The Day I Realized My Religion Got It Wrong
This post is the first in a series entitled: Letting God Lead: My Journey Through Protestant and Catholic Belief. Click here to find out more about this series and to find a list of all of the posts. *This post contains affiliate links.
It started out innocently enough. My mother-in-law (a devoted Catholic) gave me the book Surprised by Truth, which is a compilation of 11 very different peoples’ Catholic conversion stories. At first, I didn’t really understand why she was (albeit very politely) trying to “convert me.” Didn’t she realize we were the same religion? I mean, we were both Christian and we both believed what I thought were the “essentials” (The trinity, Jesus died for our sins, Heaven, etc). So why did it matter if I was Catholic? Did she think I wasn’t Christian?
(My mother-in-law is wonderful. I wasn’t upset. Just confused. I didn’t understand what all the “fuss” was about.)
You see, faith has always been a very important part of my life. My mother was a preacher’s daughter and a lot of that commitment to church and to the faith was passed right on down to me. Growing up, my mom and I were at church pretty much every time the doors were opened it seemed–at least three times a week. And we usually showed up early and stayed late as well.
And we weren’t just “Sunday Christians” either. My mom and I both read our Bibles, read other Christian Living books, listened to Christian radio, prayed, helped others, etc etc very regularly. We both sang in the church choir and praise band and even attended the same Bible college (though not at the same time). I was helping out at church multiple times a week, was helping out in the community, and had just started a Christian blog. Not that any of these things MAKE you a Christian–they don’t. But if she needed to worry about “converting” anyone, it wasn’t me.
But hey, I enjoy reading about Christianity and Christian beliefs and I wasn’t really that busy at the time, so I figured, “Hey, why not?”
Love Catholic conversion stories? Find it on Amazon!
As I sat down to read Surprised by Truth, honestly, I struggled to make it through the first chapter. I seriously wanted to chuck the book at the wall. I’m a very logical type thinker. I’m not going to believe something “because someone says so.” I want proof. I want facts. I want Scriptural support. Not that faith isn’t important–it is–but first the person better prove to me that they’re worth listening to. And here, the first chapter was full of “I believed because it just felt right, and I came into the Catholic church rejoicing and shouting “Hallelujah” to saint whoever!” Please. Spare me.
I mean, if you enjoy reading conversion stories (like this one you’re reading now 🙂 ), then it’s a really good book. It just wasn’t what I thought it would be or what I was looking for. But I kept reading. Because “hey, why not?”
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And as I kept reading and wading through all the fluff, it wasn’t long before certain sentences began to jump out at me (both good and bad), and I started learning new pieces of information that no one had ever told me before, although in snippets.
Sentences like: “To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.” Now I’ll be the first to admit, I knew VERY little about church history. If I knew more, would that change the way I saw things?
And then, three-quarters of the way through the book, I finally found an author with a similar background as mine (Baptist), who gave an account that wasn’t fluffy, but that was actually full of facts and support and that made a lot of sense. Suddenly, things I was once so sure of… I wasn’t so sure of anymore.
The real turning point happened, though, during a conversation with my husband. I’m not sure what we were talking about specifically, but suddenly it clicked that “Protestant” was derived from Martin Luther’s protest. Now, yes, I did know this before, but I had never really thought about it much. Except, this time, I did.
How–in the 16th century–could some guy suddenly decide he didn’t like the church so he was going to make a new one of his own? Now, I’m not arguing that the Catholic church was in the right. From what I’ve read since then, there was definitely some awful, sinful behavior going on that needed to be addressed. (No one’s perfect, not even the church.) BUT, what gave Martin Luther the right to pick the beliefs he wanted to pick and to abandon the rest? Who was he to get to say what was Scriptural or not?
It was at that moment I realized I couldn’t be Protestant anymore. I couldn’t support a man who left the church, took things into his own hands and decided for himself what truth should be. It just wasn’t Biblical. We’re called to repair, not divide.
Ceasing to be a Protestant wasn’t a problem for me. We did a lot of church-hopping when I was younger, and I can count NINE churches I’ve regularly attended in my life so far. I’ve never taken a denominational label–just called myself “Christian”–and I was still a Christian, so that was fine.
But investigating the Catholic Church’s beliefs was a much longer and more tumultuous journey. A journey which involved a lot of questioning, a lot of struggling and a lot of tears. A journey which I hope to cover throughout this series.
So whether you are Protestant or Catholic or something else all together, I hope and pray you will join me with an open heart and an inquisitive mind. I’m not seeking to convert you or to say that one side is right and the other is wrong. At the time of this writing, I’m neither Catholic or Protestant, and I’m still unsure as to how this journey will end.
But what I DO know is it’s been quite an enlightening year and I’ve learned a lot. And I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned with you. Because honestly, wouldn’t you like to know if what you believe is true? I hope so. And I hope you’ll continue to join me every Wednesday throughout this series to find out more.
As we start this series, I’d like to know: Are you a Protestant or Catholic? Did you grow up that way or did you switch?
Ready to read more? Don’t miss the rest of the posts in the series!
The Day I Realized My Religion Got it Wrong
10 Common Catholic Church Myths that Critics Believe
Is the Eucharist Really Just a Symbol?
Who has the Ultimate Authority? A Biblical Look at Sola Scriptura
A Brief Look at the History of Christianity
What All Christians Should Know About Priests, the Pope and Confession
What Do Catholics Really Believe About Mary, Saints and Statues?
Infant Baptism or Believer’s Baptism? Which is Correct?
What is Purgatory? What are Indulgences?
Why Do Catholics….? Honest Answers to Your Burning Questions
First off, I just want to say how refreshing it is to see an open-hearted conversation about faith. I will keep you in my prayers as you go through this journey. I was raised Catholic, and never really had a problem with the faith. But in my teens I started exploring other Christian faiths. In the end I found that I was most comfortable with the Catholic faith, but didn’t really live it. When my Husband and I were engaged, we met two very holy priests who helped explain some of the reasons we do or believe certain things. It was then that I started doing more research and since fell in love with the faith. Our family does its best to live faithful lives, but it’s a constant struggle. (Confession was always one of my favorite sacraments – probably because I need it so frequently!) I look forward to reading more of this series. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Hi, Leslie! So glad you found us! Welcome!
What a great journey! Thank you for sharing it, and I look forward to upcoming posts. I too was raised Protestant (Methodist, then Presbyterian) and that in and of itself is one of the things that strikes me. Many Protestants “church hop” like my family did, based on the particular pastor or congregation that “suits” them. I converted to Catholicism at age 30 after a long, winding journey through agnosticism and even exploration of Judaism and Eastern religions. I just couldn’t ever “give up” on Jesus (as He never gave up on me, praise God.) I was surprised to find all of the truth I was seeking in Catholicism. I love how it is rooted in history, and how it is ONE – all over the world. No more church hopping based on what I “like” at the moment. I love how it appeals to the mind (I’ll never plumb the depths of all of the great writings and teachings on Scripture), the spirit (it admits and even teaches that some things are just a mystery) and the body (the holy water, standing and kneeling, going to confession, and especially the Eucharist get my whole body involved in my faith, even when my mind “isn’t there” on any given day). I was floored to realize the Church, its traditions and practices, existed BEFORE the Bible was written, and that having the wealth of knowledge of theologians and priests throughout the centuries could help me understand Holy Scripture better than I ever could on my own. I know the Catholic Church isn’t perfect, but I do believe it is Holy. I could go on and on, but I’m not trying to convert anyone. I just came to the very unavoidable realization that it was the one, true Church for ME.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Shawna 🙂 My family was definitely a church-hopper too.
I look forward to reading your posts, Brittany. You mentioned wanting facts, not fluffy personal stories—the book that helped me most when I was trying to understand the Catholic Church is “Catholicism vs. Fundamentalism” by Karl Keating. He doesn’t bash protestantism but calmly answers their objections with well-reasoned arguments for the Catholic position. Also, you mentioned having a hard time connecting with the Mass. I highly recommend “The Supper of the Lamb” by Scott Hahn, a former Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism (and now teaches theology) and has very deep insights into the Mass as the fulfillment of the book of Revelation. It’s fascinating and might help you!
God bless!
Thanks so much for the recommendations, Mollie! I’ll put them on my “to read” list!
Both are excellent books. Remember to add also from Dr. Scott Hahn “The 4th Cup” to understand the the Last Supper, Passion, and Mass better. And Dr. Brant Pitre also digs into the Mass and why Catholics do the things they do; the roots. It will open doors of understanding that are really hidden in what we do. Since you are dealing with lots of subjects, David Currie’s journey, “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic”, is one of the finest, much more meat that Surprised by Truth.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know I went through a similar experience. I converted in 2010 to Catholicism, having been raised in an independent, fundamental Baptist church my entire life. My biggest problem was reconciling science with my faith, I just was NOT buying that the Earth was 6000 years old–when I discovered that the Big Bang Theory was formulated by a Catholic priest, my journey started. It seemed like I opened a new can of worms every day, the more I read about Catholicism. I couldn’t turn back to my old faith since all of my illusions were stripped away. Becoming a Catholic actually felt like coming HOME. I am a new blogger, so I will probably post my own conversion story soon 🙂 If you haven’t read it yet, David B. Currie’s “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic” was really good. It hit home time and time again. I look forward to your series! God bless!
Hi, Janie! Thanks for sharing your story! We have a lot in common. Please share the link to your story when you write it–I’d love to read it! Hope you enjoy reading mine as well.
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God bless your journey, Brittany. I grew up a Pentecostal Protestant, and had varying questions that no one seemed to be able to answer. A scandal occurred at my church and I fell out of the loop of any church for a few years. When I became engaged, I began RCIA because my husband was Catholic and the priest asked me to do this prior to marrying. I was ok with that and never intended to actually join the Catholic Church, but guess what? My questions were answered! And continue to be answered. Learning the history of the Church was a huge help in my conversion. And though scandals occur in the Church (as anywhere) and I struggle to find a place in my current parish, I know I am in the right place as a member of the Catholic Church.
I look forward to your series!
Thanks for sharing your story, Nicole! I’m in RCIA too currently and not sure if I will convert or not. It’s still very up in the air, but I have learned a LOT through the process!
Thank you so much for being openly honest about your faith. This is beautiful! I read Surprised by Truth last summer and as a cradle Catholic was blown away by the journey of each person as they came to share in the fullness of our Christian beliefs in the Catholic Church. I will keep you in my prayers and look forward to following this series!
Thanks, Laura! I appreciate the prayers!
I was actually Mennonite but have left them.. Now I am a simple believer- no denomination, just seeking God.
Well “seeking God” sounds like the perfect place to be to me! Hopefully reading my journey will help encourage you and equip you on your own. 🙂
Hi, Nancy! Just going back through old comments to make sure everyone was addressed. Were you able to follow the series? Do you have any questions? Last week was the conclusion post (with a giveaway!) and we’ve covered a LOT of information in between! I’d love to answer any questions you may have. (if I can!)
I have had this same conversation many times throughout the years. I was raised fundamentalist baptist, attended a conservative baptist bible college, read many different books about church history, anti-catholic, evangelical apologetics, etc. I am in my 50s now, having raised my kids in the mostly non-denominational evangelical church(es). We were the home-schooling, conservative, evangelical christian family. I was always very (outwardly) sure and firm in my evangelical protestant beliefs. inwardly I had doubts. Mostly I had observations that the majority of “evangelical non-denominational christians” were shallow, weak, and luke-warm. I also observed that the vast majority of “catholics” that I knew were not interested in their church, spiritual life, or relationship with God. I had been raised to believe that catholics were not true born-again christians, but my personal observation and experience was leading me to believe that there were very few REAL christians in any denominations. The few REAL christians that I felt I had like-minded spiritual communion with tended to be CATHOLICS. Not to say exclusively, of course. I believe there are true believers, that are true born-again christians that are catholic, protestant, and “unchurched”. The older I get and the more I see, the more disappointed I am in the modern evangelical non-denominational churches, and the more I am drawn toward “Reformed Presbyterian” and old-school Catholic. I have read all the comments with interest and look forward to joining you in your journey.
You are always going to be able to find good and bad examples in every single denomination. I encourage you not to try to make a decision based on people and their behaviors. We’re all sinners and prone to mistakes (sometimes lots of them!). Instead, I encourage you to look at the teachings themselves. Hopefully this series will be a good way to do that 🙂
Dina, things sometimes look really bleak. When those around us fail to be the basic minimum we expect from Christians we can truly feel at a loss, and disillusion can set in.
I can honestly say that every Catholic is called to a high degree of holiness. This is the continuous call that we hear from the Catholic Church (CC). Through the centuries, some have reached such a level of holiness and intimate union with the Lord here on earth that the Lord, through Grace, transformed their physical bodies to a point such that they have not decayed. We call them the Incorruptibles. Sadly, I have also seen just about all on the opposite end, and done my own share of sinning. In the end it does not matter because when I die it will be Jesus and I on that Judgement Hour.
With this thought in mind, it is always my goal to keep the eye on the champion and winner of the race; Jesus (Heb 12). The way I see it, there never has been a time when things got as bad as when Jesus underwent His Passion. Just a few hours before the Passover, He feeds thousands and then tells them that ‘unless’ they chew His Body and drink His Blood, they will not have life and will not abide in Him. At these challenging words, roughly 10,000 walk away in disbelief of what they were hearing; cannibalism.
It is also at this hour Satan enters the heart of Judas. Poor Peter is a bit dumbfound by what he was hearing. So we see that in no time at all, a crowd of 10,000 that had been fed miraculously vanishes. One of his disciples betrays Him and sells Him for silver, another 9+ run and hide, one denies Him three time, and only ONE stays with Him till the end.
My question is this. Have you seen it this bad anywhere? I haven’t, but it has been depressing nonetheless at times. So we must seek the TRUTH and follow that Truth wherever He may lead us. And our desire to be faithful to the Lord should be what drives and sustains us every day, even when things and people are a real let down.
It is important to understand that our love for the Lord and humble faithfulness and obedience bring spiritual healing into the Body of Christ, and graces pour out for the good of mankind. So, when we see those around us that have forgotten their first love (Rev 2:4), it is our responsibility as Christians to pray for them (1 John 3:16). By practicing this we are growing in charity and mercy, becoming Christ-like.
What a journey you are on. I was raised non denominational protestant. On staff at my mega church, then full time missionary.
Now I am passionate Catholic. It has been a beautiful journey. I love my faith and I am so thankful for the strong foundation I walked into the church with. I am quite open to discussing my story, if you come across the need to chat. May Christ be with you.
Hi, Erin! Nice to “meet” you! 🙂