Musings in Writings |
TestimoniesFrom Calvinist to Catholic
I am a convert to the Catholic Faith from Calvinism. I
loved Calvinism and owned a library full of Calvin,
Luther, Warfield, Hodge, Murray, Owen, Machen, etc. as
well as helped plant a local Orthodox Presbyterian
Church. I knew Reformation Theology and how much
hatred it generates for the Catholic Church. As a
Calvinist, I could boast with the best of them. I even
persecuted the Catholic Church and went after every
one of them I found, beating them back with Scripture,
upon Scripture, upon quotes of Luther, Calvin, etc. I
found great pleasure in debating Catholics.
My one flaw was learning what the Early Church Fathers
believed. A Catholic who had not fared well in a
debate with me, mentioned I should read the Early
Church Fathers to see just how Catholic they were. I
honestly thought I would just gain more "ammo" to use
in my battles.
I found Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp with my first
visit to the University Library. I poured over them
for months until finally I pounded the books on the
table with my fists, tossed them from the fourth to
the third level of the library and wept. It seemed
these great martyrs for the Faith were Catholic. It
had taken about 8 months of going over Clement,
Augustine, Athanasius, etc. to see the Catholic Church
was the Early Church. I kept coming back to Ignatius
and Polycarp as I could not get them out of my mind.
Over the next two years, I read more and more on the
Catholic Faith and became less and less convinced the
Reformed Faith was correct. It became clear to me; it
was nothing more than a novelty, spewing forth
doctrines that had never been believed before. Christ
promised the Holy Spirit to His Church and stated the
gates of hell would not prevail against it. I thought
that was a lie and for 1500 years, the Church had been
without truth and the gates of hell had prevailed. It
is very humbling to come to the conclusion you have
been horribly wrong, even to the point of not trusting
the words of our precious Lord and Saviour. Yet, I
still was not ready to become a Catholic.
Then one day when I was reading the Scripture I read
Paul talking about how he was the most religious
Pharisee, the most upright, and you know my heart was
pierced and I actually laughed about how I could claim
I had been one of the best Calvinists around, but then
it hit me. Was that even something to boast about?? So
I looked up one of the most wonderful examples of
boasting the Lord mentioned. Luke 18:9-14 (Please read
the Scripture as this is my paraphrase)
'Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
Calvinist and the other a sinner. The Calvinist (that
would be I) stood and was praying thus to himself,
God, I thank thee that I am not like other people,
sinners, Catholics, heretics, or even like this sinner
beside me. I planted your church in this god-forsaken
part of the country, I read the Scriptures and Calvin
and Luther twice a week, and the rest of the week I
read nothing but reformers and your Scriptures. But
the sinner standing a little off to the side, was even
unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was
beating his breast saying, God, be merciful to me the
sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other. For everyone who
exalts himself shall be humbled but he who humbles
himself shall be exalted."
You know who the sinner was? I turned next to Luke 5:8
because I was then looking for others who admitted
they were sinners for I knew I was once the boaster
but now I was the sinner. "But when Simon Peter saw
that, he fell down at Jesus' feet saying, Depart from
me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Peter then was
able to go on and follow Jesus. Peter came home, this
home became the Church, and he was the Rock it was
built upon, and he was justified.
At that moment, it finally became clear I could not
stay a Calvinist or stay in the OPC. I had plans to
attend Westminster Seminary and those were discarded.
I lost friends and was informed I must have never been
a Christian in the first place.
As I became least, Christ became more. I decided the
only place I could go was the home where the Apostle
Peter went. I was accepted into the Catholic Church
this Easter 2002. I have never been happier and I wish
and pray this joy for all. I will never be the same
after taking the Body and Blood of our Lord.
If you ever wish to discuss the Catholic Faith, please
email me at [email protected]
In Christ and Mary,
Rodney Beason
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