Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Why would a guy who has been an altar boy, attended
mass everyday while in grade school, who has been saved
and “gotten religion,” then decide to leave the Catholic
Church?
When Christ came into my life at the conference in northern
mass everyday while in grade school, who has been saved
and “gotten religion,” then decide to leave the Catholic
Church?
When Christ came into my life at the conference in northern
Indiana, my whole outlook was changed. While I had gone through a few years as an agnostic, this
conversion was life changing for me and my taste for spiritual matters was sharpened many times
over. After returning to Louisville, I resumed attendance at Sunday mass every week at the Catholic
Church. But I soon noticed that the warmth, the fellowhip, the keen interest in conversation on
spiritual things I had come to love from contact with other born again Christians was not to be found
in the Church I was attending.
Eventually, I just stopped going to mass and began spending time in the park on Sunday mornings
studying my bible and praying. There was not any rebellion against the Pope or the Church, I just
wasn’t having my spiritual needs met.
Only later, after I became more conversant in the teachings of Christianity that are plainly set out in
the Scriptures did I come to the realization of serious doctrinal problems of the Catholic Church. But
even today, I appreciate that in Christendom as a whole, the Catholic Church has taken a more firm
stand against immoral trends than most protestant denominations. Most of my family are Catholic
and I refuse to be critical of their faith. However, the main thing is that in all denominations, being in
the church does not make one a true Christian any more than being in a garage makes one an
automobile. It is a heart experience that matters, no matter what the denomination.
This somewhat introverted polemic about Christianity is a bit of a departure from the main tenor of
these articles and I don’t intend to start off on a new emphasis for the series. But, I can’t leave
unanswered the question of why I left the Church without omitting a key turning point of my life.
conversion was life changing for me and my taste for spiritual matters was sharpened many times
over. After returning to Louisville, I resumed attendance at Sunday mass every week at the Catholic
Church. But I soon noticed that the warmth, the fellowhip, the keen interest in conversation on
spiritual things I had come to love from contact with other born again Christians was not to be found
in the Church I was attending.
Eventually, I just stopped going to mass and began spending time in the park on Sunday mornings
studying my bible and praying. There was not any rebellion against the Pope or the Church, I just
wasn’t having my spiritual needs met.
Only later, after I became more conversant in the teachings of Christianity that are plainly set out in
the Scriptures did I come to the realization of serious doctrinal problems of the Catholic Church. But
even today, I appreciate that in Christendom as a whole, the Catholic Church has taken a more firm
stand against immoral trends than most protestant denominations. Most of my family are Catholic
and I refuse to be critical of their faith. However, the main thing is that in all denominations, being in
the church does not make one a true Christian any more than being in a garage makes one an
automobile. It is a heart experience that matters, no matter what the denomination.
This somewhat introverted polemic about Christianity is a bit of a departure from the main tenor of
these articles and I don’t intend to start off on a new emphasis for the series. But, I can’t leave
unanswered the question of why I left the Church without omitting a key turning point of my life.
___________________________________________________
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV) |
| Copyright © 2005 leoshoemaker.com |
| I Didn't Hate the Pope February 17, 2007 |
leoshoemaker.com
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Albums, commentary, inspiration and information
| How I found a new life by Leo Shoemaker |
