Expert: Bruce Gourley - 8/1/2006

Question
Dear Pastor,
  Hi, my name is Whittnie, I am catholic and have been sence about the age of 7 because my mom married a catholic man. All of my life I have not felt right in my church, I have tried diffrent catholic churches and they are (as bad as it sounds) pretty much boring. You do the same thing all the time, it almost seems as if catholics base their beliefs in repetivness and not in scripture. I can't get into learning about God because instead I am counting down the time to leave, and I don't like that because I LOVE God, and he is my best friend, but as much as I have tried, I just can't get into it. I have even joined the church choir because I love to sing, and even that didn't help. While doing this, I would also go with my friends to thier Baptist get togethers, and I loved it, I walked out of everything feeling like I need to change my life, and also leaving with more faith in God and what he is capible of. Pastor, I recently got married to a catholic man, but I want to start going to a baptist church and if I like it then convirt to being baptist. This is a big step because my family is German Catholic and devout at that. My mom has already told me her thoughts. My reasoning for writing you (sorry it was so long) is I am really scared to go try the baptist church which has consiquintly led me not to go for a while. I am scared because I don't know what to expect, I am so used to kneeling and standing that I don't exactly know how to present myself in a diffrent religion. Please help me to understand the baptist faith, and what will happen while I am there at the church so that I can feel prepaired. Thank you soo much. Whittnie

Answer
Hello Whittnie,

Let me encourage you to not be so afraid of Baptist churches. The truth is that no two Baptist churches are exactly alike (although you will find many that are quite similar). I suggest you visit the different Baptist churches in your area until you find one in which the members truly make you feel welcome, the attire (dress) is such that you are comfortable, and the worship style (which can vary greatly from church to church) is such that it allows you to worship God in a way you feel meaningful.

Now, my disclaimer is that I am not offering marital advice here; I do not know if your Catholic husband would appreciate you visiting a Baptist church, and I am not saying that you should not if he does not want you to. What I am saying above is that you have decided to visit a Baptist church, consider my suggestions above as you visit.

Yours in Christ,

Bruce Gourley
www.baptistlife.com
www.brucegourley.com