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April 04, 2008
> 1:23 AM
into one body The reading from Mid-morning prayer this morning in the Office... It was in one Spirit that all of us, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body. All of us have been given to drink of the one Spirit.I'm not too keen on Catholics gearing this to say "...oh, and that one Body is us, only us and the rest of you are out of luck." I know, I know - "it's your Church that says these things, deal with it buddy, or you need to get out" - oh, and, AND (from the Catholics), "You may not like it but we ARE THE one true Church, and that's just it, deal with it buddy, bend your neck or get out." That mess just pisses me off so don't say that. I know this too (I'm real smart by the way) - not all Protestants think like that or would say that AND not all Catholics would say anything like that. I know that so don't start. But it IS out there and it's common enough to take note of, and it's hard for me, in my present circumstance, not to take note. I know also that many Catholics, especially converts from Protestant Churches it seems, take great comfort in the "One True Church" thing. This is why many of them converted. They are convinced this is the only way to go, that nothing else is really legitimate, so the choice is fairly limited. I understand the excitement something like this can instill. I get the great value placed on the ancient nature of the Catholic Church and all it has kept intact for nearly 2,000 years. I understand that this has also been the fuel that has reignited the fire in many a cradle Catholic as well. I see and understand these things. I want to say, though, that I think there are other ways one can be a Catholic Christian, other reasons to love the Catholic Church than because of any exclusivity claims. Personally, I have to look past the exclusivity claims, whether they are made by the Church authorities or by her members, in order that they don't overshadow what love I have for Catholic Christianity which is not based in this thinking. The whole Church, all of us, every institutional expression, every so-called non-institutional expression, and every individual member, is screwed up. We are collectively not ideally what we were designed to be. I believe there are ancient, True, beautiful, and amazing things in the Catholic Church that have been more fully maintained than in many other strains of the Body of Christ. There are things, I believe, that have been forgotten or lost in the Catholic arena as well - yes eeeeven in the Catholic Church. Even inside the beauty, there is some ugliness. Sure, like I said, I believe there is a certain fullness to be found in the big old walls of the Catholic Church. Does this mean to me that there is none of that fullness found anywhere else ecclesiastically speaking? It doesn't mean that to me. Perhaps, you may say, as a Protestant or as a Catholic, that I need to rethink my deal. Look, I'm always rethinking my deal. I'm always trying to listen to God and sense the Holy Spirit. I believe I have a decent ability to "hear God" leading me in my life. I can certainly miss it. I'm a part of the broken Body of Christ. Even though there may be a certain fullness here or there, some things forgotten or lost in this or that place, we are ALL still a part of this broken, yet to be fully transformed Body. One of the best things we could probably do along the way is at least recognize that and live with each other on that level, as the diversely scattered fellow members of the One Body of Christ. Oh, all you members of the Body, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Coptic, etc. - please pray for my Dad if you think about it. He's in the hospital (fine right now), but he has developed a couple more major artery blockages and will need another bypass surgery soon. Thanks. Peace to you. technorati tags > body of christ, the church, catholic church Labels: catholic, church, ecumenism 0 Comments:| permalink | e-mail me | 
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