This morning I read Isaiah 1 in a KJV Bible. I particularly paid attention to the words of God revealed to Isaiah. As I read the chapter, I thought about what was being revealed to me through both my evangelical and Catholic glasses.
"I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." vs 2 and 3
The Lord placed me in a Christian family and yet I don't quite know where or who He is. From which crib do I find my nourishment? How do I know the crib I approach is the crib that is filled by my Master?
This has been my dilemma for several years, now. I struggle with denominationalism and dogmatic disagreements. Who is right? Which church is the one true church, the church Christ established and wants all His people to be a part of?
I contemplated God's words. The ox knows his owner, the ass his master's crib.
The master, the owner fills his own crib. I know who God is. I know who Jesus is. I have that fundamental foundation, but, for some reason, I can't look up and find Him, then look down to see which crib He is filling. I am confused there.
So, I contemplated the crib. Crib has two meanings: a place to feed the animals and a place to lay a baby. What is that? A manger! Therefore, at the crib of my Master I will find Jesus.
Honestly, that doesn't really narrow it down in the protestant understanding. They all claim to have Jesus. The Catholic Church, though really does claim to have Jesus. Not only that, the entire rubric of the Mass is Christ-focused in such a profound and complete way. It's like all those stories, chapters, and verses of the Bible I learned and poured over in my protestant tradition has been put to practice and acted up on in the Catholic Church.
But, that reasoning didn't convince me.
It was a further thought that came to mind. The crib, the manger holds Jesus. The ass knows his master's crib. Jesus wasn't just held by the manger, though. He didn't just lie there as a baby until he got up and started adolescence. He was held by Mary and Joseph! Mary and Joseph, are His crib, too!
What church knows the crib of their master? The Catholic Church. Through them we find our Master. We, the lowly ass come to our crib (Mary) and find our bread (Jesus) that the Master poured out for us. That's how I know which crib to go to.
Protestants would say the crib is the church, and they aren't entirely wrong, but because that is something they all claim, I needed something more specific. The analogy of Mary, the link to Mary is what really narrows it down.
That isn't where it ended, though. Verses 11-20 offered more insight and contemplation. In protestant, particularly evangelical tradition, these verses are quoted to "prove" that the Catholic Church's practices are wrong and God doesn't like them. But, as I read I didn't see where God doesn't like them in and of themselves, but rather God doesn't like them done unworthily or vainly.
God says to, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, please for the widow."
As I read this, I thought of my evangelical upbringing. This verse is often skipped and instead verse 18 is quoted. We like the part that directly benefits us in the evangelical world. What we ignore beforehand is the call to action, particularly washing, making clean, and SEEKING JUDGEMENT.
To me, this isn't just saying "the sinner's prayer." This is about repentance, confession, and reconciliation. Seek judgement? From whom?
Reading on, God says "and I will restore they judges as at the first, and they counselors as at the beginning; Afterward tho shalt be called The City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."
Who are our judges and our counselors? From whom do we seek judgement? Well, it makes sense that one seeks it from those appointed by God to judge and counsel. Who does God appoint? Well, Jesus appoints Simon Peter and the succession of apostles.
Even if you don't come to a Catholic conclusion, you have to admit that more is expected of us as Christians than just saying a prayer and feeling good about it, then finding a church that suits you.
Furthermore, going back to verse 20 it says "but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword." What does a sword do? It pierces, it cuts, it splits, it divides, it hurts, it wounds, it kills. I think of how much denominationalism has pierced, cut, split, divided, hurt, wounded, and even killed Christianity for many.
I have no doubt that the majority of people in Protestantism practice in love, honesty, and sincerity. They want to obey and serve the Lord. But that doesn't mean that the great divide hasn't done harm, because it has.
If Catholicism itself doesn't bring me into the Catholic Church, the great divide of the Protestant church will by default. The Catholic Church stands alone as a pillar of faith, whereas the Protestant church stands a great multitude squabbling, creating chaos, and making noise; each one is saying they are the true church, the right church, the one that interprets the Bible correctly, etc.
Like Israel rebelling against the judges, trying to go their own way, in their own directions, pleasures, and interpretations, saying what has been laid out for them by God wasn't how it ought to be, the Protestant Church has been cut up.
