Hello Ya'll. I and my family, as most of you know, are converting from Southern Baptist to Catholic, and I have a little story to tell .

Yesterday I called the church I was baptized in to see if they had any writted records of my baptism. I told the pastor when it had occured and he told me that after the church burned a few years ago those records were lost. He inquired as to why I wanted a written record of my baptism and I told him about our conversion. At first I just said I was converting and he wanted to know if I were marrying a Catholic. I had to make it clear that we were ALL converting; Me, my husband, and our 4 children. His next question? WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT ???? I simply stated that we had been married for 16 years and had gone to churches of all denominations and never felt a tugging of the heart in any of them and the first time we sat through a Mass we knew we belonged there. We were finally were God had led us. He seemed to understand that ok but then asked, "Growing up Southern Baptist you do know about and will still teach your children about true Salvation won't you?" I could only sit stunned for a second. Then I asked him, "Just what do you think we are taught in the Catholic church?" He replied, "I have heard many diffrent things about that faith." So I told him that we are taught that Jesus is the only source of salvation, but I also told him that we were taught that you must have good works; that faith without works is dead. That Jesus himself taught this. He agreed with this and said he taught the same thing to his congregation. He asked about Mary and Idol worship to which I told him that we didn't worship idols nor do we worship Mary. The statues are to remind us of the one we are to worship and that Mary SHOULD be honored for her role in salvation history. That she was the Mother of our Lord and she suffered with him on that cross. He also asked me if I believed after having been raised in the Baptist church if I REALLY believed that I had to be baptized to be saved. So, correct me if I am wrong please, but I told him, yes, I do believe that you must be baptized. If you are going to obey God, obey in all things. I told him that I believed that God made a way for the unborn who are killed and for babies and for those who were desireous but hadn't been able to yet, but that those who were able to and just didn't because they didn't want to or think they had to couldn't enter the Kingdom of God. I told him that for a very long time my husband and I had alot of the same misconceptions about the church, and we learned the truth. I also told him that most prodistants had these misconceptions because they learned them for other prodistants who THOUGHT they knew about the faith but didn't. And asking a prodistant to explain the Catholic faith was like asking a cheese maker to explain how to make ceriel, that if he truly was interested in knowing more about the faith to ask a Catholic what he believes and he would surely tell him. I also gave him a really good website to read. www.catholicoutlook.com (I think I got that link from here....so thanks to the one or ones who posted it. It's a great site for those trying to understand the Catholic faith better.) He said he'd check it out. I hope he does and is able to put some of his fears and misconceptions about Catholics to bed. I hope all Ya'll have a glorious and beautiful day !

Thanks and Glory be to God !

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), September 09, 2004

Answers

Hello Suzanne and welcome to the flock. You already sound more grounded in the Catholic faith than alot of Catholics I know.

" I told him that I believed that God made a way for the unborn who are killed and for babies "

Although this is not a Definitive statement by the Church, She does say in the Catechism: 1283 With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.

-- D Joseph (newfiedufie@msn.com), September 09, 2004.

Hi Suzanne, you said: those who were able to and just didn't because they didn't want to or think they had to couldn't enter the Kingdom of God.

Well I would say that invincible ignorance might also play a part in this. I think the teaching is more like those who know they should and just don't because they don't want to cannot be saved. I wouldn't say for certain that someone went to hell, and the Church does not. We leave that judgement to God and hope that He will show mercy on His children. We cannot know someone's heart or their motivation for doing or not doing something -- we leave that to God's judgement. But yes, you are right that people should be baptized.

How wonderful about this man and your witness to Him. I will pray for him, that God will lead him to the truth. I am just so thrilled about your conversion. I start RCIA class tonight! I am very excited about it. God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), September 09, 2004.

suzanne,

wonderfully stated with the few minor exceptions which were noted, although those are really trivial as they are more advanced subjects than time probably allowed for discussion.

What i would pray for, or really what your whole family should pray for, is the conversion of that entire baptist church. Namely, when Tim Staples converted from the baptist faith he brought his entire congregation with him into the catholic church. What i hope is that the pastor WILL check out the resources you gave him, and that you will keep an open dialogue with him to (at least) bring him understanding such that he no longer accidently speaks errors of the church.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 09, 2004.

I think the teaching is more like those who know they should and just don't because they don't want to cannot be saved-Emily

That is what I meant to say. Sometimes I don't say them to sound the way I mean them to. I was talking about a person who knows the full Gospel and knows what God teaches but delibrately decides not to obey. And about the unbaptized babies. I know there is no straight foward way to know, but I know God and I know what he has done for me and I believe he makes a way for those who are compleately innocent or have intentions to do the right thing. (My own opinion of course.)

I have more good news too ! Father called right before lunch and asked if we could baptise the youngest one (he's 7) this month ! I asked Father if his God parents had to be married to each other or be two single people in the church,(they are both widowed ) he said that was fine as long as they were both Catholic, so we are having them both over to dinner Saturday to ask them do do this for us ! Have a great afternoon, Ya'll !

Thanks and Glory be to God!

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), September 09, 2004.

Congrats on another good step in your spiritual journey.

I'm a bad speller myself, and somewhat dylexic, but the word you are using is protestant - as in one who protests. Taken two ways -- as in one who protest some practice of the Catholic Church (historical) or one who displays their faith to protest the world (non-historical, but feels good).

I also agree that there are a lot of misconceptions in the world. I have always felt happy about the Catholics and the Baptists both protesting abortion -- because they have a chance to both acknowedge their basic christianity and rejoice in their fellow christians. There has been too much unneeded bad blood between these two branches, usually over misconceptions.

You right now have a chance at the best of both worlds -- the deap Bible knowledge that most Baptists have along with the rich traditions and learning of the Catholic Church. To learn the Bible well as a child is the best way of all, IMHO.

God has blessed you, and will continue to do so.

-- Sean Cleary (seanearlyaug@hotmail.com), September 09, 2004.

As a person with many doubts and problems with my own journey back to Catholicism, posts like these warm my heart and make it all seem more possible. My welcome is also extended. Thank you for your post.

-- Jim (furst@flash.net), September 09, 2004.

Suzanne: I'm always so happy to read about someone who finds the way to the True Church!! Welcome with your whole family.

My wife (by the way her name is Susana) and I will be praying for your youngest and his Godparents.

God bless you.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 10, 2004.

What i would pray for, or really what your whole family should pray for, is the conversion of that entire baptist church. Namely, when Tim Staples converted from the baptist faith he brought his entire congregation with him into the catholic church. What i hope is that the pastor WILL check out the resources you gave him, and that you will keep an open dialogue with him to (at least) bring him understanding such that he no longer accidently speaks errors of the church.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 09, 2004.

Good Morning Paul. This is the very thing we are doing. Untill you stated it, I never thought about an entire church converting. What a wonderful blessing that would be ! I did speak to him yesterday evening. He said he had read some of Gary Hogue's site concerning misconceptions about the church. He said it was informative as well as intriguing. Maybe ! Just maybe !!!!

Emily we started our classes a week ago and it is the most exciting thing ! We study on Wednesday nights and I absolutely can not wait till Wednesday night to get here ! The girls are in CCD on Sundays after Mass. He said they wouldn't have to take the RCIA classes because he is using the same textbooks for the senior high students as he is using in the adult class. So the kids are even MORE excited because they get to be in class with their friends instead of a bunch of us "old folks"!

Thanks you Enrique, Jim, and Sean for the warm welcome. It is good to be home. And thanks Sean for the correction. I am a horrible speller and like you I am dyslexic. It takes me a while to write or type things and then I go back and fix any mistakes I see afterwards. I tend to spell things like I hear them and in the south out "t's" sometimes come out soundin a bit like "d's" and we forget to end our "ing" words with the "g" at the end. So GOOD MORNING might actually come ourt like GOOD MORNIN. Bad grammar= Bad phonics!

Enrique, my cousin's name is Susana and mine is Suzanne, and her mom and daddy always called her Suzie and mine always called ME Suzie, and it could get a bit confusing at our house on holidays ! I hope all Ya'll have a fantastic day !

Thanks and Glory be to God !

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), September 10, 2004.

Still more coincidences: All my wife's brothers, sisters and friends call her Susy. Dear good Susy!!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 10, 2004.

Suzanne, I believe as you do that good works are VERY important. It says in the Bible if you love God you will follow his laws, making the laws of God extremely important to follow. In the Bible it says and I quote: John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Rom.5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. If I got this from the Bible, and the Bible is TRUE, as in God's Word is TRUE, than we have to believe on Jesus Christ as our Savior and be born again to be saved. You say we have to do good works and I agree but we DO NOT have to do good works to be SAVED and under God's grace. After Jesus Christ we are now under God's Grace and no longer judged by the law because Jesus died for our sins. Plural, not just some of the sins but ALL of them. Why not beleive the word of God? If we are still to be saved by good works and following the LAWS of GOD to be saved then that means we don't believe the reason Jesus came was to save us from our sins. God created the earth, flooded it, and preserved his word (the Bible) so we could seek out the truth of our faith. I believe that if God tells us through the Bible that he came to earth and died on the cross to save us from our sins and we have to believe on him to be saved that He is saying the TRUTH. No baptism, no eating wafers, no confession needed to a man, just believe on Jesus Christ. And if you want to confess, confess to God, he is your final judge, not a man.

-- Cassie mak (cassiemak@cfl.rr.com), September 12, 2004.

Cassie: you wrote:

"we DO NOT have to do good works to be SAVED and under God's grace. After Jesus Christ we are now under God's Grace and no longer judged by the law because Jesus died for our sins. Plural, not just some of the sins but ALL of them. Why not beleive the word of God? "

Exactly, my good Cassie: why not beleive the word of God?:

James 2:14 "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? James 2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, James 2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. ames 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

REMARK,Cassie: FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.

Boy, I'd rather have a living faith than a dead one!!!!!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 12, 2004.

Cassie,

Catholics do believe the Word of God. We don't accept your unauthorized and flawed interpretations of it, but why would we not believe what is in a book compiled by our own Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Please read the last three verses of Matthew 25. It says that those who do not do good works for other people will go to hell. God couldn't really have been any more straightforward than that, could He? Dead faith can't save anyone.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 12, 2004.

cassie,

first, its not a "wafer." its a Host, and disrespecting a sacrament such as Holy Communion will quickly get you banned from this forum.

second, you say that we should take the word of God as our proof... so here are the parts you managed to skip in forming your false exegisis. While you read these extensive verses, i want you to think about something, that is, there are two options... 1) the bible is contradictory and therefore is NOT the inspired word of God or 2) your interpretation is correct and you should consider whether your belief is from God, or what you HOPE that God says. Anyway, here they are:

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven

Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

John 5:36 - But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

John 7:3 - His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

John 8:39 - They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham

John 14:12 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Acts 26:20 - But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

2 Corinthians 11:15 - Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Timothy 3:17 - That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works

2 Timothy 4:14 - Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works

Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate

Titus 3:8 - This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men

Titus 3:14 - And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful

Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works

James 2:14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:21 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Revelation 2:2 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars

Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent

Revelation 2:23 - And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:26 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations

Revelation 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them

Revelation 20:12 - And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 - And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 12, 2004.

Welcome Suzanne!

Converts like you and your family truly edify us all. Thank you for wirnessing to the truth.

I bet the road hasn't been an easy one, but God cannot be outdone in generosity. The straight path of truth is never easy. Blessings upon you and your whole family!

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), September 12, 2004.

Hello Ya'll. Cassie, I appreciate that you care, but I and my husband grew up in the Southern Baptist church and feel so blessed to have found the true church of the Living God. We never felt "fed" the complete truth in all of the years we went to church, so we became discouraged and quit going altogether. It had been almost 2 years since we had been to church when my best friend asked us to attend Mass with her. It was an amazing experience! We found ourselves looking foward to getting up on Sunday morning to go. My husband and I had always struggled in our marriage and had been close to divorce several times and Father made us see how much God wanted us to STAY a family and BE a family for us and for our children. It has been the best thing that has ever happened to us, and we know through our studies and time spent reading together and praying together that the Catholic Church IS the church that Christ himself established. Cassie, I will pray daily that you will be led by our Father back to His church; your home as well as all of ours.

Thank you to everyone else for such valuable insight that you give to me and my family. We are truly brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all.

Thanks and glory be to God!

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), September 12, 2004.

Faith vs Works is one of the defining issues of the Catholic vs Protestant split.

And in one sense it is much fuss over nothing. Is works without faith a problem? well, yes. Is Faith without its attendent fruits a problem? yes as well. Anyone who does have faith, barring last moment deathbed conversions and such, should have the works to show it. The fruit of the faith in God almost must be works.

So each side can show parts in the Bible that emphsis their points, without a synthesis that would embrace both. And not looking at the whole message, just bits and pieces, seems to me to be the larger problem. Just looking to differentiate oneself and ones religion, not looking for either unity or sanity is a problem.

-- Sean Cleary (seanearlyaug@hotmail.com), September 13, 2004.