Dr. Robert Webber who is recognized by many as the authority on worship renewal. He taught at Wheaton College for 32 years as Professor of Theology and has authored over 40 books. Dr. Webber had a “life changing experience” at a Catholic conference center when he decided to receive the Eucharist . His testimony is recorded in a book entitled Signs of Wonder. Following is part of his experience in his own words:
“Closing my eyes, I allowed my life in the church to pass before me. My prejudices rose up within me: What are you doing here? You never worshiped in a Catholic setting, let alone received the bread and the wine from a Catholic priest! Then I heard my Catholic friends speak of their love for Christ, pray with fervency, and express a real desire to know the Scriptures and live by its authority. Those memories said, ‘Go ahead. After all, there is only one Lord, one church, one faith, one baptism, one Holy Communion.’ In that moment, God broke through the walls I had allowed to separate me from my brothers and sisters of different denominations. I am convinced the prejudices we hold and the walls we build between ourselves and other communities of Christians actually block our experience of God’s presence in our lives. Our biases cut us off from the spiritual communion of the fullness of the body of Christ. God dwells in his church, and to reject a part of God’s church is to reject him. Furthermore, rejecting apart of God’s church keeps us from experiencing what the creed calls “the communion of the Saints.” When God broke down my walls, he brought me into richer fellowship with the body of Christ throughout the world. You might say I was surprised by joy! I had never had an experience like that in my life. In that Catholic chapel, a new worship experience had bumped up against that old prejudice of mine, and a new attitude was born. I had taken into myself the experience of another tradition, I had been in dialogue with another worship tradition, and I was surely the richer for it.”
“In that moment, God broke through the walls I had allowed to separate me from my brothers and sisters of different denominations. I am convinced the prejudices we hold and the walls we build between ourselves and other communities of Christians actually block our experience of God’s presence in our lives. “
It sounds like this man’s experience inspired you to begin fellowshipping with believers in God’s Protestant Churches.
I’m very happy for you in this new step of faith and freedom. It is always encouraging to see spiritual growth wherever we find it!
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
The woman from Sychar was a hated Samaritan living with her 6th man after 5 husbands. At first, she attempted a theological debate with Jesus. Then something wonderful happened - she listened to his Words. She was EXPECTING the Messiah and confessed it. It did not happen often, but Jesus confirmed his identity to this sinful Samaritan woman. Like Peter's confession, flesh and blood did not reveal this to her, but it was revelation from the Father. She evangelized her whole village by her testimony of Jesus! And Jesus stayed there and taught for two whole days. God will always water thirsty ground.
There is another staggering truth in this passage. God is Spirit, those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit and in truth. I challenge you to find that in your average church of any denominational flavor these days. They have a whole lot of things to amuse the senses, but very little Truth, and even less spiritual worship.
I am with Webber in one area, there can be spiritual unity in the Body, even if not doctrinal. I have met and worshiped with Spirit-filled Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, and Believers from many denominations at various events - I know they are out there. That should be the goal. Find those things IN CHRIST, that we all embrace and believe. And set aside all the man-made fluff and stuff. Follow Paul's advice to seek Christ as laid out in the books written specifically to the Body of Christ in the current dispensation of Grace. This was the Truth that Jesus promised would come through the Holy Spirit, who revealed the Mystery, hidden in God before the foundation of the world. Paul taught this revelation the latter years of his ministry to the Gentiles, and recorded it for us in his prison letters.
Colossians 2:4-10 (KJV)
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Excellent advice for all Believers.
I can only assume this is another fake article...Why???
I have yet to meet a Catholic who had the desire to know the scriptures or one who thought the scriptures were authoritative...
I ate the Catholic cracker twice...I didn't get any revelation except that it wasn't a pleasant experience...