I had all but forgotten EWTN until some Catholic friends of mine suggested I watch The Journey Home.
Oh, yes, good old EWTN! A dusty memory came to mind when they reminded me of the channel. As an AG-Protestant youth, I remember stopping at EWTN from time to time in my channel surfing and watching it curiously. Mostly, I remember a nun talking. That's about it. But, I remember something in me wanted to understand the channel, the program. Wanted to be a part of it, in the "clique" so to speak, of those who watch it and discuss it.
It's just another link in the chain of my history. Was I always meant to be Catholic?
I never felt at home in the Protestant churches.
I wished I could have gone to Catholic school.
I envied my older brother who got to take first communion and confirmation before my parents left the Church.
I never believed the things I was told about the Catholic church, even though I accepted them from my authorities. I always felt some knowledge or understanding was missing.
At this point I am open to the possibility that God may be calling me "home to Rome." So, I leave it to Him in prayer.
At this point I have also prayed to God that He would have to bring my husband home to Rome, too. We were at one accord when we left the AG church for the Baptist church. My husband and children love the Baptist church (I do, too). Hubby is not at all fond of the Catholic church (too many bad memories). I cannot divide my family over this.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
The "Born Again Honeymoon"
When I grew up in the AG church, I ALWAYS heard about a sort of "Born Again Honeymoon." This was a time, after getting saved, when you feel wonderful, get all sorts of positive convictions, work on changing your life, and you have so much joy.
I never felt that when I got saved.
When I accepted Christ around age 9 (not sure when...apparently, you're not supposed to forget the day you accepted Christ, but I did. I remember it was at a Kid's Rally) it was with two purposes: A desire to do what was right and serve the Lord, and a desire not to burn in hell. I remember going up front for the alter call (something shy me would normally not do), curling up on the floor, feeling the comforting hand of the rally leader on my back, and accepting the Lord. I felt good, I believe it was a true "coming to Christ." But, I didn't feel that Honeymoon.
(As a side note, I have long since learned that I fall terribly short of the emotional and social expectations that the Assembly of God church places on their congregants. I'm just not naturally very charismatic.)
Ironically, though, I feel very uplifted and elated in my seeking journey and like this spiritual...I don't know...world is closer at hand. I have visions of people cheering me on. Not like clear visions. Not dreams. Not like watching a movie or experiencing it tangibly. I see in my mind's eye, so to speak, smiling faces (though I can't see the faces) of robed bodies (though the bodies are a blur) with open arms, and a "sound" of encouragement that I can't hear, but rather feel.
I want to dig into the scripture. I want to pray. I want to discuss. I want to praise. I want to tell. I am bursting spiritually! It's like that "Born Again Honeymoon" I was supposed to have after accepting Christ in the AG church. And I haven't even converted to Catholicism!
Maybe it isn't Catholicism, but just the seeking. The true seeking and not just accepting what I am told. Through true seeking I can truly know Christ and not just want I am told to know.
I never felt that when I got saved.
When I accepted Christ around age 9 (not sure when...apparently, you're not supposed to forget the day you accepted Christ, but I did. I remember it was at a Kid's Rally) it was with two purposes: A desire to do what was right and serve the Lord, and a desire not to burn in hell. I remember going up front for the alter call (something shy me would normally not do), curling up on the floor, feeling the comforting hand of the rally leader on my back, and accepting the Lord. I felt good, I believe it was a true "coming to Christ." But, I didn't feel that Honeymoon.
(As a side note, I have long since learned that I fall terribly short of the emotional and social expectations that the Assembly of God church places on their congregants. I'm just not naturally very charismatic.)
Ironically, though, I feel very uplifted and elated in my seeking journey and like this spiritual...I don't know...world is closer at hand. I have visions of people cheering me on. Not like clear visions. Not dreams. Not like watching a movie or experiencing it tangibly. I see in my mind's eye, so to speak, smiling faces (though I can't see the faces) of robed bodies (though the bodies are a blur) with open arms, and a "sound" of encouragement that I can't hear, but rather feel.
I want to dig into the scripture. I want to pray. I want to discuss. I want to praise. I want to tell. I am bursting spiritually! It's like that "Born Again Honeymoon" I was supposed to have after accepting Christ in the AG church. And I haven't even converted to Catholicism!
Maybe it isn't Catholicism, but just the seeking. The true seeking and not just accepting what I am told. Through true seeking I can truly know Christ and not just want I am told to know.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Salvation
I currently attend a Baptist church.
Baptists are known for their "once saved, always saved" doctrine.
Having grown up AG, it was emphasized how wrong Baptists are with this doctrine. You can't say the "sinner's prayer" and then be safe from judgement, continuing on with a life of sinfulness. The Baptists say that if you are truly saved, then you wouldn't anyway. But, I have witnessed with my own eyes, people who were clearly saved, God loving, serving, honoring, spirit-filled who DECIDED to walk away from the faith. They turned their back on God, renounced Christ's salvation, and became atheist or wiccan or what have you.
I'm still not entirely clear on how the Catholics view salvation. I have heard many say, "salvation by faith, through grace in Christ Jesus." He died on the cross for our sins so that if we believe on Him we are saved. That's pretty much universal Christendom. But, it seems a bit more complicated than that.
I was told Catholics don't believe in the assurance of Salvation. Only the hope of it.
Catholics also do not believe in faith-alone salvation because the word faith means works. My AG pastor put it like this: faith=knowledge+belief+action. I think Catholics would agree with that. We can't "earn our way to heaven" with good works alone, but as Christians we ought not to skate through life, either.
One could reference the parable of the talents. The dude who buried his talent and did nothing, God said, "depart from me, I never knew you."
So, I think AGer's and Catholics are more similar than they think concerning Salvation.
I believe we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross as an atonement for our sins. I believe we must give our lives to Him through faith AND works. (I can't just say I believe in God and live a hedonistic lifestyle, but I also believe we can't be good enough and earn our way through works alone). I also believe we can "lose" our salvation, or that it isn't entirely ensured. There is assurance, but also hope. We can willfully give it up. We can backslide and turn our backs on God. I also believe only God can see our hearts and know for sure and decide for sure who enters into His rest and who does not. I believe we would be surprised to see who is in Heaven and who is not.
Baptists are known for their "once saved, always saved" doctrine.
Having grown up AG, it was emphasized how wrong Baptists are with this doctrine. You can't say the "sinner's prayer" and then be safe from judgement, continuing on with a life of sinfulness. The Baptists say that if you are truly saved, then you wouldn't anyway. But, I have witnessed with my own eyes, people who were clearly saved, God loving, serving, honoring, spirit-filled who DECIDED to walk away from the faith. They turned their back on God, renounced Christ's salvation, and became atheist or wiccan or what have you.
I'm still not entirely clear on how the Catholics view salvation. I have heard many say, "salvation by faith, through grace in Christ Jesus." He died on the cross for our sins so that if we believe on Him we are saved. That's pretty much universal Christendom. But, it seems a bit more complicated than that.
I was told Catholics don't believe in the assurance of Salvation. Only the hope of it.
Catholics also do not believe in faith-alone salvation because the word faith means works. My AG pastor put it like this: faith=knowledge+belief+action. I think Catholics would agree with that. We can't "earn our way to heaven" with good works alone, but as Christians we ought not to skate through life, either.
One could reference the parable of the talents. The dude who buried his talent and did nothing, God said, "depart from me, I never knew you."
So, I think AGer's and Catholics are more similar than they think concerning Salvation.
I believe we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross as an atonement for our sins. I believe we must give our lives to Him through faith AND works. (I can't just say I believe in God and live a hedonistic lifestyle, but I also believe we can't be good enough and earn our way through works alone). I also believe we can "lose" our salvation, or that it isn't entirely ensured. There is assurance, but also hope. We can willfully give it up. We can backslide and turn our backs on God. I also believe only God can see our hearts and know for sure and decide for sure who enters into His rest and who does not. I believe we would be surprised to see who is in Heaven and who is not.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Anti-Semitism and Anti-Catholicism in the Protestant Church
Now, if that's not a clickbait title, I don't know what is!
While there are likely some fringe, radical "Protestant" churches that are deliberately anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic, I would venture to say that most are not deliberately so. Though, just like racism and sexism, even those who say they stand against such things are prone to systematic racism and sexism, anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism.
Let's back up to the beginning of my train of thought.
Today, as I listened to portions of The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM 129, hosts were discussing Pope Francis' Papal anniversary. One thing they brought up was how some people are against his papacy and others are not. Along those lines were little discussions on the papacy being filled by..ahem...imperfect men in the past.
This reminded me of one of the arguments Protestants and even secularists have against the Catholic Church. That is that if the Pope is truly established and chosen by God in Apostolic succession, why would there be such sinners and bad Popes in the papal office? And if Catholicism is the faith set by Christ before His ascension, then why have so many atrocities been committed by the Catholic Church?
Immediately, I thought of King David and the Israelites. Now, my intention isn't to argue with secularists. It isn't to argue with anyone. I enjoy intellectual conversation, not arguments. I'm not trying to get anyone to believe anything...just listen and understand where I may be coming from. But, I do want to pose this to Protestants.
How can you denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope because of the imperfections of human being even under the wing of God's establishment when the Old Testament reflects just that among Israel and her leaders? Did God not establish Israel? Did God not appoint King David and call him "A man after my own heart" despite his sinfulness? Were there not kings and rulers who turned against God? Couldn't this mirror image occur with the Catholic Church?
So, unless you are ready to denounce the Old Testament, how can you use the same argument to denounce the Catholic Church?
But, I suppose Protestants do. We see Anti-Semitism and Anti-Catholicism in bits and pieces throughout the Protestant faith:
1. Martin Luther was anti-Semitic.
2. Some Protestant churches avoid the Old Testament
3. Some within the Protestant church believe Jews and Catholics will not go to Heaven.
4. I once invited a Jewish friend to a party of mine and wanted to make sure that there was kosher food she could eat. Another Protestant Christian guest bristled and said we shouldn't have to make provisions for a Jew and their false beliefs about Kosher foods. She can just pick what she can. I reminded this Christian friend that Christ Jesus HIMSELF was Jewish, and a Jew who practiced His Jewish faith!
5. I am all too often "reminded" within Protestant services how Catholics are wrong, often utilizing Protestant rhetoric rather than establishing Biblical and historical facts against the catechism.
6. Jews and Catholics are seen as "those people" outside of us.
7. Many Protestant churches seem to ignore church history, focusing mostly on the reformation onward. To utilize the apocrypha or the Torah is considered wrong amid sola scriptura.
So, I suppose I can see, with such systematic anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism how they can't seem to even try to understand. Ultimately, I believe it hurts all of Christianity and gives secularism a step up.
While there are likely some fringe, radical "Protestant" churches that are deliberately anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic, I would venture to say that most are not deliberately so. Though, just like racism and sexism, even those who say they stand against such things are prone to systematic racism and sexism, anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism.
Let's back up to the beginning of my train of thought.
Today, as I listened to portions of The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM 129, hosts were discussing Pope Francis' Papal anniversary. One thing they brought up was how some people are against his papacy and others are not. Along those lines were little discussions on the papacy being filled by..ahem...imperfect men in the past.
This reminded me of one of the arguments Protestants and even secularists have against the Catholic Church. That is that if the Pope is truly established and chosen by God in Apostolic succession, why would there be such sinners and bad Popes in the papal office? And if Catholicism is the faith set by Christ before His ascension, then why have so many atrocities been committed by the Catholic Church?
Immediately, I thought of King David and the Israelites. Now, my intention isn't to argue with secularists. It isn't to argue with anyone. I enjoy intellectual conversation, not arguments. I'm not trying to get anyone to believe anything...just listen and understand where I may be coming from. But, I do want to pose this to Protestants.
How can you denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope because of the imperfections of human being even under the wing of God's establishment when the Old Testament reflects just that among Israel and her leaders? Did God not establish Israel? Did God not appoint King David and call him "A man after my own heart" despite his sinfulness? Were there not kings and rulers who turned against God? Couldn't this mirror image occur with the Catholic Church?
So, unless you are ready to denounce the Old Testament, how can you use the same argument to denounce the Catholic Church?
But, I suppose Protestants do. We see Anti-Semitism and Anti-Catholicism in bits and pieces throughout the Protestant faith:
1. Martin Luther was anti-Semitic.
2. Some Protestant churches avoid the Old Testament
3. Some within the Protestant church believe Jews and Catholics will not go to Heaven.
4. I once invited a Jewish friend to a party of mine and wanted to make sure that there was kosher food she could eat. Another Protestant Christian guest bristled and said we shouldn't have to make provisions for a Jew and their false beliefs about Kosher foods. She can just pick what she can. I reminded this Christian friend that Christ Jesus HIMSELF was Jewish, and a Jew who practiced His Jewish faith!
5. I am all too often "reminded" within Protestant services how Catholics are wrong, often utilizing Protestant rhetoric rather than establishing Biblical and historical facts against the catechism.
6. Jews and Catholics are seen as "those people" outside of us.
7. Many Protestant churches seem to ignore church history, focusing mostly on the reformation onward. To utilize the apocrypha or the Torah is considered wrong amid sola scriptura.
So, I suppose I can see, with such systematic anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism how they can't seem to even try to understand. Ultimately, I believe it hurts all of Christianity and gives secularism a step up.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
The Catechism
All my life I have had in my hands the Holy Bible. Growing up sola scriptura I learned that this was the only book I ever needed for my answers. (Which seems odd to me considering the multi-million, if not billion dollar industry that is Christian self-help books among Protesantism.) Don't get me wrong, I love the Bible, but I find it raises more questions than answers. And forget asking Protestants to clarify. You'll get 30,000 different interpretations!!
For years now I just wanted a book that would explain things clearly and simply and help me understand the Bible verses better and how I should live my Christian life.
I found the Catechism of the Catholic Church (second edition) at my local Goodwill for $1.99. While I didn't expect much from it, because I am still seeking and the old tapes of doubt still continue to play in my ears concerning the Catholic Church, I can say that this is the sort of book I was looking for!
I love that it was created! Protestants typically have a Statement of Faith, which briefly discusses core beliefs and a few verses to reference. It takes up maybe a page, double spaced, on a website. Everything else seems up to debate and interpretation. I appreciate that for centuries, reaching back to the earliest we can grab to Christ's ascension, the Catholic Church sat down and established this catechism so keep the church united worldwide. Sure, there's still human error and interpretation...we are imperfect people with varying life experiences...but for the most part, this is unifying across the world and throughout time! The answers are there!
It isn't like the Protestant faith which has no unity. Within the Protestant Faith are tens of thousands of denominations, and today there are splinter groups, cults, non-denoms, house churches, church splits. Any person can start calling himself or herself a pastor, acquire some credentials somewhere, and start a church based on their opinion and interpretation of the Scripture, or not even really use Scripture at all! Modern Protestantism has become a booming business and celebrity (ahem, Joel Olsteen).
The Catholic Church is fairly constant, which I like. It remains an unwavering witness. If there is Truth, it is Truth established. It is like God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. It isn't about my truth, or your truth, or what someone thinks is truth. It is TRUTH! How can Protestants, all 30,000 plus denominations, each say that have the TRUTH when it is constantly altered, changing, reinterpreted, part of people's visions and dreams, opinions, research.....changing year after year, decade after decade, century after century?
IF Catholicism is heresy and Protestantism is what Christ really established, I would think there would be more unity.
For years now I just wanted a book that would explain things clearly and simply and help me understand the Bible verses better and how I should live my Christian life.
I found the Catechism of the Catholic Church (second edition) at my local Goodwill for $1.99. While I didn't expect much from it, because I am still seeking and the old tapes of doubt still continue to play in my ears concerning the Catholic Church, I can say that this is the sort of book I was looking for!
I love that it was created! Protestants typically have a Statement of Faith, which briefly discusses core beliefs and a few verses to reference. It takes up maybe a page, double spaced, on a website. Everything else seems up to debate and interpretation. I appreciate that for centuries, reaching back to the earliest we can grab to Christ's ascension, the Catholic Church sat down and established this catechism so keep the church united worldwide. Sure, there's still human error and interpretation...we are imperfect people with varying life experiences...but for the most part, this is unifying across the world and throughout time! The answers are there!
It isn't like the Protestant faith which has no unity. Within the Protestant Faith are tens of thousands of denominations, and today there are splinter groups, cults, non-denoms, house churches, church splits. Any person can start calling himself or herself a pastor, acquire some credentials somewhere, and start a church based on their opinion and interpretation of the Scripture, or not even really use Scripture at all! Modern Protestantism has become a booming business and celebrity (ahem, Joel Olsteen).
The Catholic Church is fairly constant, which I like. It remains an unwavering witness. If there is Truth, it is Truth established. It is like God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. It isn't about my truth, or your truth, or what someone thinks is truth. It is TRUTH! How can Protestants, all 30,000 plus denominations, each say that have the TRUTH when it is constantly altered, changing, reinterpreted, part of people's visions and dreams, opinions, research.....changing year after year, decade after decade, century after century?
IF Catholicism is heresy and Protestantism is what Christ really established, I would think there would be more unity.
Monday, March 26, 2018
Sex and the Churches
Want to raise the hackles of Protestants? Mention sex. What a can of worms! Sex in the Protesant church is subject to a wide array of interpretation and protection; from fundamentalists acting like it is a bad word and missionary-only is the way to go, all the way to those who believe premarital sex is ok so long as it isn't casual and anything goes in the marriage bed.
I was shocked, SHOCKED to learn that Christians practice sodomy and BDSM and even forms of fantasy-swinging and pornography use! I am saddened that so many Protestants excuse the use of pornography in the forms of TV shows and movies. Or they blame the wives for the husband's porn use. Or the rampant entitlement Protestant men have towards the sex type and frequency they want. On the other side of that same coin is the rampant number of Protestant women who are refusing to have sex with their husbands!
And if anyone mentions the Catholic views on sex, Protestants get really defensive. I admit, I did, too. But, the more I read into it, the more I see the wisdom in it.
We are not entitled to sex.
Let me say that again. We are not entitled to sex.
We are not entitled to it how we want it, when we want it, with whomever we want it with. We are not to be slaves to those tingles in our pants.
I really am beginning to believe that the Protestant views on sex are messed up....either they believe it is a dirty necessity, or a patriarchal entitlement, or a free pass for hedonism.
I belong to several Protestant marriage groups and the men are so often angered and upset at the lack of sex in marriage. They want to know what they are entitled to while the wife is recovering from child birth. They want to know what birth control their wives can go on so they can have all the sex they want....and then get angry when that birth control kills her sex drive, or makes sex painful for her. They begin to despise their wives because she doesn't want to give him blow jobs all the time, or she refuses to allow him to perform anal sex on her, or she wants another child and he does not because he hates the lack of sex during the challenging times of pregnancy and infancy. And then they have the audacity to point fingers at their wives because she isn't fulfilling his hedonistic desires, so he turns to pornography! They'll say, "I know I'm responsible for my own sin, BUT SHE MADE ME DO IT!" The more I read, the more hedonism I see and the more I realize I have been hedonistic, too!
They use the verse that the marriage bed is undefiled, but judging by the hurt feelings, the complaining, the bitterness, resentment, and anger towards their spouses, it certainly sounds like the marriage bed is being defiled.
Catholics hold sex in marriage to be something even more special than just the fun or duty Protestants get to have once married. From what I understand, sex in marriage is needful and ought to be done in unity and for the possibility of procreation and not just for personal pleasure. They also disallow masturbation for the same reasons....it is hedonistic...it is neither unifying nor a giver of life.
Husbands are required to hold their wives in high regard for her well-being. They are required to exercise self control which makes the coming together even more blessed and more joyful than the gluttony of Protestant entitlement to sex in marriage whenever, wherever, however. (Well, if she can't open her legs, she should at least open her mouth for me.) In Catholicism and husband has to care for his wife's body as if it were his own, and be mindful of her cycle and the sanctity of life, both hers and their unborn children's. Times of sexual fasting may be encouraged or required. Sex is a gift, not a need.
I'm not saying I totally agree with Catholic teachings on sex, I can see that Protestant teachings are entering into gluttony, lust, and hedonism, and the bitterness, anger, resentment, hurt, fear, pain, rampant porn use, and even death (abortion and chemical birth control, anyone?) coming out of it is just proof positive that we are straying from God's intent.
I was shocked, SHOCKED to learn that Christians practice sodomy and BDSM and even forms of fantasy-swinging and pornography use! I am saddened that so many Protestants excuse the use of pornography in the forms of TV shows and movies. Or they blame the wives for the husband's porn use. Or the rampant entitlement Protestant men have towards the sex type and frequency they want. On the other side of that same coin is the rampant number of Protestant women who are refusing to have sex with their husbands!
And if anyone mentions the Catholic views on sex, Protestants get really defensive. I admit, I did, too. But, the more I read into it, the more I see the wisdom in it.
We are not entitled to sex.
Let me say that again. We are not entitled to sex.
We are not entitled to it how we want it, when we want it, with whomever we want it with. We are not to be slaves to those tingles in our pants.
I really am beginning to believe that the Protestant views on sex are messed up....either they believe it is a dirty necessity, or a patriarchal entitlement, or a free pass for hedonism.
I belong to several Protestant marriage groups and the men are so often angered and upset at the lack of sex in marriage. They want to know what they are entitled to while the wife is recovering from child birth. They want to know what birth control their wives can go on so they can have all the sex they want....and then get angry when that birth control kills her sex drive, or makes sex painful for her. They begin to despise their wives because she doesn't want to give him blow jobs all the time, or she refuses to allow him to perform anal sex on her, or she wants another child and he does not because he hates the lack of sex during the challenging times of pregnancy and infancy. And then they have the audacity to point fingers at their wives because she isn't fulfilling his hedonistic desires, so he turns to pornography! They'll say, "I know I'm responsible for my own sin, BUT SHE MADE ME DO IT!" The more I read, the more hedonism I see and the more I realize I have been hedonistic, too!
They use the verse that the marriage bed is undefiled, but judging by the hurt feelings, the complaining, the bitterness, resentment, and anger towards their spouses, it certainly sounds like the marriage bed is being defiled.
Catholics hold sex in marriage to be something even more special than just the fun or duty Protestants get to have once married. From what I understand, sex in marriage is needful and ought to be done in unity and for the possibility of procreation and not just for personal pleasure. They also disallow masturbation for the same reasons....it is hedonistic...it is neither unifying nor a giver of life.
Husbands are required to hold their wives in high regard for her well-being. They are required to exercise self control which makes the coming together even more blessed and more joyful than the gluttony of Protestant entitlement to sex in marriage whenever, wherever, however. (Well, if she can't open her legs, she should at least open her mouth for me.) In Catholicism and husband has to care for his wife's body as if it were his own, and be mindful of her cycle and the sanctity of life, both hers and their unborn children's. Times of sexual fasting may be encouraged or required. Sex is a gift, not a need.
I'm not saying I totally agree with Catholic teachings on sex, I can see that Protestant teachings are entering into gluttony, lust, and hedonism, and the bitterness, anger, resentment, hurt, fear, pain, rampant porn use, and even death (abortion and chemical birth control, anyone?) coming out of it is just proof positive that we are straying from God's intent.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Scott Hahn vs. David Christopher
Three days ago I listened to Dr. Scott Hahn's lecture on The Virgin Mary as Revealed in Scripture. By the end of it I was ready to say the Hail Mary. It was so convincing and compelling I wondered how anyone could refute it.
That's when I found David Christopher and found myself pretty much back to square one.
Both Hahn and Christopher use Scripture and texts from our early church fathers in their arguments. I think Christopher does a better job linking the Exodus verses with the Wedding at Cana verses better than Hahn does with linking the Creation account to the Wedding at Cana verses. What also bugs me is how can Hahn use the Creation account verses when so many Catholics don't even believe the Creation account is entirely true!?
In Hahn's support, I don't understand how Christopher can say that Mary can't be the New Eve because she was Christ's mother while Eve was Adam's wife. I understand that the church is Christ's bride, but why not Mary as well? Eve was also called "the mother of all living." If we have to have so direct a parallel that wife and mother don't work, then Christ should have been burned on an alter instead of crucified.
The other hole in Hahn's argument is that the woman in Revelations with the crown of 12 stars is Mary. How can that be Mary when the woman is travailing and pained in birthing when the Catholics believe that Mary birthed Jesus without pain and travail? Christopher says that the woman in Revelations isn't Mary. I have heard that the 12 stars refers to the 12 tribes of Israel. I have heard that the woman is a complete metaphor. There isn't a woman, really. It's just a metaphor.
However, I still don't see how Christopher's rebuttal disproves the Catholic's beliefs on Mary. He argued against the arguments Hahn used, but he didn't convince me that Mary isn't the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, and all the other roles she has within the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, I am still not completely convinced that Mary is all those things and that I can pray to her. For me, I need to KNOW that this isn't a pagan goddess worship throwback. That this isn't some form of idolatry.
It's just like with speaking in tongues. Some churches believe it is downright demonic. Well, I don't want to do anything demonic. Just like I don't want to go to Mary if it would offend God or be against His will.
I will continue to study and continue to pray for TRUTH. That's what I really want.
Ultimately, the other day, I actually fell into a sort of sadness over this. I thought I was getting somewhere and I am back to square one with no clear answers. I did realize that researching Catholicism has built me up in other ways, though and drawn me closer to God.
Some people need an encounter with Christ in order to believe in Him and sometimes God grants them that encounter. I think I need an encounter with Mary in order to believe the Catholic doctrines on her. Otherwise, there's just too much I am unsure of to dive in with both feet.
Pray for me.
That's when I found David Christopher and found myself pretty much back to square one.
Both Hahn and Christopher use Scripture and texts from our early church fathers in their arguments. I think Christopher does a better job linking the Exodus verses with the Wedding at Cana verses better than Hahn does with linking the Creation account to the Wedding at Cana verses. What also bugs me is how can Hahn use the Creation account verses when so many Catholics don't even believe the Creation account is entirely true!?
In Hahn's support, I don't understand how Christopher can say that Mary can't be the New Eve because she was Christ's mother while Eve was Adam's wife. I understand that the church is Christ's bride, but why not Mary as well? Eve was also called "the mother of all living." If we have to have so direct a parallel that wife and mother don't work, then Christ should have been burned on an alter instead of crucified.
The other hole in Hahn's argument is that the woman in Revelations with the crown of 12 stars is Mary. How can that be Mary when the woman is travailing and pained in birthing when the Catholics believe that Mary birthed Jesus without pain and travail? Christopher says that the woman in Revelations isn't Mary. I have heard that the 12 stars refers to the 12 tribes of Israel. I have heard that the woman is a complete metaphor. There isn't a woman, really. It's just a metaphor.
However, I still don't see how Christopher's rebuttal disproves the Catholic's beliefs on Mary. He argued against the arguments Hahn used, but he didn't convince me that Mary isn't the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, and all the other roles she has within the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, I am still not completely convinced that Mary is all those things and that I can pray to her. For me, I need to KNOW that this isn't a pagan goddess worship throwback. That this isn't some form of idolatry.
It's just like with speaking in tongues. Some churches believe it is downright demonic. Well, I don't want to do anything demonic. Just like I don't want to go to Mary if it would offend God or be against His will.
I will continue to study and continue to pray for TRUTH. That's what I really want.
Ultimately, the other day, I actually fell into a sort of sadness over this. I thought I was getting somewhere and I am back to square one with no clear answers. I did realize that researching Catholicism has built me up in other ways, though and drawn me closer to God.
Some people need an encounter with Christ in order to believe in Him and sometimes God grants them that encounter. I think I need an encounter with Mary in order to believe the Catholic doctrines on her. Otherwise, there's just too much I am unsure of to dive in with both feet.
Pray for me.
Friday, March 23, 2018
I Want to Know Mary More
The scary thing about Protestantism in general is that the women of the Bible are downplayed, and many times barely mentioned. Mary, I think, is relegated to the nativity and sort of just a supporting character because Protestants don't want to seem like they are venerating her like the Catholics do. Many times the Christmas story is given a disclaimer about Mary so Protestant congregants know that she ought not to be thought of as more than an obedient, brave, young lady who bore Jesus.
I never thought much about Mary because of this. I was afraid that if I thought too much of her it was too "Catholic-looking" and thus wrong.
At the start of this school year I was in Goodwill and I found a Madonna music box, a little statuette of Mary and infant Jesus that played Ave Maria. I bought it and declared a name for my homeschool. I named it Academy of the Madonna with the tag line "Mother and Son, Learning as One." That's where my thoughts towards Mary began. (I should add that I felt a little guilty buying the music box because I was taught that it is wrong to have any sort of Madonna because it venerates Mary, and that Ave Maria is wrong to sing.)
Over the course of the school year, I heard little bits more about Mary and her role and purpose and veneration in the Catholic Church. I decided that perhaps it isn't at all wrong to consider Mary.
Then, on facebook, I saw the above statue. It really touched me in my spirit. Being a mother of sons who are quickly outgrowing my arms and lap, I felt I could relate to Mary. Suddenly, I realized that we had things in common, Mary and I, as mothers. Mothers who love God, and mothers who love our son(s), and mothers who can only give our sons up to God for His purpose, no matter how hurting it is. I want to know Mary. She is a friend, a kindred spirit.
Did she think of us when she had Jesus? Did she think of us when she watched Him fulfill His sacrificial purpose? Did she think of us when He rose again and later ascended to Heaven? Does she know us now? I suppose the only way to know is to ask.
Protestants don't ask. They believe she is in Heaven, but Heaven is closed off from us. The dead cannot know or access or hear us from Heaven. Or, they believe to pray to her is a sin akin to summoning the dead as witchcraft or necromancy.
How hurtful our Christian division is.
What is the Truth?
I never thought much about Mary because of this. I was afraid that if I thought too much of her it was too "Catholic-looking" and thus wrong.
At the start of this school year I was in Goodwill and I found a Madonna music box, a little statuette of Mary and infant Jesus that played Ave Maria. I bought it and declared a name for my homeschool. I named it Academy of the Madonna with the tag line "Mother and Son, Learning as One." That's where my thoughts towards Mary began. (I should add that I felt a little guilty buying the music box because I was taught that it is wrong to have any sort of Madonna because it venerates Mary, and that Ave Maria is wrong to sing.)
Over the course of the school year, I heard little bits more about Mary and her role and purpose and veneration in the Catholic Church. I decided that perhaps it isn't at all wrong to consider Mary.
Then, on facebook, I saw the above statue. It really touched me in my spirit. Being a mother of sons who are quickly outgrowing my arms and lap, I felt I could relate to Mary. Suddenly, I realized that we had things in common, Mary and I, as mothers. Mothers who love God, and mothers who love our son(s), and mothers who can only give our sons up to God for His purpose, no matter how hurting it is. I want to know Mary. She is a friend, a kindred spirit.
Did she think of us when she had Jesus? Did she think of us when she watched Him fulfill His sacrificial purpose? Did she think of us when He rose again and later ascended to Heaven? Does she know us now? I suppose the only way to know is to ask.
Protestants don't ask. They believe she is in Heaven, but Heaven is closed off from us. The dead cannot know or access or hear us from Heaven. Or, they believe to pray to her is a sin akin to summoning the dead as witchcraft or necromancy.
How hurtful our Christian division is.
What is the Truth?
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Having a Life
In my wanderings through more conservative Protestantism, I developed this fear. The fear was that if I lived my life, if I indulged my curiosity (even within God's boundaries), if I enjoyed myself, I was displeasing to God.
I knew so many people who dedicated their lives to God in ways that excluded everything but Christian music or other medias. They wouldn't read secular books, except for classics. They restricted their children's activities and entertainments, read copious amounts of the Bible everyday, prayed often, did devotionals, served at the church, dressed modestly, avoided expenditures on themselves, didn't really wear makeup or jewelry much....and I'm not even talking about Mennonites or Gothards or holiness people. These are regular, mainstream modern Protestants.
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I felt guilty if I enjoyed secular music. I felt horrible watching secular TV or movies and even stopped 99% of it. I felt rotten if I got into a good book and read 5 chapters of that book, but only a few verses in the Bible that day. I felt like I was turning away from God if I intellectually debated or considered or conversed about non-Biblical or extra-Biblical or questioning-Biblical issues.
My life has been a constant, mind-boggling, fearful debate about whether or not what I am doing or enjoying or desiring is WRONG and God is disappointed in me. It is numbing and anxiety-ridden. I still feel guilty buying myself a Starbucks every once in a while. People are starving in other countries! Why am I indulging in a Starbucks!!
Why am I listening to Queen when I should be listening to KLove?
It has been crippling. Downright crippling!!
There is this idea in some Protestant circles that God put us on this earth for us to be fully devoted to Him. I have been preached at that when we get to Heaven all we will do is bow before Christ and sing His praises and worship Him. And I am a horrible Christian for thinking that doesn't sound very heavenly to me.
Somehow, when I actually sit down and think about it, I don't believe that God wants us to just splay at His feet for all eternity, whether here on earth or in Heaven. He created us with interests, talents, desires, relationships. I believe He put us on this earth to enjoy it in His name! And to enjoy the talents and creativity and company of others....to let our resources flow.
When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them run of the place with just his boundary about the Tree they couldn't eat from. So, I believe God wants us to utilize and enjoy this earth fully, but within His boundaries. He also only came to visit them in the evening. He wasn't with them the whole time, Lording over them and expecting them to grovel and serve Him constantly. Instead, their enjoyment of the garden was a form of worship.
I'm sick of feeling crippled with guilt. I don't think God means for me to live this way, in fear of everything I am doing either being displeasing or not good enough.
I knew so many people who dedicated their lives to God in ways that excluded everything but Christian music or other medias. They wouldn't read secular books, except for classics. They restricted their children's activities and entertainments, read copious amounts of the Bible everyday, prayed often, did devotionals, served at the church, dressed modestly, avoided expenditures on themselves, didn't really wear makeup or jewelry much....and I'm not even talking about Mennonites or Gothards or holiness people. These are regular, mainstream modern Protestants.
d
I felt guilty if I enjoyed secular music. I felt horrible watching secular TV or movies and even stopped 99% of it. I felt rotten if I got into a good book and read 5 chapters of that book, but only a few verses in the Bible that day. I felt like I was turning away from God if I intellectually debated or considered or conversed about non-Biblical or extra-Biblical or questioning-Biblical issues.
My life has been a constant, mind-boggling, fearful debate about whether or not what I am doing or enjoying or desiring is WRONG and God is disappointed in me. It is numbing and anxiety-ridden. I still feel guilty buying myself a Starbucks every once in a while. People are starving in other countries! Why am I indulging in a Starbucks!!
Why am I listening to Queen when I should be listening to KLove?
It has been crippling. Downright crippling!!
There is this idea in some Protestant circles that God put us on this earth for us to be fully devoted to Him. I have been preached at that when we get to Heaven all we will do is bow before Christ and sing His praises and worship Him. And I am a horrible Christian for thinking that doesn't sound very heavenly to me.
Somehow, when I actually sit down and think about it, I don't believe that God wants us to just splay at His feet for all eternity, whether here on earth or in Heaven. He created us with interests, talents, desires, relationships. I believe He put us on this earth to enjoy it in His name! And to enjoy the talents and creativity and company of others....to let our resources flow.
When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them run of the place with just his boundary about the Tree they couldn't eat from. So, I believe God wants us to utilize and enjoy this earth fully, but within His boundaries. He also only came to visit them in the evening. He wasn't with them the whole time, Lording over them and expecting them to grovel and serve Him constantly. Instead, their enjoyment of the garden was a form of worship.
I'm sick of feeling crippled with guilt. I don't think God means for me to live this way, in fear of everything I am doing either being displeasing or not good enough.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Vending Machine God
Kind of spring-boarding off of yesterday's post, I was thinking about how Protestants accuse the Catholic Church of treating God like a vending machine. Insert rote prayers, out comes an answer. Some even say that praying to Mary is just manipulating Jesus because Jesus has to obey his mother. Vending machine God....insert Hail Mary, out comes answered prayer.
Catholics will tell you it doesn't work this way.
And I, as currently a Protestant, will tell you the Protestant church is just as guilty as they accuse Catholics to be of treating God like a vending machine.
Instead, when I listen to Catholic radio programs, one thing I hear and learn about is God's sovereignty and God's will. "Thy will be done..."
Protestantism very much has the idea that if you pray the right prayer, if you tithe the right way, if you come to the alter every Sunday, if you come to church every time the doors are open, if you heed this ministry calling, if you do unto the Lord, He will bless you (with ease of life). If things are going wrong in your life that must mean you have some hidden sin. Or, "it's not about works, but you're doing it wrong."
Every Protestant denomination believes their ways are the right ways and the way that is most pleasing to God. Insert cloistered homeschooling, output children who never rebel against the faith. Insert being a more submissive and prayerful, respectful wife, output a husband who doesn't feel the need to beat on you.
Now, there are Catholics who are very works-based in a sort of superstitious way. The whole purpose of the motions of the Catholic Church isn't to just go through the motions for blessings and salvation. The whole purpose of the motions of the Catholic Church is to do so with a heart of faithfulness. It isn't insert Mass, output salvation and forgiven sins. The HEART of the person participating in the Catholic faith is what matters.
The repetition and rote of the Catholic church is highly criticized by Protestants for being without heart and purpose, but it is intended for hearts and purpose. Just as the practices of Judaism had far deeper meaning, but lazy human behavior changed it into superstitious legalism, the same can happen in any church. But, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Having a "change it up" church to avoid repetition can be just as problematic to human nature as repetition. The repetition is supposed to solidify and create unity within the church. They aren't empty gestures. There is great purpose and meaning behind them, order, discipline, reverence. Not chaos and confusion.
And it isn't at all about inserting 10 Hail Marys and 5 Rosaries and output forgiveness, salvation, and favor.
Catholics will tell you it doesn't work this way.
And I, as currently a Protestant, will tell you the Protestant church is just as guilty as they accuse Catholics to be of treating God like a vending machine.
Instead, when I listen to Catholic radio programs, one thing I hear and learn about is God's sovereignty and God's will. "Thy will be done..."
Protestantism very much has the idea that if you pray the right prayer, if you tithe the right way, if you come to the alter every Sunday, if you come to church every time the doors are open, if you heed this ministry calling, if you do unto the Lord, He will bless you (with ease of life). If things are going wrong in your life that must mean you have some hidden sin. Or, "it's not about works, but you're doing it wrong."
Every Protestant denomination believes their ways are the right ways and the way that is most pleasing to God. Insert cloistered homeschooling, output children who never rebel against the faith. Insert being a more submissive and prayerful, respectful wife, output a husband who doesn't feel the need to beat on you.
Now, there are Catholics who are very works-based in a sort of superstitious way. The whole purpose of the motions of the Catholic Church isn't to just go through the motions for blessings and salvation. The whole purpose of the motions of the Catholic Church is to do so with a heart of faithfulness. It isn't insert Mass, output salvation and forgiven sins. The HEART of the person participating in the Catholic faith is what matters.
The repetition and rote of the Catholic church is highly criticized by Protestants for being without heart and purpose, but it is intended for hearts and purpose. Just as the practices of Judaism had far deeper meaning, but lazy human behavior changed it into superstitious legalism, the same can happen in any church. But, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Having a "change it up" church to avoid repetition can be just as problematic to human nature as repetition. The repetition is supposed to solidify and create unity within the church. They aren't empty gestures. There is great purpose and meaning behind them, order, discipline, reverence. Not chaos and confusion.
And it isn't at all about inserting 10 Hail Marys and 5 Rosaries and output forgiveness, salvation, and favor.
Monday, March 19, 2018
My First Prayer of Intercession to a Saint
I share this with a bit of trepidation because while in my real life I have told very very few people about this blog, I wonder who of my Protestant brothers and sisters have found it. And I know how much Protestants are against "praying to Saints." It is considered anything from demonic necromancy to just praying into thin air.
Today is the Feast of St. Joseph, Christ's earthly father. He is the Patron Saint of Husbands and Fathers. Hearing that, I felt strongly the desire to pray for my husband and my father and the fathers in our lives. I figured this would be as good a time as any to "pray to a Saint."
I actually prayed to God in Jesus' name. I prayed that I intend no disrespect and I prayed for the intercession of St. Joseph for my husband, my father, and my father-in-laws (I have two). So, I sorta technically prayed to God and not directly to Joseph. I felt nervous as I did it, but I did not feel wrong.
Overall, I do NOT believe that Catholics asking Saints to intercede is NOT a sin and NOT necromancy and not idolatry. They aren't doing it against God. They are doing it as part of their service to God. So, at worst, they are simply praying into thin air.
Today is the Feast of St. Joseph, Christ's earthly father. He is the Patron Saint of Husbands and Fathers. Hearing that, I felt strongly the desire to pray for my husband and my father and the fathers in our lives. I figured this would be as good a time as any to "pray to a Saint."
I actually prayed to God in Jesus' name. I prayed that I intend no disrespect and I prayed for the intercession of St. Joseph for my husband, my father, and my father-in-laws (I have two). So, I sorta technically prayed to God and not directly to Joseph. I felt nervous as I did it, but I did not feel wrong.
Overall, I do NOT believe that Catholics asking Saints to intercede is NOT a sin and NOT necromancy and not idolatry. They aren't doing it against God. They are doing it as part of their service to God. So, at worst, they are simply praying into thin air.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Faith, Works, and Legalism
It's funny how Protestants accuse the Catholic Church of being works-based. Most Protestant denominations believe in faith-only salvation. We are saved by grace through faith alone. Works can't get us into heaven. You can't be "good enough" to get to Heaven. In my Baptist church, my pastor loves to quote, "our righteousness is like filthy rags compared to Christ's." He's right, but I have seen where it leads to problems within the Protestant church, and the very thing they accuse Catholics of is the very thing they have a problem with, themselves.
LEGALISM.
Legalism is HUGE in the Protestant church as a whole. Legalism is the idea that we gain salvation or favor with God through behaving ourselves as we believe He would like us to. Oddly enough, Protestants point fingers at the Catholic Church for this very thing because Catholics believe that works and faith are conjoined twins.
I tend to agree with them, although I do believe that someone can repent on their death bed, never having done works in the name of the Lord, and still go to eternity with Him.
Now, in my AG church, my pastor used to quote the faith formula:
Faith=Knowledge+Belief+Action. Faith is a trinity. We know there's a God, we believe in His son, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit convicts us into action...doing what is right and the perfect Will of God.
So, how is that any different from the Catholic Church?
LEGALISM.
Legalism is HUGE in the Protestant church as a whole. Legalism is the idea that we gain salvation or favor with God through behaving ourselves as we believe He would like us to. Oddly enough, Protestants point fingers at the Catholic Church for this very thing because Catholics believe that works and faith are conjoined twins.
I tend to agree with them, although I do believe that someone can repent on their death bed, never having done works in the name of the Lord, and still go to eternity with Him.
Now, in my AG church, my pastor used to quote the faith formula:
Faith=Knowledge+Belief+Action. Faith is a trinity. We know there's a God, we believe in His son, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit convicts us into action...doing what is right and the perfect Will of God.
So, how is that any different from the Catholic Church?
Saturday, March 17, 2018
The Veneration of Mary
I have a million unsorted thoughts about Mary and the Catholic Church vs the Protestant Church. I'll probably be blogging about those thoughts later. For now I am just talking about the veneration of Mary as I heard on a program on 129 SiriusXM. I am sorry to say I don't remember on whose program I heard it.
In the program, the guest was speaking about how God gave us a male-figure, a father-figure in Christ Jesus, and, indeed, God Himself as God the Father. But what about the female-figure, the mother-figure for women, and for all, really? Motherhood is of great value and importance in our lives.
I have heard some Protestants say the Holy Spirit is sort of the female role. Others don't believe in gendering God. Others just don't think about that sort of theology. Catholicism believes in Mary as that Mother-figure. Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, but not quite a deity. To be venerated, not worshipped. She can't answer prayers, but she can take your prayers to Jesus. Kind of like when my kids ask me for something big and I tell them I have to talk with daddy about that. It would be wrong of me to grant it to them without discussing it with hubby. He has final say, but I have great influence in that say because hubby loves and respects me and listens.
While, as of right now, I am not fully convinced of the Marian Theology of the Catholic Church, I do greatly appreciate the magnificent offering of female role models through Mary and the lady saints, through the sisterhood, nuns. In Protestantism, women don't really have anyone other than the fictional Proverbs 31 ideal, and the Titus 2 charge. I don't hate on either of those, but there isn't much femininity to look up to within the day-to-day Protestant faith.
In the program, the guest was speaking about how God gave us a male-figure, a father-figure in Christ Jesus, and, indeed, God Himself as God the Father. But what about the female-figure, the mother-figure for women, and for all, really? Motherhood is of great value and importance in our lives.
I have heard some Protestants say the Holy Spirit is sort of the female role. Others don't believe in gendering God. Others just don't think about that sort of theology. Catholicism believes in Mary as that Mother-figure. Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, but not quite a deity. To be venerated, not worshipped. She can't answer prayers, but she can take your prayers to Jesus. Kind of like when my kids ask me for something big and I tell them I have to talk with daddy about that. It would be wrong of me to grant it to them without discussing it with hubby. He has final say, but I have great influence in that say because hubby loves and respects me and listens.
While, as of right now, I am not fully convinced of the Marian Theology of the Catholic Church, I do greatly appreciate the magnificent offering of female role models through Mary and the lady saints, through the sisterhood, nuns. In Protestantism, women don't really have anyone other than the fictional Proverbs 31 ideal, and the Titus 2 charge. I don't hate on either of those, but there isn't much femininity to look up to within the day-to-day Protestant faith.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Why Women Cannot Be Priests
One of the arguments against the Catholic Church is that women cannot be Priests. Many Protestant denominations believe this, too. Some denominations allows female pastors, but individuals churches within that denomination do not. In Protestantism, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is often quoted.
I recently learned that in Catholicism it goes deeper than that. In fact, Catholicism encourages women to be heavily involved in the ministry. They just can't be Priests or Popes or Bishops or Cardinals, etc. Why? A main reason is Persona Christi. Christ utilized a male body here upon earth, and when He apparently manifests Himself during confession or Holy Mass, He must utilize a male person...the Priest.
Now, there are probably other reasons, too. For example, the Last Supper where He established His church teachers and preachers was with all men. He gave the Keys to Peter, a man.
I, personally, even as a Protestant, am not comfortable with female priests or pastors. I have always held the belief that God intended only men to fulfill that role. However, I believe there are a myriad of ways women can uniquely serve in the faith. I feel no loss over a lack of women priests or pastors.
Jennifer Fulweiler (channel 129 SiriusXM) was discussing this on her program the other day. She said that she was able to wrap her feminist mind around male-only priests when she thought of the church as a family and not a corporation. Dad cannot be Mom and Mom cannot be Dad. I, as Mom of the house, fulfill a unique role only I can fulfill and I waste no time wishing I was Dad (ok, maybe I do when he is asleep by 8 pm and I'm still hustling with my tasks at 9pm). But, would I give up my motherhood to be a dad? Would I remove my kids' father so I can be a father? Would hubby oust me so he could be a mommy? No! That's ridiculous!
Our roles are both unique and important. Many would argue that my role is even more important than his! Whether or not that's true, I don't know, I don't dwell on it, but we can all agree that mom is pretty darn special! I wouldn't give up motherhood for manhood, no matter how much the equality bells ring.
I recently learned that in Catholicism it goes deeper than that. In fact, Catholicism encourages women to be heavily involved in the ministry. They just can't be Priests or Popes or Bishops or Cardinals, etc. Why? A main reason is Persona Christi. Christ utilized a male body here upon earth, and when He apparently manifests Himself during confession or Holy Mass, He must utilize a male person...the Priest.
Now, there are probably other reasons, too. For example, the Last Supper where He established His church teachers and preachers was with all men. He gave the Keys to Peter, a man.
I, personally, even as a Protestant, am not comfortable with female priests or pastors. I have always held the belief that God intended only men to fulfill that role. However, I believe there are a myriad of ways women can uniquely serve in the faith. I feel no loss over a lack of women priests or pastors.
Jennifer Fulweiler (channel 129 SiriusXM) was discussing this on her program the other day. She said that she was able to wrap her feminist mind around male-only priests when she thought of the church as a family and not a corporation. Dad cannot be Mom and Mom cannot be Dad. I, as Mom of the house, fulfill a unique role only I can fulfill and I waste no time wishing I was Dad (ok, maybe I do when he is asleep by 8 pm and I'm still hustling with my tasks at 9pm). But, would I give up my motherhood to be a dad? Would I remove my kids' father so I can be a father? Would hubby oust me so he could be a mommy? No! That's ridiculous!
Our roles are both unique and important. Many would argue that my role is even more important than his! Whether or not that's true, I don't know, I don't dwell on it, but we can all agree that mom is pretty darn special! I wouldn't give up motherhood for manhood, no matter how much the equality bells ring.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Intentional Church
I was listening to Gus Lloyd last week discuss the setting of intentions for Mass. Also, the Rosary is often prayed with intentions. This intrigued me because as a Protestant, I just go to church for myself and God, really. I don't think about dedicating my time of worship for specific purposes. Sure, we as a church pray for others in need, but the only intention in worship is to worship God.
In the AG church I attended, prayer was pretty much the intention. We did a LOT of praying in that church. In the Baptist church I attend, prayer is minimal in comparison. There is almost no corporate prayer, no alter calls, very few times of silent prayer, personal prayer. Tongues are not allowed (as the Baptist church erroneously preaches that it is just gibberish and not of the Holy Spirit).
So, I love that the Catholic Church, even though the prayers are pretty much laid out for you, allows you to pray them with intention for someone or something during the Mass.
This has encouraged me to go to church with an intention. Instead of just going through the motions of attending and only agreeing in prayer with whatever the pastor has laid out, I am intending to attend with intention from now on.
In the AG church I attended, prayer was pretty much the intention. We did a LOT of praying in that church. In the Baptist church I attend, prayer is minimal in comparison. There is almost no corporate prayer, no alter calls, very few times of silent prayer, personal prayer. Tongues are not allowed (as the Baptist church erroneously preaches that it is just gibberish and not of the Holy Spirit).
So, I love that the Catholic Church, even though the prayers are pretty much laid out for you, allows you to pray them with intention for someone or something during the Mass.
This has encouraged me to go to church with an intention. Instead of just going through the motions of attending and only agreeing in prayer with whatever the pastor has laid out, I am intending to attend with intention from now on.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Understanding the Mass
I honestly didn't think I would be interested in studying and understanding the Mass this soon into my seeking. But, the more I listen to Catholic radio, the more I hear the apologetics, the more I read the Catechism, the more I pray, the more I blog about all my wandering thoughts about all of this, the more I want to understand what the Mass is, what it isn't, and what it entails, and why.
I was told that the Mass is wrong because it is about "crucifying Christ over and over again." I also heard that the Mass is a time-machine of sorts, spiritually transporting the participants back to the Last Supper to partake with Christ as if the participants were really there.
Ummmm.....yeah.......not really buying that last one. I can accept the Eucharist, I can accept the reason and purpose for the Mass, but I don't buy the whole transporting back in time and place thing.
I was told that the Mass is wrong because it is about "crucifying Christ over and over again." I also heard that the Mass is a time-machine of sorts, spiritually transporting the participants back to the Last Supper to partake with Christ as if the participants were really there.
Ummmm.....yeah.......not really buying that last one. I can accept the Eucharist, I can accept the reason and purpose for the Mass, but I don't buy the whole transporting back in time and place thing.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Deeper Meanings and Intentions
When I was younger I was intrigued by the idea of Lent. We didn't practice it in the Assemblies of God church, nor is it practiced in my current Baptist church. I remember seeing the Catholic kids in drama club coming into rehearsal with ashes on their foreheads, and I remember people sort of jokingly saying they were giving up chocolate for Lent, or perhaps something they don't really do or use, anyway.
As a young adult, I think I tried Lent once or twice, giving up one stupid little thing and failing within a week and just giving it up all together. I'm not sure why. I think I just liked the aesthetic of following a tradition, similar to New Year's Resolutions. There was no deeper meaning, intention, or understanding behind it.
This year has been different. I really wanted to truly participate in Lent. I wanted the self-discipline to draw closer to God and pull away from self. I still knew very little when I started, but my heart was in a different place. I haven't held fast to my myriad of Lenten decisions, but I have grown in understanding and I have thought eagerly about next year's Lent and what I would like to do.
I'm still learning about what Lent truly is, but it is so much more than a "work."
The liturgical calendar is so fascinating to me, now. Especially since I realized that the Jewish people of old followed a liturgical calendar (and many still do) of their own. The Catholic liturgical calendar and practices mirrors that of Judaism.
As a young adult, I think I tried Lent once or twice, giving up one stupid little thing and failing within a week and just giving it up all together. I'm not sure why. I think I just liked the aesthetic of following a tradition, similar to New Year's Resolutions. There was no deeper meaning, intention, or understanding behind it.
This year has been different. I really wanted to truly participate in Lent. I wanted the self-discipline to draw closer to God and pull away from self. I still knew very little when I started, but my heart was in a different place. I haven't held fast to my myriad of Lenten decisions, but I have grown in understanding and I have thought eagerly about next year's Lent and what I would like to do.
I'm still learning about what Lent truly is, but it is so much more than a "work."
The liturgical calendar is so fascinating to me, now. Especially since I realized that the Jewish people of old followed a liturgical calendar (and many still do) of their own. The Catholic liturgical calendar and practices mirrors that of Judaism.
Monday, March 12, 2018
Early Church History
Lizzie (of Lizziesanswers) spoke on the Gus Lloyd show, Seize the Day on SiriusXM on March 8, 2018 about her conversion to Catholicism. In the interview she spoke about how she never learned about the history of the early church in Protestantism. I really relate to that because I never learned.
This part of my seeking is a bit blurry, but at some point last year when I was confused and seeking Truth, I got into a big theological discussion with a friend of mine who simply calls himself a Christian, but is really a mixed bag and quite intellectual and well-studied. He explained some of the church history that he learned and lent me a book on the matter from an economic standpoint. That was really a spring-board for me in that I realized how I ultimately knew nothing about the early church.
I remember imploring him, "I want to know what the early church was like after the Bible and before the Middle Ages!" We call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages, but for church history, it seems the Dark Ages was that time after the time of the books of the Bible. What was the early church like? How did they worship? What did they believe? How was it set up?
If you ask a Catholic, they point to the earliest historical texts possible that explains their origins and link them with Bible verses.
If you ask a Protestant, you get a blank stare, or something along the lines of the church being unorganized house churches or city churches...fringe groups...while Catholicism got corrupted by Paganism until the Reformation sorted it all out.
I feel like I do when I have to confront my kids about a something and I get two different stories. "Someone is lying to me!" I demand. "I want the truth!"
The only difference I am seeing is that Protestants tend to get rabid and angry in their side of the debate. Catholics seem to hold firm and calmly. To me, that speaks volumes. Truth doesn't need to be violently defended. It defends itself.
In early Church history it is: Catholics 1 Protestants 0
This part of my seeking is a bit blurry, but at some point last year when I was confused and seeking Truth, I got into a big theological discussion with a friend of mine who simply calls himself a Christian, but is really a mixed bag and quite intellectual and well-studied. He explained some of the church history that he learned and lent me a book on the matter from an economic standpoint. That was really a spring-board for me in that I realized how I ultimately knew nothing about the early church.
I remember imploring him, "I want to know what the early church was like after the Bible and before the Middle Ages!" We call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages, but for church history, it seems the Dark Ages was that time after the time of the books of the Bible. What was the early church like? How did they worship? What did they believe? How was it set up?
If you ask a Catholic, they point to the earliest historical texts possible that explains their origins and link them with Bible verses.
If you ask a Protestant, you get a blank stare, or something along the lines of the church being unorganized house churches or city churches...fringe groups...while Catholicism got corrupted by Paganism until the Reformation sorted it all out.
I feel like I do when I have to confront my kids about a something and I get two different stories. "Someone is lying to me!" I demand. "I want the truth!"
The only difference I am seeing is that Protestants tend to get rabid and angry in their side of the debate. Catholics seem to hold firm and calmly. To me, that speaks volumes. Truth doesn't need to be violently defended. It defends itself.
In early Church history it is: Catholics 1 Protestants 0
"Who said anything about safe?"
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
C.S.Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Yesterday's sermon was phenomenal, and I am not one to ascribe such an attribute to sermons because I tend to intellectually shred them, or I feel I've learned or experienced nothing too new.
When I left the AG church and started attending the Baptist church, I found the sermons to be a balm, a healing. I'm not saying that what I was preached in the AG church was unbiblical or bad, but somewhere along the way I wasn't getting answers, I was getting confusion. I wasn't understanding, I was misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I started feeling that way about the Baptist church, recently. In modern Protestant churches, it is popular to present God as the friendly, neighborhood daddy figure. Baptists love grace, and faith-only salvation doctrine. I wasn't feeling like I was getting to know God. I was feeling like I was getting to know a denominational doctrinal portrayal of a pretty God.
In Protestant denominations God is portrayed as hippie God, or grace-everywhere God, or understanding God who knows we're just stupid humans and let's us have passes so long as we say, "I believe in God." There's the prosperity God, the God who only wants us happy and only wants to give us good things like a grandpa who loves spoiling the grandkids. And then, these Protestants point at Catholics and accuse them of keeping God at a feared and reverent distance...a God who judges. A God who disciplines. A God who does what He will. A God who expects obedience and repentance and penance.
When I left the AG church and started attending the Baptist church, I found the sermons to be a balm, a healing. I'm not saying that what I was preached in the AG church was unbiblical or bad, but somewhere along the way I wasn't getting answers, I was getting confusion. I wasn't understanding, I was misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I started feeling that way about the Baptist church, recently. In modern Protestant churches, it is popular to present God as the friendly, neighborhood daddy figure. Baptists love grace, and faith-only salvation doctrine. I wasn't feeling like I was getting to know God. I was feeling like I was getting to know a denominational doctrinal portrayal of a pretty God.
In Protestant denominations God is portrayed as hippie God, or grace-everywhere God, or understanding God who knows we're just stupid humans and let's us have passes so long as we say, "I believe in God." There's the prosperity God, the God who only wants us happy and only wants to give us good things like a grandpa who loves spoiling the grandkids. And then, these Protestants point at Catholics and accuse them of keeping God at a feared and reverent distance...a God who judges. A God who disciplines. A God who does what He will. A God who expects obedience and repentance and penance.
I read the Old Testament! I don't see the modern Protestant God there. I see a God closer to the Catholic God.
We have been learning about the fear of God and the sermon yesterday explained the Godhead very well.
God is beyond our human understanding.
He is infinitely more dangerous than He is safe.
He is who He is.
He is beyond safe and beyond good.
Our responsibility to such as God is worship (service, works), reverence, and awe. Boy, that sounds Catholic to me!
I loved this sermon because it really helped me understand my relationship with God better. My responsibility before Him. I think we Protestants too often get into this gliding relationship with God. We over-emphasize His grace, but forget His everything else!
And this is why I am on this quest! I want to know what God expects of me! I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to be flippant, worldly, gliding on grace....
God IS and WILL BE. He will do what He will do.
We Protestants paint this picture of this God who can be hugged. The Bible paints this picture of our God being so much more than we can handle that Moses could only see His back for a moment and it nearly consumed him!
Our God isn't just a cloud-beard grandpa. He's a consuming fire! He's ALL! Beyond our comprehension and understanding.
The Catholics look to Christ and Mary and the Saints because they cannot look upon God. None of us can. He doesn't owe us!
How selfish I have been. How demanding, how expectant....How I have erroneously seen Him.
**Just as a side note, I am not bashing Protestantism in favor of praising Catholicism. I'm not convinced either are right. But sermons like yesterday's go beyond denomination into Pure Truth, which is what I seek.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Lizzie's Conversion
It is big news in the American Catholic world that popular Protestant YouTube vlogger, Lizziesanswers has converted to Catholicism. I learned about Lizzie through Gus Lloyd's SiriusXM program on 129 and immediately found and subscribed to her YouTube page to hear her story. Not only did I get her conversion story, but I also got an earful of Catholic apologetics....stuff I have never heard before!
A lot of Lizzie's story resonated with me. Her thought processes throughout her studies were similar to mine now. A big difference is that Lizzie was fighting against becoming Catholic, but can't ignore what she has learned and decided it is Truth. I WANT Catholicism to be the Truth, but my research isn't bringing me to that conclusion.
So, I swing back to one of my square one questions: How can two people research the same history and dogma and come to different conclusions?
Lizzie is very intellectual and has studied a LOT more theology than I ever have, so I do not put us on equal footing. But, I am not slouch, either.
My current four hang-ups right now are:
1. The reason Gus Lloyd stated for infant baptism and the baptism dogma of the catechism is that verse Jesus says about being born of water and the Spirit. The water, he says, is about the baptism by water. However, the entire context of that passage of scripture is talking about and setting up birth by natural ways and rebirth through accepting Christ! The birth by water refers to the natural birth and the amniotic fluid. NOT baptismal water.
2. The whole "time-travel" belief of the Holy Mass. When Lizzie spoke of this in one of her videos, I just about fell off my chair. I got over my Eucharist doubt, but this whole woosh back into time to the Last Supper is just beyond my ability to understand.
3. Persona Christi.....I understand the teachings of the Pope being the succession of the line of second in command that Christ gave to Peter, but this whole "priest becomes Christ" idea is beyond me. As a Protestant, we believe that Christ is there in spirit, anyway. We don't need Him to possess priests or utilize priestly bodies to interact with us. I'd like some clarification on this.
4. Good Friday to Easter Sunday. My pastor did an excellent job last year of explaining the Jewish holy days and how, if you use the Jewish calendar, they coincide with Christ's Passion....all the events of it. Therefore, Christ didn't die on a Friday. I wish I could better explain this. Perhaps I can find his podcast and share this. Ultimately, Christ is timeless and the whole Good Friday to Easter Sunday thing isn't a big deal. It's not like we celebrate Christmas on Jesus' actual birthday, sort of thing. However, if the Catholic Church is what they claim to be, the original church with the original dogma and Truth, THEN wouldn't they have the dates right?
Again, Lizzie researched Catholicism to refute it and found Truth in it.
I'm researching Catholicism because I want it to be Truth and I am not finding Truth entirely there.
My brother says that we all, every denomination, has something wrong. We'll get to Heaven and God'll say, "you all messed it up." I believe that, but I also dislike it. I want to know the Truth. I want to follow the Truth. I don't want to muddle through the best I can with someone else's opinions and interpretations.
I'm not canceling my research on The Church. I have so very much more the learn.
A lot of Lizzie's story resonated with me. Her thought processes throughout her studies were similar to mine now. A big difference is that Lizzie was fighting against becoming Catholic, but can't ignore what she has learned and decided it is Truth. I WANT Catholicism to be the Truth, but my research isn't bringing me to that conclusion.
So, I swing back to one of my square one questions: How can two people research the same history and dogma and come to different conclusions?
Lizzie is very intellectual and has studied a LOT more theology than I ever have, so I do not put us on equal footing. But, I am not slouch, either.
My current four hang-ups right now are:
1. The reason Gus Lloyd stated for infant baptism and the baptism dogma of the catechism is that verse Jesus says about being born of water and the Spirit. The water, he says, is about the baptism by water. However, the entire context of that passage of scripture is talking about and setting up birth by natural ways and rebirth through accepting Christ! The birth by water refers to the natural birth and the amniotic fluid. NOT baptismal water.
2. The whole "time-travel" belief of the Holy Mass. When Lizzie spoke of this in one of her videos, I just about fell off my chair. I got over my Eucharist doubt, but this whole woosh back into time to the Last Supper is just beyond my ability to understand.
3. Persona Christi.....I understand the teachings of the Pope being the succession of the line of second in command that Christ gave to Peter, but this whole "priest becomes Christ" idea is beyond me. As a Protestant, we believe that Christ is there in spirit, anyway. We don't need Him to possess priests or utilize priestly bodies to interact with us. I'd like some clarification on this.
4. Good Friday to Easter Sunday. My pastor did an excellent job last year of explaining the Jewish holy days and how, if you use the Jewish calendar, they coincide with Christ's Passion....all the events of it. Therefore, Christ didn't die on a Friday. I wish I could better explain this. Perhaps I can find his podcast and share this. Ultimately, Christ is timeless and the whole Good Friday to Easter Sunday thing isn't a big deal. It's not like we celebrate Christmas on Jesus' actual birthday, sort of thing. However, if the Catholic Church is what they claim to be, the original church with the original dogma and Truth, THEN wouldn't they have the dates right?
Again, Lizzie researched Catholicism to refute it and found Truth in it.
I'm researching Catholicism because I want it to be Truth and I am not finding Truth entirely there.
My brother says that we all, every denomination, has something wrong. We'll get to Heaven and God'll say, "you all messed it up." I believe that, but I also dislike it. I want to know the Truth. I want to follow the Truth. I don't want to muddle through the best I can with someone else's opinions and interpretations.
I'm not canceling my research on The Church. I have so very much more the learn.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Wrong
Frankly, I think every single denomination has it wrong and no one denomination has it perfectly right.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Mass Confusion
When I became confused about my Christian faith, I decided the best thing to do was to go back to square one. I wanted to know what the early church looked like, how they worshipped, what they did when Christ left it in the hands of His apostles.
The problem is, once Revelation ends there isn't much telling us about the first Christians attending established churches.
I grew up learning that Catholicism and Orthodoxy aren't right. They were some early medieval bastardization based on economy and control and government than God.
I also learned that their Mass was wrong.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that the Catholic and Orthodox churches trace their history back so far and so close to the end of the Bible.
I looked into other very early church denominations and I learned that pretty much all of them follow the same practices of Mass, Mary as the Mother of God, the intercession of Saints, the Eucharist....
Churches such as the one the Ethiopian Eunuch who spoke with Christ, Himself apparently started is quite similar.
So, that makes me confused. If the Roman Catholic church practices and dogma are so wrong, then why do pretty much all the earliest of church denominations practice and believe pretty much the same thing? That can't be ignored.
Protestants believe that since the veil was torn and Christ established his New Covenant, all this ritual and "legalism" isn't needed.
The Mass and rituals of the Catholic and Orthodox churches mirror that of Judaism of old, though! If God established Judaism with its ornate tabernacles, specific rules and rituals, it's calendar (liturgy), it's priests (rabbis), etc, then why is it so far-fetched to think He wouldn't have established similar with the New Covenant?
The problem is, once Revelation ends there isn't much telling us about the first Christians attending established churches.
I grew up learning that Catholicism and Orthodoxy aren't right. They were some early medieval bastardization based on economy and control and government than God.
I also learned that their Mass was wrong.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that the Catholic and Orthodox churches trace their history back so far and so close to the end of the Bible.
I looked into other very early church denominations and I learned that pretty much all of them follow the same practices of Mass, Mary as the Mother of God, the intercession of Saints, the Eucharist....
Churches such as the one the Ethiopian Eunuch who spoke with Christ, Himself apparently started is quite similar.
So, that makes me confused. If the Roman Catholic church practices and dogma are so wrong, then why do pretty much all the earliest of church denominations practice and believe pretty much the same thing? That can't be ignored.
Protestants believe that since the veil was torn and Christ established his New Covenant, all this ritual and "legalism" isn't needed.
The Mass and rituals of the Catholic and Orthodox churches mirror that of Judaism of old, though! If God established Judaism with its ornate tabernacles, specific rules and rituals, it's calendar (liturgy), it's priests (rabbis), etc, then why is it so far-fetched to think He wouldn't have established similar with the New Covenant?
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Mass Exodus
My parents left the Roman Catholic faith when I was 4 and switched to an Assemblies of God church, where I grew up. Deep down, I often wished we never left, though I think it was good that we at least left that parish.
Many Catholics left the Catholic faith in the 80's and 90's. Charismatic Evangelicalism was the fastest growing faith at the time. This emotionally-charged, Gospel preaching, soul-saving, tongues-speaking revival gripped everyone. Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, The Gaithers. It was quenching the thirst of parched Catholics.
It seems Catholicism in post-war America had become ritualistic and automatic. It lost the Gospel and worshipful aspect in favor of tomes and motions. Many were Catholics simply because. They didn't know what they truly believed. They weren't taught the meaning, the worship, the wonder and glory of the Gospel!
Upon questioning the ex-Catholics who participated in the Mass Exodus I have discovered that they all pretty much say the same rhetoric about the Catholic church that was taught to them by the evangelicals they placed themselves under. Yet, when I use that rhetoric to discuss differences with my 21st century Catholics, I get completely different answers. Answers with deep meaning and Biblical references....answers completely different from the rhetoric.
For example, I was taught that they worship Saints.
No, they pray to Saints to ask for intercession, much like we evangelicals ask each other to pray for us.
I was taught that they don't believe in salvation through faith alone.
Yes, they do, but they believe that faith isn't just believing, but involves actions (works) to back it up. Acting in love without the love isn't acting in love at all.
The Mass Exodus of the Catholic church in my area has had serious consequences. The beautiful, established Catholic churches have diminished and been sold off, or stand empty and crumbling. Non-Christian faiths are moving into the buildings. Christ is removed and Buddha has taken his place. Transient non-denoms, and arguing church splits, and pastor-loyalists with relatively small and fluctuating, non-committing congregants dot the area.
Tradition is gone. Now, it is whatever floats your boat. Find your own truth.
Many Catholics left the Catholic faith in the 80's and 90's. Charismatic Evangelicalism was the fastest growing faith at the time. This emotionally-charged, Gospel preaching, soul-saving, tongues-speaking revival gripped everyone. Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, The Gaithers. It was quenching the thirst of parched Catholics.
It seems Catholicism in post-war America had become ritualistic and automatic. It lost the Gospel and worshipful aspect in favor of tomes and motions. Many were Catholics simply because. They didn't know what they truly believed. They weren't taught the meaning, the worship, the wonder and glory of the Gospel!
Upon questioning the ex-Catholics who participated in the Mass Exodus I have discovered that they all pretty much say the same rhetoric about the Catholic church that was taught to them by the evangelicals they placed themselves under. Yet, when I use that rhetoric to discuss differences with my 21st century Catholics, I get completely different answers. Answers with deep meaning and Biblical references....answers completely different from the rhetoric.
For example, I was taught that they worship Saints.
No, they pray to Saints to ask for intercession, much like we evangelicals ask each other to pray for us.
I was taught that they don't believe in salvation through faith alone.
Yes, they do, but they believe that faith isn't just believing, but involves actions (works) to back it up. Acting in love without the love isn't acting in love at all.
The Mass Exodus of the Catholic church in my area has had serious consequences. The beautiful, established Catholic churches have diminished and been sold off, or stand empty and crumbling. Non-Christian faiths are moving into the buildings. Christ is removed and Buddha has taken his place. Transient non-denoms, and arguing church splits, and pastor-loyalists with relatively small and fluctuating, non-committing congregants dot the area.
Tradition is gone. Now, it is whatever floats your boat. Find your own truth.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Find your own Truth
Understanding where others are coming from fascinates me. I may not agree with them at all, but knowing the origins of their thoughts is something I thirst for.
This brought me to a suggested youtuber that showed up in my newsfeed. This youtuber is a transgender woman who posts positivity and self-acceptance pep-talks. She often uses the phrase "your own truth." Apparently, we are free to create and establish our own truths and no one should challenge them. We are that fluid and free that laws of nature and science, laws of God, and to some extent laws of governments and society don't have to apply to us anymore.
Now, many Christians argue against that. There are boundaries in science and with God and within society and government, and they are there for good reason. We have to have a moral standard, benchmarks and boundaries to avoid chaos, confusion, and the breakdown of society into humanism and self-god establishment.
BUT (big but), I am seeing this very "your own truth" trend happening among protestants, particularly modern evangelicals. They sometimes quote a portion of Philippians 2:12 "work out your own salvation," and they use it to dismiss the very real problem of so many denominations and arguments. Their response to people who question the confusion caused by so many doctrinal differences among us is that everyone is different and we just need to work out our own salvation. Basically, no one is wrong, find your own truth, whatever works for you and your personality and go with it as your brand of Christianity.
All that does, at least in my eyes, is mirror the worldview that we can all just live our own truths.
I just can't wrap my head around it! Either Christ established TRUTH or He didn't. Truth that we must follow if we call ourselves Christians. He has laws and rules and facts. He isn't so fluid as to allow whatever, so long as it is done in sincerity.
I do believe He has a LOT of grace towards us because we are products of generation after generation of the mass confusion of doctrinal differences and the establishment of over 30,000 denominations!
Likely, Christ knew we'd do this to ourselves. It just kills me that we are not a church of one accord, that there are so many differences, and that because of it I DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH!
I don't want to live out my own truth. I want to live out His Truth.
This brought me to a suggested youtuber that showed up in my newsfeed. This youtuber is a transgender woman who posts positivity and self-acceptance pep-talks. She often uses the phrase "your own truth." Apparently, we are free to create and establish our own truths and no one should challenge them. We are that fluid and free that laws of nature and science, laws of God, and to some extent laws of governments and society don't have to apply to us anymore.
Now, many Christians argue against that. There are boundaries in science and with God and within society and government, and they are there for good reason. We have to have a moral standard, benchmarks and boundaries to avoid chaos, confusion, and the breakdown of society into humanism and self-god establishment.
BUT (big but), I am seeing this very "your own truth" trend happening among protestants, particularly modern evangelicals. They sometimes quote a portion of Philippians 2:12 "work out your own salvation," and they use it to dismiss the very real problem of so many denominations and arguments. Their response to people who question the confusion caused by so many doctrinal differences among us is that everyone is different and we just need to work out our own salvation. Basically, no one is wrong, find your own truth, whatever works for you and your personality and go with it as your brand of Christianity.
All that does, at least in my eyes, is mirror the worldview that we can all just live our own truths.
I just can't wrap my head around it! Either Christ established TRUTH or He didn't. Truth that we must follow if we call ourselves Christians. He has laws and rules and facts. He isn't so fluid as to allow whatever, so long as it is done in sincerity.
I do believe He has a LOT of grace towards us because we are products of generation after generation of the mass confusion of doctrinal differences and the establishment of over 30,000 denominations!
Likely, Christ knew we'd do this to ourselves. It just kills me that we are not a church of one accord, that there are so many differences, and that because of it I DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH!
I don't want to live out my own truth. I want to live out His Truth.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Simple Christianity
I suspect that Christianity is actually quite simple.
Gospel Truth
Love God and love others.
Now, for the inner debate:
If that were the case, then why do we do sooooo many sermons and Bible studies? Protestants LOVE picking apart the Bible, it seems. Every Sunday (Saturday if you are 7th Day), Pastors mount the pulpit and preach their prayerful opinion on sermon passages.
And many of them pray that God's Truth comes out of them and nothing else.
And yet, they aren't in one accord.
The Baptist prays the prayer and then preaches that we can't lose our Salvation.
The Assemblies of God pastor prays the prayer and preaches that we can indeed give up our Salvation and turn away from God.
Then, I think of Catholics and Orthodoxy. They have Mass. Mass is simple. Mass follows liturgy. Mass is constant. Mass is Christ, Crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23), the Gospel Truth (step one in simple Christianity). But, any Protestant will tell you Catholicism isn't simple. There's sacraments, and rituals, feast days and fasting, rosaries and novenas......
And I am back in my circle of debate.
Gospel Truth
Love God and love others.
Now, for the inner debate:
If that were the case, then why do we do sooooo many sermons and Bible studies? Protestants LOVE picking apart the Bible, it seems. Every Sunday (Saturday if you are 7th Day), Pastors mount the pulpit and preach their prayerful opinion on sermon passages.
And many of them pray that God's Truth comes out of them and nothing else.
And yet, they aren't in one accord.
The Baptist prays the prayer and then preaches that we can't lose our Salvation.
The Assemblies of God pastor prays the prayer and preaches that we can indeed give up our Salvation and turn away from God.
Then, I think of Catholics and Orthodoxy. They have Mass. Mass is simple. Mass follows liturgy. Mass is constant. Mass is Christ, Crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23), the Gospel Truth (step one in simple Christianity). But, any Protestant will tell you Catholicism isn't simple. There's sacraments, and rituals, feast days and fasting, rosaries and novenas......
And I am back in my circle of debate.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
The First Step
It is funny how my mind races so many times a day with thoughts, clear thoughts, of what I want to write down concerning this blog subject, and yet whenever I try to start typing it all out, it all gets muddled, confused, and unwritable. (Now, my spell-correct is telling me unwritable isn't a word.) So, I am going to utilize the writing exercise of just typing out whatever comes to mind, unedited.
I am starting this blog to organize my vast and many thoughts concerning modern Christianity vs our Christian origins.
I am downright angry and frustrated at modern Christianity. I heard several times recently that we have something like 30,000 Christian denominations! And each one believes they are right and the others are wrong. They all have Bible verses to back up their beliefs. They all have Bibles, interpreted ever so slightly differently, to back up their beliefs. And yet, I feel all it does is create confusion and tears down our witness as bearers of The Truth of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
I believe that when Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, rose again on the third day, and later ascended into Heaven, He established a church. More traditionalists call it the catholic church (lower case c, not to be confused with The Catholic Church). Now, I realize culture can change churches. The church at Corinth isn't going to be identical to the church at Rome, or Ethiopia, or Phillipi. Today, a New England church isn't going to be identical to a South African church. What I am talking about are the big ol' doctrinal differences that divide.
Some say those differences are just legalism and don't really matter so long as no one is preaching outright sins or against Christ. But, I think they DO matter. Maybe not all, but many. It's a big deal if Christ DID establish the Eucharist and we Protestants shun it, for example.
Today, churches are dividing even further and reinterpreting the Bible even more in the wake of social changes.
All I want is to get back to the beginning and KNOW what Christ established. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever know. I don't think I'll ever figure it out. But, I just can't leave it be. I can't throw up my hands, pick a denomination, and just blindly follow their dogma and shrug off anything I disagree with.
My continued prayer is for God to show me THE TRUTH.
I am starting this blog to organize my vast and many thoughts concerning modern Christianity vs our Christian origins.
I am downright angry and frustrated at modern Christianity. I heard several times recently that we have something like 30,000 Christian denominations! And each one believes they are right and the others are wrong. They all have Bible verses to back up their beliefs. They all have Bibles, interpreted ever so slightly differently, to back up their beliefs. And yet, I feel all it does is create confusion and tears down our witness as bearers of The Truth of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
I believe that when Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, rose again on the third day, and later ascended into Heaven, He established a church. More traditionalists call it the catholic church (lower case c, not to be confused with The Catholic Church). Now, I realize culture can change churches. The church at Corinth isn't going to be identical to the church at Rome, or Ethiopia, or Phillipi. Today, a New England church isn't going to be identical to a South African church. What I am talking about are the big ol' doctrinal differences that divide.
Some say those differences are just legalism and don't really matter so long as no one is preaching outright sins or against Christ. But, I think they DO matter. Maybe not all, but many. It's a big deal if Christ DID establish the Eucharist and we Protestants shun it, for example.
Today, churches are dividing even further and reinterpreting the Bible even more in the wake of social changes.
All I want is to get back to the beginning and KNOW what Christ established. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever know. I don't think I'll ever figure it out. But, I just can't leave it be. I can't throw up my hands, pick a denomination, and just blindly follow their dogma and shrug off anything I disagree with.
My continued prayer is for God to show me THE TRUTH.
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