March 5, 2008 3:10 PM
Evangelical to Catholic #20 - Catholics Come Home video
[Note: this is part of a continuing series chronicling my journey from evangelicalism to Catholicism. This series is not meant to cause division, but to reveal division already there - and to spark honest discussion. As an evangelical I've heard and continue to hear lots of criticism of the Catholic church but little self-examination on the Protestant side. So if my comments seem more directed towards questioning nonCatholic believers, that is why. Please, if you are new to this discussion, realize that a lot of ground has already been covered in the comments and read through those on previous entries before rehashing old news. I am receiving a lot of feedback that this has been an eye-opening and thought-provoking series for many believers on either side. If that is the case, then I consider my call as a writer fulfilled. I can only hope that each of us is examining his/her conscience for areas of stubbornness, presumption and pride.]
The recent Pew Survey showed that Christians were switching denominations and churches in record numbers - and the amount dropping out altogether was on course to make church goers a minority in our country very soon.
I can't help wonder if that would be the case if there were indeed more church unity and connection to/respect for church history and tradition. I've pointed out before that the Protestant movement put a blessing on areas of disagreement forming a legitimate basis for a new church or denomination. At the grassroots level it fosters an attitude that if you don't like something where you go to church, you are free to move on to pick a church that pleases you more.
While this was often my own situation as an evangelical, what is amazing to me is that God called me home to the Catholic Church at a time when I was not unhappy in any way with the Bible church I was attending - in fact, it was the very best evangelical church I ever attended. I loved the worship, the teaching, the people - everything.
I am so glad that this was the case, as it made my call to come home to the church I was baptized in (and attended while in Catholic high school) more authentic. While others may have doubts about me, I have no doubts that I am where God wants me.
Yes, as an evangelical I did know other "ex"-Catholics like me who never formed a relationship with God and so judged the Catholic Church as somehow full of empty rituals. Now that I've come home to the Catholic Church, I understand and appreciate everything - the role of priests (whose vows keep them from amassing fame and fortune like some evangelical leaders), the abundance of Scripture at every Mass every day, the celebration of the Eucharist, the role of confession.
I get it now!
Why didn't I get it then? I don't know. If you've read my background you know that my hardscrabble background did not include church and included enough devastation to make me vulnerable to drugs and angry atheism for many years.
But, reading the catechism book Maddy is studying I am struck that it was all there - all the truths of the Christian faith that I learned as an evangelical. I am so grateful for the way God led me through those 20 years and all I learned. As Fran, commenting on an earlier post, said of her husband, who lost many evangelical friends when he became Catholic:
For him it was like standing on the shoulders of his loved ones and telling them what he could see and knowing he couldn't see those amazing things without those shoulders. It's just hard when those shoulders are no longer available. . .
That's it exactly!
For anyone just joining, I have been documenting my journey from evangelicalism to catholicism - my observations and discoveries - for the past four months. You can read it by scrolling to the bottom here and reading each entry - and some very interesting comments from readers.
One funny thing: When I made this decision, I emailed a rather high-profile parenting expert/acquaintance who I knew to be Catholic to tell her my good news. She emailed me back with a little dismay because she had actually left the Catholic church and found her faith more vibrantly in the evangelical church.
This was not the happy welcome I expected. We dropped the subject.
Last week she let me know that she is returning to the Catholic Church. Suddenly it all makes sense to her too.
Tripp is taking the RCIA classes at St. Francis deSales, our parish in Purcellville. There are a few evangelicals there who are interested in finding out firsthand what exactly the Catholic Church teaches, rather than accepting secondhand reports - which after generations of Protestantism has turned in some camps into the ugliest prejudice, myths and lies.
Anyway, I am content. And while I was content before at my old church and felt no push to move on, I feel that God has led me home.
Anne from Washington sent me this beautiful video - Catholics Come Home:
Yes, I know the church is not perfect. We are humans and no story of human leadership in the Bible is perfect. But I do believe that in the Catholic church I have become connected to the historical church in a meaningful way.
And to those who scoff, all I can say is that a year ago I would have been scoffing right alongside you. Our God is full of surprises, but when he calls, we must obey :)
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Comments
Thanks for sharing! I hope everyone is as moved by this video as I was. What a beautiful way to share the truth of our Catholic faith.
Posted by: Anne | March 5, 2008 5:39 PM
I've so enjoyed reading about your journey home! It has blessed me tremendously as does the rest of your blog.
Posted by: Amy | March 5, 2008 6:11 PM
Barbara,
I love hearing about your journey. You, Tripp and the rest of your family are in my prayers, especially as we begin to celebrate Holy Week.
Also, one really neat tradition that my family and I do is to celebrate Holy Thursdy night by visiting 7 Catholic Churches(Christ is removed from the main tabernacle and is placed in a side chapel for adoration.) It's a way of keeping Christ company while he is alone in the garden and awaiting his captors. I believe the number 7 represents 7 churches in Rome. Has anyone else heard of this? Doesn't seem to get too much attention in D.C., but this was huge in Chicago.
Love,
Liz
Posted by: Liz in D.C. | March 6, 2008 10:37 AM
Glad to see that Tripp is in RCIA. I hope it is an informative and faith-filled experience for him. Thanks for taking the time to share your story from a "liberal" perspective, it's not something I get to hear often since most of my convert friends were more bookish than intuitive in their conversion.
Posted by: JimmyV | March 6, 2008 2:33 PM
That was a very moving video. Thank you for sharing your journey. You have been very influential in my own journey.
Posted by: Elissa | March 7, 2008 7:52 PM
Barbara, I rejoice for you and your parenting expert/acquaintance who is returning to the Catholic Church.
One small clarification (possibly): when you refer to "the role of priests (whose vows keep them from amassing fame and fortune like some evangelical leaders)" I'm wondering if you're thinking of vows of poverty--which not all priests take, as this article on consecrated life explains.
Posted by: The Sheepcat | March 8, 2008 10:20 PM
Thank you so much for your blog! I tried a modified version of the diet you recommended this week, and I've lost four pounds! In addition, while driving home yesterday, I told my teenage daughter about your life. Her reaction: "Whoa!" I pray for you and for your family. May you experience great blessings this Holy Week.
Posted by: Emkay | March 16, 2008 9:53 AM
