In my re-studies of Catholicism I believe I've noticed an interesting and central difference between it and Reformed Christianity. It's that Catholicism is a very physical faith whereas the reformed faith is invisible and spiritual.
- Catholicism has priests you can see. Reformed thought has only one priest - Jesus Christ who is seated at God's right hand. He is invisible.
- Catholicism has a sacrifice you can see, touch, and taste in the daily offering of the Eucharist. Reformed theology has no ongoing sacrifice, believing that the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all time.
- Catholicism has sacraments which are automatically effective. If you've been baptized and if you physically continue in the church, celebrating the eucharist, then you are saved. It's not so simple with Protestantism. Baptism and communion are simply signs pointing to a spiritual reality. You can participate in them without being truly saved because salvation is an invisible matter of the heart.
- Catholicism has an assurance of forgiveness that you can audibly hear and concrete acts of penance which can either be completed or remain incomplete. A priest tells you that your sins are forgiven. You can do something to ensure that your forgiveness is real. In Reformed thought, forgiveness is a spiritual matter. You can only attain assurance of it through a diligent prayer life and searching of your own heart. The assurance comes from God alone through his word and Spirit.
Perhaps you can think of more examples.
My question is this: Are these physical tokens of faith the biblical expression of faith? Or are these tokens idolatrous and superstitious? Do we have a faith we can touch? Or is the biblical faith more spiritual in nature?
For all (and only reading through to the end gives us the powerful aid):
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
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No matter our mistakes,
He can search our hearts and lead us in the way we need to go.
