The Common Ground: Insights for Catholics from Protestant Practices

Growing up in a devout Catholic family, my parents made every effort to immerse me in our faith. Their dedication to raising me as a good Christian is something I deeply appreciate. However, as a young man with a rebellious streak, attending church often left me feeling like an imposter. The sermons frequently went over my head, and the parts I did grasp seemed to emphasize that my salvation was constantly at risk. Whether or not that was true, it was a challenging message for a young person to comprehend. Consequently, like many others, I distanced myself from organized religion. While I maintained a belief in God, I avoided confronting difficult questions, leaving them ignored and unanswered.

As I grew older and life became more complex, my connection to the church weakened further. By 2015, overwhelmed with a new job and two children under the age of four, I decided to take a break from church activities. Religion no longer seemed to fit into my hectic schedule. However, as my separation from the church grew, so did the challenges in my life. The following three years were among the most difficult of my adulthood. Despite professional success, my personal life was unraveling. By 2018, I hit rock bottom and distinctly remember saying “I have never felt further from God.”

During this period, I encountered a close friend and teammate known for his devout Christian faith. Sensing the problems buzzing in my head, he asked if he could pray with me. At that moment, I was uncertain if returning to God was the solution, but I recognized that my current path was unsustainable. Willing to try anything to improve my situation, I accepted his offer. He prayed for me, offered comforting words, and encouraged me to return to church. When I expressed uncertainty about where to start, he suggested a small Baptist congregation near my home. Having grown up Catholic, I had some ... concerns... about Protestant services, imagining people passing out from connection with the Holy Spirit and the pastor running up and down the aisle screaming about the “POWER OF CHRIST!” Nevertheless, desperate for change, my wife and I decided to attend a service.

Catholic and Baptist sermons differ notably in their theological foundations and roles within worship. Catholic homilies, which contain both Scripture and Sacred Tradition, aim to reveal the day's readings and connect them to the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. To say the least, it’s very structured. In contrast, Baptist sermons emphasize sola scriptura (Latin for “scripture alone”) focusing solely on biblical texts to encourage personal faith and moral living, serving as the focal point of a less rigid event than what I was used to.

To my surprise, the simplicity of the service was refreshing. After grabbing a cup of coffee, the pastor made a few brief announcements and provided a warm welcome to guests. A band then played worship music that I found to be a nice change from the organ (these were JAMS!). The pastor then invited us to open our Bibles to a specific Gospel passage and spent about 45 minutes dissecting it. I was astonished at how easily I understood his message. Perhaps my life circumstances had opened my ears more than before, but the presentation resonated. For the first time, I felt I was truly grasping the essence of Christianity, a realization that was baffling to me, considering I was 38 years old and had spent most Sundays of my youth in a church pew.

Over the next two years, I dove deeper into Christianity, reading the Bible cover to cover, striving to understand Jesus and the apostles, and spending considerable time with the Gospels. For five years, I attended this church, forming a close bond with the church’s lead minister, Pastor Tim, who would become a spiritual advisor guiding me through challenging times. I also connected with other congregation members, including my neighbor who was also a close friend and former teammate. We would often have impromptu Bible studies over a beer, learning together from our experiences gained from walking similar paths. These were some of the best times of my life; Andy always drinks good beer.

As they say, God works in mysterious ways. Had my friend not suggested that nearby church, I might not be where I am today. My eventual return to Catholicism is a story for another time, but I want to recognize my experience and the beauty I found in the Protestant faith during this period. Protestants often emphasize love first, focusing on a direct relationship with God without a lot of red tape. This approach can be incredibly impactful for those trying to comprehend the basics of Christianity or struggling to sift through the complexity of Catholicism. I'll never forget when Pastor Tim explained that Jesus died for our sins. Though I'd heard it countless times, it finally clicked: Jesus, the Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself to take away our sins. It was the greatest "aha" moment of my life.

Some might wonder why, as a Catholic, I speak so positively about the Protestant church. I'm not advocating for conversion from Catholicism, but rather acknowledging the profound experiences I had within the Protestant community. As Catholics, we believe our church is “the privileged path,” not out of arrogance, but because we can partake in all the sacraments provided by God to maximize our ability to grow as Christians. However, the Catechism doesn't suggest that non-Catholics aren't "saved." Therefore, the Catholic Church refers to Protestants as brothers and sisters in Christ. With that I mind, I urge my fellow Catholics to open their hearts and minds to how the Protestant faith explores the foundational words of the gospel and shares it with its congregation. Catholics, when you meet a Protestant, try to explore the common ground first. There is plenty of time to talk about our differences later. By doing so, we can enrich our faith through the wisdom and love emphasized in their approach to the Gospel.