Posted on 10/13/2007 7:02:02 AM PDT by NYer
Rodney Beason
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 in 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.
Rodney's story is dated May 14, 2007. It's old news.
>’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.”
Interesting take on Scripture and calvinism. Sounds like this guy was a hyper-calvinist, (Only the elect are saved, AND once saved they can do no wrong, and indeed a pharisee as he describes.)
Calvinism teaches, as the Scripture does, we cannot boast on anything but Christ and the Gospel. The way he writes suggests he was not firmly knowledgeable in his own faith and or that his heart was not changed by the Gospel in his sojourn in the OPC.
Just hope he wanders into the Gospel in the Roman Church. I hear they still have some preaching that on the other side of the Tiber, occasionally.
Rodney Beason
Oh, him.
This got hashed out earlier this year on FR, in a multi-hundred post thread. A little googling by one of the GRPL Borg revealed that Mr. Beason is a spiritual wanderer -- he's been a lot of different things.
Same article, even: From Calvinist to Catholic. And as that thread revealed, a few years later Rodney Beason converted to that scourge of Catholicism, Freemasonry, a short five years later - and was fooling around with Hinduism at the same time. There's your "powerful conversion story right there" - Beason perfectly embodies Ephesians 4:14:
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
As Frumanchu stated on that earlier thread, "Any Reformed Protestant who believes there was no true church until the 16th century didn't pay much attention to the words of the Reformers and is likely letting their opposition to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church lead them to throw the baby out with the bath water."
In summary, I think a post on that thread summarized Mr. Beason's "powerful conversion story" best:
"Will Convert For Food"
Five months? Some of the stuff posted by you and others goes back almost a decade. Sometimes more.
Since when has "old news" ever been a problem for the Calvinist clique?
Welcome home, Rodney BTTT!
Bishop Steenson’s Statement to the House [of Bishops: Episcopal (TEC) to Catholic]
Bp. Steenson's Letter to his clergy on his conversion to the Catholic Church
Bishop Steenson Will Become a Roman Catholic
Married man considers turn as Catholic priest
Pavarotti returns to the Catholic faith before dying
Searching For Authority (A Methodist minister finds himself surprised by Truth!)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part VI: The Biblical Reality (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part V: The Catholics and the Pope(Al Kresta)
The Hail Mary of a Protestant (A true story)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part IV: Crucifix and Altar(Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part III: Tradition and Church (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part II: Doubts (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part I: Darkness(Al Kresta)
Conversion Story - Matt Enloe (former Baptist) [prepare to be amazed!]
THE ORTHODOX REVIVAL IN RUSSIA
Conversion Story - David Finkelstein (former Jew)
Conversion Story - John Weidner (former Evangelical)
12 Reasons I Joined the Catholic Church
Conversion Story - Tom Hunt
The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism: The Converts
John Calvin Made Me Catholic
Journey Home - May 21 - Neil Babcox (former Presbyterian) - A minister encounters Mary
Going Catholic - Six journeys to Rome
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
A Convert's Pilgrimage [Christopher Cuddy]
From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home (to the Catholic Church) [Drake McCalister]
Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church
Patty Bonds (former Baptist and sister of Dr. James White) to appear on The Journey Home - May 7
Pastor and Flock Become Catholics
Why Converts Choose Catholicism
From Calvinist to Catholic
The journey back - Dr. Beckwith explains his reasons for returning to the Catholic Church
Famous Homosexual Italian Author Returned to the Church Before Dying of AIDS
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church
Catholic Converts - Stephen K. Ray (former Evangelical)
Catholic Converts - Malcolm Muggeridge
Catholic Converts - Richard John Neuhaus
Catholic Converts - Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic Converts - Israel (Eugenio) Zolli - Chief Rabbi of Rome
Catholic Converts - Robert H. Bork , American Jurist (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Converts - Marcus Grodi
The Scott Hahn Conversion Story
FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
Conversion Story - Rusty Tisdale (former Pentecostal)
Five months? Some of the stuff posted by you and others goes back almost a decade. Sometimes more.
The point I made wasn't that this is an old story. My point was that the last time this came up, this conversion story was shown to be questionable.
This "story" was posted last May. I guess they've run out of conversion "stories" and have to recycle them.
Al Gore would approve.
BWAHHAAAA!
Well, I’m back! I finally have internet at home! Will start posting soonest!
Since when has "old news" ever been a problem for the Calvinist clique?
Smile when you say that. Post #10 had one of you posting some very old news. Malcom Muggeridge's conversion? How many years has he been dead? Is someone going to bring up Cardinal Newman short jump to RC-ism, lo these many decades ago?
Exactly correct. See post 12.
And WELCOME BACK, GAMECOCK!!! You were missed mightily.
Actually, if you read his conversion story all the way through, you will note that he was welcomed into the Catholic Church in 2002 - practically antiquity ;-)
When you're ready, send me your conversion story. I'll be sure to post it before it too is considered 'old news'. We're praying lots of Rosaries for you Alex.
Given the ignorance of your post, I would strongly suggest you join Salvation's ping list to the daily Mass readings. They conver the entire bible (Old and New Testaments) in the span of 3 years. You might actually learn something.
Welcome back. I was just going to ask what happened to you.
LOLOL!!! This is typical of those who say they are Calvinists and then have an "awakening". No true Calvinist in any type of fashion could accept the bowing down to statues of Mary. And I would like Rodney to show me in the Church fathers where they believed that! What nutty reasoning.
Truth is the church fathers wrote about some good things and then they had some goofy ideas as well. They were, after all, trying to put the pieces together. For anyone to lay claim that the early church fathers were actual Catholics as it exists today (or for that matter 500 years ago) is plain crazy. The Catholic Church is welcomed to him along with Dr. Hahn.
Better news than the apostasy of any alleged Calvinist.
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