by Jeffrey van Zuiden
I’m willing to bet that most of you at some point in time, have tried a new product that you thought would be the “end all, be all,” only to find yourself very disappointed in the end. These days, you see this everywhere, sadly even within the Church.
For this example, let’s use laundry detergent as an example.
You grew up being taught that one certain laundry detergent was the best. Mom insisted. You never really knew why, but, you inherited the loyalty to the brand when you left on your own. Then one day, you see a great add, with a great salesperson, with a great sales pitch. The choice was obvious; it’s cheaper, easier, and better! I mean why not? Several friends, family and co-workers have made the switch. What could go wrong?
Between 2000 and 2009, 10.1% of adults left the Catholic Church. Some of the most common reasons: Life got too busy and they drifted away; not understanding the Church’s teachings; scandals; marrying someone of a different denomination; more vibrant church life / charismatic preachers; and it is easier to be Protestant.
However, despite all the hype, you slowly start to realize that stubborn stain won’t come out like it used to, and your clothes are fading faster. But still you drag it out for a while, hoping for the desired results. It is cheaper and easier to use, after-all.
Over half of fallen away Catholics who join another church will change denominations within 5 years. The average fallen away Catholic will change Protestant denominations 6 times in their’ life, shopping for that “better” church.
Eventually, a new add, a new, salesperson, a new sales pitch … well maybe this one will be better than the last. There has got to be something better out there, right? Of course going back to the original is out of the question, after all, it’s more expensive and more difficult to use. Plus, the other day you heard a bad rumor about the old company.
Over 75% of fallen away Catholics attending a Protestant Church say that there is something important missing from their’ religious experience, but don’t know what it is. Roughly the same number of returning Catholics say they returned for the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Christ. Sadly, in their’ lifetime, over 90% of fallen Catholics will switch Protestant denominations in t heir’ life (that statistic is the same for born and raised Protestants, as well).
Product begets product, weeks turn into years. Eventually, you stop really caring about what detergent you use, or it’s performance. You just start getting what’s cheap and convenient. Now and again, you will pause in the grocery store isle, and consider picking up that expensive, but good old product. After all this trial and error, in you heart, you know it’s the best, but how can you go back to it now? How can you admit you were wrong all along? I mean, does it really matter anyway? I guess you can just stay with the cheap detergent you have now, there all the same when it comes down to it, right?
Almost all returning Catholics said they did not understand key Church teachings, or were not aware of them at all. In fact, less than 5% who leave the Church know that it was the Church established by Jesus Christ and did not know that it was the Catholic Church that compiled the New Testament. In fact, less that 50% of Catholics even understand why we genuflect!
“And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:16
“Our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
May God Bless You!
No one falls away; they go forward in one way or another and no one loses his faith, but may gain an understanding of others, their struggles, beliefs, and finally realize we are one body in Christ, beloved by God. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. We all have much to learn.
“And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:16
“Our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
May God Bless You!
Hebrews 6:
4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 Have moreover tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
As a RETURNED CATHOLIC I can emphatically say that indeed people fall away, the Holy Scriptures teach that truth, the Catechism teaches that truth, and we Catholics must stand strong, sing our Catholic song, and make sure we all clearly understand the value and treasure of the Holy Scriptures, Tradition, and the Magesterium. Unfortunately many Catholics have no clue about their faith so they become prone to fall away, move away, and some even apostasize. So let’s recommit ourselves to be students of our faith, let’s teach it strongly, let’s make NO apologies for belonging to the One True Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ, and let’s make sure our other brothers and sisters understand that, while loving them and accepting them as family members since they do indeed name the name of Jesus, there are major differences between Catholics and Protestants. We don’t teach the same things, we don’t share the same doctrines, and we are the ones who have the full teachings of Christ. There is no such thing as non-denominational anything. Catholicism is NOT a denomination. We are THE Church. Non-denominationalism has its premise that we are all one so our differences don’t matter, but they do!!! Sacramental Christianity has major advantages and benefits not belonging to the rest of the Protestant denominations. We must love each other, serve one another, be humble with one another, but we must stand strong on the TRUTH taught us by the Lord Jesus and through HIS Church, the Holy Catholic Church. Do we want to decrease the numbers of those who are leaving? Do we want others to come home? Then we must study, know our faith, and proudly proclaim it at every opportunity that presents itself or that we create.
Amen and I agree with
Rico as I too by the grace of Our Savior and the prayers of others came around to being a more active member in Jesus’s church. Thank God the mass and the sacraments!
Thanks for the good read..Found the statistics ;particularly interesting.
Be careful not to become proud and puffed up in believing you are more acceptable to God than other true Christians. God shows mercy and grace on whom He chooses, and shows no partiality. The Holy Spirit goes where He wants. The followers of Christ are all over the world, and even today are being persecuted by those who hate them, even to death! The international day of prayer will be in November, you can go to Voice of The Martyrs website: http://www.persecution.com to learn about your brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing abuse and death rather than deny Jesus! Jesus is the truth the way and the life, the true church loves and follows Christ. You don’t have to be in the Roman Catholic Church to be a Christian.
True. Anyone who is validly baptized is a Christian.
However, everyone needs communion with Rome to have the fullness of the faith. For that matter, we must all be in communities which are Churches — that is, those with the true Eucharist and Holy Orders, &c. — for their members to live the fullness of the Christian life.
You agree that true Christians exist outside the Roman Catholic Church. However you say they are somehow “lower level” Christians because we don’t do communion, baptism and worship like you do. I do ask God to convict me if I am wrong in not believing that the bread and grape juice or wine are mystically turned into real flesh and blood….I read the scripture and Jesus said “do this in remembrance of Me.” Yes He said this is my body and blood…but not actual blood and flesh (ghastly) but a representation. This idea came much later. The first century church did not teach this as far as I have found in the New Testament. God looks at the heart and mind of people, and He knows who are His. It is an elitist attitude to think only Roman Catholics are complete or fully saved or in any way “more” Christian than others.
Patty, praise God for your faith in the Lord Jesus. Praise God for His grace, mercy, and love that brought us to Him. Apart from who is right or wrong, here is a key difference, and it is KEY, between Protestants and Catholics: We Catholics use the Holy Scriptures, Tradition, and the teachings of the Church (the Magesterium) as our source for information and life. Up until the 1500 there was NO other church. The Bible used by Protestants (minus the seven books they don’t include) was given to the world by the Catholic Church. For example here’s an interesting question: How do you know that Mathew wrote Mathew? Another very important aspect to Catholicism is our unity in doctrine. If you hold to Sola Scriptura, the problem that inevitably comes up, and it is corroborated by the over 30,000 protestant denominations, is how to interpret the Bible. Give a difficult passage to ten God-loving Protestants, and you will most likely have at least five different interpretations. Our Church has a very well-defined and clear interpretation for all of the faith. No guess work there. Just some food for thought. If a doctor misdiagnoses a disease and I come in and tell him I know for sure what the disease is, I am not telling him that in an elitist attitude. I am just trying to help. By far I will admit I don’t know everything, but I will also have a firm conviction of the disease state and of the medicine needed to treat that disease. Either Christianity is Sacramental or it is not and it DOES make a difference. Do we all love the Lord Jesus as best we know how? Of course. May the Lord bless us all and lead us all to Him day by day. If you really would like to know more about why we are Catholic, I believe there is a site called 150 Reasons why I am a Catholic. It is worth reading. Blessings on you and on all of us dedicated to serving the Lord Jesus with all our heart.
Patti: All I said is that the full faith is found within the Catholic Church. Something other than the full faith is found outside her.
There is no such thing as Christian baptism that is not Catholic baptism, and no such thing as Catholic baptism that is not Christian baptism. However, being baptized and being Catholic are, sadly, distinct for various reasons.
I have done some reading on what the differences between Roman Catholic and the Protestant Church are. Jesus taught from and quoted from the Old Testament ( pre -maccabees ) He considered it God’s word, so I do too. The New Testament is compiled by first hand witnesses and Paul and first church preachers. It has been scrutinized for authenticity, so I accept it too. Adding decrees from Roman Church leaders does not make it “more Christian”, and needed for growth in a Christian walk. Just before Christ died on the cross He said,”It is finished.” It seems a denial of what our savior has done to add more “hoops” to be jumped in order to be cleansed from our sins. The book of Hebrews makes it very clear that Jesus Christ is our Priest and King for eternity….we need no other mediator between us and God The Father but Him! We don’t have to say so many Hail Marys, we don’t have to pray to other saints who have died . If you choose to do so, I am not going to say your Christian walk is not heart felt. I do however, take exception to your assessment that a Protestant Christian is just not going to have a rich, full walk with Christ as you do. A follower of Christ does have to read the Bible and study it, and live by it. This takes our entire lifetime. There are so many amazing preachers and teachers of the Bible….I have learned so much from them and am still learning. Yes, there are some difficult passages in the Bible, but it can be understood. You stated that you could ask random Protestants questions about the Bible and they would not know the answer….I am sure that is the same with a Catholic congregation..so, not a valid point. There are some things we will not really know until it happens, or until we die. Having different interpretations on the end times ,for instance, does not prevent us from entering Heaven ( as far as I have learned.) But doctrine on who Christ is and faith in Him, and doing what He said, does matter. So, I just don’t accept that somehow a Christian is missing out if he is not Roman Catholic. I would not be surprised, if when we are sitting at the banquet table as The Bride of Christ” that those who have died in Pakistan, China, North Korea, Laos,Egypt etc because they would not deny Christ ( Christian but not Roman Catholic) will be sitting the closest to Christ! God knows our hearts, that is what matters, not our “religion”.
I agree with Rico’s comments about your faith in the Lord. If you would like further reading on the Catholic view of the scripture portion you may want to view this article…http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/what-catholics-believe-about-john-6
As to the Church Fathers you may want to read this article . http://archive.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp
As to the early Church in Scripture…for a sampling you might read 1Cor. 10:16-17, 11:23 – 29 especially verse 27.
Hi, thanks for the questions, they do help me to think about what I believe and to better articulate it. As I read scripture, “It is finished!” …..is so packed with meaning. Jesus Christ did what He was born in the flesh to do: Be rejected, reviled, tortured and crucified , in order to satisfy God’s perfect justice requirements for the sin’s of human beings. For the people who see that we need salvation from our sorry sinful condition, and repent and declare Christ as Lord of our lives. He told His followers that He would rise on the third day…and He did! This proved He conquered death ,the consequence for sin. And it was also to show believers that we will have new bodies someday too, in Heaven. “Death has been swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 I am sure I have not done this question justice, as this amazing work of God is really far beyond my understanding. As we learn in scripture, this act of God’s has nothing to do with who I am or what I have done….it is all about Him, who He is and what He does. My faith is a gift from God too!
I mistakenly answered another person’s question under you name! Well, to get to your question, Cotton D, I read the scripture verses you suggested, and still find it quite a stretch to say the disciples considered the bread & wine to be actual flesh and blood. It just seems like such obvious symbolism. But , when taking the elements in remembrance of Christ, we are examine our hearts and be humbled in His presence. Our attitude and focus is to be right when partaking .
There are various questions: when we all get to Heaven, will there be parts of it where only Catholics go and not Protestants? Of course not. Here’s another one: is theology and doctrine important? The obvious answer is YES!!! If that is the case, then it behooves all of us who call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be very careful what we believe, teach, and practice. For example, either the bread in Communion is just a reminder of Jesus’ death or it is the actual Body of Christ by the miracle of transubstantiation!!! Hmmm, AND it really makes a difference. Here’s one last question: Does God look at our hearts and see our contrite, open, surrendered, and open attitude toward Him regardless of denomination? Of course!!! BUT, in Ecclesiology, for example, either the Holy Catholic Church is the One and Only True church or not!!! Let’s all get before the throne of God and honestly and openly ask Him to clarify these things for us. It is important what we believe and two opposites cannot represent the same truth. One is right and one is wrong. Either the Holy Catholic Church is the one and only established by the Lord Jesus or not. Let’s do our homework and be obedient to the Truth. In the mean time let’s lift up all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus who are suffering for Him and let’s storm the gates of Heaven for their deliverance and for the grace to endure untold miseries for the Gospel. Blessings on all.
So many people to be reached for Christ. So many lost. So much harvest to be worked, so few workers!!! Let’s do our best to get out there daily and reach the lost for the Lord Jesus. From what I know and understand this site/blog is a Catholic one so those who don’t agree should really not try to convince us of why they are not Catholic. Everybody is free to be what they want to be. This blog, unless I have misunderstood its purpose, is to promote and encourage evangelism and yes, we are Catholics. If you like evangelism, please do a lot of it. But trying to discuss Catholicism versus Protestantism is not a good thing, especially here…at least I think. As I said previously, if we disagree, so be it, and let’s unite in our efforts to reach the lost for the Lord Jesus. Obviously I will invite people to come to the Lord Jesus through His Church, the Holy Catholic Church. Those who don’t agree with that should therefore work within the circles in which they agree so they can direct people that way. Inasmuch as I love all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am unashamedly Catholic and firmly believe the Catholic Church is the one and only founded by the Lord Jesus. I have to, therefore, be true to my convictions and disagree in love with those who feel otherwise. Lord bless us all.
I will agree to disagree with the things that differ between Catholics and Protestants. But I embrace all fellow Christians . This blog asked the question “Why don’t Protestants think Catholics are Christians?” So that is why I felt drawn into a dialog. At the end of the day we really all belong to Christ.
How early did the Catholic Church teach the reality of Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist? Well, we think it is very obvious that this is Jesus’ meaning in scripture and so from the beginning (in the first century) we feel this was the teaching of the Catholic Christian Church (there not being any other Christian Churches until the Reformation in 1519). Since Prostestants who read the same scripture disagree with Catholics on this – doesn’t this discussion show the need for an authoritative interpreter of scripture – the bible doesn’t interpret itself. How else does one know what the correct interpretation would be? However, I always liked this quote:
“They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh that suffered for our sins and that the Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.” St. Ignatius of Antioch – Letter to the Smyrnaeans – written in 110 AD while on his way to be martyred in Rome by being thrown to the lions.
The are more from the earliest days of Christianity. Patty, you said the idea of the reality of Jesus body and blood in the bread and wine “came much later…the first century church did not teach this”. If you read up on the earliest days of Christianity, you actually do find this teaching was quite common.
By the way, no one is saying being Catholic makes you more acceptible to God – not sure where you got that. However, Jesus did tell us to follow His commandments, and if one is that He founded a Church – which historically only the Catholic Church makes claims to and can trace its bishops and Popes back to, why would someone ignore that part of Jesus teaching? I think that is more the thought. I don’t think you’d find anyone who would deny some Protestants live the life more in Jesus teaching than many Catholics, but that is not the point. Jesus founded “a” Church, not churches. That is scriptural.
Patty, one question I’d like you to think about. If Jesus comment on the cross “It is finished” means just that – what it the purpose of the Resurrection? Cause, the Resurrection came after whatever was “finished” on the cross.
God Bless.
Once again it’s quite simple. As Catholics we rely on Tradition, the Magesterium, and the Bible for our doctrine. We don’t rely on our own interpretations. When you do, you see what happens? Everybody comes up with one reason or another for NOT agreeing with this or that. One of the beauties of our Catholic faith and heritage is our unity of doctrine and practice. This is not to be found among Protestants. May the Lord have mercy on us all.
Hi Patti….just ran across this blog and noted the timing…not sure if you still monitor it. I was taken back on how you chose to use the last supper discourse in defense of the Eucharist being only a “remembrance”. I ask you to read the whole chapter of John 6 and really take your time. Jesus is explicit that unless one eats of His flesh and drinks His blood they will have eternal life. Am I saying that a Protestant with your belief will not be saved? No. But if you look for truth, find it and then choose something other than that well you just may not be. As the followers of Jesus remarked in the same chapter, “this is a hard saying”, and they left. You also make remarks on the Church and the Bible, do you know who compiled the Bible, and when? Or why there are more books in the Catholic Bible?….and trust me they were not added later. They were removed during the Reformation much to the demise of many. If you are searching for truth then please read the early church fathers…there is so much written by them in the very early years after our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. God bless you and have a blessed Easter. In Christ, Patti 🙂