I pray you are affected by this as much as I have been. Please visit their site and read about this amazing work they are doing.

And, maybe it is time we all stood at the wall more for others.

God bless…

I was blown away yesterday by something I heard that made me instantly cry. Cry for joy, cry for how unbelievable it was, and cry over my own convictions. Many of you know that Habitat for Hope maintains 2 apartments in downtown Memphis, TN. These apartments are given free of charge to families of children receiving medical treatment in Memphis.

One of our families was moving out this past week and I went down to say goodbye, pray with them and help send them on their way. The dad asked me if I had met the neighbors before. I had seen them, waved, but have never met them. The dad told me that a mother and daughter that lived in the apartment next door. The mom is 94 and the daughter is 72. The dad said that one day he was locked out of his apartment (the doors automatically lock) and he went over to ask to use their phone. As they started talking the daughter mentioned how her mother will go over the wall between the two apartments, put her hand on the wall, and pray for the for the family and sick child next door. And pray for over an hour every night.

We have had these apartments for 5 years and she has done this faithfully every day for years! Picture in your mind…a frail elderly lady taking the time every night to pray for your sick child and family…without you ever event knowing about it.

James 5:15 15 “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.”

What is Cafeteria Catholicism? Amazingly there is even a Wiki page dedicated to this topic! It says: “The term “cafeteria Catholicism” is a pejorative term applied to Catholics who dissent from Roman Catholic doctrinal or moral teaching.” That’s a pretty descriptive definition. In simple terms it means one picks and chooses which teachings they want to adhere to and which they do not. Most often this can be seen in relation to the Church’s teaching on birth control.

Soon to be ‘Blessed’ Pope John Paul II had this to say about this issue in 1987 to the Bishops while visiting the US:

“It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today do not adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage. Some are reported as not accepting the clear position on abortion. It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church’s moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the Magisterium is totally compatible with being a “good Catholic,” and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere.”

There is also example of someone in the bible who chose not to accept everything Jesus offered.

Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, ” ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. – MT 19:16-22

The man in this story does many good things. Jesus tells him he lacks in only one thing. Yet this man could not (at this time) conform to Jesus teaching. He chose not to sell his possessions. He “went away sad”.

In today’s world, unfortunately, many Cafeteria Catholics do not go away sad. Rather the choice is to, through pride, state “I know better than the Church”. Really that is the message we send when we choose not to accept Her teachings. As stated previously much of this problem relates to teachings such as birth control.

I once met a man who told me he agreed with Humane Vitae right up to the end, but didn’t agree with the conclusion. Huh? How can you do that? Or rather, under whose authority? Jesus entrusted the teaching of His Church (faithful) to the Apostles and throughout the ages they have defended the faith and beautifully (well not so beautifully at times) instructed the hearts of Men. Through the Holy Spirit the Church is guided to Truth….. And you don’t agree with the conclusion? I simply don’t get it. Actually, I think he was the one who didn’t get it. ?

Cafeteria Catholics can be likened to church hoppers in the non-Catholic Christian arena. Those in this category attend church somewhere they are comfortable until the Pastor says something they don’t like or are challenged by and then in order to avoid the challenge, they hop to another church where the message is less challenging. So, we now have a phenomenon of watered-down-Gospel churches who teach a mere acceptance version of the Gospel. Don’t get me wrong, we in the Catholic Church have a lot to learn with regard to welcoming people, however watering down the Gospel isn’t the answer either.

In the end Cafeteria Catholicism is a consequence of the sin of pride. If we find ourselves challenged by a moral teaching of the Church, I hope and pray we have the courage to discern why we cannot accept it rather than to dismiss it as being wrong. The Holy Spirit will not allow the Church to fail; the Victory is already won in Heaven by Christ!

If you are reading this and think I’m wrong, that you do have the right to dismiss a teaching if it doesn’t suit you…well…let me ask you this: Why are you a Roman Catholic? (or whatever Church you belong to)

It’s like this. If you want to be a runner and call yourself a runner, then you have to run right? You have to train and become a runner. If you call yourself a runner and are actually a lazy-couch ridden-tv addict…then you aren’t a runner. The same is true here. If you call yourself a Roman Catholic then you HAVE to believe in certain things…because if you don’t then by extension you are not a Roman Catholic. Here is a simple, incomplete, and short list of some key beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church:

- The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We receive Him in Mass.
- One must attend Mass weekly
- Sex is reserved for the marital relationship only.
- Birth control restricts the marital act and is not in keeping with God’s law (moral)
- All life is created by God and therefore has dignity
- Abortion is illicit under any circumstance. Even one which affects the life/death of the pregnant mother.
- Mary is the Mother of God and was without sin (Immaculate)

These are few of the Truth’s taught by the Roman Catholic Church.

We should be asking ourselves often: Am I in Communion with the Church? This does not only relate to sin, but to our beliefs. If we find that believing in a teaching is hard, then we have an obligation to learn more about it and conform our hearts.

“Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” – John 6:53-60

This saying is hard. Isn’t that the truth? For centuries we have been attacked for this belief and for centuries it has been hard to believe it. Yet we are called to believe and to accept Jesus in the Eucharist. Many have left the Church because they could not, rather would not, accept this teaching. Or the teaching on birth control, or the teaching on Abortion, or marriage, or homosexuality, or this or that. These are not arbitrary thoughts in the minds of some old guy in Rome. These are part of the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teachings. These are part of the beauty of revelation. These are the beauty of Creation.

My prayer is that we can continue to conform ourselves to the whole Gospel…not just the easy parts. I pray we accept the Resurrection AND the Cross.

Let me clarify this post by saying (1) I am a pro-life Catholic who tries to live the teachings of the Church fully and (2) I am a very conservative voter and I do not associate with any political party or movement (3) and lastly that I am a gun owner who wouldn’t think for one second about shooting a home intruder to defend my family.

Recall that recently I wrote about the desire to seek justice and the desire to love.  These two desires are not congruent with one another.  Love is an action, or choice, which is wholly separate from justice because love is our action and justice belongs entirely to God.  This idea is fundamental to understanding my stance on political Catholics. 

The Political Catholic is a breed of Catholic who sees their ministry/passion solely as accomplishing things such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, or the removal of guns from society, or the reinstatement of prayer in schools.  These “political” issues are, while very important, not elements of the Catholic faith.  As Catholics we are called to be pro-life, pro-prayer, and while the 5^th Commandment tells us not to kill there are no real Catholic teachings on gun ownership. 

See the problem with the Political Catholic isn’t their passion, and often times their theology isn’t faulty.  Rather it is the method of carrying out their agenda, their “mission”, which causes grave concern.  Political Catholics place the advancement of their agenda above the dignity and love of others and often are unwilling to accept any lower result than the perfect one.  This not only turns off others and alienates the Political Catholic, it alienates those that might more tact and Grace to hear the Gospel. 

An example, and an easy one at that, is quote “Pro-Life Catholics” who are overtly passionate about the issue of Abortion.  Abortion is wrong and it IS murder of the innocent.  Roe v. Wade is the most destructive law on the books in the U.S. Government and we lose millions each year because of this lie. 

The problems with the Political Catholic approach to this issue are three fold:

-          First these folks have a distorted view of the Pro-Life movement and they hijack it solely for the issue of abortion.  I am constantly amazed at those that proclaim to be pro-life and yet forget the elderly, sick, abandoned, hungry, homeless….  And don’t get me started on pro-life people who are devoid of love for those among us with disease, physical ailment, or mental ailment such as Downs or another (note that I didn’t say disease or dysfunction, these beautiful people often love better than any of us can ever hope too; would you call that dysfunction?)

-          Second, these folks place the reversal of Roe v. Wade as the number one priority of the pro-life movement.  Hear me clearly: The reversal of Roe v. Wade is an ignorant attempt by those involved.  I wish you luck in your losing effort.  The reversal of this decision will happen only when and only if we Evangelize the world to become more pro-life.  Until then the pro-life is only a movement and not a state of society….which is the ultimate goal.  It’s like a sport, almost always the way to score is not to go directly for the goal, rather it is to work as a whole team to move the ball around and find the best angle.  At this point, we need more on our team to win.

-          Lastly, these folks place their passion, in this case the anti-abortion agenda, ahead of everything else regardless of any collateral damage.  After all what could be more important right?  How about working to save the souls of those that are pro-choice, the abortionist, and those that are turned off by this agenda?  Political Catholics do not consider the negative impact of their words/actions on others.  Often they explain away those that disagree as ignorant or not faithful.

The Political Catholic does more damage than good to the Church.  Their efforts are destructive to the Body of Christ and to others perception of our faith. 

How many people proclaim to be Catholic and yet do not know the Truth?  Shouldn’t we be focused on strengthening our Body [of Christ] rather than berating those among us who don’t agree?  Don’t get me wrong, you cannot be Catholic and pro-choice.  Well, unless you like hot places….[sarcasm…].  Seriously if you are pro-choice you should not be receiving the Eucharist as you are not in communion with the Catholic Church.  You should discuss this with your Priest or another trusted person with a properly formed conscience (which means someone who believes and lives the teachings of the Church)…

Back to the issue.  The Political Catholic would rather those who are not in full communion with the Church simply leave.  Is this Christian?  Is this Catholic?  No, it’s not.  Rather it is a distortion of the Church to advance a personal political agenda.  And more importantly, it’s not acceptable.

Lastly I want to say this.  I agree with a Catholic Politician (who may or may not be a Political Catholic) being denied the Eucharist if they publically proclaim a belief not in communion with the Catholic Church.  I pray I’m never asked to carry that out because I cannot imagine the drama involved however, publically proclaiming a belief that does not fit the Church’s teachings is not acceptable.  Note however that this is a Church issue, not a politic issue. 

If you find yourself in the un-lucky position of being a Political Catholic, you should seriously consider why you say and act as you do and if those words and action reflect Christ.  I pray for you.  And I’m here to help however I can if you ask.

If you find yourself in conversation with a Political Catholic and you yourself are not one my request is simple.  Love.  Show them what real unconditional Christian love is all about.

I pray we are able to find greater unity in the Body of Christ.  That means that the ultra-conservative and the ultra-liberal Catholics need to move to the center….where Christ is.

In Him!

In the next article I’m going to address further the Pro-Life Movement.  I’m growing tired of “pro-lifers” not being pro-life and simply being anti-abortion.  There is more to the picture than that.

See this is the lie that the mainstream Christian “faithful” believe and it is I think an attack by Satan.  The mainstream Christian teaching is that we are to make ‘reasonable” attempts to be holy, falling short is certainly okay, come as you are, there is no need to change you…Christ has already perfected you by His resurrection. 

Hmm…did ya catch that?   No need to change.  I’m already perfect.  I think I should switch Churches because that sounds a lot easier.  Perhaps my new Pastor could tell my wife I’m perfect and we will no longer discuss (not argue) the dishes or laundry since being perfect, I shall have no need for such tasks.

[back to reality]

The real question is this: Is faith reasonable?  Is it reasonable?  Come on, think long and hard about this.  Is it?  Most people immediately say “No” to the question.  Please think about this very hard.

Let me ask you something…Is it reasonable that a man, who looks like a man, walks like a man, and talks like a man…could heal someone with his words?  Or how about turn water into wine?  Or raise someone from the dead?  How about have a basic conversation with guys who we know already died? 

Wait, let me guess…you think that the Bible is a collection of stories meant to inspire faith…but they aren’t really actual factual events.  I get it, you believe the Word of God is inspired, but that it is fiction used to inspire us.  I mean come on, how is it possible that a man can raise another from the dead using nothing but his words.  Yeah right…

So tell me….What Do you believe in?  Is Jesus a happy guy who died for our sins and did so as a human, with nothing special about him except that he was a great guy?  Golly thanks Jesus.

Or maybe Jesus didn’t really exist and the stories were made up over the years to help children understand moral teachings…and then that mean old Catholic Church men’s club needed something to control people with so they made the stories part of history so that 2010 years later they could have beautiful buildings and become the largest human rights organization on the planet.  Of course that last part is an unintended consequence.  J

Let’s be serious….ah…for real this time.

If you or I say that we are “Christian” then we can no longer subscribe to “reasonable” expectations.  Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that is a fact.  Prove me wrong……  Thank you…. Now that we agree say it with me.

JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD!

How is that reasonable? 

The truth is that we have allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to become a bedtime story meant to make people feel good about what happens when they die.  “Oh honey, if you just believe in Jesus all will be well.”  Believing in Jesus Christ means not just given rhetoric to good feelings!  It means transforming your life to a supernatural existence in which everything – all thoughts, feelings, actions, words – are all directed toward a higher purpose of achieving God’s Will in the world.  Remember that cute little prayer that the baby Jesus taught us (I’m saying baby Jesus because I like the baby Jesus!)

Our Father who art in Heaven…..THY WILL BE DONE….

If we are not focused on His Will then our faith cannot be real.  Sorry friends, no backsliding here…just real action with real purpose and a real faith.

So…is your faith reasonable?  Or are you a Christian…

As it says in Is 5:20-21

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!

At work I joke of having a list of ‘unapproved public discussion topics’ as in the past I have not considered the cultural affects of a politically correct society and have spoken out of desire to share what I knew, rather than out of love for another.  As I have personally matured in faith and in life I have come to understand that while I cannot keep quiet while others make false statements, incite false perception, or simply speak from ignorance…there is a time and a place for such discussion.  But that discussion Must happen.

How can we sit back and allow ourselves to be convinced by the world that Truth is relative.  Truth is constant.  There is but one.  Some, actually, many would compromise Truth to fit in, to be accepted, to not make waves.  I have trouble doing that…my conscience doesn’t allow it.  As I have learned however, these conscientious moments must derive from the common pursuit of Love, not justice.

You see, often in my past I objected or spoke out on the basis of seeking justice.  Justice relates in definition to the “principle of moral rightness”.  It cannot be the end, nor the means.  Justice is something to be left to God.  Proverbs 16:11 states:

A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

We need to speak out against injustice, but not for justice sake.  Our motivation is greater.  Our goal carries more weight than human justice.  Just as the Apostles spoke the Truth and were persecuted, so will those who speak Truth today.  We read in Acts 5:17-21 (emphasis added)

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

The angel of the Lord told the Apostles to continue speaking despite their persecution.  These men preached the Truth and were killed and/or abandoned by society for it.  Yet they still spoke of Jesus Christ to all they met.  That is faith.  That is a faith I wish I had.

I know that when I have the courage to speak the Truth it comes easily and God carries the load.

For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. – MT 10:20

If we just have faith, and say “yes” as Mary did, trusting that God will carry the weight then we can change the world.  Truth can be known by all and Christ can be advanced in the hearts of men.

Back to the issue however…we must do so out of love.

I get a lot of static from friends and family over my political and societal views.  I am not a member of any political parties because I see them all as evil.  I do not think it is okay to call ‘President” Obama, “Mr.” Obama no matter how much I disagree with him.  I’m not a fan of war, government healthcare, and many other things.  I do not subscribe to shock journalism and dislike Rush as much as Stern.  I love all men and would never desire to hurt anyone ‘and’ I do own guns for sport and defense if needed.  I believe strongly that our society is hampered by the lack of human elements.

Man cannot hunt, gather, and provide as we once did.  Women cannot nurture, teach, and care as they once did.

Rather we are stuck in a hypocritical society that fears rejection.  I can’t state my religious or political beliefs freely because what if someone is offended?  Oh my gosh!  How could we let that happen!  This is problematic.

Answer me this….Whom is more harmed, the one who hears someone else’s viewpoint, or the one restricted from sharing it.  One is protected in the Bill of Rights, the other is not.  Yet we constantly fight to keep our freedom against those who would take it.

—now Bob, you are mixing politics and religion and that is not good.

Wrong again in my opine.  Modern politics are simply copies of previous political structures which included the religious leaders within their structure such as the Jewish people, Egyptian society, Medieval European culture, and others.

The “inalienable” rights we find so valuable in our constitution were not created or dreamed up by the architects of our country.  They were God given freedoms desired by those who founded our country…so they built them into the structure.  There are TRUTHS found in the Bible.

And yes, while those who founded our country had their faults just as we all do…the Truths they laid out have not changed.  They are still God given freedoms to all who roam this land.

So…where do we go?  How do we handle this quandary?  Can I be a political activist, and a Christian?  Sure, why not!  Jesus was!

I look at it like this.  We cannot afford to not talk about the important issues.

About ten years ago a friend of mine from school committed suicide.  He was a good guy, someone who deserved more in life.  I was not a good person during the time we knew each other.  After going to college and some time later becoming a Christian, I thought multiple times about contacting him and sharing the Good News that I had come to know.  A few months later a friend told me he committed suicide.  No one could find me to tell me and so I also missed the funeral.  This story isn’t really about me, I still pray for my friend and ask God to receive him home…  But there is always in the back of ones mind…”what if”.

I will do everything I can to not have “what ifs” in my life.  Whether it is an issue of getting into heaven, being a good husband, parenting, life issues, health, or how we treat others…I will have dialog with friends on these topics.  I will point out areas where I think someone might be in danger.  And I pray my friends have the courage to do the same for me.

Truth does not change.  We will be persecuted when we speak it.  We will be attacked by the devil, who is as real as you and I.  As Jesus Christ tells us through John

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

I pray that we all seek to have life abundantly by destroying political correctness and fear.  Tear down the walls that prevent us from loving one another as Christ calls us to.  Yes, I’m a sinner and I need the help of the Christian community to grow in holiness and the likeness of God…and so do you.  Receive the words of a friend with care, and offer them with even greater care.  In doing so God will use you to show His love and His justice will be done.

God bless.