Posted on 03/03/2015 6:43:06 PM PST by Gamecock
We have free-floating guilt, can identify the Ave Maria within thre notes, and likely have rosary beads somewhere in the attic. We also own at least one study Bible, listen to sermons in the car, and know that a ‘quiet time’ is different from a nap. We are followers of Christ who grew up Roman Catholic and are now Evangelical Protestants.”
That’s how Chris Castaldo begins his helpful, irenic, and humorous book, Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic. Chris was raised in an Italian, Roman Catholic family on Long Island, eventually graduated from Moody and Gordon-Conwell, and now serves as Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton. Talk about quite a journey. All roads lead to Wheaton I suppose.
Chris (I’m going to call him Chris since I’ve know him since seminary days) has written an extremely useful and needed book. Let’s be clear: this is not a book on what Catholics believe (though there is some of that); it’s not a polemic about why evangelicals are right and Catholics are wrong (though there’s no doubt who Chris thinks is right); it’s not a book about whether Evangelicals and Catholics Together has been a good idea (though that would be interesting). This is a book for ex-Catholics and for anyone with Catholic friends and family. It’s a look at why Catholics turn evangelicals and how Catholics-turned-evangelical can relate to the Catholics in their lives.
In Part 1, Chris explains–through surveys, interviews, and theological reflection–why some Catholics become evangelical. First, ex-Catholics appreciate an every-member ministry where all Christians are called to full-time service. Second, ex-Catholics are drawn to a personal relationship with Jesus that is more than just rule-keeping. Third, ex-Catholic evangelicals enjoy the direct access they have to God through Christ, without the need of any other intermediary. Fourth, ex-Catholics have come to see that only proper object of our devotion is Jesus Christ, not Mary or the saints. Fifth, ex-Catholic feel new freedom and joy in the salvation-by-grace-alone-through-faith-alone gospel that is championed in evangelical circles.
Underlying all of these differences between Catholics and evangelicals, Chris argues, is the issue of authority. Is Scripture our final authority or should we also put councils and encyclicals on equal footing with the Bible? With the possible exception of justification, there is no other issue that does more to separate Catholics and evangelicals more than this issue of authority.
In Part 2, Chris turns from analysis to praxis as he offers advice on how we can relate to Catholics. Because Chris can speak with an insider’s knowledge, I found it especially interesting to read his chapter on how Catholics view evangelicals. He explains that Catholics often think we are superficial, too chummy with God, hopelessly splintered, and only interested in “fire insurance.” In my experience all of these can be valid critiques of evangelicals, especially the first two. (I think “fire insurance” is pretty important, and I don’t for one minute think the Roman Catholic church is any less splintered over doctrinal and ethical issues than the Protestant church. The Catholics have more institutional unity on the face of it, but they have just as much dissension inside, not too mention plenty of people that flat-out ignore what the institution says.)
If I have a quibble with Holy Ground it would be that in one or two places I found myself wanting Chris to be just a little less accommodating and do just a little more to show how far apart Catholics and evangelicals are on some issues. But this does not detract from the overall value of the work. I have already recommended it to ex-Catholics and will again. The best part about this book is that it handles a controversial subject in way that manages to be both light and serious at the same time. This book is funny, smart, well-written, and full of grace and truth, with a healthy dose of common sense to boot. There really isn’t another book quite like it.
Holy Ground is the sort of book ex-Catholics will love to read and the sort of book they wouldn’t be embarrased to give to a Catholic friend. Chris is always respectful about his past, even as explains why he had to leave it. Many people will see their journey in this book. The rest of us will be helped to listen in on the story.
Me, too. I thought it was a typo for ironic. It would fit...
Pope Stephen VI (896–897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber.[1]
Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.
Pope Benedict IX (1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048), who "sold" the Papacy
Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303), who is lampooned in Dante's Divine Comedy
Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured.[2]
Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503), a Borgia, who was guilty of nepotism and whose unattended corpse swelled until it could barely fit in a coffin.[3]
Pope Leo X (1513–1521), a spendthrift member of the Medici family who once spent 1/7 of his predecessors' reserves on a single ceremony[4]
Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), also a Medici, whose power-politicking with France, Spain, and Germany got Rome sacked.
Not this one!
Galatians 3:1 comes to mind...
“Irenity now!”
So is Chris now one of those fanatics that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Halloween or Easter?
Is he one that doesn’t put up a Christmas tree or have fun with his kids with Santa, the Easter Bunny or taking them trick-or-treating or celebrating their birthdays? Is he one that thinks carving a pumpkin or putting on a costume is evil? Or eating a Christmas dinner or putting up a nativity scene or dying Easter eggs? Or having a classroom party at his kids’ school so his kids have to sit out and miss the fun? He must be a real blast at the office Christmas party, too.
If he’s now one of these people that sits at home on these holidays reading his bible instead of doing these fun things with his family he’s going to have a hard time convincing me or a lot of other people that this is the new life for us.
I doubt Christ would even want to be a part of this group either.
LOL!
...”Jesus is still Catholic!”....
Nah....Jesus is Jewish...and not only King of the Jews...but as our King having been grafted into the vine.
**So is Chris now one of those fanatics that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Halloween or Easter?**
What in the world are you talking about?
“...personal relationship with God that is more than just rule keeping...”
This man clearly never knew or bothered to properly understand his Catholicism if he thought it teaches just rule keeping without a relationship with the Lord. (By the way, I never saw more rules than evangelicals have: no drinking, no dancing, etc. etc.)
Catholics accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, admit that they are sinners, and are clearly taught that without Jesus’ sacrifice no one obtains the grace to get to heaven.
For fellow Catholics: False Teaching Alert (2 Peter 2; 1-3): Here is the actual Church Doctrine without the anti-Catholic spin:
Salvation is not a single event that takes place once in time, and then is assured ever after. The bible says that we must believe to be saved, but it does not say that salvation is now guaranteed.
Salvation can be lost through sin and no amount of Luther’s tweaking of the bible is going to change that.
I had no idea there were so many bitter ex Catholics out there. In their hearts they know they are still full of sin and ONLY souls in a state of grace will get to heaven. No wonder they jumped ship (the barque of Peter) - the “get into to heaven free card” no matter how much they sin after they are “born again” is very enticing indeed! (and unbiblical)
Fellow Catholics: Don’t be tempted to follow Luther down the easy road into error.
Hebrews 10:26 is quite clear that we cannot sin with impunity - Salvation is NOT assured.
Well then you should just stay with your fun things. Or perhaps you could show us where Jesus and the apostles taught the celebration of Easter.
Say what?? When did they start that?
>>Salvation is NOT assured.<<
Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
I'm sorry to hear that Catholics don't have that guarantee.
** the “get into to heaven free card” no matter how much they sin after they are “born again” is very enticing indeed! (and unbiblical)**
Not to mention un-Protestant!
liar liar pants on fire ...and probably more unless he comes to Christ
“Present “ :>)
Amen
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
Really ?? here is what Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
The word saved here is the greek word "sōzō" it is a passive verb..an action on you..not through your own efforts..
Eph. 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as havingbeen completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=2&t=KJV#s=t_conc_1099008
The elect are those that HAVE been saved by Christ
Tit. 3:5-7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us [past tense], through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
Stonehouse.. heaven will be as full of sinners as hell..the difference is those in heaven have a Savior
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