaries that are training therapeutic practitioners rather than theologians.
(6) The idea that we have to have to justify our practices and beliefs from Scripture – according to what Luther and the other reformers – which has now been overlooked.

The moderator then mentioned a book saying, “Coming Home by Fr Peter [Eastern Rite] (I am not even going to use the term father). . . He used to head up Campus Crusade here in the Midwest” Evidently he is now heading up an organization helping Evangelical ministers come into the Eastern rite Churches.  If you want to know why he made his move from Evangelical Protestantism you can listen to the video.

For years you’d hear Evangelicals boast of the fact that their churches were filled [with] ex-Catholics.  But in too many cases the Evangelical churches are just the exit ramp that eventually leaves them disillusioned and abandoning the faith altogether. Now the tide is changing.  Some Evangelicals seem to be oblivious to the fact of this large exodus of Evangelical ministers and lay people.

A year ago, Karl Keating of Catholic Answers Live said he believed there were now more Evangelicals or Fundamentalists leaving Protestantism to become Catholic than the other way around. Even Evangelicals admit that there are notable Protestants becoming Catholics but no notable Catholics becoming Protestants.

I could take exception to several of Pastor Bob’s statements and argue decisively against them, but that is not the point of my posting this video.

[Salvation]

What is the source of your post, please.

[Scoutdad]

Agreed. I would call it “apostate”.

[verga]

Just my two cents: From the outside looking in, the Catholic church always seemed to have a sense of holiness that protestants lacked. Note that I say this knowing full well and good that since I’ve been married to my second wife (and I her second husband) for well over 20 years, that I’ll never be asked to set foot in a Catholic church.

If you ever get into south Central Virginia I would likle to take this opportunity to invite you. Depending on the circumstances of the previous marriages of both of you, there may be no reason why you can't come into the Catholic Church.

[Unam Sanctam]

Pageantry.

If only... A lot of the beauty of the Catholic liturgical tradition was thrown out in the silly season of the 1960s and 1970s, but with our traditional and liturgical minded Pope, I think things are starting to slowly get back on track. Liturgy should be about worshipping the Lord worthily in communion, but not worship of the community itself and singing Kumbaya.

[Jvette]

Ah, but it’s all good now:)

I literally attend Mass daily and twice on Sunday, lol!

I also serve as an EM, lector and teach CCD.

I learned a LOT of patience with my husband and the Lord.

[Unam Sanctam]

Sounds like your parish is flourishing. Do you think it is mainly a combination of lapsed returnees and new immigrants?

[Salvation]

A little of both as well as people from other parishes doing their parish-hopping thing.

Our priest is an excellent preacher and teacher, and I think that has a lot to do with it.

Many people can sit in the congregation, and after Mass I hear statements such as “He was talking straight to me. How did he know?”

And I would say I hear that statement about every three months — for people to say something positive like that — multiply by ten at least.

[daniel1212]

Actually, that is hardly likely to be an issue today, unless you advertise it or want to be more active than the typical RC.

And considering the wide criteria for annulments and the thousands granted after being sought and processed, it is possible many married Catholics are really not, and if your wife married a nonRC, that would be grounds for an annulment, in addition to things like psychological abnormality, stubbornness.

[daniel1212]

Mark, as you also have asserted that the apostle Paul himself was a “pushy guy with a chip on his shoulder”, and a large “inferiority complex a mile wide,” and whose epistles likely had to be massaged, then it is not surprising to see you relegate the RC convert to evangelical churches to only be ones who have personal reasons, rather than the lack of the spiritual life which attracted souls originally to the church.

[Salvation]

I’m wondering where you are getting the authority to speak for the Catholic Church???

Are you a priest, a deacon?

It appears that you are of another denomination, for no Catholic (usually) uses the initials RC to denote Catholicism.

So, then I ask, Are you a minister?

Where are you getting this authority to speak for the Catholic Church?

[daniel1212]

See post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2885062/posts?page=35#35

[Salvation]

You have FReepmail.

[daniel1212]

The actual sources are carefully provided in the post, and the ^ refers to the previous listed source, as explained in the link provided in “See more and notes here” (http://www.peacebyjesus.com/RC-Stats_vs._Evang.html).

[MarkBsnr]

Ah, but it’s all good now:)

All good comes from God. It's up to us to accept His good. :) I believe that God tests us - not for His knowledge, but for our own good. Part of the process of imitating Christ...

[Psalm 144]

There is a lot of truth in your post.

[MarkBsnr]

Mark, as you also have asserted that the apostle Paul himself was a “pushy guy with a chip on his shoulder”, and a large “inferiority complex a mile wide,”

Perhaps I should introduce you to Acts and Paul's Epistles. The man himself wrote most of those words, or influenced their writing (Luke was primarily a disciple of Paul, after he was a disciple of Peter).

and whose epistles likely had to be massaged

Oddly enough, I don't remember posting anything along those lines. I have repeatedly posted that there are many, as Peter has told us, that simply get it totally wrong. We see them every day on FR.

then it is not surprising to see you relegate the RC convert to evangelical churches to only be ones who have personal reasons,

You oughta listen to their background stories, not just their up-front facades. It can be illuminating.

rather than the lack of the spiritual life which attracted souls originally to the church.

The tide has turned. The seminaries, after the weeds had been removed and the chaff been separated, are now experiencing greater numbers of applicants than they can handle. The return to orthodox Christianity from the horrible Vatican II experiment has convinced many, along with the decline and secularization and corruption of the ever splintering Protestant separations provides a strong contrast when the two are viewed in comparison.

[cloudmountain]

My money for the change is
*seeing/hearing the conversion stories of former Protestants, evangelicals, ministers and such on EWTN and Catholic Radio and
**listening to the flat out common sense and HUGE repository of Biblical knowledge and history of the priests who know their stuff.

[Salvation]

Thanks, as I hit post I thought I saw a www. in there somewhere. It verified my judgment.

[editor-surveyor]

Yes, the tares are leaving the evangelical churches where they are not well received, and going to the nicolaitan churches where it is hard to tell a tare from an idol worshiper.
.

[editor-surveyor]

That is because God’s elect have been called away from the harlot that rides the beast.

Mystery Babylon’s dual fall is not far off, judging by the exodus from catholic idolatry.
.