Top Jimmy

I'm sure each one of us has encountered the question "Are you saved?" at some point in our lives. It's a question that is often thrown about in the more fundamentalist Christian circles. Catholics who haven't had much exposure to this breed of Christianity often feel stymied with how to answer. The issue is with the context that this question is usually framed. There is almost always the implication of the guarantee of heaven simply by virtue of professing a faith in Christ.

The idea of being saved through faith alone (Sola Fide) is one of the hallmark doctrines of Martin Luther's theology. It is a doctrine that is almost universally shared among all Protestant Christians although the interpretation of what this actually means can vary greatly. For example, some subscribe to a "once saved, always saved" philosophy that basically absolves one of any "work" beyond a profession of faith in Christ as your personal savior. Even baptism would be considered unnecessary and merely symbolic. Others believe that our salvation is purely through faith, but that it is possible to lose one's faith. There are any numbers of other varying beliefs that fall somewhere between these two. Suffice it to say, there is no unanimity on the issue.

Given this theology, you can imagine the difficulty Martin Luther would have had with the book of James. In James, we find the only place in scripture where faith and alone are together. It is found in chapter 2, verse 24, when it is explicitly stated that we are not saved by faith alone. Many historians have noted Luther's desire to drop the book of James out of the New Testament canon of scripture. He referred to the book of James as "an epistle of straw" and was also quoted as saying "I almost feel like throwing Jimmy into the stove." These are strong words considering he's referring to the Word of God.

Coming to a complete understanding of how Luther arrived at the doctrine of Sola Fide is far beyond the scope of this small piece. In short, his understanding largely comes from his interpretation of some of St. Paul's writings. However, St. Paul's writings have to be read in context with the other scriptures (particularly the Gospels) as well as the audience he was speaking to. In many cases, St. Paul was trying to convince the Jews that their "works of the Mosaic law" were now superseded by having faith in Christ. After all, wasn't it St. Paul who wrote we must "work out our salvation with fear and trembling?"

How should a Catholic answer a question about being saved?

A good start would be to say that by His grace, Jesus redeemed us for our sins. This free gift gives each one of us the possibility of heaven, not because of any merit on our part, but because of His sacrifice on the cross. As such, it is right and true to call Jesus our personal Savior. However, whether or not any of us are saved, that's a question only God can answer. After all, isn't He the one that ultimately judges each one of us? Our faith teaches us that every person receives sufficient grace to be saved. (God wills the damnation of no one.) It's how we cooperate with the grace we receive that determines our salvation. In other words, do we accept God's grace and live according to His will? For example, those who have been given the gift of faith must also respond in faith. When we fall, do we repent and ask God's forgiveness? (For Catholics, this would involve sacramental confession for sins of a serious nature.) Or, do we reject His grace and unrepentantly live according to our own will?

As Catholics, we are often accused of believing that we are saved by our works. This is completely false. As stated above, we are saved by grace. If God has graced us with the gift of faith, then we must absolutely respond in faith. Merely doing good works will not save us. However, the works have to be part of the equation as a faith apart from works is dead (as written in James). What was the "yardstick" Jesus used when he judged those described in Matthew 25? ("I was thirsty and you gave me drink, etc.")

If I cannot know for certain that I'm guaranteed heaven, should I worry endlessly about my salvation? Absolutely not! We should always trust in God's infinite mercy and forgiveness. However, we should never presume to know what God's ultimate judgment will be. In a nutshell, we have to put into practice what we claim to profess. None of us can earn heaven. It's a free gift given by God when He offered Himself as the eternal sacrifice. However, like any "free gift," we can choose to throw it away.

If you followed popular music back in the 1980s, you may pick up the reference to a lesser known song off of Van Halen's immensely popular album, 1984. While I'm certainly not endorsing Van Halen to be played at your next revival, I'm confident many of you will be familiar with the song. I thought it might be a catchy title for the topic at hand. In my opinion, nobody can top "Jimmy" when it comes to understanding faith and works.

You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Most of us probably remember this famous line uttered by Chief Brody (played by Roy Scheider) in the 1975 classic, Jaws. It was spoken right after he saw the massive great white shark for the first time. I thought it might make an interesting segue into the topic of unity.

I’ve seen reports that there are now more than 30,000 Christian denominations (the number could actually be much higher) in the world today with new splits occurring almost daily. Unfortunately, the whole concept of a truly united or universal Church seems largely unimportant to many Christians. The focus is on one’s personal journey without much regard for any formal relationship with other Christians. Some have gone so far as to see any type of community worship as unnecessary or even detrimental. I heard a priest (now bishop) refer to such people as “blue domers.” Others are throwing off the “shackles” of traditional worship in favor of a contemporary gathering of Christian entertainment. At the heart of all this is a lack of unity.

While it’s true that God speaks to every one of us personally, it is also true that there is only one God. As such, there can be only one ultimate Truth which is found in the person of God’s only Son. However, many who claim to be moved by the Holy Spirit have wildly different interpretations of God’s Word. How can this be? If all these divergent opinions are truly movements of the Holy Spirit, then one can only conclude that either Truth is relative or that the Holy Spirit teaches error. If I read a passage of scripture and state it says “A” and another person reads the same passage and claims it says “B”, we can’t both be right? Reason tells us this one. So while it’s easy enough to say “I believe in whatever the Bible teaches.” it’s really not a sufficient answer. It simply doesn’t make sense that God would expect each and every one of us to determine (for ourselves) what the Truth is.

The answer is found by being part of the “bigger boat” that God gave us when He founded a Church that was truly universal. A Church that is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. A Church that would stand firm for all time until His return. A Church that would pass on the apostolic teaching and traditions received from Christ Himself to guarantee that every generation would be given an authentic Truth. A Church that would be found in every nation and that praises God in every tongue. The only Church that can lay claim to such a distinction is the one that has been there from the beginning, the holy Catholic Church.

Far from being “shackles,” there is great power when the Church prays with unity. All of those voices being raised to God in unison. All the members professing the same Faith given to us by the apostles. This is what God intended when He gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter. He wanted all of His sheep to be fed the same Truth and to be united in one Church.

In closing, consider this except from “On the Unity of the Church” written by St. Cyprian in the year 251 A.D.

"Nor let any deceive themselves by a futile interpretation, in respect of the Lord having said, "Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Corrupters and false interpreters of the Gospel quote the last words, and lay aside the former ones, remembering part, and craftily suppressing part: as they themselves are separated from the Church, so they cut off the substance of one section. For the Lord, when He would urge unanimity and peace upon His disciples, said, "I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth touching anything that ye shall ask, it shall be given you by my Father which is in heaven. For wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, I am with them; " showing that most is given, not to the multitude, but to the unanimity of those that pray. "If," He says, "two of you shall agree on earth: "He placed agreement first; He has made the concord of peace a prerequisite; He taught that we should agree firmly and faithfully. But how can he agree with any one who does not agree with the body of the Church itself, and with the universal brotherhood? How can two or three be assembled together in Christ's name, who, it is evident, are separated from Christ and from His Gospel?"

May we pray for the unity of all Christians.

Setting the Mood

It’s your 25th wedding anniversary and you want to do something really special to show your wife just how much she means to you. You plan for weeks and months trying to decide what would make for the perfect evening. The kind of evening where you can reminisce with one another about all you’ve shared for those many years. Finally, light dawns and you have the perfect idea. You will prepare a simple, non-elaborate meal which anyone could make. You will use paper plates, plastic silverware, and disposable cups. You will remove the entire house of all family pictures and any object which is a reminder of the life you’ve shared together. (Even the picture of your dog Woofy must go!) Yes, this night is truly special! Next, you set the table and ensure there is no table cloth. (It goes without saying that any thought of candles is completely out of the question.) You will dress in your most tattered jeans along with your faded Budweiser T-Shirt. Finally, as the magic night arrives and you sit down to your meal of hot dogs and Fritos, you gaze lovingly into each others eyes completely unencumbered by anything you’ve ever remotely shared together…

Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? It’s so ridiculous that none of us would ever consider such an absurd thing. However, if we are to love God even more than our own spouse, why would we flinch at giving Him the royal treatment? Our relationship with the Lord should be even more profound and more intimate than that of our spouse. Yet, why do so many have such trouble with showing our love for Him through the use of sacred objects (artwork, statues, candles, jewelry, altar linens, vestments, etc.) The Church refers to such objects as sacramentals. Unlike sacraments, sacramentals do not confer grace. However, much like having pictures of family and friends around us, these sacred objects elevate our senses and make us more in-tune with the reality of God’s presence.

There’s nothing like walking into a truly “old style” Catholic Church with all the statues and works of sacred art. Far from being a distraction, these things almost instantly bring oneself to a heightened sense of devotion. Regrettably, even within the Catholic Church there was a recent period where the architecture became more modern and less sacred. (My home parish could easily be mistaken for the USS Enterprise.) Thankfully, the current trend seems to be going back to the more traditional style.

God created us as sense perceptible beings. As such, we react strongly to sense perceptible things. You’d never think of leaving the walls of your own house bare. Why then would you do this to His house?

No Greater Love

In John 15 we learn that there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for a friend. This act of love has never been better demonstrated than by God Himself when He emptied Himself (the Greek term kenosis), became man, and allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins. Nothing brings this home more than when gazing upon a crucifix.

I’ve heard some non-Catholic Christians make comments about Catholics keeping Jesus “on the cross.” One went so far as to say they were thankful they believed in a resurrected Christ. As if we don’t!!!!

While these kinds of comments can be maddening for a Catholic, it comes back to a misunderstanding about the purpose of such things. The use of a crucifix doesn’t deny the belief in the resurrection. Nor does it imply that Jesus is still suffering for our sins. The use of a crucifix is a way of constantly reminding us of the immense love God has for each and every one of us. Every time I look upon the image of Christ crucified, I remember just how much He loves me. No other image of Christ comes close to making me as acutely aware of His love.

The Gift of Faith

This weekend I look forward with great anticipation to the baptism of my 11 week old daughter. Having already been blessed with two boys, it was truly a joy (my wife would say relief) when we found out the third would be a girl. Having never grown up with sisters, it was an opportunity to experience something I’d never experienced before. (When she reaches the teenage years, I may wish I’d been left in the dark.) In any case, the event of her upcoming baptism reminded me of the gift of faith.

Yes, faith is truly a gift from God that we receive freely by His grace. However, not all of us are given this immense gift. Many live in parts of the world that have never heard the Gospel or perhaps were raised in homes that didn’t foster any faith tradition. With this in mind, I think at times we get confused about what faith is and how we receive it. Faith isn’t merely the intellectual exercise of the great “I believe.” If this were the case, faith would become a “work” in a certain sense. No, faith has a supernatural aspect that goes beyond our intellect. It’s the infusion of the Holy Spirit on one’s very soul.

Many outside of the Catholic Tradition question the legitimacy of baptizing infants. This can largely be understood when one views baptism as an outward expression of a faith that has already been received. In other words, the baptism itself doesn't have its own efficacy.

Before exploring the Catholic view, it is important to note that many Protestant traditions also baptize infants as well. However, most would still deny the role of baptism in terms of our salvation. This has always puzzled me. It’s kind of like saying that baptism is required, but not necessary. I digress….

Baptism first and foremost is a sacrament. (For those of you unfamiliar with this term, a sacrament is a sense perceptible sign of God’s grace.) Therefore, the act of baptizing actually confers God’s grace (ex opere operato). This grace is received completely independent of the intellectual knowledge and comprehension of the person receiving it. That is why the Church from its earliest days has baptized infants. There is no greater gift a parent can give to a newborn child. For at baptism, the child will receive the Holy Spirit, be given the gift of Faith, have the stain of original sin removed, and become incorporated into the Body of Christ, the Church. Through baptism we are "born again" as Jesus explains to Nicodemus in John 3 when He says that we must be born of "water and the spirit." The Church has always understood this to mean baptism as the writings of the earliest Christians will attest to. Were baptism merely a “symbolic” gesture, I can’t imagine the scriptures placing such immense importance to it (not to mention the sacred Tradition as well). In its proper context, baptism is the “doorway” through which one enters the Church and subsequently opens us to the many graces God makes available.

Of course, there is an intellectual component to faith as one matures and reaches the age of reason. At this stage of life, one must act on the baptismal graces received and develop a faith that is personal and profound. In other words, your “ticket to heaven” isn’t bought simply because you were baptized. As such, it is certainly possible for someone to intellectually reject the faith they’ve received. However, the mark still remains on their soul.

Let us all remember the gift of our faith and thank God every day for it.

With A Capital "T"

At the beginning of a new blog, it seems almost obligatory to say a little about myself and the reasons for starting this adventure. Firstly, I’m a convert to the Catholic Church having been baptized, confirmed, and given first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil back in 1996. Since then, I’ve done a tremendous amount of personal study and have actively participated in various groups within the Church. Most prominently, I have helped teach the RCIA program for the past 4 years at my local parish. For those of you unfamiliar with this program, it stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Basically, it’s the formal program one takes if they wish to become Catholic.

At a later time, I may try to explain my conversion story in detail. For now, I’m going to hold off on that aspect of my personal journey. I will instead “fast forward” to the present. Suffice it to say, I am a true convert as I completely embrace the Catholic Church and all that it teaches. This comes after years of study and personal experience. Having been raised Protestant and having been a religion minor at a Protestant school (before my conversion), I am well versed in the whys and wherefores of the Reformation, core Protestant theology (Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura), as well as having a wealth of exposure to sacred scripture from a Protestant perspective. With that said, I am by no means unaware of the numerous misconceptions, misinterpretations, and misguided thinking many have when pondering the Catholic Church.

The purpose of my blog is to provide an uplifting (and sometimes humorous) voice for the Catholic Faith and what it has to offer to a world desperate for Truth. My blog will not be about attacking or ridiculing those of other traditions. (All humorous quips and comments will be meant to "lighten to mood" as opposed to making fun.) Nor will it be my real attempt to “convert” anybody. All conversions are through the Holy Spirit and to think otherwise is pure ego. I know how viciously the Catholic Church is attacked by many, so the urge to “fight back” can be tempting at times. However, this usually does little more than make “martyrs” of the people you’re attacking and perhaps even further convict them in their views. In the end, I believe a true Faith Tradition has to stand on its own merits. In other words, something can’t be true simply because you believe you’ve proven something else to be false. All too often this seems to be the approach many take to their Christian faith. It’s all about why everyone else (except the people in their own congregation) is wrong and not why they themselves are actually right. Hopefully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, this blog can be a vehicle for helping others to understand why Catholicism can stand on its own merit by looking at sacred scripture, history, reason, and yes, Tradition with a capital “T”.

Thanks for reading and God Bless.