In searching to understand the mystery of God, I
read. I read the Church Fathers, writing of the Popes, Bishops, Priests, and
Deacons. I read theologians and minister from other denominations and faiths. I
don’t agree with everything; but, I know their thoughts and writings come from
trying to understand mystery as well.
I read a blog this week by a minister that
identified as a Progressive Christian. It read, “Educated
young adults, having grown up in a multicultural and gender-fluid world, are
leaving the church: they see it as a hateful and ignorant place, a place of
lies and sexual discrimination.” The minister finished, “I don’t blame
them.”
That blog linked to a study by The Public Religion Research Institute; however, the study actually
said something different. “The (main) reason people are leaving Church is they no
longer believe religious teachings.” (60%) It called this group rejectionist.
I recognized something. A minister was comfortable using
a controversial lead to meet an agenda. Churches are comfortable changing their
teachings to meet an agenda. The rejectionist in the world is comfortable rejecting
God for their agenda.
In that comfort, the world is a slave to sin and
evil thrives. But, the rejectionist doesn’t believe in sin or evil.
St. Paul knew evil was real. It was a thorn in his flesh. He said it was an Angel of Satan that
tormented him. The Church teaches it is real. So, why are so many
rejecting religious teachings?
Evil has become entertainment. It is no longer
real; instead, it’s a movie, a television show, or a video game in which evil
disappeared in an hour or two. For those who don’t believe evil is real;
neither is hell.
It is the preacher’s faults, it is the priest’s
faults, it is the parent’s faults; and it’s our fault. What do we teach about
evil? What do we teach about hell? Is it a joke or entertainment or is it dismissed
as something that doesn’t exist.
Do we witness to God’s grace and mercy? Do we tell others
about Jesus? Do we teach the importance of the sacraments? Do we teach others
how to pray? Do we teach the Catechism?
Or is that not part of the agenda?
The thorn in our side is we are afraid. Our torment
is the fear of what others think or say. They are going to laugh or think we
are all a bunch of religious kooks.
It is true; the world
takes offense at us. It scoffs at our belief in Jesus, our faith in God,
and our allegiance to the Church. But my brothers and sisters we are believers,
disciples of Jesus Christ and are called to preach the Good News and proclaim
the Kingdom of God.
2700 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel said, “Look around at the amazing lack of faith of the people;
people that are hard of face and obstinate of heart. They have revolted against
God.”
The world is just like that today.
Do not be afraid or tormented or intimidated
because God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
His grace is sufficient. The Lord sends his disciples as prophets to the
world to preach His message. We cry out so the world can hear the voice of
Christ through us.
The Church is not a hateful and ignorant place, but
people can be. That is sinful. The Church is not to change Christ’s message for
an agenda. That’s sinful.
Jesus didn’t change his message because it made
people uncomfortable. St. John writes that because
of Jesus words many of his disciples left him and returned to their former way
of life. (John 6:66) It was not
part of their agenda, leaving was comfortable.
It is not always a comfortable message. It is not a
message that a minister or a Church can change to meet an agenda. Be uncomfortable with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of
Christ.
Preach that there is evil, there is a hell; preach the
importance of the sacraments and preach that God’s grace is sufficient. Tell
the world about Jesus.
The world will ridicule us. It ridiculed Ezekiel.
It ridiculed Paul. It ridiculed and crucified Jesus. That’s good company.
Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way
you live and love so others know a prophet has been among them. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment