MegaChurch or Catholic Church?

taylormarshall.com ^ | August 26, 2013 | Dr. Taylor Marshall

[NYer]

Megachurch. Two young ladies. Both had left the Catholic Church. Both were now attending “megachurches.” We had a good chat together. I wanted to understand their reasons for why they left the Catholic Church for a megachurch.

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Megachurch
43,500 weekly attendance

I was at the bank and somehow I got into a spiritual conversation with two Hispanic executives that worked there.

Why the Megachurch?

When I asked why they exchanged the Catholic Church for the megachurch, they gave me a number of reasons:

1. “My new church has an iPhone app. I can go on my iPhone and get Bible studies, sermons (video and audio). When I travel I can still watch the sermon, either live or later. I feel apart of the community.”
2. “The preaching is dynamic and speaks to my life. I find practical encouragement.”
3. “I felt judged at the Catholic Church.”
4. “People were not friendly or welcoming at the Catholic Church. The first time I went to my new church, I was welcomed by so many people.”
5. “My new church has classes and courses that are interesting and helpful.”
6. “The music is better.”
7. “In the Catholic Church, they use a lot of words that I did not understand.”
8. “People pray for each other and know each other (in the megachurch).”

Although these two ladies didn’t articulate it explicitly to me, I could tell that they were very proud of their new churches. I could also discern in them a surprise that I am so “spiritual” and yet I am very excited about being Catholic. They assumed the “with it” people were leaving Catholicism for the bigger and better and deal.

I asked them what they miss about being Catholic. They replied with two answers:

1. “There are not any crosses in my new church. I know it makes some people feel uncomfortable, but I wish we had crosses.”
2. “What will I do when I die?” They were both unclear about whether they could get anything like Last Rites at the megachurch.

What About the Eucharist?

I asked both about the Eucharist: “Don’t you miss the Eucharist?”

This question didn’t phase them one bit. “Oh we still have communion. They pass out little crackers and cups of juice. I like this better because I thought drinking from one big cup is icky. Spreads germs.”

“But in the Catholic Church,” I replied, “we believe that the Eucharist is the real Body and Blood of Jesus?”

I may as well have said, “Don’t you know that there are Martians in my back pocket.” She was unaware that the Catholic Church taught this. No idea.

The Problem

This, my brothers and sisters, is the crux of the problem. These girls were raised as Catholics, but did not know about the Eucharist. They did not know that the Eucharist is God. They did not understand the Holy Eucharist is the center of the Catholic tradition.

So when they compare our ho-hum Catholic music and pedestrian sermons to snazzy well produced musical productions and highly polished bulleted sermons from handsome professional speakers…where are they going to go?

If they had believed that the Holy Eucharist is truly the Lord Jesus Christ, then they would have stayed. This is the task of the New Evangelization if there is going to be one. Can we communicate the mystery of Eucharist. If we fail in that, everyone is leaving the building.

Godspeed,
Taylor

PS: I don’t mean to suggest that having the Holy Eucharist is an excuse for bad music, bad vestments, bad architecture, and bad sermons. The Eucharist is like a precious diamond. It deserves a platinum setting…not a plastic setting. We can’t say, “Well, we have the Eucharist – so you’re forced to stay and have a miserable experience every Sunday.” We can’t keep the sacraments hostage to mediocracy.

PPS: With 1 billion strong, the Catholic Church is the real megachurch!

Pope Francis at Rio de Janeiro
3 million people

[CynicalBear]

Here is the post that started this discussion.

To: CynicalBear She was the only human in the conception.

Think what you want, I really don’t care.

1,310 posted on Saturday, August 31, 2013 10:54:24 PM by Jvette

That was what you jumped in on to try to prove somehow that Jesus got all of His DNA from Mary. He could not have since if He got all of His DNA from Mary He would not have been a male. That’s the “original post” we have been debating.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you Jvette. Onward and upward!

[Religion Moderator]

to try to prove

Attributing motive to another Freeper is a form of "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[verga]

Thank you

[CynicalBear]

Here is the post that started this discussion.

To: CynicalBear She was the only human in the conception.

Think what you want, I really don’t care.

1,310 posted on Saturday, August 31, 2013 10:54:24 PM by Jvette

That was what you jumped in on apparently to try to prove somehow that Jesus got all of His DNA from Mary. He could not have since if He got all of His DNA from Mary He would not have been a male. That’s the “original post” we have been debating.

There, fixed it.

[metmom]

Prove it.

[metmom]

That is where I learned it 30+ years ago in New York and we teach it here in Va and I live in a rural district.

Now please demonstrate the tiniest amount of Christian charity and integrity and admit that I was correct.

Only if you document it.

Posting the curriculum online would be a start but by no means absolute proof that the teacher did indeed teach it.

[metmom]

Thanks for that link that clears up the issue.

Clearly, it would have been impossible for Jesus to have gotten all of His DNA from Mary, any more than the ludicrous statement that every drop of blood Jesus shed He got from Mary.

Too bad because now she can’t get all the credit for Jesus after all.

[terycarl]

infallible in matters of faith and morals....infallible Nonsense. Nobody ever gave anyone such a guarantee. And considering the lifestyle that seems to characterize most of the RC clergy for most of its history, double nonsense.

whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven....whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.......................infallible

[Melian]

Sorry if I touched a nerve. This passage, Acts 15:8, pretty much reads the same way for Catholics in our Bible, the original text. As I said, we also believe the Holy Spirit comes to all of us, but to the Apostles and their successors in a special way: Jn 20:21, Jn 10:16, Jn 21:17, Eph 4:11, 1 Tim 3:1 and 8 and 5:17, Luke 10:16. We follow Scripture very closely and, as I said, we trace our Church leadership all the way back to the Apostles.

Are you denying that parts were deleted from the original Scripture text to form the King James bible?

I did not say Acts 15:8 was talking about Church leaders. You selected that verse to try to prove your point, but it doesn’t do so. Peter said that sentence in reference to the Gentiles. We also believe what Peter said there. As I stated before: the Spirit comes to all of us in different ways. The gifts of the Spirit are unique to each of us, as we know. But Christ set up a Church, as the Scripture I cited above shows. He prayed that the Church He built would stay united. See Eph 2:20. In Acts 1:20 we see the office of leadership passed on.

Of course, the most important thing is the Eucharist: we take Christ, and sacred Scripture literally; it is His Body and Blood. See 1 Cor 10:16 and 1 Cor 2:14 to 3:4. We always have believed this and always will. Phil 2:2.

If you go online and find the text of the original Scripture, you will see what I am saying is true. If you choose to read a version that some earthly King or disgruntled Priest or Billy Bob slashed parts out of, that’s your choice. I choose to read and believe the original, unedited, untampered with, Holy Spirit inspired, sacred Scripture. Not one men have made in their own image.

So, as I said, I am quite happy to be Catholic and be part of the one, united, true, Apostolic, universal, Christ-instituted and, therefore, holy Church. We have the fullness of faith. No parts have been deleted by mere men.

If you would like me to send you one of my parish bulletins showing that Catholics read and revere Scripture weekly, and are instructed to read scripture daily, private message me a safe and neutral address and I will mail you one.

Again, sorry if I touched a nerve. Perhaps it is a shock to know there are serious Catholics out there, reading their Bibles and loving God’s word? Oh, and by the way, we bow to the Sacred Scripture in Mass before and after each reading, and, before hearing the Gospel, we make the sign of the cross on our heads, lips, and hearts and pray the Gospel will always be on our minds, on our lips, and living within us. Did you know that? Catholics love the Bible as least as much as any other Christian denomination.

I would assert we love it most because we believe it as the Spirit inspired it to be written and we don’t presume to alter it in any way.

[Melian]

I don’t know why you say that. That’s the opposite of what I said. See also post 1370.

[metmom]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infallible

infallible : incapable of error : unerring *an infallible memory*

2: not liable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint : certain *an infallible remedy*
3
:incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith or morals

Binding and loosing is not infallibility. It would be exercising authority, but it is not being without error.

[terycarl]

Protestantism is the LEAST unified religion on the planet. That alone indicates it is not Christ’s Church. Every 3 seconds, a new Billy Bob decides he’s got a better personal interpretation of Scripture and starts a church. I would never put my soul in the hands of any religion that was not unified, holy, and anciently Apostolic. It flies in the face of Christ’s own Holy Spirit-inspired Scripture.

in the last year, four store front "churches" have sprung up in our little city of 18,000. Well-spring something, a Baptist church obviously opposed to the large Baptist community already here....I don't understand, but do recognize the protestant movement......they protest.

[Melian]

We know, of course, that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all. But different gifts to each, and Christ gave a different authority to Church leaders and prayed especially for them. See my post 1370.

[terycarl]

Binding and loosing is not infallibility. It would be exercising authority, but it is not being without error.

sure it is....if you bind it on Earth.....God will bind it in Heaven, if you loose it on Earth, God will loose it in Heaven.......there is NO ROOM FOR ERROR there....none.

God will not allow his church to make an error that He has to stand behind.....it will NEVER happen.

[Melian]

Agreed. The fragmentation increases exponentially in the Protestant movement. I see it as a clear sign that Christ is not steering that ship! It flies against everything he wanted for us all.

Protestantism is a religion of parts, created by men in their own likeness. I see it as a Tower of Babel crossed with a golden calf. I honestly don’t know how they can ignore that! Christ warned there would be many false prophets but the sheer volume is stunning.

[Melian]

And thank you for being part of the faithful remnant!

The lukewarm are being winnowed out and the Church Militant will be smaller but just as strong as ever. Christ’s Church will prevail to the end. Unfortunately, we know what Christ thought of the lukewarm from Scripture. I think this is an amazing time to be a Catholic because it is not easy! In a small way, we are persecuted by the media and fellow “Christians” each day. It is a gift to be able to accept a few stripes for the sake of faithfulness to Christ’s teachings. We are lucky! May God bless you!

Dear Lord, please touch the hearts of lukewarm Catholics and inspire them to learn more about their faith. Instill in them a thirst to investigate the teachings of your Church as adults in faith. Help them to grow in their understanding of your Word and in their love of the Eucharist. Strengthen your Church Militant and inspire us to educate and inspire them. I ask this in Jesus’ name.

[Iscool]

If you go online and find the text of the original Scripture, you will see what I am saying is true. If you choose to read a version that some earthly King or disgruntled Priest or Billy Bob slashed parts out of, that’s your choice. I choose to read and believe the original, unedited, untampered with, Holy Spirit inspired, sacred Scripture. Not one men have made in their own image.

You've never seen the original a day in your life...It doesn't exist...They've even got you guys duped over that...

[metmom]

sure it is....if you bind it on Earth.....God will bind it in Heaven, if you loose it on Earth, God will loose it in Heaven.......there is NO ROOM FOR ERROR there....none.

God will not allow his church to make an error that He has to stand behind.....it will NEVER happen.

So, *POOF*, there goes man's free will.

Catholicism has made God subject to man.

That's the RCC's problem right there. Setting themselves up over God.

What would never happen is that God, the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, would ever make Himself bound to any man.

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus would not trust Himself to any man because He knew what was in mens hearts.

John 2:24-25 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

So the priest is really responsible for any individual's salvation. He grants forgiveness. Did he also die for them? Or did Jesus?

[Melian]

Again, we know each of us receives a unique spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit and not all receive the same gift. But Jesus selected 12 people to be special leaders. He gave them special teaching, experiences, and prayed special prayers for them. He promised the Spirit would come to guide them. He prayed they would remain united in the faith. Scripture also tells us to avoid those who create dissension: Rom 16:17.

Read the words I wrote again. Then read the Scripture passages I have cited. They can’t be twisted. All Christians receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. But the leadership of the Catholic Church, the successors of Peter’s authority receive guidance by the Holy Spirit. Luke 10:16, John 14:16 and 26, John 16:13, 1 Tim 3:15.

And Catholics have the best, most complete, most divine Bible of all available to them. Not the one men have defaced and defiled to suit their whims/weaknesses. Truly, the Catholic Church is marked in all ways as Christ’s one, true Church!