Why would anyone become Catholic?

https://www.indiegogo.com ^ | October 2, 2014 | Indiegogo

[NKP_Vet]

Why would intelligent, successful people give up their careers, alienate their friends, and cause havoc in their families...to become Catholic? Indeed, why would anyone become Catholic?

As an evangelist and author who recently threw my own life into some turmoil by deciding to enter the Catholic Church, I've faced this question a lot lately. That is one reason I decided to make this documentary; it's part of my attempt to try to explain to those closest to me why I would do such a crazy thing.

Convinced isn't just about me, though. The film is built around interviews with some of the most articulate and compelling Catholic converts in our culture today, including Scott Hahn, Francis Beckwith, Taylor Marshall, Holly Ordway, Abby Johnson, Jeff Cavins, Devin Rose, Matthew Leonard, Mark Regnerus, Jason Stellman, John Bergsma, Christian Smith, Kevin Vost, David Currie, Richard Cole, and Kenneth Howell. It also contains special appearances by experts in the field of conversion such as Patrick Madrid and Donald Asci.

Ultimately, this is a story about finding truth, beauty, and fulfillment in an unexpected place, and then sacrificing to grab on to it. I think it will entertain and inspire you, and perhaps even give you a fresh perspective on an old faith.

[Religion Moderator]

Don't make the thread "about" another Freeper. That is also a form of "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[boatbums]

I don't need Father O'Hare to prove that Luther suffered from scrupulosity:

When I was a monk I tried ever so hard to live up to the strict rules of my order. I used to make a list of my sins, and I was always on the way to confession, and whatever penances were enjoined upon me I performed religiously. In spite of it all, my conscience was always in a fever of doubt. The more I sought to help my poor stricken conscience the worse it got. The more I paid attention to the regulations the more I transgressed them. [1]

Thanks for that reference to Luther's commentary on the book of Galatians, it's a fantastic read. I recommend everyone read it. It's too bad he wasn't quoted in full AND in context - a usual fault of anti-Protestants. Whatever "scrupulosity" Luther suffered as a Roman Catholic monk, once the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of the Gospel to his heart, he realized the freedom that is in Christ and the knowledge that He is no longer under the curse of the law but made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ and NOT by the works of the law. Here is that passage:

Galatians 5, VERSE 3. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

The first fault with circumcision is that it makes Christ unprofitable. The second fault is that it obligates those who are circumcised to observe the whole Law. Paul is so very much in earnest about this matter that he confirms it with an oath. "I testify," he says, "I swear by the living God." Paul's statement may be explained negatively to mean: "I testify to every man who is being circumcised that he cannot perform the Law in any point. In the very act of circumcision he is not being circumcised, and in the very act of fulfilling the Law he fulfills it not." This seems to be the simple meaning of Paul's statement. Later on in the sixth chapter he explicitly states, "They themselves which are circumcised keep not the law. The fact that you are circumcised does not mean you are righteous and free from the Law. The truth is that by circumcision you have become debtors and servants of the Law. The more you endeavor to perform the Law, the more you will become tangled up in the yoke of the Law."

The truth of this I have experienced in myself and in others. I have seen many work themselves down to the bones in their hungry effort to obtain peace of conscience. But the harder they tried the more they worried. Especially in the presence of death they were so uneasy that I have seen murderers die with better grace and courage.

This holds true also in regard to the church regulations. When I was a monk I tried ever so hard to live up to the strict rules of my order. I used to make a list of my sins, and I was always on the way to confession, and whatever penances were enjoined upon me I performed religiously. In spite of it all, my conscience was always in a fever of doubt. The more I sought to help my poor stricken conscience the worse it got. The more I paid attention to the regulations the more I transgressed them.

Hence those that seek to be justified by the Law are much further away from the righteousness of life than the publicans, sinners, and harlots. They know better than to trust in their own works. They know that they cannot ever hope to obtain forgiveness by their sins.

Paul's statement in this verse may be taken to mean that those who submit to circumcision are thereby submitting to the whole Law. To obey Moses in one point requires obedience to him in all points. It does no good to say that only circumcision is necessary, and not the rest of Moses' laws. The same reasons that obligate a person to accept circumcision also obligate a person to accept the whole Law. Thus to acknowledge the Law is tantamount to declaring that Christ is not yet come. And if Christ is not yet come, then all the Jewish ceremonies and laws concerning meats, places, and times are still in force, and Christ must be awaited as one who is still to come. The whole Scripture, however, testifies that Christ has come, that by His death He has abolished the Law, and that He has fulfilled all things which the prophets have foretold about Him. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1549/1549-h/1549-h.htm

[boatbums]

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:3,4)

[Springfield Reformer]

Amen. A good read indeed. :)

Peace,

SR

[boatbums]

Thanks! It’s always enlightening to never take anti-Protestant Catholics at face value when they supposedly quote mine Martin Luther and to do a little digging on one’s own. Luther’s commentary on Galatians is chock full of good stuff. Everybody should read it.

God bless you, SR. Have a great weekend!

[Elsie]

I could; but what would that knowledge help with the understanding of GOD's plainly written word?

Connecting your chosen spiritual dots reminds me of string art...

[Elsie]

Neither male nor female...

[Elsie]

Neither male nor female...

[Elsie]

It only cost us Western Civilization and possibly their immortal soul. Enjoy.

[af_vet_1981]

As per Jacob’s deathbed prophecy, the dominant nations of this world are chiefly of Hebrew descent, particularly Ephraim and Manasseh. They have been out of covenant for over 3000 years, and thus are definitely gentile.

Do you believe in British Israelism, which is yet another example of a sect or cult that developed from Protestantism. It seems to me if Gentiles want to feel closer to God they should just become addicted to good works of faith. They do not need to imagine themselves physically descended from Jacob.

British Israelism (also called Anglo-Israelism) is a doctrine based on the hypothesis that people of Western European descent, particularly those in Great Britain, are the direct lineal descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The doctrine often includes the tenet that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David.

The central tenets of British Israelism have been refuted by evidence from modern genetic, linguistic, archaeological and philological research. The doctrine continues, however, to have a significant number of adherents.

Do you reject Jacob’s prophecy?

No, I accept all biblical prophecy. Do have a reference where an apostle or the LORD Jesus Christ interpreted Jacob's prophecy ?

[metmom]

This is what the easy believers here completely miss. There are many that keep his commandments perfectly, they are not difficult to keep, but they are not the source of our justification, only the source of his pleasure.

They are impossible to keep because they need to be kept with the heart, not just the body, and the Pharisees were blameless in regard to the Law, as Paul was, and yet were not saved.

Works don't save a person. Faith does.

If we could keep the Law as you say, then Christ died for nothing, we DON'T need a savior, by the works of the Law, people can be justified, man has something to boast of before God, and God lied to us in His word when He told us otherwise.

Guess what?

I'm believing God over you.

Good luck with standing before God and appealing to your own righteousness to save yourself.

[metmom]

Relief, eh? And so because of Luther's fear, lack of faith and disordered desire to save his own skin we have millions of souls who got their "assurance". Good for them. It only cost us Western Civilization and possibly their immortal soul. Enjoy.

That would be funny if it weren't so sad, considering that it's CATHOLICS who by and large have historically voted pro-abortion, pro homosexual marriage DEMOCRAT, in the elections.

[Elsie]

[CynicalBear]

>>There are many that keep his commandments perfectly<<

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

2 Chronicles 6:36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,)

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

[CynicalBear]

Believe

Greek - pisteuó - Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in

[CynicalBear]

>>Pre-trib Dispensationalism is Satan’s biggest weapon, it completely disables the mind through sloth.<<

That is just another Catholic type projection. Believing in the pre trib rapture does just the opposite. It causes one to be always alert and watching.

[editor-surveyor]

Watching for a pre-trib rapture that will never come is not what Yeshua called ‘watching.’

Watching is knowing and keeping his feasts, which will keep all that watch ready for the real post-trib “First Resurrection,” which the word assures us is the only resurrection unto life.

For those that refuse to Watch Yeshua’s way, he will come to them as a thief. (Revelation 3:3)

Rev 3:

[3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

[editor-surveyor]

Yeshua wasn’t a Greek, and all he spoke was in Hebrew, in which to believe in someone is to do all they do, and believe all they say.
.

[editor-surveyor]

I plumb forgot that you are a crypto-catholic!

You keep on harping on Justification by works, which has never been in view.

Keeping the law that Yeshua writes on the hearts of all who are his own is not for justification, it is faith and love.

All who endure to the end in that faith and love will be justified by Yehova’s grace:

Matthew 24:

[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
[13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.


1John 2:

[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, - if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, - is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked

[CynicalBear]

>>Yeshua wasn’t a Greek,<<

But the Holy Spirit He sent to inspire the writers did so in the Greek language.

>>and all he spoke was in Hebrew,<<

Prove it. To think that Jesus didn't also have seen the common language of Greek is preposterous.

>>to believe in someone is to do all they do, and believe all they say.<<

Rood followers and Catholics always add to what Scripture says.

Believe - Greek - pisteuó - Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in

Don't add to what Scripture says.