The How & The Why I Became A Baptist

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Webers_Home

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I was christened an infant into the Roman Catholic Church in 1944, and
eventually attended catechism to complete First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.

My siblings are Catholic, my mother was Catholic, my eldest brother entered
the priesthood and made it to the rank of Friar before passing away in May
2018 of cancer. (Though he was a Friar, my brother was no saint. He had a
problem with alcohol till AA helped straighten him out). My wife is a former
Catholic, her dad was Catholic, his wife was Catholic, my aunt and uncle
were Catholics, and my wife's cousins are Catholic; one of them is qualified
to teach Catechism.

I was loyal to Rome and its teachings up until 1968, then one day I was
approached by a Conservative Baptist minister who asked me if I was
prepared for Christ's return.

Well; I must've been either asleep or absent the day that the nuns talked
about Jesus coming back because that man's question was the very first
time in my whole life that I can remember somebody telling me.

My initial reaction was alarm because I instinctively knew that were I called
on the carpet for a face-to-face with Jesus, it would not go well for me
because I had a lot to answer for. Then I became indignant and demanded
to know why Jesus would come back. That's when I found out for the very
first time that it was in the plan for Christ to take over the world.

Then the minister asked me if I was going to heaven. Well; of course I had
no clue because Catholics honestly don't know what to expect when they
pass away. I was crossing my fingers while in the back of my mind dreading
the worst.

Then the man said; "Don't you know that Jesus died for your sins?"

Well; I had been taught in catechism that Jesus died for the sins of the
world; that much I knew; but honestly believed all along that he had been a
victim of unfortunate circumstances. It was a shock to discover that Jesus'
trip to the cross was deliberate, and that his Father was thinking of me when
His son passed away, viz: my sins were among the sins of the world that
Jesus took to the cross with him.

At that very instant-- scarcely a nanosecond --something took over in my
mind as I fully realized, to my great relief, that Hell could be easily avoided
and Heaven was well within reach.

That was an amazing experience. In just the two or three minutes of
conversation with that Baptist minister, I obtained an understanding of
Jesus' crucifixion that many tedious years of RCC catechism classes had
somehow failed to get across. Consequently, my confidence in the Roman
Catholic Church was shattered like a bar of peanut brittle candy dropped on
the sidewalk from the tippy top of the Chrysler building.

Long story short; I eventually went with that man to his church and, along
with him and a couple of elders, knelt at the rail down front and prayed a
really simple, naive prayer that went something like this;

"God, I know I'm a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's
death
"

My prayer wasn't much to brag about; but it was the smartest sixteen words
I'd ever spoken up to that time.

Matt 10:32 . .Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
_
 
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mjrhealth

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I was christened an infant into the Roman Catholic Church in 1944, and
eventually attended catechism to complete First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.

My siblings are Catholic, my mother was Catholic, my eldest brother entered
the priesthood and finished up a Friar. My wife is a former Catholic, her dad
was Catholic, his wife was Catholic, my aunt and uncle were Catholics, and
my wife's cousins are Catholic; one of them is qualified to teach Catechism.

I was loyal to Rome for the first 24 years of my life till one day I was
approached by a Conservative Baptist minister who asked me if I was
prepared for Christ's return.

Well; I must've been either asleep or absent the day that the nuns talked
about Jesus coming back because that man's question was the very first
time in my whole life that I can remember somebody telling me.

My initial reaction was alarm because I instinctively knew that were I called
on the carpet for a face-to-face with Jesus, it would not go well for me
because I had a lot to answer for. Then I became indignant and demanded
to know why Jesus would come back. That's when I found out for the very
first time that it was in the plan for Christ to take over the world.

Then the minister asked me if I was going to heaven. Well; of course I had
no clue because Catholics honestly don't know what to expect when they
pass away. I was crossing my fingers while in the back of my mind dreading
the worst.

Then the man said; "Don't you know that Jesus died for your sins?"

Well; I had been taught in catechism that Jesus died for the sins of the
world; that much I knew; but honestly believed all along that he had been
an unfortunate victim of circumstances beyond his control. It was a shock to
discover that Jesus was thinking of me when he went to the cross, viz: my
sins were among the sins of the world that Jesus took to the cross with him.

At that very instant-- scarcely a nanosecond --something took over in my
mind as I fully realized, to my great relief, that heaven was no longer out of
reach, rather, well within my grasp!

That was an amazing experience. In just the two or three minutes of
conversation with that Baptist minister, I obtained an understanding of
Jesus' crucifixion that many tedious years of RCC catechism classes had
somehow failed to get across. Consequently, my confidence in the Roman
Catholic Church was shattered like a bar of peanut brittle candy dropped on
the sidewalk from the tippy top of the Chrysler building.

Long story short; I eventually went with that man to his church and, along
with him and a couple of elders, knelt at the rail down front and prayed a
really simple, naive prayer that went something like this;

"God, I know I'm a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's
death"

My prayer wasn't much to brag about; but it was the smartest sixteen words
I'd ever spoken up to that time.

Matt 10:32 . .Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
_
Was the Holy Spirit that called me out, than I too discovered Jesus.
 

Addy

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I was christened an infant into the Roman Catholic Church in 1944, and
eventually attended catechism to complete First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.

My siblings are Catholic, my mother was Catholic, my eldest brother entered
the priesthood and finished up a Friar. My wife is a former Catholic, her dad
was Catholic, his wife was Catholic, my aunt and uncle were Catholics, and
my wife's cousins are Catholic; one of them is qualified to teach Catechism.

I was loyal to Rome for the first 24 years of my life till one day I was
approached by a Conservative Baptist minister who asked me if I was
prepared for Christ's return.

Well; I must've been either asleep or absent the day that the nuns talked
about Jesus coming back because that man's question was the very first
time in my whole life that I can remember somebody telling me.

My initial reaction was alarm because I instinctively knew that were I called
on the carpet for a face-to-face with Jesus, it would not go well for me
because I had a lot to answer for. Then I became indignant and demanded
to know why Jesus would come back. That's when I found out for the very
first time that it was in the plan for Christ to take over the world.

Then the minister asked me if I was going to heaven. Well; of course I had
no clue because Catholics honestly don't know what to expect when they
pass away. I was crossing my fingers while in the back of my mind dreading
the worst.

Then the man said; "Don't you know that Jesus died for your sins?"

Well; I had been taught in catechism that Jesus died for the sins of the
world; that much I knew; but honestly believed all along that he had been
an unfortunate victim of circumstances beyond his control. It was a shock to
discover that Jesus was thinking of me when he went to the cross, viz: my
sins were among the sins of the world that Jesus took to the cross with him.

At that very instant-- scarcely a nanosecond --something took over in my
mind as I fully realized, to my great relief, that heaven was no longer out of
reach, rather, well within my grasp!

That was an amazing experience. In just the two or three minutes of
conversation with that Baptist minister, I obtained an understanding of
Jesus' crucifixion that many tedious years of RCC catechism classes had
somehow failed to get across. Consequently, my confidence in the Roman
Catholic Church was shattered like a bar of peanut brittle candy dropped on
the sidewalk from the tippy top of the Chrysler building.

Long story short; I eventually went with that man to his church and, along
with him and a couple of elders, knelt at the rail down front and prayed a
really simple, naive prayer that went something like this;

"God, I know I'm a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's
death"

My prayer wasn't much to brag about; but it was the smartest sixteen words
I'd ever spoken up to that time.

Matt 10:32 . .Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
_

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY.... This touched my heart deeply.... thank you so much for sharing this... It's like a breath of fresh air to read something that matters... and something that TRULY reflects being a CHRISTIAN...
 

Philip James

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Well; I must've been either asleep or absent the day that the nuns talked
about Jesus coming back because that man's question was the very first
time in my whole life that I can remember somebody telling me.

Hello Webers,

Do you not remember saying the Creed? Did you not attend Mass?

Perhaps this rings a bell:
'when we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, and profess your resurrection until you come again.'

Im sorry that your catechisis may have been substandard, but frankly if you dont remember mention of Jesus returning in glory to judge the living and the dead, you must not have been paying much attention.

Peace be with you!
 

Addy

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I have met many Catholics.. .and they don't seem to have a clue if they are saved or not... I think often people just go to mass... out of BEING brought up in Catholicism... they don't question... and are not encouraged to question.... the repetition of the sacraments and prayers leads to a DEAD... body in my opinion.... My mother died believing that she would have gone to hell had she not partaken in observing the SACRAMENTS of Communion... Confession... and Last Rites... It was a very sad thing to see her live such a lie.

According to the Catholic Church... I am going to hell because I rejected the doctrine.
 
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Addy

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Is it always "a pity" when anyone is duped ?
When God gives someone over to be duped, "to believe their own delusion" (even a false gospel), is that "a pity"?
Since billions of people remain duped, as God's Word Says, is that "a pity" ?

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed... but are you saying that being duped ( tricked/deceived ) isn't a pity?? or a shame??
I guess it depends on if you are the one being duped... or the duper/deceiver... I think God has consequences for the duper...
and perhaps hope for the dupee... LOL
 
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Joseph77

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p.s. ALL the angels in heaven REJOICE whenever one "dupee" is saved from the "dupers" , to eternal life, - born again in Jesus !!!! (As Written!)
.........
At that very instant-- scarcely a nanosecond --something took over in my
mind as I fully realized, to my great relief, that heaven was no longer out of
reach,
rather, well within my grasp!

That was an amazing experience. In just the two or three minutes of
conversation with that Baptist minister, I obtained an understanding of
Jesus' crucifixion
......
My prayer wasn't much to brag about; but it was the smartest sixteen words
I'd ever spoken up to that time.

● Matt 10:32 . .Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

_
... "in the twinkling of an eye!" .... reborn !
 
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Addy

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[/QUOTE]

You think "God has consequences for the duper" ? Why do you think so ? What has God revealed about the 'dupers'/deceivers? Did God reveal pity for them, for the world church, and for its promoters , or judgment for them ?

So much I have to say on what you have written... Especially what I have highlighted...however... Please understand that I am new here and this poor little lamb has already had some brushes with the WOLVES.... so I am on TIME OUT for awhile... this is one topic that I replied to because even though it discusses Catholicism ( which I REFUSE to discuss )... it does so with the statement of FREEDOM FROM...

I do believe God has EXTREME consequences for the dupers... and there are MANY OF THEM... NOT just in the Catholic church... I think this is where many get it wrong... they think it begins and ends with condemnation of the Catholic church... when in all reality... that is just the beginning....I tremble when I think of this... and I tremble when I meditate on the WRATH of GOD.... Judgement for them???? I TREMBLE.... PROMOTERS of Perversion of TRUTH.... I TREMBLE.

Sorry... I forgot to add... NO... it was NOT pity...
 
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Addy

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p.s. ALL the angels in heaven REJOICE whenever one "dupee" is saved from the "dupers" , to eternal life, - born again in Jesus !!!! (As Written!)

... "in the twinkling of an eye!" .... reborn !

YES HE DOES... OH my goodness... it's a party INDEED. God will NOT be MOCKED.. and people don't understand this... they don't just NOT understand it... they down right REBEL against it...
 
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Addy

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Time to change to another thread (topically). The testimony overall of the op, and the posts agreeing with Scripture, is delightful, wonderful, and freeing for those who become aware of and are set free from the dupers.
However, at this time (i.e. time to go to another/other threads) - because each section, or each thread, must basically remain "on topic" in line with the OP/Topic/Subject and the section of the forum it is in.
Thus, we go to other threads with this discussion, to follow up, or for other discussions.
i.e. last post here for me .

Yes, me 'too', so to speak - I cannot spend a lot of time here - it (here) is too discouraging and doesn't help many if any at all.
... and more sorrowfully, those who are and remain duped, they lose their souls forever (or re-word however found in Scripture for those who never come to the truth, who are always and remain lost ) .

I absolutely AGREE and apologize sincerely for taking away from the OP which is a BEAUTIFUL and HEARTWARMING TESTIMONY.
 
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Webers_Home

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Christ is the God-given man to see for safe passage to the other side (John
14:6) and the icing on the cake is that no one communicates with Christ for
that purpose unless God encourages them, which needless to say, is very
reassuring.

John 6:44 . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw
him, and I will raise him on the last day.

John 6:37 . . Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I
will not reject anyone who comes to me.

John 6:45 . . It is written in the prophets: "They shall all be taught by
God". Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from Him comes to me.

I have never been invited to a large gala of famous and/or powerful
influential people; and no surprise. I'm just an obscure, minimally educated,
elderly, retired welder who flunked senior year in high school. To think that
Christ has given me a certified, irrevocable pass-- not to the White House,
rather --to his Father's house, to dwell forever with the cosmos' supreme
being! How does an inconsequential nobody like me wrap their mind
around something that? It's boggling.
_
 

Webers_Home

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As written: yada, yada, yada, yada.

This area of Christianity Board is specifically a testimonial forum; hence the title of this particular thread "The How And The Why I Became A Baptist."

In keeping with the spirit of this area of Christianity Board; and staying in step with this particular thread; please tell us the how and the why you yourself became a Baptist.


FYI: Just as a reminder to any and all who may be looking in: the testimonial forum is not the place for debate, quarrelling, arguing, criticizing, fault-finding, nit picking, recriminations, demeaning comments, private pulpits, thoughtless remarks, toxic rejoinders, gossip, and/or sidebar discussions.
 
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Joseph77

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Sorry, I cannot find any post by anyone from /with what you quoted = your quote,
especially not any of my own posts.

Note rather post 12.


The others I am editing out. As noted already :

QUOTE="Joseph77, post: 781272, member: 8613"]Time to change to another thread (topically). The testimony overall of the op, and the posts agreeing with Scripture, is delightful, wonderful, and freeing for those who become aware of and are set free from the dupers.
However, at this time (i.e. time to go to another/other threads) - because each section, or each thread, must basically remain "on topic" in line with the OP/Topic/Subject and the section of the forum it is in.
Thus, we go to other threads with this discussion, to follow up, or for other discussions.
i.e. last post here for me .[/QUOTE

I absolutely AGREE and apologize sincerely for taking away from the OP which is a BEAUTIFUL and HEARTWARMING TESTIMONY.
 

Addy

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FYI: Just as a reminder to any and all who may be looking in: the testimonial forum is not the place for debate, quarrelling, arguing, criticizing, fault-finding, nit picking, recriminations, demeaning comments, private pulpits, thoughtless remarks, toxic rejoinders, gossip, and/or sidebar discussions.

@Webers_Home ... Please note I did apologize for getting off track ( before your warning ) which can easily happen when a single person engages you and a discussion forms.... ONCE again...I sincerely apologize for taking away from your beautiful and heartwarming testimony... Adoration

I just went back to look at the #'s of the posts you mentioned as INNAPROPRIATE for this discussion... THIS was post #4

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY.... This touched my heart deeply.... thank you so much for sharing this... It's like a breath of fresh air to read something that matters... and something that TRULY reflects being a CHRISTIAN.

WOW.... and REALLY ???? I apologized for getting off track WAY BEFORE you posted the reminder about staying on track... and you need to resort to this ??

An honest mistake was made... an apology was given and you still REFUSED to show GRACE.... All I can say is WOW.

I'm beginning to think that people are hired to simply come in here and CAUSE division... This is beginning to become a HUGE CHORE with not much JOY... and I can see my days are being numbered. SO SAD.....
 
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marksman

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I was christened an infant into the Roman Catholic Church in 1944, and
eventually attended catechism to complete First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.

My siblings are Catholic, my mother was Catholic, my eldest brother entered
the priesthood and finished up a Friar. My wife is a former Catholic, her dad
was Catholic, his wife was Catholic, my aunt and uncle were Catholics, and
my wife's cousins are Catholic; one of them is qualified to teach Catechism.

I was loyal to Rome for the first 24 years of my life till one day I was
approached by a Conservative Baptist minister who asked me if I was
prepared for Christ's return.

Well; I must've been either asleep or absent the day that the nuns talked
about Jesus coming back because that man's question was the very first
time in my whole life that I can remember somebody telling me.

My initial reaction was alarm because I instinctively knew that were I called
on the carpet for a face-to-face with Jesus, it would not go well for me
because I had a lot to answer for. Then I became indignant and demanded
to know why Jesus would come back. That's when I found out for the very
first time that it was in the plan for Christ to take over the world.

Then the minister asked me if I was going to heaven. Well; of course I had
no clue because Catholics honestly don't know what to expect when they
pass away. I was crossing my fingers while in the back of my mind dreading
the worst.

Then the man said; "Don't you know that Jesus died for your sins?"

Well; I had been taught in catechism that Jesus died for the sins of the
world; that much I knew; but honestly believed all along that he had been
an unfortunate victim of circumstances beyond his control. It was a shock to
discover that Jesus was thinking of me when he went to the cross, viz: my
sins were among the sins of the world that Jesus took to the cross with him.

At that very instant-- scarcely a nanosecond --something took over in my
mind as I fully realized, to my great relief, that heaven was no longer out of
reach, rather, well within my grasp!

That was an amazing experience. In just the two or three minutes of
conversation with that Baptist minister, I obtained an understanding of
Jesus' crucifixion that many tedious years of RCC catechism classes had
somehow failed to get across. Consequently, my confidence in the Roman
Catholic Church was shattered like a bar of peanut brittle candy dropped on
the sidewalk from the tippy top of the Chrysler building.

Long story short; I eventually went with that man to his church and, along
with him and a couple of elders, knelt at the rail down front and prayed a
really simple, naive prayer that went something like this;

"God, I know I'm a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's
death"

My prayer wasn't much to brag about; but it was the smartest sixteen words
I'd ever spoken up to that time.

Matt 10:32 . .Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
_

Just goes to show that the catholic church is more interested in the catholic church rather than what the word of God says.
 

marksman

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I was born in Winchester England, which was the capital of England before London became its capital. I was born again in a little weatherboard Baptist church in a little town in the south of England. This happened because of cream cakes.

I was going to the local Anglican church at the end of the road with a mate of mine. At the age of ten, he said he was going to the Baptist church Sunday school because they had cream cakes at their Christmas party. The Anglicans didn't. The Baptist church was a bit further away, which was a consideration because we had to walk.

That was October and sure enough in December at their Sunday school Christmas party, there were cream cakes on the table. Who needed the Anglicans.

A year later we had a visit from the Open Air Mission who held meetings after school for children. On a Thursday he preached on John 3 v 16 and I was hooked. After the meeting, I spent time with him and he explained the way of salvation to me. I got on board and when I did, I felt the Holy Spirit descend on me. I left knowing I had been born again (thankyou cream cakes).

I was walking on air on the way home and I had this feeling that if I had to cross a river on the journey, I would have walked on water. That was 66 years ago.
 
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Marymog

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Just goes to show that the catholic church is more interested in the catholic church rather than what the word of God says.
Hi,

I don’t think it is fair to make a blanket statement such as yours.

One can easily find Protestants who left their church saying the same thing that Weber said.

Keeping it real....Mary
 

Webers_Home

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I don’t think it is fair to make a blanket statement such as yours. One can
easily find Protestants who left their church saying the same thing that
Weber said. Keeping it real....Mary

It would be better if you kept quiet than kept it real Mary. The testimonial
area is meant to be peaceful; it isn't meant for quarreling, debating, and/or
recriminations, viz: this is not the place for hostility and/or denominational
bickering.
_
 
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