Posted on 08/27/2013 11:53:37 AM PDT by 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.
I was at the bank and somehow I got into a spiritual conversation with two Hispanic executives that worked there.
When I asked why they exchanged the Catholic Church for the megachurch, they gave me a number of reasons:
Although these two ladies didnt 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:
I asked both about the Eucharist: Dont you miss the Eucharist?
This question didnt 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, Dont you know that there are Martians in my back pocket. She was unaware that the Catholic Church taught this. No idea.
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 dont 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 cant say, Well, we have the Eucharist – so youre forced to stay and have a miserable experience every Sunday. We cant keep the sacraments hostage to mediocracy.
PPS: With 1 billion strong, the Catholic Church is the real megachurch!
>> “Or failing that, start one of your own” <<
.
Or better yet, do what Constantine did: Crush the real worship and replace it with your own pagan garbage.
Proverbs has a good description of what Constantine did: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; it is the way that leadeth unto destruction.
Those who want to keep SOME of the Law are required to keep it all; aren’t they?
I’m an Acts 15 kinda guy.
*****All that did was end up leading into more error and deception.*****
That there is error and deception is an opinion held by those who reject Christ’s Church as the protector of the Deposit of Faith.
I understand why there are those who feel that way, there have always been people outside the Church who thought they knew Truth yet didn’t. Pride.
You're right. Christ dwelling in my heart is far more permanent and intimate than carrying Him around in the womb.
And I've been pregnant and know the difference. Christ is in my heart, knows my thoughts, desires, wants, and needs. The babies I carried I carried for 9 months, and it was over. They were out and never became part of me the way Jesus has living in my heart.
There's just no comparison and no way that pregnancy can supersede having Jesus IN me.
While it amazes me how anyone could be so slavish about the supposed enormity of her role and place her in salvation requirements.
I guess that ‘REQUIRED’ word kinda threw me.
This isn’t the first time attempts have been made to twist my words to try to make it seem I said something I haven’t.
It’s an attempt to impugn me and I will point out that falseness every time it is tried.
If you are going to make the assertion, back it up with my actual words saying such.
Otherwise, withdraw that claim and apologize.
Nobody walks away from the Presence of Christ when He is living in them.
Christ in me, the hope of glory.
I don't have to go to a building to find Him. I don't have to eat Him to have Him in me. He promised that he'd never leave me or forsake me.
Too bad Catholics believe in such a transient Jesus. They'd do better with the one who sticks closer than a brother, who will never leave them or forsake them, than one who they think abandons them over every little mistake they make or sin they commit.
Don't worry; I won't.
If it DISagrees with Scripture; I'll ignore it.
If it agrees with Scripture; I'll not be needing it.
Do I have a third choice?
Perhaps; but I'd suspect He'll say, "It was SIMPLE when I left. What happened?"
*****And I’ve been pregnant and know the difference. Christ is in my heart, knows my thoughts, desires, wants, and needs. The babies I carried I carried for 9 months, and it was over. They were out and never became part of me the way Jesus has living in my heart.*****
LOL, the babies you carried were a part of you, just as Jesus was a part of Mary. And the babies you carried weren’t Jesus, the Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, God made Man.
Is it your belief that Jesus, once born of Mary no longer knew her or lived in her heart? Was she just so much dross to be discarded once used?
Yeah...
Them Bad Popes changed a LOT of 'human law'.
Why do you Catholics ALLOW 'human law' to infiltrate your beloved church in the first place?
Ah yes, the old Constantine invented the Church canard.
Good one. That really hurts.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059418/posts?page=584#584
“But, Scripture does not ever say outright, Jesus is God.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059418/posts?page=535#535
“The point is that Scripture never calls Jesus God.
Scripture gives the name Jesus to the Second Person of the Trinity, who is God, but is never called God.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059418/posts?page=451#451
“Nowhere in Scripture is Jesus called God. Through many passages we come to understand that He is indeed God, but nowhere does Scripture call Jesus, God.”
Of HUMAN LAW?
Says you anyway, eh??? You're more qualified than the people who translated this word as perfect???
Here's a hint...One only has to read the context to see in what sense the word 'perfect' was used...
I'll stick with the 'perfect' translation...
Its recorded history by many wuitnesses.
But Obama's not killing anyone.
****Hey Jvette, youre arguing with what Jesus said, not me.****
Not arguing with what Jesus said. Just showing that what you think about what He said is in error.
I think some dronees would beg to differ from wherever their souls went.
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