What, in light of the Bible, is ‘faith’? And let us again affirm clearly: it is not a system of semi- knowledge, but an existential decision— it is life in terms of the future that God grants us, even beyond the frontier of death. This is the attitude and orientation that gives life its weights and measures, its ordinances, and its very freedom.
Ratzinger, Faith and Future
So this story has been doing the rounds of social media. I am not sure I should comment on the story. I do not know the particulars. I am impressed that the priest has chosen to wear choir dress.
So, I will add these general points:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
I often meditate on the first half but this morning I am drawn to “no man cometh … but by me”. Jesus is the only way! (And the full revelation of God.)
What if, hear me out, the west has misunderstood the doctrine of the Trinity? And, what if, because of this misunderstanding there is such a decline in religious participation?
I mean, what if the filique is just as important as the eastern churches claim it to be?
And what if Nietzsche is right: the west has made God a metaphysical principle?
Just what if …
So I was thinking about “church”. Maybe there are are two issues I have:
Ecclesiolatry means excessive or obsessive devotion to the church as an institution, its traditions, or its physical and ceremonial trappings, rather than to God or the spiritual faith it represents.
It is therefore necessary, on the one hand, to decisively overcome the scourge of clericalism. Listening and leaving aside stereotypes are powerful antidotes to the risk of clericalism, to which an assembly such as this is inevitably exposed, despite our intentions. Clericalism arises from an elitist and exclusivist vision of vocation, that interprets the ministry received as a power to be exercised rather than as a free and generous service to be given. This leads us to believe that we belong to a group that has all the answers and no longer needs to listen or learn anything, or that pretends to listen. Clericalism is a perversion and is the root of many evils in the Church: we must humbly ask forgiveness for this and above all create the conditions so that it is not repeated.
Pope Francis
There is something the same in each of the above. And I think it is not reserved to liturgy or hierarchical institutions. Some of the most “dictatorial clergy” I have met are non-conformist.
In the end, there is no institutional answer to a personal question.
I saw someone on TikTok ask, “why does God send people to hell?”.
Good question. So here is my completely not asked for response:
God respects people’s choices. God respects “rejection” so that I can choose to love. Without that freedom, and God’s absolute respect for my freedom, there is no real love or faith.
Also, and let’s be honest, for people who choose to reject God in this life to spend all eternity with God is just another example of hell! Right!?
Completely without authority (or insight).
From where do these bishops receive jurisdiction???
Also: why look so gloomy? No smiles at all. All very serious.
But above all, grace is attributed to you, that you call me by name, whom you have never seen. But since grace is not known by dignity, but is accustomed to be signified by the actions of souls, bless for the sake of God, and grant a prayer of your perfection’s indulgence.
St. Sophronius of Jerusalem. Life of St. Mary of Egypt (p. 15). (Function). Kindle Edition.
A desert encounter! Two people who have never meet. But grace is obvious!
Being “clergy” does not mean grace! Nor insight. Nor faith.
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Matthew 13:12-13
I am watching the documentary on Gloriavale Christian Community. The title is interesting, Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal. Cults interest me!
Let me start by saying that I have no idea of their theology. I did look at their website and (big tick from me) they are KJV only. And, yes, there are bad people among them. But there are bad people everywhere! I do not have the numbers (and taking the moral outrage out of it): are they, for example, statistically worse than your average sports club? Maybe the issue is expectation?!
So my first take: there is a lot of talk about freedom in the second episode, Sins of the Father, centering on mind control (taking an individuals freedom by cohesion) and brainwashing Of course, no person would willingly join! Or would they? The assumption is that people in any cult are irrational and shown the error of their ways would leave. (This, of course, simply ends in battling authorities.) Yet, what I see are people who are completely committed to their understanding of the Christian life.
So, I wonder, in complete freedom, can an individual surrender that freedom to someone else?
