It’s hard to believe it’s been almost THREE years now since I first starting sharing my journey through Protestant and Catholic Belief with you!
At the time, I was just beginning to realize how much of the religion I was taught as a child was wrong, and I was just beginning to look into the claims of the Catholic Church to see how much merit they held, if any.
I did a LOT of research during this time, and I learned a TON.
And over the course of a few months, you journeyed with me as I really dove into Scripture to see what the Bible REALLY had to say about issues such as whether or not faith alone is enough, whether the church or the Bible has the ultimate authority and whether we should be baptized as infants or adults.
Not only did these posts really help me think through some very important issues, but I’ve heard from several of you that they’ve really helped you too!
In fact, my post on 10 Common Catholic Church Myths that Critics Believe is STILL one of the most highly trafficked posts on this site, and it continues to bring in new readers all the time!
Well, now that it’s been almost three years since I wrote the last article in the series, I thought it was high time that I give everyone who is curious an update — especially since so many of you have been emailing me asking for one.
Hopefully this post will answer your questions!
Did I End Up Converting to Catholicism? (And why not?)
No, I never ended up converting.
I went through almost all of RCIA* until the week when they wanted me to stand up in front of God and the entire church and say that I believe that 100% of everything the Catholic Church teaches is 100% correct.
And well… I can’t say that.
*Note: For those of you who are unfamiliar, RCIA stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” — It’s a class taught by Catholic churches for anyone interested in Catholicism or considering converting.
I do believe that there is a “100% Truth” out there, but in order for me to be able to determine if the Catholic Church is 100% correct, I’d have to know what that 100% Truth is AND every single thing the Catholic Church teaches so that I can compare the two and see if they match up.
And seeing as how I’m not God… how could I possibly know for 100% sure what that 100% Truth is?
Honestly, it would feel pretty arrogant for me to say “I know the 100% Truth” — as if I were soo smart and could somehow figure it all out.
There are some seriously, seriously SMART Catholics, Protestants (and even Atheists!) out there who all debate and still can’t figure things out. They all have great arguments, and still land on every different side of the debate. If they can’t figure it out, how could I possibly?
And I know, I know. This is where my Catholic husband and the priest tell me “Well, you have to have faith.” And they’re right. We’ll never know for sure and there does need to be some measure of faith. BUT — I just don’t have that kind of faith in the Catholic Church (or any particular church, for that matter).
So… that’s where I’m stuck with that.
There’s nothing in particular that I really object to (though there are several things that aren’t my personal preference). I’m just not convinced.
I do continue to pray and plan to do much more research though – especially into the early church fathers – so who knows… maybe there’s still hope for me yet 🙂
So… How Does That Work? If You and Your Husband Believe Different Things?
Well, what you have to understand is that despite my husband and I having different “labels” (he’s Catholic, I’m not) 98% of what we believe and the way we practice our faith is the same, and the parts that are different really don’t make a huge difference in day-to-day life.
We both pray, read our Bibles and attend church regularly. We both seek to live God-honoring lives and pretty much agree on what that looks like. We both care a great deal about raising our children in the faith.
And for the things we differ on, we tend to be pretty accepting of each other’s beliefs. We find ways to make it work and to incorporate the best of both worlds.
For example:
- We go to Catholic Mass on Sundays. He tried my church for a while. Now we regularly attend his. It isn’t my first choice personally, but his church is important to him and going to church together is important to me.
- Our kids go to a Protestant preschool and a Catholic elementary school. They’ve also attended Protestant Sunday School and Catholic Vacation Bible School. Not to keep things 50/50, but because we both felt those were the best schools/programs for our children in our area.
- Our kids learn both Catholic and Protestant songs and prayers – just depending on whoever happens to be singing or praying with them at the time. I may not care to pray the rosary personally, but will it harm my children if they learn it? Hardly.
I’m totally supportive of my husband going to confession, praying the rosary or wanting to display a cross in our home – even though those aren’t the ways I typically worship. And he’s totally fine with me reading Protestant books, listening to Protestant music and teaching our kids all the songs and Bible stories I grew up learning.
My husband and I aren’t two enemies competing to get our own way. We’re two Christian adults each trying to grow in faith personally and do what’s best for our families as a whole. And when we disagree, we find a way to work together to find a solution we can all agree with.
What Advice Do You Have for Couples Who…?
Of course, this is just what has worked best for MY marriage. Your marriage might need something different.
If you and your spouse are also trying to navigate a marriage in which you believe two different things (or one or both of you is considering changing beliefs), you might find one of these articles helpful instead:
What to Do When You And Your Husband Have Differing Beliefs (For differing denominations)
Unequally Yoked Marriage? What to Do When Your Spouse Isn’t a Believer
So hopefully that answers some of your questions…
Still have more questions for me about my journey or how my husband and I make it work? Leave them in the comment section below!
Brittany
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Interesting article. I am struggling in that my husband and I cannot agree about several options within the same denomination. We have been attending Church A for 12 years. It was a great church but lately our Pastor seems to be focusing more on himself and less on God. My husband still loves this church because of relationships we have there, even though he agrees with me about the pastor. Church B is a church closer to our house, and I would choose it in a heartbeat but they have fewer services and I can’t find time to attend both. So then there is Church C. It is a very large church 45 miles from here. I watch it online and love its teaching so much more than Church A’s. I just would like to be able to patlrticipate in some of the activities it has closer to here, like a midweek small group. So far though due to schedule conflicts that has not worked out.
What does your husband think about the idea of switching? (And did you ever go to your pastor with love and respect to politely express your concerns and ask for clarification or are you just jumping ship?)
If you are both willing and wanting to switch, you might consider sitting down with a piece of paper and listing out: “What are THE most important things we need in a church?” That can be very revealing. Just because a church has a lot of good things going for it doesn’t mean it is the most important things going for it.
Thanks for your follow up! I joined the Catholic Church 13 years ago and my husband has not and we are doing fine. Our children are grown. He loves his church and goes there but will go to Mass with me when we travel. I think the problem is-and I had that problem too-the profession of faith they ask you to make is not clear-it can be taken two ways-that you have to believe everything the church speaks on 100 percent, or that you believe the Church when she teaches regarding things revealed by God. It’s still unclear to me. You may want to talk to a couple priests to find out if it’s really what you think it is. God bless you on your journey! ( you can always join the Church at any time. Ask if you even have to go through RCIA again. )
That is actually a really good question. I should clarify. Either way — it’s still a commitment. I’ve definitely committed my life to Jesus, but I’ve never committed to a church before. We church hopped a lot so we just always came and went to a lot of different churches.
And they did tell me that if I change my mind, I can just jump right back in where I left off.
I’m having trouble giving in on difficult issues too, but there’s a certain comfort in knowing it’s ok to have difficulties. If the Holy Spirit protects the Catholic faith, I can just accept doctrines and figure the Lord will show me their truth in His own time. This frees us from the frantic search to always have to research an answer. It hasn’t been easy-my emotions go up and down and I can get fixated on the sins in the Church. Bear in mind too, that if you convert, you may get blowback you never expected. Be sure in your heart you aren’t just protecting your internet presence-not saying you are-but could that be a factor is all I’m saying.
That’s a pretty big IF though. (“If the Holy Spirit protects the Catholic faith”). I absolutely believe He can, and I believe that’d be awesome. But is the Catholic church the one He’s protecting, or a different one? I don’t know.
And I’m truly not concerned about my Internet presence (though I certainly don’t mind you bringing it up for question!). I’ve thought about it, but I honestly don’t think it will make a huge difference. (And if it did – that’s fine). But the majority of what I write is (and always will be) very denominationally friendly, and meant to spark open debate. So I tend to draw smart, open-minded, loving people who are interested into looking into matters thoroughly, rather than just yelling their opinions. That’s not really what I care to ever do, and my readers don’t either. (You guys are all seriously the best!) 🙂
Brittany, I find your blog refreshing! In my quiet times I believe I have been impressed that out journey is not about a denomination, but a relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is not about a place, a physical church, but the people who make up the church lead by Our Heavenly Father. I have considered myself nondenominational whether I attend a Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. church, and I have attended many different denominations. God means us to come together not tear each other down. We are not to judge one another, and how God moves one person, may not be the same way he moves another person. That is why it is called a personal relationship with Christ! Everyone must find their place through that personal relationship, and seeking truth. The Holy Spirit can lead us, but we are human, and I can only speak for myself, even if I listen, trust, and do the best I can to obey, I don’t always get it right! I have attended many different denominational churches, and am now attending a Catholic Church, off and on for the past 10 years. I don’t agree with everything, but they are Christians and follow the teaching of Jesus Christ, as you know. I am now getting more involved, getting ready to attend a Bible study, and continue to work on my personal relationship with the Lord. I haven’t found any church that has it “all” correct, but I do believe we are to be connected to a body of believers. I am continuing my relationship with Christ, praying that I will keep a nonjudgmental spirit, and continue seeking truth!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Lynn! We’re definitely all on a journey! 🙂
Hi Brittany,. I too find your blog refreshing. I think it’s so important to respect another’s sincere beliefs while at the same time not be afraid to engage in intellectually honest debate about our differences.
I recently spent time with a dear friend who is a strong Bible Christian who believes I am in serious error by being Catholic. I wanted to ask her to consider John 6, the Bread Life discourse, and approach it as a critical tenet of faith that most be either accepted or rejected. Just as C.S. Lewis said the incredible claim of Jesus to be God cannot be fluffed over : He was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord; likewise I feel Jesus’ claim that “Unless you eat of the Flesh of tbe Son of Man, and drink His Blood you shall not have life within you” is in the same category. Either all Catholics adoring Jesus in the Eucharist are following a blasphemous lie or the Church is a Lunatic or else Jesus meant exactly what He said and the Eucharist is not a mere symbol but His Body and Bloid, worthy of our adoration. And if the Church is right about this, how can any believer want to live separated from receiving His Body and Blood? Either all the Eucharistic Miracles throughout the ages are true, or else they are from the Devil. There’s no other explanation for them. This requires a leap of faith just like Peter did when he chose not to leave Jesus after this Bread if Life discourse where many of His disciples left Him. It is a question that begs to be answered, if we are to be truly intellectually honest. I don’t believe the Eucharistic Miracles are tricks from the Devil. Please look them up. I also don’t believe Fatima and Lourdes are deceptions from. Devil either. They are either true and from God or they are lies or worse. God bless you on your faith journey.
What brought me in and keeps me in is the Eucharist-the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine-a miracle, not a symbol. This keeps me in the Church and brings me into intimacy with my Lord. I have had major struggles over other issues-big time-but always come back because of this.
That’s a big draw for me too. And I do really like the idea of confession (the way it’s meant, not the way it’s misunderstood)
the biggest issue in the Catholic church that I don’t find in the Bible is, praying to Mary and the Saints and believing that works will get you to heaven. i once went back and forth with friend extensively because she kept stating that faith without works is dead. but to me that means, when you are convicted, it shows. John 3:16 would be false if we believed that our goodness in some way, let’s us enter heaven. what are your thoughts on those? and your husbands.
i’m nosy. no, curious. well, more nosy.
Sounds like you believe a few misconceptions 🙂
Catholics absolutely do NOT believe that works get people into Heaven (in fact – they specifically state it does NOT work like that). They simply don’t throw out works altogether, like Protestants do. Because the truth is, the Bible doesn’t throw out works either. The Bible is VERY clear that we do have an obligation to do certain things — not to earn salvation, but because as Christians, we are expected to.
Anyways, I have a bunch of really good research and explanation on faith vs works here: https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/faith-alone-enough/
And an article about praying to Mary/Saints here: https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/what-do-catholics-really-believe-about-mary-saints-and-statues/. I’m personally not a huge fan of it myself, but I at least explain their perspective and where they are coming from.
I hope you’ll check out both! 🙂
it’s not a matter of me believing some misconceptions, as much as it is what i have seen in my Catholic friends. I believe our salvation is wholly thru the Grace of God and they do not. They believe it is coupled with works.
I truly don’t think praying to Mary is biblical at all. I did read your article but my opinion on that is the same because it isn’t in the Holy Bible and that is all I believe, nothing taken away. nothing added.
thank you!
What The Church holds true should never be left to what her members tell you, sad but true.
The Church in union with other non-Catholic denominations professes justification by faith.
My good works don’t get me into heaven, but by the grace of God I’m given gifts and talents that enable me to perform them and I pray by the grave of God that I act in accordance with His will.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says among other things…
2028 “All Christians . . . are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (LG 40 § 2). “Christian perfection has but one limit, that of having none” (St. Gregory of Nyssa, De vita Mos.:PG 44, 300D).
2029 “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).
There is a lot of room for personal revelation (interpretations) and semantics often gets in the way.
Hi Brittany. I really like what you said about why you go to Catholic Mass on Sunday. I think this kind of problem solving is really important in relationships. Figuring out what’s most important to each person and then looking for a way in which both people win a little.
Thanks, Lily! 🙂 Thankfully it’s worked okay for us so far!
Thank you for sharing Brittany. Your faith is encouraging and your walk with God is a great witness to many as you share your growth through the barriers life has put up. Your commitment to your husband and marriage is an honour to God in choosing to worship with him and work together in the growth of your children and their lives with Christ. God Bless you and thank you for sharing your heart.
Aww thank you so much Karalyn 🙂
Hello Brittany, I enjoyed reading your article tonight. My wife used to be a very hardcore anti-Catholic when we first met and got married. I wasn’t a practicing Catholic at the time. But as time went on I felt called back. I just didn’t know how to bring this up to my wife. Very long story short, she opened her heart and mind to letting go to the years of lies she had been fed by her church she went to growing up and listened and looked at what the Catholic Church really taught rather than what she was told they they taught. I can understand what you and your husband have been through and God bless you for that.
I do have a question though, if you can’t with 100% certainty make the profession of faith in entering the Catholic Church because you say you can’t know anything with 100%, how could you believe with any certainty that the Bible is the inspired inerrant Word of God? How could you know with 100% certainty there is an afterlife? Or God? Are there not things in our lives that we do have to take on faith? I applaud you for not making that profession of faith when you were not ready and had doubts. I have seen many simply go through the motions over the years.
God Bless
Wow, that is a fantastic question. I guess I have to say that I believe in them based on faith – BUT that it’s a faith that has been grounded in reason throughout the years.
Sure, when I was 5, I believed because my parents said so, but then I went on to do research for myself (especially into the Bible — I have a whole different series on that here: https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/christianity-fact-or-fiction-examining-the-evidence-you-need-to-know/) and meet with God and know Him personally. And I found good evidence that only strengthened what I believed.
But with the Catholic Church… I don’t have that foundation. If I had grown up believing it, I probably still would. But having not grown up believing it, I just don’t have enough reason or evidence to compel me to put my total faith and trust in it.
Is that a terrible answer? lol. I don’t know. But it’s the truth at least.
I grew up Protestant, but became Catholic and I’m certain I made the right choice. Although I was never baptized until I became Catholic, I always believed that Jesus died for our sins, and I never doubted the existence of God. I prayed often while growing up and throughout the years before becoming Catholic; my prayers, were much like a conversation with a very, very close friend and I knew I needed to always try to get closer to God. I chose the Catholic Church after marrying a Catholic man and raising our children in the Catholic Church, mostly because I finally understood that I needed to be baptized and I wanted to do it at the church that I believed was the one Jesus established. I came to the conclusion that the Catholic Church was the church Jesus was talking about, when He said to Simon Peter, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”. Another reason was that after much thought, some research, a lot of exposure to the Sunday Mass, a number of episodes of EWTN Live and other EWTN programs, and a few, very long talks with Jesus, I was ready to make that decision. I was and still am 100% certain I made the right decision. I believe we are all on a journey in this life. I know that every person must make his own journey, and decide for himself what he believes, but I know that it helps to hear or read the stories of others.
There are a number of reasons for my confidence. For one thing, I don’t believe that any other Christian Church can claim to have existed at the time of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, albeit at the beginning it was not unorganized. The Catholic Church lists Peter as the first Pope, and maintains a list of popes from the time of Peter all the way to the present. Secondly, the origin of the Canon of the Holy Scriptures cannot be claimed as put together by any Protestant denomination. It’s origin can be traced back to Catholic Bishops at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage. Thirdly, Catholic teaching about the Holy Eucharist is most in line with the teaching of Jesus in John 6:51 and elsewhere, including the Last Supper. There is no other Christian Church as rich in history, literature, authority, doctrine, dogma and tradition. A close review of the Catechism of the Catholic Church illuminates some of this (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM). I have many more reasons why I believe the Roman Catholic Church is the fullness of truth, but it is late and I must say Good Night. God Bless!
I totally under the Catholic Church view on that — that they are the original and that everyone else branched off. For me, the question is — yes, they WERE the original, but did the 100% Truth stay with them or did it follow some other denomination that branched off somewhere along the line? Who is still holding on to the original teachings, and are they holding on to the RIGHT teachings? So I guess I need to study the early church fathers more.
Yes, it might be very helpful to read about the early church fathers. It is my understanding that Catholic Doctrine & Dogma cannot be changed and has not changed from the beginning. Some things can change, for example, Church discipline or government, but truth never changes. These two online articles point that out: https://www.catholic.com/qa/can-the-church-change-its-doctrines http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2015/10/the-catholic-church-never-changing-and-ever-changing.html
Regarding original Christian teachings, you may want to take a look at these two websites. They each have links to actual writings of the early fathers on crucial matters. I think the first one (Catholicbible101) is easier to view and to read: http://www.catholicbible101.com/theearlychurchfathers.htm http://www.staycatholic.com/early_church_fathers.htm
When I mentioned earlier that “I knew I needed to always try to get closer to God”, the fact was that I wanted the truth. The many Christian denominations and ways of worshiping God confused me. They each claim to have the truth but some of them teach very different things, and so, I thought, someone must have the actual truth. I wanted the actual truth. “Maybe” or “very likely” would not do! I believe now with all of my being that the universal church—i.e., the Roman Catholic Church—is the true church that Jesus talked about building. May God guide and protect you.
Thank you for these links! I will definitely check them out!
I am confused about who you are and what you believe.(James 1:8), in regards to the Catholic church, please research the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther why he left the Catholic church, (Revelation 17:1 -20
We must put GOD first, it is not about pleasing “man”. IT IS ABOUT Honoring the LORD in Spirit and Truth.
Hi, Barbara. This post is a follow-up to an entire series I did on Protestant and Catholic beliefs a few years ago. Basically, I grew up Protestant, married into a Catholic family, and then did a ton of research. After receiving multiple emails asking which one I eventually went with, I decided to write an update for anyone who was curious.
If you’d like to check out the series (it’s a good one! Very informative) – you can find it here: https://equippinggodlywomen.com/my-journey
As for your comment, I did research this matter quite a bit. The Catholic church does NOT put man above God — that is a myth. And I explain everything in the series.
God Bless you on your journey Brittany. Never loose your focus on Jesus Christ. Let Him be the cornerstone of your faith. Put your faith and trust in Him. Don’t let any denomination blur this truth. Listen to the Lord when he warns us in Matthew 7: 21-23. What is the will of the Father? Look to John 6:40.
Britany, be careful about statements such as “protestants throw out works.” We are saved by faith alone, but this faith creates a change in us that produces loving fruit. This loving fruit is how we know that we have the right faith, the trusting faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
John Piper describes this nicely : https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/does-james-contradict-paul
“To put it yet another way: When Paul teaches in Romans 4:5 that we are justified by faith alone, he means that the only thing that unites us to Christ for righteousness is dependence on Christ. When James says in James 2:24 that we are not justified by faith alone he means that the faith which justifies does not remain alone. ”
“These two positions are not contradictory. Faith alone unites us to Christ for righteousness, and the faith that unites us to Christ for righteousness does not remain alone. It bears the fruit of love. It must do so or it is dead, demon, useless faith and does not justify.”
Check this out. This comes from Martin Luther: “An Introduction to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,” Luther’s German Bible of 1522 by Martin Luther, 1483-1546. Link: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/martin-luthers-definition-faith/
A brief summary: “Instead, faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever.”
“Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they’re smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.”
May God continue to bless you and your family. This comes from a fellow christian who has been taking his family on the road to follow Christ and has been to many denominations including Roman Catholicism.
Hello Brittany,
I was wondering how you felt about not being able to partake in the Eucharist since you have not converted to catholicism. Is it hard attending mass with your family and not being able to model this part that the Church regards so highly for your children?
I have been dating a catholic and have grown up protestant. I am very fascinated with the Catholic Church, but I also have reservations based on how I was raised. I have been considering marriage and would ultimately see that leading to attending mass. I was just curious as to how you felt about it.
It honestly doesn’t bother me. I understand (and even agree with) their reasoning. If it really IS the real body and blood of Jesus (and I believe it is), then it only makes sense that they would want to handle it with utmost care and respect, which includes not giving it to those who don’t even believe in it.
And my kids haven’t even noticed (and likely won’t for a long time). I can still walk up with them and get a blessing. And if they go first and I go last, they don’t see me anyways. Not that I’m being sneaky and purposely hiding it, but since our kids are still really little, we haven’t gotten into that whole debate with them yet.
Hi Brittany! Forgive me for adding my two cents; I don’t want you to feel like people are ganging up on you! 🙂 You are on your journey with your husband and with God and that is something you do alone. But as a convert, it’s difficult not to add my own experience!
I was raised devoutly Lutheran, became an atheist as a teenager, and then finally converted to Catholicism as an adult. When I read your update, what jumped out at me was what other converts sometimes call “the Protestant mindset.” This mindset is that “I am the arbiter of all truth” — we are raised to believe that each one of us has the right and the duty to research every one of our beliefs to ensure that they are correct and that the church or denomination we are with is the correct one, and that the Bible, prayer, and our reason are all that we need to accomplish this. Implicit in this mindset is the belief that the Holy Spirit will guide us in this quest and preserve us from error. But we can look around and see that this is not the case for individuals.
For instance, when we see this mindset at work in others, its flaws are clear. When some guy in Duluth says that he has looked into all the various denominations, and that some are almost correct, but none is exactly correct according to his own research, so he has prayerfully discerned that he must start his own church (which properly teaches that hell is a metaphor or whatever), it’s really obvious to the rest of us that he is in error. And if you look back to Arius, he was an ordained priest who was convinced he was correct about Jesus not being equally divine, and he got 95% of priests on board with his views at one time. But the church never taught that, and instead the doctrine of the Trinity won the day.
So what is the alternative? Of course we must use our reason! But after we have evaluated the claims of the Catholic Church and its tenets and our objections about saints and Mary etc are answered, I think the hardest work is on the issue of pride and authority: Will I be catholic because I know the truth and it teaches it? Or because it is the church that Jesus has said he will preserve and has preserved from doctrinal error, a claim he never made to me or to any individual? Martin Luther truly believed that if we all looked at the Bible and prayed on it, we would all come to the same views as he did. And within only a few years he was proven wrong, and people came to all kinds of contradictory views. Now we have 30,000+ denominations.
For me, I look at all those terrible popes, the really bad ones, and I notice that even the worst ones (with power and money to do anything) never put forward any papal bulls about how popes were special so they should get 20 virgin concubines or anything, they never decreed their behavior to be licit, as many rulers through the centuries have. I look at the issue of birth control, which every Christian for 1900 years agreed about, until it became much more conveniently produced, and then all denominations fell one by one except the Church. And even then, in the 60s, the bishops pressed the pope to allow it. And he instead wrote Humanae Vitae, and its famous prophecies have all come true. When people sever the link between pleasure and consequences, it is as unhealthy as bulimia, when a person wants the pleasure of tasting the cake and then vomits to avoid the calories.
But that’s its own topic. My point is only that there are many instances, like these, where the Church faced enormous pressure from within and without to change her doctrines and fall into the errors of the day and mirror the modern world’s views, and she has still been preserved in her teachings. Yes, there are lots of other denominations (as many as there are issues to disagree about), but only the Church has been preserved. Even if you aren’t sure about the contraceptive issue, you can see what has happened in the last 50 years. You can see why more and more evangelicals active in the pro-life movement are turning away from birth control and toward embracing children and a different plan for our marriage and family life than the modern world’s view. And there was the church, the only voice among all christians that had been saying this message when it was most unpopular.
Anyway, when you give up the Protestant mindset, it is really very freeing. You realize that there are still perhaps dozens of issues you aren’t qualified to research properly (because maybe you don’t read Greek or Hebrew), and that there are likely many more ethical and moral issues still to arise in your lifetime — but you know the Holy Spirit will protect and preserve the church in a way that God has never done and has never promised to do for any individual. Her track record is much better than mine. And God’s hands are much more capable than mine. And that’s scary but also freeing.
So anyway; sorry this is so long! God bless you on your journey. But don’t get too comfortable with just the status quo! Maybe ask God to send you, call you, push you wherever it is he wants you to be and go and say and do, and he will.
Emily
Hi Brittany, I have enjoyed your this series. I have a question for you, I have been in a long term relationship with my boyfriend who is Catholic. I know you go to Catholic mass and do not take the Eucharist, so how do you feel about not having communion? I’m trying to figure this out for myself, but would love your advice.
Personally, it doesn’t bother me because I understand. I don’t mind missing out on Protestant communion — since it’s just a symbol anyways. And I totally understand why Catholics would only want to give the Eucharist to people who believe it really IS the body and blood and will treat it appropriately. I know this is something many people struggle with. It just has never bothered me personally.
Were there times people told you not to marry your husband because he was catholic? I have had a couple people tell me I shouldn’t marry my boyfriend because we are not of the same denomination.
For me personally, no. Neither of our families cared, though I have since talked through some of the differences with both of our mothers after we were married.
This article is specifically about dealing with a husband who is a different denomination, but a lot of the advice would apply to dealing with families as well: https://equippinggodlywomen.com/marriage/what-to-do-when-you-and-your-husband-have-differing-beliefs/
I know this is 2 years ago, but I’m curious if anything has changed? My husband was agnostic until his twin recently converted to Catholicism with his wife. I was raised Baptist but went somewhat away from church going, as my husband was never comfortable. He is now exploring his beliefs, which I’m fine with. He’s leaning heavily towards Catholicism, while I don’t agree with everything, it’s fine. My Concern is that he’s trying to say that my belief is wrong and that if I don’t believe as he does that I’m a hypocrite because the man is the spiritual head of the household. I’m all for reaching compromises and your articles are helpful, but I don’t 100% believe what he does.
Oh goodness, that’s annoying. Nothing really has changed here, though we have reached more peace and understanding about our differences. There was a time when he felt along those same lines of “I’m the man; I’m supposed to be the leader,” which is understandable. Eventually, however, he kind of turned me over to God in prayer and let God deal with me lol! That took a lot of the pressure off.
I don’t know your husband personally or what words would be most effective for him, but for me, I’ve always thought “There are a LOT of realllly smart people on both sides. If they can’t figure it out — how can I possibly??” And if your husband was wrong before, how does he know for 100% sure he’s not wrong again? AND — it took him a while to convert. You said he wasn’t Catholic before. So… God calls us all (wherever He calls us) on HIS own timing. You can’t force people to believe anything.
Anyways, not sure if any of that is helpful. I think it helps that I am so open to learning more. And my husband eventually just realized he’s just going to have to be patient and hope for the best. No promises 🙂