Well frankly I think it is the Catholic church which presents a confusing picture. The Protestants point to God and the gospel, nothing could be simpler. But the Catholics point to their church and its chaotic contradictory history and politics. The point is that what you see is not what I see, and when I look at the Catholic church I do NOT see a city on a hill at all but a fortress out of medeval times.
lol! One could say the same about the Protestant Church. when I see the Catholic Church, I see a tradition dating back to the time of Christ. A tradition of Faith and Hope, and a tradition that shows us that we
are of man, capable of fault, and ready to confess.
When I try to see the Protestant faith I see division and competition. I see many proclaiming to be one, and one proclaiming to be many. And I see glass houses.
In all I have seen bigotry and hate. I have seen greed for, money and power. But I haven't always seen tolerance, acceptance, and admittance of fault.
Yeah! Kind of like San Francisco, with a free market economy, where you can find you are looking for, or open up a business for yourself. In a real city you can find all different kinds of people, artists and teachers all working to contribute their creativity for the benefit and service of everyone. This is such an improvement over the fortress ruled by a single tyrant and filled with people who are little more than servants to this one man. A real city reflects the beauty of the natural world with all the endless diversity that God gave it.
Yet the Catholic Church is like a country. We have appointed leaders, we have voices, we have opinions. We have diversity, and faith. We have suppport for those that need it. And most importantly we have rules! In all countries, all states, and all areas of society there are rules that govern the people. In the Catholic Church we can show you our 'rule' book, we can show you
in black and white what holds us accountable, what is expected of us, and consequences. How many Protestant Churches can do this? How many can truly call themselves communities, if they cannot show us one of the very basics required for a community to survive.
I have news for you. The world is people and it includes the small poor villiage where protestant missionaries came to build a church and preach the gospel. That is the church which they see, not the proud catholic church with its money and power in Rome. And we teach them where the church really is, not in Rome in the hands of cardinals and the pope, but right there where they need it and in the hands of God.
Once upon a time, it was the Catholic Missionaries that visited the small village. And today? They still do, but you don't see it. A Catholic is not called upon to stand on the street corner and preach. A Catholic is not called upon to bully, call names or berate others for thier choice of faith. A Catholic is called upon to live their faith. 'Do not preach with words, preach with actions' Many, many Catholics daily do this for people in their communities and elsewhere. They see God daily in the people they assist, the hungry mouths, the imprisoned, the weak, the displaced, and they quietly go about doing as Jesus commanded.
What you see is the history of the Church. a history that is just as easily seen in Russia, in Greece, or in some of the mansions, 'superchurches' or tv programs of some of today's Protestant Churches.
Give it up. I do not see what you see. The world no longer needs the clergy of the Catholic church to make their decisions for them.
I do not ask you to see what I see, for you never will. For each of us is different, unique. And each of us looks to God for something that only we can find, and which we may not even realise we are looking ofr.
And whilst you may not need my Church, and I may not need your Church, it is an unavoidable fact that if it were not for my Church your Church would not be here today.
