Recently I read a post from Salon.com about conservative Christians and their dislike of Christ. The argument made by the editorial was that conservative Christians were out of touch with Jesus, they wouldn't accept him if he were alive, and that conservative Christians are not true Christians.
While the editorial was persuasive and had its highlights, it was a far cry from an accurate portrayal of conservative Christianity. The entire article was written to villainize and shame conservative Christians into submission or back into line. At its heart, though, I could sense the frustration from the author with people that are not living the "love" part of Christianity. While in essence, that is Jesus' gospel, it isn't the gospel in its entirety. The editorial, then, was really persuasive in a general sense, but it didn't get the details rights.
In full disclosure, though, I will admit that I have to take many deep breaths when I hear a non-Catholic explain the Bible to me. I honestly have a hard time accepting what I hear most of the time, because I know that whatever version of the Bible they explain to me, it will be wrought with generalities, falsities, and misunderstandings. I have found this true in one on one discussions. I have found this to be true whenever I have visited a non-Catholic service. And I have found this to be true whenever I read something that is non-Catholic. I found this to be true, when I read the article.
What made the misinformation so frustrating, though, wasn't the false generalities. It wasn't the mistakes that they make or the problems with their interpretations or their general misunderstanding of Christ and his mission. It was that I completely understand where their frustration comes from. It is frustrating to see legalist shame people into correct behavior or people shout that others are going to hell. It hurts to see somebody boldly cry out that sinners will burn or the fool believes that he doesn't have to strive to be Christlike. It hurts, not because I disagree with the message. It hurts because I disagree with the delivery.
When we try to bolster ourselves up and claim that we are above sin or that we no longer are held in sins grasp, we do a major disservice. When we pass ourselves off as perfect, we aren't helping anybody. And that's because it doesn't pull people to the truth; it shoves truth down their throat. I think that is why Pope Francis is so refreshing. His message is about love. He sweetly draws people to look at the Church. He wants people to know that the Church has a place for them. We are a Church full of sinners. We are a Church of people. And as long as that is true, we will have a place for everybody. Sometimes we forget this. This isn't a problem between Conservatives or Liberals; because, guess what. Jesus wasn't into politics. This is a problem between legalist and non-legalist. Unfortunately, we have to remember that both sides are valid. It is just as important to let people know that they are welcome as it is to let them know that their behavior separates them from God. We can't be so focused on one side that we forget the other.
If I could tell the author one thing, it would be this. Pope Francis will not change the Church. That isn't his role. He isn't going to reform. In fact, his words, his behaviors, his actions aren't all that new. He is merely saying what the Church believes. It was just as valid when Pope Benedict said it as when Pope Francis did. Don't focus, though, on change. Focus on the teaching. Try to figure out what the Church really says and why it says that. And, if you aren't Catholic or don't love the Church, don't try to explain what it teaches. Because if you don't love the Church and are not Catholic, you don't really know the Church.
While the editorial was persuasive and had its highlights, it was a far cry from an accurate portrayal of conservative Christianity. The entire article was written to villainize and shame conservative Christians into submission or back into line. At its heart, though, I could sense the frustration from the author with people that are not living the "love" part of Christianity. While in essence, that is Jesus' gospel, it isn't the gospel in its entirety. The editorial, then, was really persuasive in a general sense, but it didn't get the details rights.
In full disclosure, though, I will admit that I have to take many deep breaths when I hear a non-Catholic explain the Bible to me. I honestly have a hard time accepting what I hear most of the time, because I know that whatever version of the Bible they explain to me, it will be wrought with generalities, falsities, and misunderstandings. I have found this true in one on one discussions. I have found this to be true whenever I have visited a non-Catholic service. And I have found this to be true whenever I read something that is non-Catholic. I found this to be true, when I read the article.
What made the misinformation so frustrating, though, wasn't the false generalities. It wasn't the mistakes that they make or the problems with their interpretations or their general misunderstanding of Christ and his mission. It was that I completely understand where their frustration comes from. It is frustrating to see legalist shame people into correct behavior or people shout that others are going to hell. It hurts to see somebody boldly cry out that sinners will burn or the fool believes that he doesn't have to strive to be Christlike. It hurts, not because I disagree with the message. It hurts because I disagree with the delivery.
When we try to bolster ourselves up and claim that we are above sin or that we no longer are held in sins grasp, we do a major disservice. When we pass ourselves off as perfect, we aren't helping anybody. And that's because it doesn't pull people to the truth; it shoves truth down their throat. I think that is why Pope Francis is so refreshing. His message is about love. He sweetly draws people to look at the Church. He wants people to know that the Church has a place for them. We are a Church full of sinners. We are a Church of people. And as long as that is true, we will have a place for everybody. Sometimes we forget this. This isn't a problem between Conservatives or Liberals; because, guess what. Jesus wasn't into politics. This is a problem between legalist and non-legalist. Unfortunately, we have to remember that both sides are valid. It is just as important to let people know that they are welcome as it is to let them know that their behavior separates them from God. We can't be so focused on one side that we forget the other.
If I could tell the author one thing, it would be this. Pope Francis will not change the Church. That isn't his role. He isn't going to reform. In fact, his words, his behaviors, his actions aren't all that new. He is merely saying what the Church believes. It was just as valid when Pope Benedict said it as when Pope Francis did. Don't focus, though, on change. Focus on the teaching. Try to figure out what the Church really says and why it says that. And, if you aren't Catholic or don't love the Church, don't try to explain what it teaches. Because if you don't love the Church and are not Catholic, you don't really know the Church.