Steve Deace Interviews Keith Nester on Catholicism

In a recent special episode, Steve Deace, an evangelical, sat down with Keith Nester, a former Protestant pastor who has transitioned into a Catholic apologist. Their discussion revolved around Nester’s journey to Catholicism, touching on the deep-rooted issues that often separate Catholics from Protestants.

Nester, who grew up as the son of a Methodist pastor, committed his life to Jesus at the age of 11 during a church camp. Catholicism wasn’t even on his radar until he started serving as a youth pastor in Iowa. Initially, his youth group began with just 12 children but, remarkably, expanded to 250 within two years, drawing in many parents from the community.

Interestingly, many of these new congregants were Catholics. “They would come to our church saying, ‘This is incredible! We’re actually learning about Jesus here,’” Nester recounted, which admittedly sparked some assumptions in his mind about Catholic knowledge of the Bible.

Things changed when he met a passionate Catholic graphic designer. The two engaged in a theological back-and-forth, each trying to bring the other to their side. At that time, Nester was in seminary and turned to a Bible professor for insights on how to “win” the argument against his Catholic friend.

The professor’s response, “Well, we believe that because we’re Protestants,” pushed him on a quest for answers that he thought would debunk Catholic beliefs.

Unfortunately for Nester, after years of searching, he found no definitive answers. Gradually, he began to feel a calling towards Catholicism, though he resisted for quite some time. Not due to a lack of faith in Catholic teachings, but because he had established his life as a Protestant youth pastor, and his family—wife and children—were committed to their Protestant faith.

As years passed, Nester grappled with this internal turmoil. “Things got a bit dark for me,” he admitted. In 2015, his childhood Methodist church faced significant upheaval over controversial issues like same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ ordination, leading to intense debates among members. Nester, who was passionate about scripture, found himself entangled in these discussions, realizing that some argued their points without solely relying on tradition or scripture.

It dawned on him that authority needed to play a role in these debates. One poignant question stuck with him: “If you trust in all of the Church’s authority, then why aren’t you Catholic?”

This reflection led him back to an old Catholic apologetics book. After exploring the faith through various profound experiences, Nester became convinced that the Catholic Church is indeed what it claims to be: the original Church founded by Jesus Christ.

However, family dynamics and his career continued to pose challenges. In a moment of desperation, he prayed, asking the Lord to reveal His path. Nester felt as though he received divine confirmation: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. You just need Me.” That moment underscored his realization that he needed to embrace the risk of following God’s call.

That night, he shared his intentions with his wife and later discussed it with his church’s senior pastor. “It was difficult, but my heart was set on following the Lord,” he stressed.

During the latter part of the interview, Nester and Deace explored the critical differences between Catholic and Protestant beliefs. Topics included the authority of the Church compared to the Bible, the roles of Scripture and tradition, and the veneration of Mary and the saints.

For a more in-depth look at their insightful discussion, consider watching the full interview.