Posted on 04/25/2008 12:06:53 PM PDT by NYer
unding the reversion of Dr. Francis Beckwith, former president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Despite the fact that it meant losing the respect and fellowship of his colleagues, not to mention his livelihood, Dr. Beckwith's courageous position was unequivocal: unless there is a serious theological reason not to, the default position of every believer must be to belong to the historical Church founded by Christ.
What is at stake here is the rock-bottom question as to what worship is, and how you do it.... [W]orship is the thing we were created for -- to know God, and knowing him, to bless him and adore him forever....
To worship God is to ascribe worth to him. It is an activity distinct from teaching, and from fellowship, and from witnessing, and from sharing. It is an act, not an experience. ... Our task in worship is to offer the oblation of ourselves and our adoration at the Sapphire Throne.
Obviously this is a daunting and an august task. Fortunately we are not left to our own resources, nor to the whim of the moment, nor even to our own experience. The faithful have been worshipping God since the beginning, and there is help for us. All of us, even those of us who come from the so-called free churches ... are accustomed to borrowing secondhand, canned words to assist in worship. I am speaking of hymns. When we sing "Amazing Grace" or "O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," we are borrowing John Newton's or Charles Wesley's words. And we discover that, far from cramping or restricting our worship, these secondhand words bring us up to a level quite unattainable by our own spontaneous efforts. They take us away from ourselves. (p.254-255).
These reflections on worship contrast strangely with the protestations of many of those who leave the Church for what they perceive to be greener (certainly noisier) pastures. "I feel closer to God there ...," they say, or "the people are so much friendlier, and they have more to offer in the way of children's programs." Thinking they can choose a church the same way we can choose a new school or a new home, they rely on subjective factors of preference and comfort, rather than the single most important consideration of all: Which is the most authentic expression of the Body of Christ as He originally envisioned it? Not, "which is more entertaining?" but "Which leads me with surest steps along the pathway to holiness?" Not, "Which makes me feel good?" but "Which is most effective in treating my spiritual ills?" Not "which has the best music," but "which draws me closest to the sacramental presence of the Living Christ?"
Me too. I get a lot of flak from people, which just makes me prouder.
“’You could be in the Knights of Columbus. Now fill out Form 100. You’ll be glad you did!’
“No, I am female!”
Are you married? I could send your husband a Form 100.
;-)
sitetest
To:
On a membership drive, are we??
Thanks for you post about the current status of Elizabeth. My cousins are dealing with my aunt’s Alzheimer’s. She finally had to be moved into a home last week, so I understand the scourge of that disease. Prayers for all who are affected by such a terrible burden.
Thankfully, Mother had a heart attack as Dad held her on the toilet after many years of Alzheimer’s. She never had to be in a home other than her’s. Which was a great fear and point of anger for her—the idea she’d have to be at some point.
I stopped here. What a pity. What a pity. Always dug Elisabeth Elliot.
It is a shame that many keep themselves separated from the fullness of faith found in the Catholic Church when their love of Holy Scripture points squarely to His Church.
It's ridiculous. Imagine how it must pain Holy Mary to hear someone say, "well, my listeners just wouldn't understand."
Ever balk at the Catholic Church causes me to love Her more.
First of all, I don’t even know what “pings” are. I am not on the computer that often so you can take me off your list. If I see anything interesting to me regarding Catholic theology I will read it anyway and respond if I feel the need to do so.
Thanx for asking Alex — yoo’re doing a good job. Christ has risen! You bet He did!
I've wrestled long and hard with crossing the Tiber. But I adhere to my Protestant faith out of reason and conscience. I have investigated many aspects of the Church's teachings, specifically the ones I disagree with most - and checked what the Church's Catechism had to say on many of them. I find that my concerns are valid on most counts.
I love much about the Church, it's history, it's liturgy, the Eucharist. But I disagree on too many other points. There are things taught by the Church I simply cannot agree to out of intellectual honesty and simple reason.
“I could never be anything else.”
My mind cannot grasp existence outside the Catholic Church. I do not wear my religion on my sleeve (perhaps I should) but I hope and pray that many convert to see things my way.
If they don’t, I still wish them eternal salvation.
How about a litany of those reasons?
Thank you for the kind words.
I seeded the list originally with everyone who responded to the first few conversion threads. You are off now, and God bless you.
bttt
She probably was more worried about them (wrongly) than about herself - that is, she was probably afraid they’d feel abandoned, deceived, etc. Of course, some of them might have; but others would have started thinking...
Prayers for her in any case. Alzheimers in anybody is a horror, but in a person who was recognized as brilliant and gifted in her field, it must be twice as hard. Muriel Spark, the British philosopher/novelist (and Catholic convert), had it, and IIRC, her husband wrote about it later.
And I'm not castigating her. Her motives are not known to me.
Always. I’m the Grand Knight. ;-)
Not a problem! Most KofC Counciles have a women's auxiliary, of which I am a member.
Pssst ... the women are the backbone of the Knights and keep them afloat with their fundraisers :-)
My hubby needs one of those forms. I hear the life insurance is great! :o)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.