http://cnstopstories.com/2015/05/28...stians-distance-people-from-christ-pope-says/
Three kinds of Christians exist, he said: those who are so closed up inside themselves, they are not aware of others in need; those who hear the “clamor” of suffering but choose to do nothing about it; and those who do hear and help bring people healing.
Christians who are indifferent “do not hear. They believe life is there in their little group. They’re content. They’re deaf to the clamor of so many people who need salvation, who need Jesus’ help, who need the church,” the pope said.
Another category of Christians includes those who hear people crying for help, “but want them to be quiet,” like in the day’s Gospel reading when the disciples rebuked Bartimaeus, the blind man, who cried out for Jesus, or when the disciples shooed away the children so they would not disturb their master.
Jesus “was for them, he was not for everyone,” and so the disciples distanced people from Jesus — people who needed faith and salvation, the pope said.
People who exploit the church or religion for their own benefit or purposes also fit into this category, he said.
“They are Christians in name only, armchair Christians,” he said, “but their inner life is not Christian, it is worldly.”
The third category of Christians, he said, is made up of “those who help (people) get closer to Jesus.”
“There’s the group of Christians who are consistent with what they believe and what they live,” and they help those who are crying out for salvation, grace and spiritual healing, he said.
Three kinds of Christians exist, he said: those who are so closed up inside themselves, they are not aware of others in need; those who hear the “clamor” of suffering but choose to do nothing about it; and those who do hear and help bring people healing.
Christians who are indifferent “do not hear. They believe life is there in their little group. They’re content. They’re deaf to the clamor of so many people who need salvation, who need Jesus’ help, who need the church,” the pope said.
Another category of Christians includes those who hear people crying for help, “but want them to be quiet,” like in the day’s Gospel reading when the disciples rebuked Bartimaeus, the blind man, who cried out for Jesus, or when the disciples shooed away the children so they would not disturb their master.
Jesus “was for them, he was not for everyone,” and so the disciples distanced people from Jesus — people who needed faith and salvation, the pope said.
People who exploit the church or religion for their own benefit or purposes also fit into this category, he said.
“They are Christians in name only, armchair Christians,” he said, “but their inner life is not Christian, it is worldly.”
The third category of Christians, he said, is made up of “those who help (people) get closer to Jesus.”
“There’s the group of Christians who are consistent with what they believe and what they live,” and they help those who are crying out for salvation, grace and spiritual healing, he said.
