Melissas210 wrote:Oh Passion, thank you so much for all of that! I do find it hard to believe that you don't always have the words to "say" when being questioned.
Anyway, he says he has read the bible...afterall, he is Catholic.
God bless you Passion and all of your info. I am actually going to print it so I have some reference. Thanks again!
You're welcome, and I'm glad I could be of some help. Or maybe I should say I'm glad God chose to use me in some small way!

To be used by people really stinks, but to be used by God.....woo-hoo!

He's so awesome!
And I usually
do get all tongue-tied when trying to trying to discuss things with people--and I don't mean just Christian apologetics, either! I say usually, because as long as someone's not arguing with me, I'm fine....but let them try to throw a monkey wrench into the mix and I oftentimes lose it. I've just always done much better with the written word, rather than the spoken. Ah well, some people are the other way around....there are folks who couldn't construct a sensible sentence if their lives depended on it, but are fabulously gifted orators. And then there's the doubly-gifted ones who can do both!
You say your hubby's read the Bible because after all, he's Catholic, but I have found that most Catholics really don't read the Bible much, if at all....many former Catholics have told me this, too....or if they do, they read the "Catholic" bible, which adds a lot of "extra" stuff. And it's not just the Catholics, but for instance, my mom was raised in the Episcopal church; and while she's told me a lot about the fun they used to have singing in the choir, she's never once mentioned Bible study. About 15 years ago she was going to a Bible study class and telling me in amazement the things she was learning that she'd had no idea of! The same could be said for me--from about the time I was 10 or so until I was about 13 (when I rebelled and refused to go anymore), we attended an Episcopal church. In those nearly 4 years, we were never encouraged to really get into reading the Bible for ourselves, there was no such thing as adult Sunday school; nor were there any small group Bible study fellowships. I belonged to the youth group for a couple of years, but learned absolutely nothing. No attempt was ever made to even teach the Trinity (at least Catholics have
that!), and I had no idea that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. I didn't learn this until, in my early 30's, I started attending a church that actually preached Jesus, had adult Sunday school, Wed. a.m. Bible study, and many small group Bible study fellowships (None of which I went to. Long story, but suffice it to say that for several years, I attended church because my son had asked me to take them--and like Herod, I enjoyed listening to the teachings. But also like Herod, I was too busy partying on the weekends to get up and get motivated, and actually go to Sun. school before church and really apply myself to learning God's Word. I chose the 11 a.m. service, so I could sleep in.

). This was an Episcopal church, but one of the few that wasn't apostate--in fact several years after that, we voted to leave the Episcopal diocese and ECUSA altogether. Oh, and then there's my son (now 24) who, when he was around 10 or 11, asked me to take he and his sister to church in the first place. He wanted a Bible--I got him one. He wanted the NT on tape--I got it for him. If you were to get into an argument with him re. Christianity (which he loves to do), he would tell you he's read a lot of the Bible. Sure, he's read some, and can point to things in the OT he doesn't like (like God ordering them to go to war, kill women and children, etc.); as well as the NT (like Jesus saying you must hate your family in order to follow Him) for the purpose of making his point--but he hasn't read enough to be able to take it in context, and get the big picture. And even if he did, he
won't get the big picture, unless and until he humbles himself before God, repents, and asks God to teach him through His Word.
I'm not saying that your husband has not read the Bible at all--how would I know? I'm only saying, based on the Catholics and former Catholics I've known, not to mention my Mom's, my son's, and my own experience, that being a member of a certain denomination doesn't mean you've read/studied a lot of the Bible, that's all.
Bless you for hanging in there and trusting in the Lord!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 I will keep praying for you and your husband...and I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!
