Posted on 08/17/2013 2:06:44 AM PDT by NYer
The Church's most prominent outreach today, the New Evangelization, aims at reviving the spiritual lives of those who have drifted from Christ. While these people may have been baptized and perhaps catechized, while they may attend Church semi-regularly, they have never been truly evangelized. They have never experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ or real transformation through his Church.
A couple weeks ago, Pope Francis delivered a powerful message to the Brazilian bishops in the midst of his World Youth Day celebrations. Unfortunately, it didn't get nearly the attention it deserved.
Speaking on the New Evangelization, and using the Emmaus Journey as a framework, the Pope encouraged his listeners to reflect on why people reject the Church today—why, like the Emmaus disciples, they decide to walk the other way. To bring people back to Christ and his Church, we must understand why they leave in the first place.
To that end, Pope Francis offered ten specific reasons:
1. The Church no longer offers anything meaningful or important.
2. The Church appears too weak.
3. The Church appears too distant from their needs.
4. The Church appears too poor to respond to their concerns.
5. The Church appears too cold.
6. The Church appears too caught up with itself.
7. The Church appears to be a prisoner of its own rigid formulas.
8. The world seems to have made the Church a relic of the past.
9. The Church appears unfit to answer the world's new questions.
10. The Church speaks to people in their infancy but not when they come of age.
Read the excerpt below for more context:
"The two disciples have left Jerusalem. They are leaving behind the 'nakedness' of God. They are scandalized by the failure of the Messiah in whom they had hoped and who now appeared utterly vanquished, humiliated, even after the third day.
Here we have to face the difficult mystery of those people who leave the Church, who, under the illusion of alternative ideas, now think that the Church—their Jerusalem—can no longer offer them anything meaningful and important. So they set off on the road alone, with their disappointment. Perhaps the Church appeared too weak, perhaps too distant from their needs, perhaps too poor to respond to their concerns, perhaps too cold, perhaps too caught up with itself, perhaps a prisoner of its own rigid formulas, perhaps the world seems to have made the Church a relic of the past, unfit for new questions; perhaps the Church could speak to people in their infancy but not to those come of age.
It is a fact that nowadays there are many people like the two disciples of Emmaus; not only those looking for answers in the new religious groups that are sprouting up, but also those who already seem godless, both in theory and in practice.
Faced with this situation, what are we to do?
We need a Church unafraid of going forth into their night. We need a Church capable of meeting them on their way. We need a Church capable of entering into their conversation. We need a Church able to dialogue with those disciples who, having left Jerusalem behind, are wandering aimlessly, alone, with their own disappointment, disillusioned by a Christianity now considered barren, fruitless soil, incapable of generating meaning.”
(HT: Thomas Doran at Catholic World Report)
No WONDER they 'believe' what their chosen religion has taught them: that the RCC was founded on Peter!
Matthew 16:13-18
13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14. They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
What are your thoughts on the Bad Popes?
Oh!!
So that's YOUR nose on the INSIDE of the glass; looking OUT!
Oh!!
That's good!
What essential does YOUR church provide that I cannot get in a PROTESTant one?
Indeed i was, and even remained one for 6 years after becoming manifestly born again (even nature seemed new to me, with fundamental changes in heart incldg. an insatiably desire to know the right ways of the Lord), and thus realized the profound difference btwn institutionalized faith and that of the living God. And it became increasing evident that the church of Rome was of the former (yet no hard personal feelings).
And thus thus psychological appeal of calling it “home” works contrary to its intent, as for the truly regenerate Christ is our dwelling place, with a basic unity due to a shared cognizant conversion to Christ and scripture based relationship with the Lord which makes the particular church one attends to be secondary.
Sadly, very few RCs (or those in lib., Prot. churches) i have meant over the past 36 years know of this and the “fellowship of the Spirit we enjoy. Instead, their most faithful incessantly promote and exalt a particular elitist church, and foster faith in it for salvation. A sad contrast.
I've experienced that very thing many times.Not content,or sadly unable to rejoice in so great a salvation the whole exercise ends up looking like a dilligent search for something to disagree on.Amongst those who are known by God the realization of that awesome salvation swallows up many differences.
BTW thanks for the many pings brother.God bless
You first! :)
No. Do you believe that obedience is a Christian virtue?
petro = stone/rock
Petros/Peter same root, stone/rock.
Just a coincidence I’m sure that Jesus changes Simon’s name to ‘Rock’.
That's not an answer to the question I asked, just a dodge.
When did Christ found the Orthodox Church?
And how many times have i met souls from all over (though mostly from Latin America or tourists around here) while offering tracts who come up affirm that they have been born again, and fellowship in Jesus. Church affiliation is not the basis for this, as Christ is central, though i usually ask in order to get an idea of what churches are evangelical.
In contrast, when i meet an ambivalent or antagonistic person its usually a Catholic, and as with cults, upon conversing with them, if possible, such preach their church, or org, in which they place so much trust.
BTW thanks for the many pings brother.God bless
Thank God for what edifies. Later.
“Just a coincidence I’m sure that Jesus changes Simon’s name to ‘Rock’.”
and then changes his name to satan just a few verses later. I hate when that happens!
Wow, I only stayed maybe a week or 2 (27 years)after God opened my eyes and heart to Salvation in Christ alone thru Faith alone.
I actually went back for about a month in a silly attempt to try to bring the RC back to the Saving Gospel.
Which is why Jesus said, “because you gave me ill advice, I strip you of your position and give it to another disciple?”
Oh wait, that’s in the Gospel of Luther. I’m sorry.
Have you ever considered that if you have to make up your arguments, that it isn’t persuasive?
It’s your position not mine that’s got no basis in scripture.
Where did Jesus take St. Peter’s position of authority away?
While BIG ones get you...
“Where did Jesus take St. Peter’s position of authority away?”
Christ never gave him “a position of authority”.
... So it isn’t easy to take away what never existed.
Yeah; we got this already.
Now the JURY would like to look at your evidence to this claim; if it wouldn't trouble you TOO much to produce it.
Thank GOD!
It is SO hard to be humble these days...
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