Changing Christian Religions

I was raised Catholic by my family. I went through all of the sacrements and the whole nine yards, only to find myself in college doing stupid, irresponsible, and not very christian-like things. I found myself trying to fill some void in my life. In my later years of college, I stumbled back into the Catholic church...as it was all I knew...and I knew something needed to change in my life. It helped some but I still felt a gap in my life, I felt like I was missing something.

I got married and my wife and I agreed to find a church/faith that we could both be comfortable in, since she was not Catholic and was not feeling the Catholic church. We stumbled on to our current church (which is a Baptist church by the way) where my life truly began to change. I can remember sitting in one of our first sermons/visits to the church and the music to start with nearly brought me to tears as it was opening my heart for God's word. Then when our pastor got up there and started speaking, it felt like he was speaking directly to me, understood my situation, my struggles, and my weaknesses and opened up my eyes and heart that I was loved and was already saved, no ceremonies, no classes, no pomp and circumstance....just through faith my life was saved. I can remember sitting there in tears and feeling that void begin to fill in my life.

The hard part then was telling my father, a devout Catholic, that I didn't want to be a Catholic anymore and was going to become a Baptist. Not because I didn't have respect for the Catholic church or my father, but because the Baptist church was bringing me closer to Christ and a relationship with Him, which is what I needed (and still need). I wasn't getting that in the Catholic church, at least that is how I felt. Of course he was hurt, but he turned to me and said, "How can I be angry with you if all you are seeking is a relationship with Christ?" If that isn't true Grace and Christ working in my life, I don't know what would be.

I am curious to know how many of you have had similar experiences?

Tags: Baptist, Catholic, Christ

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jason C Powell on December 28, 2009 at 9:21pm

Thank you for sharing this. I had...and even still have, many issues with traditional services and sects within the Christian faith...it was my understanding many years ago this was supposed to be about Christ, not about titles, "special" rules and so son...but about becoming closer to God and eventually getting to the point of walking beside Him in our journey through life.
It is concerning to me to think, within Christianity, we have separate beliefs. Weird concept to me.
we currently go to a non-denominational church that focuses on teaching the members and visitors to develop their own relationship with God, as they feel comfortable. Long story short, it has helped me in my own faith and even allowed me to be more comfortable in saying I am an avid church goer without feeling like a bible-beater.

great post, Matt!

Permalink Reply by Matt Reile on December 29, 2009 at 8:05am

Jason, thanks for the encouragement and the comments. I am glad to hear that you are comfortable as a church goer and have a relationship with Christ. I struggle with the whole "bible-beater" stigma as well, I never want to come across negatively to individuals, of course in all actuality some people will be offended.
I share your concern as I said in a general post to the group regarding different faiths within Christianity. I firmly believe that no single one is right, as they are all run by imperfect people, like us. However, I do believe that He has helped to form these different faiths within Christianity to appeal to all types of people and personalities. He has made each of us unique, and as such, we all think, feel, and reason differently. We all need different things in our relationship with Him. Therefore, I believe these differing faiths allow us each to find our way to Him and have a strong relationship with Christ. It appears that you are well on your way for that.

Permalink Reply by Steve on December 29, 2009 at 1:24pm

YOU STOLE MY THOUGHTS, MATT! :-) I was going to say that exactly, I believe denominations are a gift from God recognizing the fact that individuals have inperfections, different personalities, and various ways of thinking. I do think people in various denominations within Christianity have honest disagreements with certain points held by other denominations, but at the end of the day, we're all brothers and sisters in Christ trying to understand and connect God the best way we personally can.

I was raised Catholic through about 6th grade, confirmed Lutheran in 8th grade, and after college, gravitated toward the Baptist Church. I believe I was saved and finally enlightend on what it meant to be Christian in the Baptist church, but I never gave up my love and respect for other denominations of Christianity.

Permalink Reply by Matt Reile on December 29, 2009 at 1:28pm

Steve...all I can say is that great minds think alike!

You truly have experienced multiple Christian faiths in your life.

Everyone's journey with Christ is just as unique and interesting as their personalities.

I enjoy sharing my journey with others who will listen as I find it brings me that much closer to God as I see how He has worked in other's lives.

Permalink Reply by Helene Smith on January 4, 2010 at 9:45pm

Steve, I couldn't agree with your comment more... Like Matt I've been through many different churches and if we look we see the imperfections. Like I tell people if we were all perfect we would not be here, however, none of us were created as perfect only in HIS likeness. The denomination should not matter, but the love of Christ and deep heart of a child like faith should. I've moved into a more non-denominational contemporary church that is like faith without walls, all are welcome and all that have that deep rooted faith feel the Holy Spirit within... May God bless you and keep you and may His light shine upon you...

Permalink Reply by maria tyra on January 13, 2010 at 11:42am

This is a GREAT post Matt! It's awesome when your family can support you in your decisions...that is so important! I too can relate to growing up in a DEVOUT catholic home. My mother is catholic and father protestant (spelling??). I feel like I lacked a strong foundation in Christ growing up because of their differences in beliefs, besides the fact that my dad was always trying to find a way to skip church...lol! Seeing him work against my mother, spiritually, made me bitter and act out as I grew up. But after several, difficult-life experiences, GOD has shown me his faithfulness and love...and I believe he's done this through other people that he has put in my life! (husband, friends, family...ect). I have tried the catholic church, non-denominational church and eventually my husband and I have ended up in a Baptist church and my family loves us just the same! It's not important"where" you worship, but to "what" or "whom" you are worshiping!
Oh..and my parents??? Differences and all-they just celebrated their 33rd year of marriage! And with a faithful, praying wife, my dad is now happily AND actively attending church with my mother:) GOD IS GOOD! MT

Permalink Reply by Ms.Elena Fit on February 17, 2010 at 10:24pm

I hesitated a lot before answered this topic. I've started with simple introduction to Bible by my greatgrandmother at the age of 6. As soon as I could read I read it several times and fell in love with Christ. Then I wanted to find people who felt the same about our Lord and my journey began: Russian Orthodox, Baptists, Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, you name it. Never felt excatly right for me, none of the denominations want to baptize me without one more time of reading the Bible or any other "condition". On top of everything my father who was an atheist made it hard for me, really hard. I guess this is when I said "I'll wait on you, my Lord" and dropped any activities, except praying and fasting. And only 20 years later I was brought to a non-denominational church that put Christ in another light for me. Deep study of Bible, following the holidays that are actually required to keep by God, fasting, comparing Greek and Hebrew transcripts, you name it. I am blessed and the glory of Christ shines through me now! The pastor baptized me at the age of 26. I got my Hole Spirit just recently!
Never felt better before.
And I am not throwing stones at any denominations, each has their own value, I guess, to compose a perfect journey for someone on the path of finding God. And honestly if I had a chance to look back and change smth- I probably wouldn't, because they made me who I am today and I got closer to God at a perfect moment. God works mysterious ways.

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