I met and married my husband 5 years ago. He was raised catholic and his parents are active members of their church. They have NEVER pressured me to convert. When my husband told them we were going to be married by a relative of mine who was a retired Baptist minister they were supportive and very happy for us. They have remained loving and supportive ever since.

I have attended Mass a few times (for special occasions and holidays) when his family invited us. I have never felt like an outsider and have always been welcomed. I have enjoyed the homily and found it very uplifting. I have read my bible and books on Catholicism. I have talked to a priest who listened patiently and answered my questions.

I am almost sure I am ready to enroll in RCIA classes. When I have asked my Baptist friends and family for their advice the only response I get is "don’t do that, its idolatry, catholics can’t be saved" I have not yet witnessed, read or experienced any of that to be true. Since I have been exploring this new way of worship I have felt closer to Jesus than ever.

This is a decision I want to make with a lot of thought and prayer. My husband and I have sought the fellowship of a church community throughout our marriage. We have visited different denominations, non-denominationals and have not felt like we belonged in any of them. I have no pressure one way or the other. I suppose I am hoping that in posting this people will offer advice and support.

I am a convert from evangelical Protestantism. I was a Moravian for 50 years and a minister for 25 years before converting. I have a MDiv from a major Baptist seminary and a PhD from a Methodist seminary. Joining the Church has been the most fulfilling act in my whole life and I know that by Christ’s prayer to the Father that this is His will:

John 17:21-23

King James Version (KJV)

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

You probably already know that when people call Catholics idolators that this is a lie. The last place one will find idolatry is in Christ’s own Church. Such acts are strictly forbidden and results in automatic excommunication. Furthermore the Bible teaches that the Church is the door to heaven and that being Catholic is the narrow way to that door. So, on the last day all who are saved are indeed Catholic as one cannot be saved through any other way but that which our Lord has provided.

Becoming Catholic is truly like walking from the darkness into the light. E-mail me any time you have questions.

Welcome home.

God bless!

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/17126?src=devo-email

youre right, i need to find the right one and not just go cause its convenient

They can’t "walk together" in fellowship because the many churches teach different things, worship in different ways, are organized differently, follow different standards of authority, and identifies themselves with different names.

Such divisions goes against the things Jesus taught and desired. Can they all be true Christians if they don’t follow the things Christ wanted?

Jesus prayed, "Neither pray I for these (the Apostles) alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:20-21)

Jesus prayed that all of us who believe because of the things the Apostles taught (in the Bible) should all be unified as "one". Such unity helps the world to believe, therefore, divisions cause doubt and confusion. "God is not the author of confusion…" (1 Cor. 14:33)

The confusion we see in the religious world, therefore, does not come from God. even though the many churches claim they are following the Lord in what they teach and practice.

Since the confusion does not come from God, that only leaves 2 other choices. Confusion either comes from the teaching (doctrine) of Satan or the teaching of men.

Obviously, if a church is teaching the doctrine of Satan, they aren’t the true church of Christ. But what about those that teach a man-made doctrine?

Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matt. 15:9)

Note, they were worshiping. They were worshiping Christ. (Jesus said "they worship me".) But their worship was "vain" (useless, meaningless) in God’s eyes! Why? They were teaching a man-made doctrine!

The apostle Peter said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

Back in John 17, Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (vs 17)

That is the standard on which this unity is to be based. God’s word! We must follow God’s word and not add to it, take from it, or or distort it. (Deut 4:2, Deut 12:32, Prov 30:5-6, Gal. 1:6-9, 2 Pet. 3:16, Rev. 22:18-19)

Paul begged the early church to "all speak the same thing" and have "no divisions"! (1 Cor. 1:10)

This can only be accomplished if we all follow the same standard of authority for doctrine! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says the scriptures are useful for our doctrine, to correct error, to check our path, and to teach others. Using it in this way, we will have all we need to live a godly life.

The Bible does not contradict itself. Since the many churches contradict each other, they all can’t be correct. When two things contradict, they both can’t be true and at least one of them must be in error by contradicting the Bible!

To find the "true church of Christ", therefore, compare them to the scriptures to see if the things they teach and practice are true! (Acts 17:11)
.

Interestingly, this word for FELLOWSHIP is: κοινωνία
koinōnia
koy-nohn-ee’-ah
From G2844; partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: – (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship.

If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT, if any tendernesses and mercies, then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others.
(Philipiansp 2:1-4)

Bonus Q: Is the "fellowship of the mystery", also revealed in "the fellowship of the Spirit"…(Who searches ALL things, yea, the deep (hidden) things of God)?

Thank you very much for considering this Q. and for sharing your truth seeking answers! : )

I hope you ALL have a very Happy New Year….as we join in the "fellowship of the Spirit"…where we may all say to God… "Happy You Near"! : )

This is an interesting version, the NKJV. I checked a few others ( Darby, NIV, RcV, ASV, AMP) and the translation for the word ‘ Fellowship " in the NKJV is seen as " Plan, Administration, Dispensation, Economy"

The Greek word, oikonomia, means house law, household management or administration, and derivatively, administrative dispensation, plan, economy.

God’s mystery is His hidden purpose, which is to dispense Himself into His chosen people. Hence, there is the economy of the mystery of God. This mystery was hidden in God throughout the ages, but now the New Testament believers, having been enlightened, are able to see it.

Within the Godhead, there was this Fellowship, this Oneness and a heart’s desire to create Man and that this Man would contain Him, be filled with Him, express Him and exercise His dominion on the whole inhabited earth. This was not in an individual man, but as we see in this verse in Ephesians, this image and dominion is seen in the Church as the Body of Christ. All the multifarious wisdom of God is seen in and through the Church.

One day we were all damaged by sin, and had no hope in this world. We were alienated from God in every way. The whole of creation was in a condition of ruin and under Satan’s usurpation.

But Praise the Lord! God, who had a fellowship, a plan,a purpose deep in His being, that included us. Even though Satan came in to frustrate God’s purpose, God would NOT be deterred. Satan thought that he had man under his bondage and damaged man to a point of no return. But God came in to rescue us, redeem us, bring us back to our rightful position before Him. He came into us as the Spirit and in this Fellowship of the Spirit, we who have believed into God have been made ONE with Him for His plan, His purpose, to meet His goal.

Today, we are Joined to Christ who is the Head. As His Body on the earth, we enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit and have been brought into the fellowship of God. This mystery is that God has taken hopeless sinners, and regenerated them, daily sanctified them, transform them from glory to glory, they bear the image of Christ and THROUGH this One New Man, made up of Christ as the Head and the Church as His Body, ALL Of God’s wisdom is shown to the authorities and rulers in the heavenlies, that ALL things WOULD be headed up in Christ. No longer would the whole of creation be in a state of ruin and turmoil. But all things, those things in the heavens, on the earth would be headed up in Christ. He will gain the preeminence, and have the FIRST PLACE in all things. God does this through the Church.

Satan thought he won. He did not KNOW or SEE this mystery hidden deep in God’s heart. He did not realize that the man he ruined would be redeemed, transformed, conformed and glorified as the ONE NEW MAN. That through the Church as the One New Man, God would carry out His fellowship, carry out what has been in His heart.

God has joined Himself to man, dispensing His very life and nature into us, filling us and we can stand with God on the earth, to bring all things in order.

Ephesians 1:10
Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him;

May we continue to take care of the Fellowship of the Spirit, to keep the Oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. Caring for what is on God’s heart by holding to Christ as the Head. We will be richly supplied with all that Christ as obtained and attained. We lack nothing.

God is gaining what He had mysteriously hidden in Himself since eternity past. It is realize in us today as the Church. What a mercy to be in such a place!

Thank you

They will tell you yes to both. They are wrong on both counts.

etc, etc etc…..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations

Of course we know many of thousands of denominations exist. What makes you think we don’t know this? But the divisions are overstated when the same denomination appears in in its national forms, such as "of Bulgaria" or "of Canada". They are not different denominations.

For instance, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church are in fact part of one church. One faith, one Lord, one church.

Blessings.
/Orthodox

Psalm 96
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

I was glad when the say unto me, let’s go to the house of the Lord

We need to understand the concept of church so that we can proceed with our search of finding a church. Christ created a church with leaders to administrate it. Christ did not create denominations, as these are man made. The Seventh-day Church was started by the James and Ellen White, Joseph Bates. Jehovah’s Witnesses by Charles Taze Russell, Latter Day Saints by Joseph Smith, Christian Scientist by Mary Baker Eddy, Lutherans by Martin Luther, and etc.

If you are looking for "the perfect church" or "the true church" you might as well stop right here, because you will not find one that totally teaches the Word as YOU understand it.

There is no such thing as a "true church" or "remnant church" taught in the Bible. Many denominations teach these non-biblical teachings to get other people, Christians and non-Christians into their fold. After all you do not want to be a member of a church if it is not "the true church"?

It is churches such as the SDA, Jehovah’s Witness, Latter Day Saints, Catholics, and such that have confused its members by proclaiming that they are the true church. So when a person leaves those churches they look for a "true church." There is not a true church in the world. There are however true Christians that differ in their doctrinal beliefs. In fact the N T Churches had problems agreeing on doctrines. Belonging to a church does not save us we are saved by belonging to Christ. The church is not our savior, nor mediator between its members and God.

Christ established a church on earth for the purpose of evangelism, Bible study, fellowship, encouragement, prayer, and etc. The church was never to replace the Holy Spirit in leading people to the truth of God’s word. In fact the church throughout history has persecuted its members for taking a path that was not according to their creeds, when they were attempting to follow the word, as they understood it. Churches have separated Christians because of their creeds.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. Not a certain denomination or an organization. Either of which claim to be the "true Church" or The "only way" is the first lie. We are Christian, not Pentecostal, Lutherans, Catholic, SDA, Jehovah’s Witness or Latter Day Saints. These all separate us from Jesus. I am not advocating not going to Church. In fact, "GO" to Church. The truth is not in an organization, it’s not in a denomination, it’s not in a building called a church or a hall but, as Jesus says, I am the way the truth and the life.

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive

Denominationalism not only separates us from the True Jesus Christ of the Bible who is Our Creator but it also separates us from one another. Regardless of what someone desires to label themselves God told us in the Word that we have brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus because we share One Faith, One Spirit….

Ephesians 4:4-6, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

There is a uniformity and union among the cults and false religions. This is satan’s mockery of the true Unity that is only found through the Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord when we come to Him.

All believers in Christ Jesus make up the Church body. We are the Bride. It is NOT about an external group it is about those who are numbered by God and called His very own children.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 explains this so well.

You may reconsider the "traditonal" interpretation of this verse with the understanding that all believers in Christ Jesus make up His Body:

1 Corinthians 11:29, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body."

We must come to the Lord’s Supper able to discern who is part of the Body of Christ Jesus.

This is my prayer for all believers in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 1:17-23, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

Jesus is the Head of the Church which is His Body (we are member of His Body! The Church!) and His Spirit filleth (continues to fill) all!

Why is this distinction important? Why is denominationalism the way of separateness?
Because God calls us to Unity as a witness of Our Faith:

Ephesians 4:13, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"