Greetings from Alabama

Welcome to BB. You are right to be concerned that your son is dating a Catholic. I hope everything works out for the good, as per Romans 8:28. I don't think it's "odd" that you are finding yourself in the Word and getting closer to God because of this circumstance.

I once dated an Irish-Catholic girl and I ended up marrying her. It's a long story but the Reader's Digest version is that she had a born again experience as a child at a vacation Bible school at a Baptist church one of her neighbor friend's attended. My wife's family was staunchly Catholic, even sent her to private Catholic schools In subsequent summers she would return with her friend to the Baptist VBS where she felt more comfortable. She always knew in her heart the Catholic teachings were slightly off and ended up going to a charismatic Catholic church (I know, I know) for a while in her teens. We met on a blind date, started going out, and I explained my Baptist beliefs. She affirmed them and we started attending church together. (I did go to a service at her family's Catholic church. I had water flung on me from a palm frond dipped in it. Strange.) She said she knew that the doctrines she heard in my church were the correct ones. We attended a Billy Graham crusade and she went forward to affirm her faith.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and you should) is to convert that girl to born-again Baptist status!

 

Welcome to the forum, Ian.

Probably what I would ask you first is why the change from a Southern Baptist fellowship to a non-denominational? "Non-Denominational" does not always mean charismatic, but most of the time that is the case, so just curious as to what Baptist Doctrine you might have a problem with, and what Doctrine is distinctive in the fellowship you have joined.

In regards to your son, does he attend a fellowship and if so which one? Baptist, or the non-denominational you have joined, or perhaps another group?

The warning against unequal yokes in regards to marriage is a serious one, and an issue that can cause great division between a man and wife. It sounds as though he is acceptable to joining the Catholic Church, which begs the question...does Doctrine have anything to do with it at all? Or is it just a matter of he is in love, and will do whatever is necessary to accommodate the one he is in love with?

In regards to your statement about joining a Catholic Church, could you clarify if this has simply motivated you to deeper study, or if you are saying you have been positively impacted by your fellowship with Catholics?

Discussion and debate is in my view one of the greatest ways to accelerate understanding, and to have the positions you hold challenged by other Bible Students. There is always going to be a necessity for a Scriptural basis for whatever Doctrines we hold to, and hopefully, brothers and sisters able to supply either a basis for, or against the doctrines we hold.

Again, welcome to the Forum, I hope your time here will be blessed.


God bless.

 

Welcome!

 

Lanman, welcome to the Baptist Board.

 

I'm not really familiar with that group. Do they lean towards Mid-Acts Dispensationalism?

I think that most on both sides of the aisle would heartily confirm their belief in Paul's statement, as I cannot recall hearing anyone Arminian denying the passage.

My two cents on the Calv/Arm debate is that both are in error.

Calvinists believe that God regenerates men that they can understand the Gospel (or anything pertaining to the spiritual things of God);

Arminians believe that natural men have the ability (granted provided by God) to hear the Gospel and "make a choice."

The simple solution, that we do not violate Scripture with regenerative faith (bring into conflict with itself) and create a platform for loss of salvation (because if God regenerates men to know the truth then we must determine men who have turned away from the truth as being regenerate and losing their salvation when they turn away), and we do not violate Scripture by asserting something plainly stated (natural man cannot receive nor understand the spiritual things of God), is this: God enlightens men within His Convicting Ministry (the Ministry of the Comforter, a Ministry distinct to this Age), and within that ministry men either yield to the truth and turn to Christ, or they reject the truth. It is true that this Ministry is not always instantaneous, and men can "almost be persuaded," and even "play church" for years. Continuance is a great evidence of genuine conversion, but not necessarily something we should dogmatically conclude.

John 16:7-9 makes it clear that when the Comforter comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and the conviction of sin centers on His statement "Because they believe not on me."

A very simple solution, indisputable, yet no-one wants to acknowledge it.

If we understand (as I would think you would, being Southern Baptist), that the ministries of the Spirit differ from Age to Age, then we can understand the significance of Christ's teaching in John 14-16 concerning the Ministry which began at Pentecost.

Your a good dad. Makes me think of my friend John, who also goes the extra mile where his sons are concerned.

Don't take this the wrong way, but that is no excuse for departing from a group. That is not what I would really call Church Culture, its more a matter of kids usually rebel. A harsh, but simple fact of life. Especially, in my view, if they have grown up in the church, for they become complacent (and it happens to all of us, I think).

While the other kids may have partied, that is not tied to the Doctrine of that fellowship, or any other. Bad Practice does not mean bad Doctrine.

And there it is...Doctrine.

You give great advice.

It is good that you have been fellowshipping with Catholics, as it can help you to understand Catholicism at "street level," rather than at a leadership/doctrinal level.

Just as the kids in your own fellowship behaved in a way I doubt seriously the ministry there should have concluded in, even so I have found among Catholics those who are in large part ignorant of what we would perceive as error in their official doctrine. And some of the disputed doctrines are understood by some of them in very conservative ways, such as the "worship of Mary," which numerous Catholics I have spoken with simply view as giving the woman the respect she deserves as one of the most singular characters of Redemptive History.

But unless someone misunderstand me, I do not endorse membership in the Catholic Church, because of the Doctrinal Error. It is my view every Christian has a responsibility to read and study the Word of God, and to place themselves and the families they are responsible for in a Christian Community where sound doctrine and practice can be found. So it may be that by understanding the errors of Catholicism, you may have an impact on your son's actions, and hopefully try to impress that we have a responsibility to understand Scripture properly, and that for him, in regards to a woman he may have ideas of marrying, he is going to be the spiritual head of the household and it is he that God is going to hold accountable.

My tag may be a little misleading, as while I love RC Sproul, and listen to his program every chance I get, I am in disagreement with a number of positions he takes. Doesn't mean we can't learn from him, as there are areas where he does a great job explaining things to people.

I will say, Ian, that I think this forum can help you with your studies, for as I said, Doctrinal Discussion and Debate is a great way to accelerate study and we can benefit from not just the perspectives and insights we receive from brothers and sisters here, but, also through the objections that are raised to our own positions on any given doctrinal issue. I have found that it has been the objections that have been raised that have, by far, pushed me into the Word of God to "see if these things be true."

So again, welcome to the forum, and my prayers are with you in regards to your son, as I can understand how this would be a matter of extreme importance to you. But remember, that God has demanded of you that you raise your child up in the way he should go, and it sounds to me that this is not just likely in your case, but probable, because it sounds to me that you have sincerely tried to do what has been requested of you of God. So now, it is His turn, and I think it also probable that your son will not depart from that way. Your son's chances greatly improve as you are edified as his Father, that you can advise in a godly manner with wisdom.

And remember, if our Heavenly Father demands of you that you raise him up in the way he should go, how much more will He raise us up.

Sorry for the length, didn't mean to go on so long, lol.


God bless.