tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post648114607370303608..comments2023-09-22T06:56:46.508-05:00Comments on Adoro te Devote: Bad Christians?Adorohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02853244433854822731noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-7100804347256750812007-08-20T11:40:00.000-05:002007-08-20T11:40:00.000-05:00Funny: at our last home, we had nice, Christian ne...Funny: at our last home, we had nice, Christian neighbors who displayed a small nativity set in their front yard year round. My husband and I laughed, secretly, because ONE) had I put a statue of Mary in my front yard, they probably would have thought I worshipped idols (even though they had a statue of Mary in their nativity set) and TWO) they probably considered my crucifixes to be idolatry as well, even though they had an image of Christ in the manger.<BR/><BR/>I had another Christian neighbor who gave me an inexpensively framed Madonna and Child as a Christmas present - and kept a similarly framed copy for herself (which she kept out year-round, not just at Christmas time). She was completely drawn to the beauty of the Madonna, and I privately prayed to the Blessed Mother to continue to draw her to the Truth.<BR/><BR/>There are times I feel that my sole purpose in life is to convince Protestants that Catholics are not going to hell (we CAN be saved...and we don't have to renounce our religion either!).<BR/><BR/>But frequently, too, I find I have more in common with these zealots than I do with the average Catholics I know who use birth-control, go to Mass on Sundays (maybe) and completely segregate the rest of their life from that hour in church, and who have not the least concept of the basic tenants of the Faith (and no desire to learn them either).<BR/><BR/>BUT...my husband really blew his stack when one family asked us for prayers of support and, if possible, monetary donations to help them take a missionary trip to Honduras to bring Christ to the locals. Honduras is unabashedly (like 97%) Catholic. The state religion is Catholicism and Catholic schools receive federal funding. I seriously considered flying the Vatican flag out front, but I don't think they would have gotten it.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14591234069872271083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-63590753940170941512007-08-19T19:22:00.000-05:002007-08-19T19:22:00.000-05:00When I was very young and realized that there were...When I was very young and realized that there were actually other churches that weren't Catholic, but professed to be "Christian" (I was maybe 5 or 6 at the time) I asked my dad what the difference was between their beliefs and ours.<BR/><BR/><BR/>He proceeded to take me to the church and point out the Tabernacle and say, "Jesus loves every church that believes in Him, but He lives in the Catholic church right there in the tablernacle.<BR/><BR/>I loved going to Adoration with my father. He talked with Jesus at those times as though he were talking to a dear friend.<BR/><BR/>I suppose so do I.<BR/><BR/>Like father like daughter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01239198273681288577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-25722838264473272702007-08-18T11:32:00.000-05:002007-08-18T11:32:00.000-05:00"The focus in evangelicalism is on a "Personal rel..."The focus in evangelicalism is on a "Personal relationship with our lord and saviour Jesus Christ", and though this exact phrase appears nowhere in the Bible, evangelical Christians are 100% certain that this is the center and rock upon which the Gospel, and one's own Assurance of Salvation (another concept that isn't in the Bible) rests.<BR/><BR/>I grew up feeling I should have both, but that I had neither. I grew up feeling I had no such thing, even though I had "asked Jesus into my heart", the feeling always went away. I got saved again and again. Not unlike the way I keep sinnng, and going back to confession, again and again. But there is something debilitating about this sense of losing your salvation, which is doubly bad, because in fact you suspect you never were, and never will be, whatever a real Christian is.<BR/><BR/>However weird it is to enocunter these people, it's even weirder being one, trust me."<BR/><BR/>Having been raised a Protestant household of the Calvinist (OSAS) variety, I agree with absolutely everything I just quoted from Warren's comment completely.Hidden Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06042188431683942338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-4561778992905899742007-08-18T10:19:00.000-05:002007-08-18T10:19:00.000-05:00Adoro, your art spoke for you.Angela M.Adoro, your art spoke for you.<BR/><BR/>Angela M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-25178659253895628372007-08-18T09:12:00.000-05:002007-08-18T09:12:00.000-05:00angela ~ some apologist! A mute one!Ultra ~ yes, I...angela ~ some apologist! A mute one!<BR/><BR/>Ultra ~ yes, I was nervous the whole time...that was normal for me because I was so painfully shy.Adorohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853244433854822731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-7646472134157658822007-08-18T08:38:00.000-05:002007-08-18T08:38:00.000-05:00Yes, she was at least subconsciously anti-Catholic...Yes, she was at least subconsciously anti-Catholic. I think the even stranger and more horrible thing is her not knowing how to relax, and be friendly enough to you that you would warm up to her. You sound like you were nervous the whole time. This launching into a "Jee-sus" spiel with a little kid, is ironically as far from relationship evangelism as it gets. <BR/><BR/>The focus in evangelicalism is on a "Personal relationship with our lord and saviour Jesus Christ", and though this exact phrase appears nowhere in the Bible, evangelical Christians are 100% certain that this is the center and rock upon which the Gospel, and one's own Assurance of Salvation (another concept that isn't in the Bible) rests. <BR/><BR/>I grew up feeling I should have both, but that I had neither. I grew up feeling I had no such thing, even though I had "asked Jesus into my heart", the feeling always went away. I got saved again and again. Not unlike the way I keep sinnng, and going back to confession, again and again. But there is something debilitating about this sense of losing your salvation, which is doubly bad, because in fact you suspect you never were, and never will be, whatever a real Christian is.<BR/><BR/>However weird it is to enocunter these people, it's even weirder being one, trust me. <BR/><BR/>I thank God he brought me home to the Church. I may not be perfect, I struggle, but it's not a debilitating struggle, and the Grace of God, the forgiveness of God, and his presence in the Blessed Sacrament are gifts all Christians should have. They are comforts, helps, and encouragements, and sources of the Grace we need to live!<BR/><BR/>WWarrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053407632823479165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-82151115520948801002007-08-17T23:27:00.000-05:002007-08-17T23:27:00.000-05:00First of all....I love your cheezburger cat! LOL!G...First of all....I love your cheezburger cat! LOL!<BR/><BR/>Great post Adoro. You nailed it! You also reminded me of a pastel I did in Grade one. I was totally unchurched except for 2 things. A crucifix hung over my parents bedroom doorway and we recited the "Lord's Prayer" (not the Catholic "Our Father") every morning before class began (this was the last year it was allowed in public school, it was 1970/71) Yet, even in my ignorance I drew Mary's robes in sky blue. I can't remember if there were wise men but even as a 6 year old Mama Mary was a big part of my life! It took a lot longer to get to know her Son!<BR/><BR/>The faith of children is so beautiful. I am sorry that lady was ignorant. I suppose you could say it was your first day as an apologist!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com