My Parents are Catholics

[tafadzwa]

I need help!

My dad is 62 my mum is 55.

I am a born-again Christian, a die-hard one, that never dies though! (see my Introduction). I love God and believed God to change every member of my family to realise His importance in our lives. That was one thing that i put on my prayer list. Growing up we used to go the Catholic Church and generally we prayed and categorized ourselves as Christians we would have prayers before we went to bed, even though sometimes we were tired. I went to a Catholic Boarding School so i know exactly what Catholicsm is all about. After my Advanced level i greatly realised the need to put things right with GOD living with my Uncle (my second family). During my last years being a Catholic my attendance to the Church became very irregular, but prayer was still a part of my life in good and bad. I scarcely visited the church. i stopped going to the catholic church for quite a time and never went back there.

After living with my Uncle for quite a time i totally changed my way of life. I completely trusted and depended on JESUS. i could not do nothing without Him. The Holy Ghost guided me and i loved it. i had the passion. I could not live without GOD and still can't. I prayed and ministered to my family and everyone realised who God really was and still is. I thank GOD. We prayed at home during the few times i was there and the prayer life at home has completely changed as everyone is involved and loves GOD.

But the problem is since i was born, i have known us going to the Catholic church and my parents are still going there. They feel attached to this church because of their history of going there. But i did tell them about the doctrine of which my dad knew exactly what i was talking about.

The reason why he still goes to the Catholic church is that he takes the inappropriate doctrine of the Catholic church as the WEAKNESS of the Catholic Church, just like any other Church may have weaknesses within it. But he says that he nolonger says such prayers like; "Hail Mary" and all that.

Should i leave the situation like this? What should i do? I am very worried about my mother, she has loved praying but probably she thinks what to do if she leaves the status of being Catholic after growing old in this church.

i love jesus


Taffy

 

[pixie]

Same Here

Tafadzwa, I am in the same position of you. It is so difficult to leave the roman catholic "empire" and when you do and look back at all the false doctrine, the idoltry...well it just is quite a handful.

My family too is steeply ingrained in the roman catholic church and I can't stand it. They won't talk to me about God at all and see my viewpoint as all wrong and mixed up. My aunt sends me a card each year with a years worth of prayers from the fransican mission in New York. I shredded the last card. I basically have no one to share my love for Jesus and the LORD, His Father with.

I think that you should continue to pray for your families conversion and still try to talk to your mom. I will pray for you.

I am interested to hear what others have to say because like I said, I am in the same position as you.

Praise the Lord
Amenixie

 

[Maureen]

Oh how I so feel for you my brother and sister in Christ Jesus.

I do not belong to a Catholic family, we are now all the family of Christ.
But I to can relate to your surroundings, I am of a Protestant family, although I am a Christian before I'm any denomination.
Church of God, built by Jesus Christ.

The reason I say I can relate, is because no-one in my immediate family are Born Again believers, I am the only one, my Mum is but doesn't really take her stand for Jesus, what I'd call a 'cold Christian' when the embers fall from the fire they fizzle and die out, I think that's a good illustration.
We are called to fellowship, one with another.

Acts 2 v 42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Hebrews 10 v 25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

What I do is pray, I invite them along to 'special' services in the church I attend, some go, some don't, but I can't get them to the normal services.
Jesus can, and only He can, and only in His time.

I live with my husband, unsaved, it was hard only until recently, something has happened, the Lord's doing, not mine, he goes to church every Sunday Night, and I know in the Lord Jesus time he will be saved as will my family.
so pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

And we can lift each other up in fervent prayer together.

James 5 v 16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Your 'walk' before them, speaks alone, actions do speak louder than words.
walk upright as the Lord would have you do, walk in His will, ask Him to lead you.
they will see, and in His time, and His time alone, we will see results.

Amen

 

[Chad]

Read this brother

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/5886-christian-catholic.html

I come from a huge family of traditional, Haily Mary kind of Catholics who have no sense of the real Word, the real deal about Jesus. I surely can relate to your situation, and much more.

Keep in prayer and walk upright. The light of Christ will shine through you. In the end, it is still their free will to be genuine or not. We cannot change them, only the Holy Spirit can.

 

[Mr. Armenian]

Amen to this posting Tafadwza!

I think a lot of people go through this. It's a big difference between a Catholic church and a BAC Church...It takes a lot of Catholics to get used to the change...I'm still getting there, but feeling better about it with every visit.

My wife and I dragged my Mom to our church hoping she will be able to understand it, and she couldn't get past the worship.

What you don't understand, you fear. So, what can we do? Simple, keep on praying!

 

[Maureen]

Would your Mum not want to go back again?

Do you think it made your Mum fear? referring to the 'fear' you spoke of.

It's just as hard to get family unbelievers to church, even though they are not Catholic, believe me.
My family just don't want to know.
They've been, they liked it a lot, but they have no desire to return.

I think it is all so differant for anyone, not only Catholic people, but you'd think if a person liked it they'd go back, well at least that would be my thinking, guess I'm in the minority.

Pray, yes, there is power in prayer.

James 5 v 16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

[Mr. Armenian]

Hey Maureen,

Well, at the end of service, we had our Altar Call, (I'm happy to say over the weekend we saved over 30 people!) - and I was hoping that my Mom would have been one of them. I prayed to God, but no. The good news is she said three things to me that offer hope for her. i)She asked if they do this every weekend (The Altar Call) ii)That she can't make a decision like this (of if she liked it) based on one outing. iii)She told my Dad (he didn't come) that he should check it out. So it wasn't the immediate positive answer I hoped for, but the door is open. It wasn't a complete no.

 

[Maureen]

Sounds to me like there is hope.

I think though it was Jesus who saved those 30 people, but then that depends on them also, wether they will choose to walk with Him.

some I think get 'caught up' on the alter call, it's sometimes hype, and people can get carried away in the atmosphere of it all, and come away wondering 'what now'
some believe it's the actual 'alter call' or 'going forward' called walking the aisle, (this doesn't happen in our church - but the alter call does) but some believe their salvation is in this, what a false thought, it is only in Jesus and what we do with Him after this has happened.

I know our Pastor would say, they raised their hand, but it doesn't mean they are saved, it really is what happens afterward.

I didn't come by the way of an alter call, so I can't really make much comment on them. I've been reading a book which views against them.
But I think perhaps some people just need that extra encouragement, to be asked, 'come to the Saviour' just depends then how they continue on with what they did.

There is a New Converts class held for such people every month, which I think is a good Evangelical tool. They need to ask questions, to search the scriptures for those answers.

I pray all our families will soon bow the knee to our wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

[tafadzwa]

Maureen... when you take out all the "things" the Catholic church had put inside you then that empty space left cannot be left like that. You need to find something to fill in the space. i resisted that feeling of emptiness that wanted to come to me after realising i was now leaving the Catholic church. that feeling of emptiness did not affect me much because i was ready to do anything to kow the Lord and truely know him. i easily and quickly let go of it. but my parents feel attached to the CAtholic church. Leaving the CAtholic church and staying home on a Sunday and feeling better does no quite seem to be an option. i know they want Jesus and pray hard. At one time when i travelled home, we did not go to church but had our own prayers at home as a family and God was with us. they saw it was good. the feeling they have is the one that comes after realsing something had really become part of you and now you have to let it go because it does not help you.

 

[Maureen]

tafadzwa
I really do sympathize with you brother, it must be so hard, all I can do is imagine.

Has the post from Chad and the link he gave not been any help, seeing as he can really relate to you himself, I thought that may have helped, can you not print it out and let your parents read it for themselves even?

You talk about the R.C. church putting things inside you, but surely these cannot be deep rooted as they are not from the Holy Spirit, so they must be shallow, it's only the mind that has held onto them, also surely your parents do not have to 'stay at home on Sunday' can they not go with you, or are they not ready to?
Fill yourself/selves, with the things of Jesus, the true church, talk with other believers in the church you go to, the Pastors would be of great help to you all.

Could I do anything to help? perhaps recommend a book? but the Bible is the greatest book there is.
But there are other spiritual books which could also help.

Please keep in touch, let us know what is happening, I just get so thrilled when people come to Jesus, if only my own family would but all in His own time and will.

Let me know, and keep posting.
sending you love, and care, if only we lived near, I'd visit and bring help.

You are forever in my thoughts and will be my prayers.

I will see if I can get my good friend and brother along to help, he lives in Windheok in Nambia.
Is it anywhere near? Although I think he's away at college at present, but I'll find out.

 

[tafadzwa]

Maureen

i am actually a guy not a lady. i stay in Windhoek, Namibia and my parents are in Zimbabwe. so i go back to Zimbabwe after a very long time. like the whole of last year i only passed through Zimbabwe on my way to East Africa (Kenya). i will take a thorough read of the post from Chad and i will let you know what has helped me. Actually, what i like is myu parents are Christians before they are CAtholics. At least i thank God for that it is the second part that worries me. i thank you so much for letting me know that you are with me in prayers very step of the way. i am rising form glory to glory. i think you should read my other post in New Believers called i am looking for a CITY. i am not a new believer though but i though it would help others. we can indeed share much more scripture because i am into much reading and much bible study.

 

[tafadzwa]

Maureen

the brother you and friend you are talking about............. is it Shingie? if it is then i thought i had to inform you that i stay in the same house and share the same bed with him. he is my friend too.

tafadzwa

 

[Maureen]

tafadzwa

I did say 'brother' in my post, you got me confused there as I was thinking 'sister' but then looked again at the symbol, you into reading my mind?

Yes it is Shingie, he is a very dear son, well we write as son and Mum to each other, seeing as he lost his mum, so I am his mum from far away.
imagine you's being so close together, he's a great boy with a great heart for the Gospel, we have been writing for sometime now.

He has gone home from today, right?
he wrote quickly before he left, so I had to read it fast:wink:

Do read over Chad's link I must to do myself later.

I don't understand tafadzwa, when you say your parents are Christian before they're Catholic, but don't all Catholic's think this way, any I've come across do, they think because they do good works that makes them automaticlly a Christian, this is foolish belief as you know.

It's a bit like my husband who is English, used to think he was automaticlly a Christian because his country England used to be classed as a Christian country, so then he thought if my country is then so must I be, it wasn't until attending church here, in Northern Ireland that he saw just how wrong this thinking is and I am happy that the preaching of the Gospel taught him that much.
Dear love him, he says he'll wait until he gets more knowledge about scripture before he thinks of getting saved, what nonsence is that, I told him it's not head knowledge he needs it's heart knowledge, it's the only kind Jesus wants.

The Catholic belief is full of idolatry, that in itself is breaking of the commandments.
'Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,'

Some even think that because they get baptised as a baby that that makes them a Christian.
Stumbling blocks the whole lot.

 

[tafadzwa]

Maureen

my brother Shingie actually left yesterday 07 February 2008 going back to Zimbabwe. he wont be coming back to Namibia and i am praying for him with Psalms 20 so he makes breakthrough in everything that he does. i went to College together with him for 4 years but we used to be in different rooms at college. we stayed together here in Namibia for 1 year together and i saw him trust and walk with God as he gained confidence in Him each day. every step of the way was lovely. i loved it. God was good to us.

what i mean Maureen by saying "my parents are Christians first before they are Catholic" is that; They realesid the need to build a "right relationship" with GOD "personally". they understood and am sure they are working on that, but they seem not to have an option when it comes to the Catholic church. my father said to me; the "doctrine" of the Catholic church comes as a weakness in the whole Catholic system just like any other church may have its own weaknesses within its system. that is the reason why he said he still wants to go there. they say "no church is the right church" besides "its not a church issue". what do you say to that?

Taffy

 

[Maureen]

Taffy
I realize it must be extremely hard for you parents, being taught all their life one way, then hearing something completly differant, but we serve the God of the impossible, it is us that limits God, myself included here.

Sorry Taffy if I offended you about the 'Christain before their Catholic' bit, I wouldnt do that.
It's just not the way I've been taught therefore it was alien to me.
Just as practising the Roman Catholic Religion is when it's not your own.

I have heard many testimonies from RC people, at church, they have 'come out' I think it is a must, strange enough our Pastor was just preaching on that last Sunday, you must 'come out' you cannot give your life to Jesus and remain in something that is opposite the teachings of the Bible.
I know some who have been disowned by their family even, for giving their lives to Christ, and leaving the Catholic Church, I dare say it must be difficult, but Jesus sets the captives free.

Luke 4 v 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Psalm 68 Commentry Only
He ever careth for the afflicted and oppressed: repenting sinners, who are helpless and exposed more than any fatherless children, are admitted into his family, and share all their blessings. (Ps 68:7-14)
Verse 6
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

I would love to be able to give you more help Taffy, but I'm at a loss.
It can not be easy when it's your parents, although my Mum is saved, she has not grown much in 17years, and it can get tuff.
Our Lord Jesus knows, and hears our prayers, it's still a mystery to me why he is even mindfull of such a one as I.

 

[tafadzwa]

Maureen

my dad says, "the doctrine in the Catholic church is just , ''a weakness in that religion''. any church may have their own weaknesses. that is why i still go there".

or should i ask......... can one still go to the Catholic church for reasons of fellowship if there is no other Church close by.

 

[Maureen]

Taffy
I think if you spoke with Shingie he could help you much.

Leviticus 19 v 4
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.

I do know the Catholic Church are laden with idols.

1 Corinthians 10 v 14
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry

I know idols take the form of many things, but in that church there are also many graven images.

You cannot be apart of that and also walk with Jesus, it is against Him.
The two don't go together.
It is to help you I say so, not to hinder you.