- Feb 5, 2002
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Decline. Scandals. Confusion.
Herein lies the noise which currently undergirds the Catholic Church in the eyes of our current Western culture. We certainly have problems. But all these problems (and many more) are merely the outward symptoms of a much deeper issue. The deeper issue is found in having too many self-identified Catholics who have accepted false gods in place of Jesus. These Gods can wear many faces and the world knows them well. Power. Greed. Lust. Pride. Etc.
In large part, this lack of faith in Jesus is due to a passive Catholic culture which soft-sells Catholicism and discipleship. Too often our doctrines, practices, disciplines, and radical worldview have been given a feeling that it just doesn't matter all that much, in the big picture. In many ways, we have offered a "light" form of discipleship that is more palatable and acceptable to the masses. Since a true discipleship (the life each Catholic is meant to live while following Jesus) is a call to live a radical life in the eyes of secular culture, we have (in many ways) made it more user-friendly, by undercutting the tougher parts of our faith. In other words, letting Jesus be Lord of only those parts of our lives we are comfortable with him being in charge of.
The problem is - it doesn't work. Christianity is meant to be difficult, radical, and extraordinary. Jesus wants to be Lord of every part of our lives, not just the easy parts.
If you want to turn the tide, then start with Jesus.
Continued below.
Passive Catholic Discipleship is a Recipe For Failure
Herein lies the noise which currently undergirds the Catholic Church in the eyes of our current Western culture. We certainly have problems. But all these problems (and many more) are merely the outward symptoms of a much deeper issue. The deeper issue is found in having too many self-identified Catholics who have accepted false gods in place of Jesus. These Gods can wear many faces and the world knows them well. Power. Greed. Lust. Pride. Etc.
In large part, this lack of faith in Jesus is due to a passive Catholic culture which soft-sells Catholicism and discipleship. Too often our doctrines, practices, disciplines, and radical worldview have been given a feeling that it just doesn't matter all that much, in the big picture. In many ways, we have offered a "light" form of discipleship that is more palatable and acceptable to the masses. Since a true discipleship (the life each Catholic is meant to live while following Jesus) is a call to live a radical life in the eyes of secular culture, we have (in many ways) made it more user-friendly, by undercutting the tougher parts of our faith. In other words, letting Jesus be Lord of only those parts of our lives we are comfortable with him being in charge of.
The problem is - it doesn't work. Christianity is meant to be difficult, radical, and extraordinary. Jesus wants to be Lord of every part of our lives, not just the easy parts.
If you want to turn the tide, then start with Jesus.
Continued below.
Passive Catholic Discipleship is a Recipe For Failure
