I may be called many things, but a shop-a-holic isn't one them. I'm not a violent anti-shopper, but honestly the only times I enjoy/tolerate shopping are when:
1) I'm shopping for food
2) I'm shopping for fun stuff
3) I'm sure I get to eat Chipotle's at some point
It is one thing to shop for the temporary, fleeting things of life. It is another thing entirely to shop for the timeless and permanent things. I'm of course talking about "Church Shopping."
I'm certainly not opposed to taking the time to make a good decision about where to worship, but I am leery about making that decision based on the fleeting things (congregation size, music style, carpet, etc) instead of the permanent things (truth, theology). When denominations and theology become irrelevant we enter into what Brantly Millegan, author of the blog "Young, Evangelical, and Catholic," calls "Ecclesial No-Man's-Land and I think he was spot on in describing this condition:
They ultimately exist no where. They are unconnected in a real, tangible sense. They are Christian islands which, granted, may choose to freely associate with other believers, but only as long as they find that it "works for them". At best, some evangelicals might be willing to stick it out with a congregation through a hard time. But at the end of the day, it's only because they choose to do so (or because they think God is calling them to for the time being), but not because they think that that particular congregation is where they must be in any absolute sense.His article is good, and even though it is brief he does present a few of the problems with this mindset. It is certainly worth the read.
Young, Evangelical, and Catholic: Escaping Ecclesial No-Man's-Land
The whole basis for church shopping seems to be "what suits me" rather than "where is truth."
ReplyDeleteOf course when sheep can hire & fire their shepherds it tends to lead toward this mode of thinking.
The above comment is profoundly insightful.
ReplyDeletePraise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!
I'm not sure I completely buy that it is all about "what suits me" rather than "where is truth." It certainly seems like it could be part of it ( and would certainly vary from person to person) but a lot of protestants I know simply want to belong to churches where people are acting the most like Christians. Now of course that is pretty subjective and ultimately a flawed way of thinking, but let's not forget that the purpose of having truth is to live it in some way. I'd rather be a man who had a little truth and lived it well as opposed to a man with a lot of truth who didn't live it.
ReplyDeleteDavid, good luck. I'm Catholic and I love it, but it isn't always easy. I look forward to following your reasoning, whether it is into the Catholic Church or to remain where you are.
Have you been to "Called to Communion" yet? It is pretty deep and philosophical, but the discussions are very good.
http://www.calledtocommunion.com/
Blessings.
Yes I'd recommend Called as well, it's both substantial and charitable.
ReplyDelete"a lot of protestants I know simply want to belong to churches where people are acting the most like Christians."
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who become Catholic & join my parish speak very plainly about a search for truth, which they found in the Catholic Church.
Thanks for all of the comments!
ReplyDeleteI checked out Called to Communion this week and I ended up spending almost half a day absorbed in an article rebutting Keith Mathison's "The Shape of Sola Scriptura." Good article and well thought out. I look forward to making more use of this site in the future and I wonder how I missed this site.
I can see both sides of the comments you are making. On the one hand,...
"The whole basis for church shopping seems to be "what suits me" rather than "where is truth.""
and
"I'm not sure I completely buy that it is all about "what suits me" rather than "where is truth." It certainly seems like it could be part of it... but a lot of protestants I know simply want to belong to churches where people are acting the most like Christians."
I think the answer to that questions depends on which Protestant you ask. I know a number of them who simply choose their congregation based on the superficial. I know a number who go where the people are "living it and seem alive." I know a number (myself included) who believe(d) their congregation's teaching was the truth. Some of us are all three.
Your comment,
"The Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who become Catholic & join my parish speak very plainly about a search for truth, which they found in the Catholic Church."
You are probably right. For me, it has always been about truth and I've always believed the Evangelical teaching was true. That is why I followed it. Now that I've come to seriously doubt some of what we teach... I still follow truth. After all Christ is the way, the truth and life. I may not be sure if I should follow Evangelical teaching sometimes, but I know I should always follow Christ. But I've been taught to love truth in the Evangelical congregations I've been a part of... that love of truth is what is pushing me now. My search for truth may end in the Catholic Church (or elsewhere, it is certainly up for grabs) but it began by searching for truth in the Evangelical congregations.
Maybe that is what the people in your parish meant. But maybe not. :)
I do think you were right on here:
"Of course when sheep can hire & fire their shepherds it tends to lead toward this mode of thinking."
It is hard to not think about that paycheck (even though it isn't that big) when making certain decisions.
"Maybe that is what the people in your parish meant. But maybe not. :)"
ReplyDeleteWell, it's typical of them to have exhausted every other possibility before reluctantly considering Rome..truth is somewhere, but surely not there!
Just last Tuesday night I was speaking to a recent convert. His journey: Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic.
"Well, it's typical of them to have exhausted every other possibility before reluctantly considering Rome..truth is somewhere, but surely not there!"
ReplyDeleteThose were pretty much my sentiments a few years ago! But the truth is like a magnet as one great Catholic author said. If so, then the truth will draw people to it even if it is the last place they want to go.
"If so, then the truth will draw people to it even if it is the last place they want to go."
ReplyDeleteHere's one for ya:
"The Catholic Church is the only option left. In many ways it is a bitter pill to swallow for me. I have been very critical of Catholic doctrine as a Protestant. Much that they believe I am not inclined to believe. But I will have to submit to the mind of what I must believe is the church Christ founded."
http://newchristendom.blogspot.com/2010/06/letter-to-gspcpca.html
You picked a pretty amazing week to start going to Called to Communion. The original Mathison article was posted well over a year ago, and then finally this week Mathison posted his reply, which is now being discussed. The rate of commenting has been WAY up.
ReplyDeleteYes, the comments are collecting faster than I can absorb the discussions.
ReplyDelete