Question:
First, just want to say how much I love this forum and how it's helped me in my process of converting to Catholicism.
One question I have is when you decided to convert from Protestantism did you ever have periods where you questioned your decision and kind of went back and forth in your mind about whether or not you were doing the right thing?
I just came back from the bookstore tonite where I brought some books on the Catholic catechism and wandered back over to the evangelical and charismatic section of the religious area. It seems there is so much literature in this area and when I looked over some of the books I wondered "Why God am I doing this? What freedoms am I giving up by converting to an orthodox religion?"
I didn't mean this in a negative way but there is a lot of good-sounding literature written by a lot of authors in this genre. So much on prosperity, the gifts of the spirit, positive thinking, etc. Don't get me wrong I do believe that God puts Christians in all kinds of stations to reach people but I just kept wondering whether I was giving up anything by my decision to become Catholic.
I kept asking God why would he lead me to convert when there was so much good feeling stuff I would be giving up? On the way home an answer came to me and maybe it was God speaking to me I don't know. It seemed to say "Yes, there is a lot of good there but many become so concerned with the experience that they lose focus on my Son and his mission."
That right there is the reason I decided to convert because I want to follow the example of Christ and live my life doing for others like he did and not trying to promote myself or any kind of personal ministry. Catholicism seems to be a religion where not only do we try to live a Christ-like life but we also go out and actually "do" for others instead of promoting our own agenda.
I don't mean that to sound negative towards any other religion because we are all "brothers in Christ."
Did you ever go through any of these questions when you converted? Was it a straight-line process or a lot of going back and forth? Was there any one difference between Protestantism and Catholicism that finally sealed your decision to become Catholic? Thanks and God bless!
Dear Stacey:
I praise God that this site has been helpful to you. I am impressed with your insight and willingness to listen to God. The answer you were given as to why be Catholic is precisely true.
Regardless of all else, the Catholic Church is the only True Church in the fullness of the Faith. It is the Church that Jesus personally founded. Nothing else matters.
For me there was no vacillation. In the four days that I studied about Catholicism and converted, my conversion was complete. I knew I had found home, I had found the home that Jesus built, and I never looked back.
This is not to say that there are not come things about my Protestant experience that I miss, because there are some things that I miss. But those things, from an emotional point-of-view faded rather quickly.
There are things we Catholics can learn from the Protestants in terms of techniques and styles of certain things. The Church teaches us that truth can be found anywhere and we ought to respect that truth no matter where it is found. Many Protestant groups have some good things going, which with a little modification, could be Catholicized and incorporated into our Catholic lives.
For example, the Protestant-style Sunday School offered from crib to grave is something that would benefit Catholics a lot I think. While Protestant evangelism techniques were originally Catholic, we Catholics have lost those ideas and need to regain them. Even the street-corner evangelist and tent-preachers were originally Catholic ideas. We Catholics could benefit from that again.
These things that we can borrow from Protestants, however, are not doctrinal issues. The Catholic Church and its doctrine has ALL that is needed to be saved, to live the good Christian life, an to appropriate the victory of Christ in our lives. Our Church is FULL. It has the FULLNESS of the faith... nothing more needs to be added.
Our Church is FULL. Even if we borrow nothing from the Protestants, we are FULL in the faith and practice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When I converted, I understood this, and never looked back. (besides I did not want to be turned into a pillar of salt 
)
Many converts do have second thoughts and do look back, however. That is okay as long as one does not lose sight of the goal and rock of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church that Jesus personally founded upon St. Peter.
Welcome to the Church.
God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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