Non believing husband starting to question...

[Thewhitedove]

As you know, my husband is a bone fide, hard-core atheist. I have been praying for him since I got saved in 2019. 

As some of you may also know, I was under some family pressure to have our recent baby Christened in the Catholic church. You may also know that I was absolutely torn about this but felt God giving His permission. I prayed that God would redeem the situation to bring my husband to faith.

The ceremony was a few weeks ago and was fine. I didn't have to say or agree to anything I didn't believe in and it was actually a lovely day. After the Christening, my husband said we should go to Mass sometime as the priest was very nice.

Guys. This was so out of character that I nearly fell off my chair. I agreed and never brought it up again. He said he wants to be polite to the priest by going back, but he never cared about being polite to priests when our previous 2 kids were Christened (before I was saved).

I am happy to facilitate this as an entry point to discussions about the true Gospel but never brought it up again. I always wait for the Holy Spirit to open doorways. Well, my husband just asked me if we can go to Mass tomorrow. 

I didn't ask any questions but looked up Mass Times and we are going at 11.30 in the morning. I believe that God is at work here. Even though I disagree with a lot of the doctrine of Catholicm, I believe there are saved Catholics. There are no saved atheists. 

This could be a great opportunity to open conversation, discuss the real Gospel, talk about Jesus, just go to a place of worship together! 

Please. Whatever your views may be on the RC Church, this might be a very crucial point in my husband's faith journey. Who knows what this will lead to.

Please pray for him! And me!

[Abrielle]

I didn't even know what reaction I should give. Thumbs up, Loved it, Brillitant, Praise God, Praying. I would give all of them if I could.

I always think of you when I come across I Corinthians 7:14. Praying for you and your family.

[Sower]

6 hours ago, Thewhitedove said:

Please pray for him! And me!

 

Lay ahold of God's willingness.

[Thewhitedove]

8 hours ago, Abrielle said:

I didn't even know what reaction I should give. Thumbs up, Loved it, Brillitant, Praise God, Praying. I would give all of them if I could.

I always think of you when I come across I Corinthians 7:14. Praying for you and your family.

How wonderful that you think of me!

[ladypeartree]

 

[Starise]

Is an RCC church the only kind of church he will visit?

[Thewhitedove]

Starise, he has never ever, ever shown any interest whatsoever in visiting any kind of church. He absolutely would never have come to the non denominational church I used to attend. Never. I'm not pushing it. I'm quietly going along with whatever he suggests and see what happens.

We live in a foreign country in Europe and are trying to Learn the language. The Mass was all in the foreign language but in the RCC they give you a document with the entire ceremony written on it. He brought one home as he wants to practise translating it. There is a passage from Exodux and another from Ephesians so I'll give him my Bible to help compare the two texts. He will literally be going through scripture word  by word.

[missmuffet]

21 hours ago, Thewhitedove said:

As you know, my husband is a bone fide, hard-core atheist. I have been praying for him since I got saved in 2019. 

As some of you may also know, I was under some family pressure to have our recent baby Christened in the Catholic church. You may also know that I was absolutely torn about this but felt God giving His permission. I prayed that God would redeem the situation to bring my husband to faith.

The ceremony was a few weeks ago and was fine. I didn't have to say or agree to anything I didn't believe in and it was actually a lovely day. After the Christening, my husband said we should go to Mass sometime as the priest was very nice.

Guys. This was so out of character that I nearly fell off my chair. I agreed and never brought it up again. He said he wants to be polite to the priest by going back, but he never cared about being polite to priests when our previous 2 kids were Christened (before I was saved).

I am happy to facilitate this as an entry point to discussions about the true Gospel but never brought it up again. I always wait for the Holy Spirit to open doorways. Well, my husband just asked me if we can go to Mass tomorrow. 

I didn't ask any questions but looked up Mass Times and we are going at 11.30 in the morning. I believe that God is at work here. Even though I disagree with a lot of the doctrine of Catholicm, I believe there are saved Catholics. There are no saved atheists. 

This could be a great opportunity to open conversation, discuss the real Gospel, talk about Jesus, just go to a place of worship together! 

Please. Whatever your views may be on the RC Church, this might be a very crucial point in my husband's faith journey. Who knows what this will lead to.

Please pray for him! And me!

I am on the fence with this reply. It is good that your husband is going towards any kind of religion but....The Catholic religion? 

[Thewhitedove]

MissMuffet, I am with you. Going to Mass today reminded me why I'm not Catholic anymore. I felt so spiritually unsatisfied as I left the church. However I cant deny that this is a step closer towards Jesus for my husband than total atheism. I don't want to shut it down when he has been so hostile towards Christianity for so long. 

[Starise]

8 hours ago, Thewhitedove said:

Starise, he has never ever, ever shown any interest whatsoever in visiting any kind of church. He absolutely would never have come to the non denominational church I used to attend. Never. I'm not pushing it. I'm quietly going along with whatever he suggests and see what happens.

We live in a foreign country in Europe and are trying to Learn the language. The Mass was all in the foreign language but in the RCC they give you a document with the entire ceremony written on it. He brought one home as he wants to practise translating it. There is a passage from Exodux and another from Ephesians so I'll give him my Bible to help compare the two texts. He will literally be going through scripture word  by word.

My apologies for the delay in responding.

Clearly you love your husband dearly and would love nothing better than for him to come to the Lord. I have had similar feelings about lost members of my family, and I think I see that any little thing, anything at all might be something for you to hold on to, so it isn't without empathy that I approach my response. 

The Lord uses churches sometimes, sometimes He uses no church at all to turn men and women to Himself. If your husband intends to come to the Lord, if the Lord is reaching out to him to draw him in, a church will neither make or break the outcome in my opinion. Maybe God is using situations that involve this church to cause him to question.

I won't attempt to inform you about the RCC, If you've been on Worthy for any length of time or have looked through the threads on that church, you know plenty already.

The Lord will reward a searching inquisitive sincere heart.

Best wishes to you in your hopes the Lord will open your husband's eyes and heart! If things seem to be going backward once again, don't give up constantly praying for him and trying to be the best example you can be. Many a man has looked hopeless only to have God transform them.