George Weis is a young graphic, web designer from Pennsylvania who found his way to this blog and wrote to me. He’s a fervent Evangelical, a wise and creative man with a young wife and family.
He writes here announcing his decision to enter the Catholic Church. He writes poignantly and from the heart. He knows the opposition he will receive. He realizes the difficulties ahead. Click over to his blog and follow his story.
Pray for George and his wife and thank God for another Evangelical who has the courage to make the journey home.
Hey Fr. D! Thanks for the kind words. I just spoke with 2 local priests… we’ll see if we can make this years cut!-g-
Good news indeed!I have seen many conversion stories as Mr. Weis where the early Church Fathers played a significant role. I read The Four Witnesses which included quotes from the Didache and letters of Iraneus and Polycarp. I found that they certainly reinforced my Catholicity.My question is this: If I read these documents as a Protestant, can’t I just claim they are like the Gosepl of Thomas etc and just throw them in the rubbish bin?
Might I ask where in Pennsylvania you are, Mr. Weis ? If you are near Pittsburgh, I might be able to steer you towards some good people to help you .
Rambling gt. Some Protestants do reject all extra Biblical writings, but it is important that they are introduced to them in the right way. We should always make it clear that the writings of the Fathers are not Biblical or that anyone pretends they are Biblical the way some do about apocryphal gospels.Instead we say, “These are authentic documents from the Early church. They tell us what the first generations of Christians believed. They tell us how they worshipped and what they thought about the church and sacraments. They are not infallible or inspired the way Scripture is inspired. They are just very ancient church documents.’Once the Evangelical begins reading them like that it is very hard not to be impressed as George was and many others have been.
Thanks Father for that helpful perspective.Listening to Marcus Grodi’s “Journey Home”program suggests that many of these documents are indeed studied in Protestant “seminaries” including (I believe) Wheaton College.Do you believe that that they are studied in many Protestant seminaries and bible colleges? If yes, it would bolster their credibility in the eyes of Protestants.I realize I am being a bit imprecise in my questions – but hopefully you get the gist.
As a former minister of 20 years and fellow convert (presently working as an artist myself) I’ve been following George and Ashley’s story for some time now. He is a wonderful guy and very sincere. I was thrilled to read his news last night. It’s wonderful to have your affirmation. I’m sure it means a lot.
At some point, it always takes a leap of faith, or a plunge, or a fling hurl or something. It is like Indiana Jones standing at the brink of the chasm with no visible way across, and his father dying. He takes a step, expecting to fall to his death, and finding the invisible bridge beneath his feet. So it is with a swim across the Tiber.
What a wonderful testimony!
Narwen,I am in Amishland, also known as Lancaster. I actually live in the City though.Thank you for your thoughts everyone!Yes, the ECFs are often a tough thing to bring to an Evangelical, although it depends on the camp they hail from. The camp I grew up in (Like Fr. D) is fundamentalist at heart (even though they wouldn’t prefer the term). I had folks tell me often… stop reading that stuff… read the Bible only. I politely replied “I am sorry, but I can’t deny History it’s voice”.As Fr. D. said, this is not scripture, but rather the witness of the earliest Christians beyond the stories found within the N.T. We get to see what Christianity looked like, and quite frankly, it wasn’t of the 19th century flavor. It comes as a stun that one tries to fix by explanation, but no explanation really exists other than the conclusion that I have come to.the Reformed camp love the ECFs but they put their spin on what the Fathers are trying to say. Justin Martyr didn’t know the term transubstantiation, but he understood the general idea that Christ was really present. As my friend Monsignor Smith said today “they didn’t worry about the how and why so much back then, they just knew it was…”.Pray for me, I’m shaking in my shoes! Although convinced, this is a scary change!-g-