I don't know what to do anymore, shall I leave Catholicism?

[Julia Mae]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

What shall I do? I'm just so stressed shall I just leave Catholicism to make them happy? I mean the Catholic church is the true church but I don't try converting them!

God Bless

Have you considered setting boundaries on these discussions and simply saying the topic is off-limits? Then walking away if people around you insist? Are you less than 18 years old? Do you have control over your life?

If you refuse to be engaged, after a while, people will learn to drop the subject. Jesus predicted this in the Gospels.

And it's an insult to say we, which includes you, aren't " Bible believing." Leave the Church? No. Draw some lines and stick to them.

[Nicea325]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

I have just converted to Catholicism, and my gradmother who goes to my old Protestant church keeps trying to recruit me into non denominational Protestantism because she feels I need to be in a bible believing church and the pastors keeps telling me I'm part of the whore of Babylon and say we kill Jesus every communion and all these other Catholic lies, and it seems my grandmother started to treat me different ever since I converted. Since she's a former catholic, she keeps trying to tell me she's trying to help me because she had a experience saying mass Is boring and saying it false etc.

She also wants me back in the Protestant church because my church dosent have youth groups, and my grandmother wants me in a church with "bible believing" Christian teens.

Plus not only do I have to hear it from my grandmother, but my Jehovah witness friends want to convert me too! Even though I keep saying no thank you to both my grandmother and Jehovah witness friends, they continue saying Catholicism is false.

What shall I do? I'm just so stressed shall I just leave Catholicism to make them happy? I mean the Catholic church is the true church but I don't try converting them!

God Bless

I am very sorry you are experiencing hardship from your family and friends. NO! Do not leave in order to make them happy! They are not the ONES who will save you,but God alone. Ask them to show you were in their Bibles God personally gave them authority to pass judgement on others? Are they exempt from the Commandment about no bearing false witness?

Do not listen to them. I find it so amazing the amount of hatred some have against the RCC. Their hatred for the RCC is stronger than their love for God!

[aicirt]

JWs are difficult because I don't see them as Christian. They do. You might want to google and see what they believe.

Be respectful and kind to grandma. You might ask her who compiled the Bible? The first book off the Gutenberg press was the Catholic Bible. It was not the Protestant Bible.

Is she aware that we read the Old Testament and the New Testament (Gospel) at every Mass and if one attended for three years, you would have read the whole Bible?

Ask her where in the Bible it says "Sola Scriptura". She can use her King James. It is not in there.

If you don't know the answer to a question, say you don't know but you'll find out and tell them.

If she believes in the Bible, then why don't they believe Christ when he said "This is My Body, this is My Blood." ? I don't understand that at all.

[awsiukiewicz]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

I have just converted to Catholicism, and my gradmother who goes to my old Protestant church keeps trying to recruit me into non denominational Protestantism because she feels I need to be in a bible believing church and the pastors keeps telling me I'm part of the whore of Babylon and say we kill Jesus every communion and all these other Catholic lies, and it seems my grandmother started to treat me different ever since I converted. Since she's a former catholic, she keeps trying to tell me she's trying to help me because she had a experience saying mass Is boring and saying it false etc.

She also wants me back in the Protestant church because my church dosent have youth groups, and my grandmother wants me in a church with "bible believing" Christian teens.

Plus not only do I have to hear it from my grandmother, but my Jehovah witness friends want to convert me too! Even though I keep saying no thank you to both my grandmother and Jehovah witness friends, they continue saying Catholicism is false.

What shall I do? I'm just so stressed shall I just leave Catholicism to make them happy? I mean the Catholic church is the true church but I don't try converting them!

God Bless

[Apologista]

Sure hope you don't leave - it sounds like your faith is sincere but there are people whom you want to respect because they are your elders and such. That's admirable. But in this case God led you to His Church so please pray for the strength to listen to Him first.

As others have mentioned you can attempt to prove the Catholic faith, but you might also be outnumbered and outgunned right now when your Catholic Faith is brand-new. Only you can know how strong you are. Remember Jesus said to His own Apostles on the eve of His crucifixion to pray that they not be put to the test.

Be respectful and as diplomatic as possible to the people who are unhappy with your decision, if discussing it is only going to lead to pointless arguments at present. Just give them a simple yet firm answer "This is what I've chosen and I appreciate your concern but can we please not argue?" or something like that.

Meanwhile, pray and keep studying your newfound Catholic faith. Do you have a Youcat youth Catechism? That might be something you could get - maybe a used copy on Amazon if your budget is tight.

Also see if you can Google some young saints and martyrs around your own age. Even though they lived in different times, they can be a source of inspiration, and you can pray to them. And I will pray for you.

[Netty1]

I'm a convert too, and I know how hard it can be to make that initial stand against those seeking to pull you off the path our Mother Church has forged for you over the centuries, to the glory of God and in Christ's name. If you let them, they will pull you into the stoney waysides where the wheat struggles to find roots.

Be strong. If you do not feel able to argue your corner refuting their claims (and it does take time to grow in knowledge and confidence ), then make your stand quietly and politely and ask to be left alone to your own choice of faith.

Christ called you to His side, to His church. Don't let even the well-meaning pull you away from Him. This is the true Church, the Bride of Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with you and hold your head up.

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

I have just converted to Catholicism, and my gradmother who goes to my old Protestant church keeps trying to recruit me into non denominational Protestantism because she feels I need to be in a bible believing church and the pastors keeps telling me I'm part of the whore of Babylon and say we kill Jesus every communion and all these other Catholic lies, and it seems my grandmother started to treat me different ever since I converted. Since she's a former catholic, she keeps trying to tell me she's trying to help me because she had a experience saying mass Is boring and saying it false etc.

She also wants me back in the Protestant church because my church dosent have youth groups, and my grandmother wants me in a church with "bible believing" Christian teens.

Plus not only do I have to hear it from my grandmother, but my Jehovah witness friends want to convert me too! Even though I keep saying no thank you to both my grandmother and Jehovah witness friends, they continue saying Catholicism is false.

What shall I do? I'm just so stressed shall I just leave Catholicism to make them happy? I mean the Catholic church is the true church but I don't try converting them!

God Bless

I would suggest a simple tactic that will not wear you out.
Use a simple word: "No".
Listen for whatever hours they wants to torture you. Do not move from the word. "no".
The maximum you may go is when they ask you why you say: "Because no". No explanation, no reason, no discussion, just a DECISION: "no".

If you start giving discussion you will never get peace.
And after all you are a free person who may say: "Nop!"

[mab23]

Don't convert for ANYONE else - if you truly believe you made the right decision and you go to the non - denominational church you will regret it -

ive been to non-denominational church and I didn't like it - I felt like i was watching a show and not learning about God and his teachings

remember Catholicism has been around since the church started and Protestantism didn't start till the 1600's

[Patavium]

Here are commentaries to help you understand:

Be not thoughtful, with too great a concern of mind. Wi. — That the apostles might not be discouraged at the description, which our Saviour gave them in the two preceding verses, of the troubles which they would have to sustain in their ministry, he now endeavours to console them. When you are called before councils, says he, do not think how or what to speak, for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak. A truly comfortable thought for all who should afterwards engage in the ministry of Christ. Whatever troubles, whatever persecutions may fall to your lot, if even you should be cited before kings and councils to answer for your faith, do not be troubled. You engage in the conflict, I will fight: you speak, but I will tell you what you ought to say.

He that shall persevere, &c. We are here told, that to be saved it is not sufficient that we were once virtuous, we must persevere to the end. We are also assured of the same truth in Ezechiel. If the just man shall turn away from his justice, and shall commit iniquity, he shall die in his sins, and his justice which he hath done shall not be remembered. C. iii, v. 20. A. — Some, says S. Chrysostom, are accustomed to be fervent at the beginning of their conversion, but afterwards grow remiss; of what advantage are seeds that flourish in the beginning, but afterwards wither and die? S. Chrysos. S. Thos. Aquin.

I came not to send, &c. That is, dissension and war, in order that the false peace of sinners may be destroyed, and that those who follow me, may differ in morals and affections from the followers of this world. The sword, therefore, is the gospel, which separates those parents who remain in infidelity, &c. &c. &c. M. — It must be observed, that the gospel does not necessarily of itself produce dissensions amongst men, but that Christ foresaw, from the depravity of man's heart, that dissensions would follow the propagation of the gospel. The blame of this, however, does not attach to the gospel itself, since those who embrace it, after their conversion sought more than ever to keep peace with all men, even with their most bitter persecutors; whilst those who rejected the gospel, forgetting even the ties of kindred, persecuted even to death the followers of Christ. A. — Send peace, &c. Indeed before Christ became man, there was no sword upon the earth; that is, the spirit had not to fight with so much violence against the flesh; but when he became man, he shewed us what things were of the flesh, and what of the spirit, and taught us to set these two at variance, by renouncing always those of the flesh, which constantly endeavour to get master over us, and follow the dictates of the spirit. Origen.

I am come to set a man at variance, &c. Not that this was the end or design of the coming of our Saviour; but that his coming, and his doctrine would have this effect, by reason of the obstinate resistance that many would make, and of their persecuting all such as should adhere to him. Ch. — Not that Christ came for this end, to cause divisions between father and son, &c. On the contrary, the Scriptures teach us to love every one without exception, and especially our kindred; but this is to shew, and foretell what would happen in the same families, when some of them were Christians. We have divers instances of the truth of this in the Lives of the Saints. Wi. — No one can be connected with the earth and joined to heaven. Those who wish to enjoy the peace of heaven, must not be united to the lovers of this world by any connection. Baradius.

[CalCatholic]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

my gradmother who goes to my old Protestant church keeps trying to recruit me into non denominational Protestantism because she feels I need to be in a bible believing church and the pastors keeps telling me I'm part of the whore of Babylon and say we kill Jesus every communion and all these other Catholic lies...

Could you really go back to a 'church' that believes in this kind of hateful rhetoric, knowing what you know now about the Catholic Church??? I think it is time that you stand up for your faith and tell these people that you are a 'bible believing' Catholic Christian and you are proud of it!!!

[InJesusItrust]

If you know the truth you should stick with it.

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;"

I come from a non-Christian background. When I started believing in Jesus my family tried everything in their power to sway me. They even threatened to leave me, but I said that I did not care. They eventually realized the futility and now accept it.

[CharitableFaith]

Thank you all for your help, God Bless You all!

Since I am not able to reply to every single message above, there were some questions That I am going to answer. One question was do I live with my grand mother?

No, I live with my Mother who supports me being a Catholic.

Another question was am I below 18 years of age.

Yes I am, actually 3 years away from being 18.

God Bless!

[Bob Crowley]

Originally Posted by CharitableFaith

I have just converted to Catholicism, and my gradmother who goes to my old Protestant church keeps trying to recruit me into non denominational Protestantism because she feels I need to be in a bible believing church and the pastors keeps telling me I'm part of the whore of Babylon and say we kill Jesus every communion and all these other Catholic lies, and it seems my grandmother started to treat me different ever since I converted. Since she's a former catholic, she keeps trying to tell me she's trying to help me because she had a experience saying mass Is boring and saying it false etc.

She also wants me back in the Protestant church because my church dosent have youth groups, and my grandmother wants me in a church with "bible believing" Christian teens.

Plus not only do I have to hear it from my grandmother, but my Jehovah witness friends want to convert me too! Even though I keep saying no thank you to both my grandmother and Jehovah witness friends, they continue saying Catholicism is false.

What shall I do? I'm just so stressed shall I just leave Catholicism to make them happy? I mean the Catholic church is the true church but I don't try converting them!

God Bless

Eventually they'll give up. Behind their actions, even though they don't realise it, is the devil.

He doesn't want you in the Catholic Church.

[ProdigalSon1211]

Originally Posted by tryingtolearn

you're not only in a bible believing church, you get to read the entire bible, not just 66 of the 73 books that are supposed to be in it. And you're in the church that god used to collect all the inspired writings together and bind them into a single book that is now known as the bible. And you're in the church that made sure that the bible your grandmother and we hold so dear, made it through the 1600 years from it's inception to now despite satan trying to destroy it, orchestrating the killing of owners and distributors, burning it, outlawing, and generally doing everything he could to get governments, false religions, etc. To keep her from never having a chance to read god's word.

You are in the church that god created before he created the bible. Then he gave the bible to that church to yet another tool to save all of us. Where was her bible in 34ad? Where was our church? One was at the foot of the cross weeping tears for our lord. The other was over 300 years away from being gifted to us...

amen !!!!!!!!

[aicirt]

Originally Posted by Bob Crowley

Eventually they'll give up. Behind their actions, even though they don't realise it, is the devil.

He doesn't want you in the Catholic Church.

How true! My friend just converted a month ago. She ran into so many obstacles before she made her first confession and communion. And flack from friends as to why she was doing this. All are fine now.