Monday, December 15, 2014

CATHOLICISM: SCRIPTURE AND GRACE



A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a blog entitled "Lutheran / Catholic Reconciliation and Reunion of All Christians".  It was not what I thought it could be.  Indeed, while it might have been a center for Lutheran and Catholic dialogue, in fact, the blogger, Kathy Suarez, writes quite critically of Lutheranism.  Often she engages in stock Catholic tropes which display no understanding of Lutheranism itself.  The following is an exchange between Ms. Suarez and myself.  Unfortunately, she did not see fit to respond to my last entry.  I thought there could have been more for each of us to say.


Not my best writing.  Maybe I could have been a bit more diplomatic.  But I leave it to the reader to decide for themselves.
Catholicism: Scripture and Grace

November 01, 2014

by Kathy Suarez


One simple way to express the essence of Catholicism is with the words “Scripture and Grace.”  In Matthew 16:18 we read that Jesus founded the Church upon Peter.  “You are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

Some will argue that Jesus changed his mind about founding his Church upon Peter when the disciple questioned Jesus about his prophecy of his great suffering in Jerusalem, being killed and raised from the dead (Matthew 16:21-23).  This argument does not stand up when placed in context with the rest of Scripture.  Peter loved Jesus.  Peter’s statement was not malicious or sinful.  He simply did not understand.  Jesus is God — He did not revoke his solemn pronouncement about the foundation and structure of his Church because of Peter’s inability to understand the plan of God at one particular moment.  Peter’s weakness throughout the Gospel reveals the inherent message that the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Immediately after this, in Matthew 17, we read that “Six days later” Jesus took “Peter and James and his brother John” to the mountain of the Transfiguration.  If Jesus had rejected Peter as head of the disciples, why would he take him to the Transfiguration, and why would Peter’s name be listed first in the Gospel account? (Matthew 17:1,2)  This is the full context of the Scripture passage, Matthew 16:13-28.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised that the forces of evil will not prevail against his Church.  He did not say that the Church would not have any problems.  Christ protects the Church down through the ages.  This is Grace.  It takes faith to believe this.  The grand irony of the Reformation is that Martin Luther cried “Faith, faith, faith!” but then lost his faith that God would protect and guide the Church, by Grace, as Christ founded it, upon Peter and his successors.

It is also good to note a second important and foundational Scripture: John, Chapter 6.  Here is proof of the Real Presence in the Eucharist and, interestingly and prophetically, the account of how “many of his disciples” could not accept it and “no longer went about with him” (John 6:66-69).  Luther, besides breaking away from the Church, also altered and diminished the Eucharist.

Jesus is Lord of the Church, and his Church is guided by the power of the Holy Spirit through the successors of Peter, the Magisterium.  This is how Christ established the Church and how he continues to guide and protect it.  Scripture and Grace.  If you cannot believe this, look at the alternative: The chaos of the Protestant movement — thousands and thousands of small churches and denominations each going its own way.

3 Comments

1.     Mick Lee November 25, 2014 at 10:37 pm Reply

Even if (for the sake of argument) Jesus meant that He was to build His Church upon Peter, it hardly follows that there is a straight line from Peter to the Catholic Church as we now have it. Indeed, it is hardly proved that Peter was ever bishop of Rome.

Protestants generally are puzzled at the Catholic obsession with “the Church”. What divides Protestants from Catholics is doctrine–that is their obsession–particularly the Lutheran doctrine of sola fide. Catholic laymen and laywomen are generally loath to discuss doctrine–and Lutherans find there is a lot of ignorance about what Lutherans actually believe. There is a lot of nonsense about “Luther wanted his own church” and Luther “made up his own religion”. As a matter of history, Luther never wanted to leave the Catholic Church: he wanted to reform it. But the Pope kicked him out and had the Emperor put Luther under an order of death on sight. This was followed by a series of persecutions of all who came to be called Lutherans. So, while Catholics cry in their beer about a divided Church. they should remember the blood on their own hands and the part they played in dividing the Church. Catholics should also remember the Church was gravely divided long before the Reformers were born. (Of which the Catholic Church played no small part.)

Aside from all this, it is a wonder why Catholics think the Catholic Church is such an attractive option. When Protestants look at the Catholic Church, they see a mess. Factions at each others’ throats. They see a lot of unholy political intrigue in choosing a Pope. They see a Catholic Church seriously rent by those who listen to it’s Magisterium and those who publicly denounce it. (If one cannot subscribe to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Protestants are put off by such people who don’t have the integrity to leave it.)

Catholics themselves often are the worst advertisements for the Church. When I was in college, I met many Catholic youth who gone through Catholic schools and resented it. Indeed, they were the bitterest people I had ever met. They said things I would never say about the Catholic Church. It seemed I have more respect for the Catholic Church than these vinegary individuals. And my experience with these miscreants is hardly unique.

What would Christ say about this “fruit of the tree”?

How can one deal with this sort? Once I had invited a Catholic friend to an ecumenical gathering for all Christians on campus. He replied with language unfit to print and then told me he had already had his “God-time”. I thought it was tragic. For the sake of his own soul, I had hoped he would reconcile himself to the Catholic Church. I never attempted to make him a Lutheran–knowing that was just a bridge too far. But he preferred a godless existence to a life of faith.

So your construction and “proof-texting” for the sole legitimacy of the Church of Rome is useless when Protestants behold the various “fruits” of the Catholic Church. Many Protestants don’t even think the Catholic Church is Christian. (As a Lutheran, I strongly object to this contention.)

The Catholic Church is broken. It has a lot of work to do in its own backyard before it goes off on Protestants.

Kathy Suarez November 26, 2014 at 5:32 pm Reply

Hi Mick — I’m sorry that you feel the way you do about the Catholic Church. Sounds like you’ve had some bad experiences. Just remember that the Catholic Church is very large and there are all sorts of people in it.

I’ve said many times on this blog that Luther was not “kicked out” of the Church by the Pope. Luther was excommunicated. He chose to leave after that. My use of Matthew 16:18 is not “proof-texting.” From the earliest days of the Church, and for 2,000 years, the Church has held that Peter is the Rock, the foundation of the Church, and that the Popes are his successors.

The Catholic Faith is very simple. Try to keep an open mind… and thanks for reading my blog.

Mick Lee November 26, 2014 at 11:32 pm Reply

Sorry. When excommunication is followed by an order for him to killed, I’d say “kicked out” is a polite way to put it. That is why he was “kidnapped” by friendly forces and spirited into hiding as it was unlikely he would make it back to Wittenberg alive by himself. Persecution of Lutherans afterword removed any notion that the Catholic Church regarded them as remaining in the fold.

I have long believed that if the Catholic Church had absorbed Lutheran theology as it had with order challenging movements (perhaps making Lutherans a special order within the Church), the divide could have been avoided. After all, Lutherans are Augustinians at heart.

Indeed, present day Catholic theologians are far more tolerant and understanding of Luther (not that they agree with him) than in the days of old. If the same tolerance had been forthcoming when Luther and his followers were alive, we would be Catholics still.

I have a great deal of respect and sympathy for the Catholic Church and spend a great deal of time dispelling falsehoods common among other Protestants. As you may know, a lot of other Protestants regard the Lutheran Church as essentially Catholic–and they don’t mean that as a compliment. When I am in ecumenical gatherings, I am met with a great deal of suspicion and uneasiness when I talk about the Gospel. To many, I am a “closet Catholic” because I am a Lutheran.

I have considered becoming a Catholic several times; but I was always held back after viewing the Catholic Church as it is rather than in the ideal. Sadly, the Catholic Church is just not all that attractive. I may not like much of the Lutheran Church is its modern manifestations, but it is my home and where I am accepted by others who share the Lutheran faith. When I have attended Mass (my sister is a Catholic), I cannot say the same.

I have met many, many Catholics who feel they have been wounded by the Church in some way (sometimes I don’t think they are being fair). But what is it about the Catholic Church that brings this about?

I believe someday the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church will be reunited. But, in spite of the warm relations between us, that time is not now.