Like many Protestant and independent American Christians, I came from a religious background that was rabidly anti-Catholic. One of the groups which I was formerly affiliated with taught that the Roman Catholic Church was the epitome of false Christianity. They taught that the doctrines and beliefs of that church were diametrically opposed to the TRUTH of God. They taught that the Roman Church was the tool that Satan had used to deceive people into accepting a false Christianity. They taught that the Roman Church was the Great Whore of the book of Revelation, and that a pope was the most likely candidate for the Anti-Christ. All of this was based on that church's teachings and history.
What about the fruits produced in the lives of individual members of that church? That was ignored. Frankly, it didn't matter. Doctrinal correctness is what mattered - it was the only legitimate measure of who was and was not a Christian! After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Never mind that Jesus Christ said that it was the fruit that a person bears during his/her lifetime that identifies them as good or bad (Matthew 7:16, 20). Never mind that Jesus Christ said that LOVE would be the single most important trait in identifying his followers (John 13:35). Never mind that the Apostle Paul said that the evidence that one had God's Holy Spirit rested in the character traits of the individual (Galatians 5:22).
A few days ago, a friend sent me a biographical clip about one Franz Jagerstatter. Franz was a Roman Catholic Christian in Austria in the 1930's. Franz was a simple man who became a sexton in his local church and refused any compensation for the services he performed for the brethren in his community. In 1938, he was the only person in his local community with enough courage to vote against the Anschluss with Nazi Germany. He also had the moral courage to refuse to fight in the German Army. In short, Franz was devoted to God, and what he believed that God expected of him. He was willing to face execution at the hands of the Nazis instead of participating in their murderous regime. He wrote from prison: "Neither prison nor chains nor sentence of death can rob a man of the Faith and his free will." Franz remained faithful to God and was eventually beheaded by the Nazis. (You can read more of his story here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20071026_jagerstatter_en.html)
Was Franz Jagerstatter a Christian Martyr? I think that the story of his life provides more than enough evidence that he was. And, if this Roman Catholic man was indeed a Christian, what does that say about the teachings of all of those anti-Catholic groups about what constitutes a Christian? What do you think?
What do I think? I think you're right.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, too. Lately, I find it's very difficult for me to worship in a setting where I know I am surrounded by people who -- if they knew my thoughts and feelings about a good many things -- would decided I'm not a true Christian.
ReplyDeleteWhich gets to the problem of defining just what do you mean Christian. In my line of work (a church newspaper) I settled on this definition: Anyone who says he's a Christian is a Christian. One reason this works is that Christians can't agree on a definition anyway so mine's as good as any. Here's a question for you, Cathy: Do you agree with all teachings of the Bible, including Jesus' teachings as recorded, that make sense? If so, then I think it's reasonable for you (if you so choose) to be thought of as a true Christian.
DeleteThe friend who shared this biographical note with me wrote this in a private e-mail to me (reprinted here with his permission): "We've been wrong on so many things. I've been wrong on so many things. How can I be so presumptuous as to think I have everything correct now? Also, if I argue that knowing certain things that others don't know is what marks the true Christian, am I not falling into the trap of Gnosticism? I would wish instead to have a fraction of the faith and courage of Franz Jägerstätter in standing up for Christ. P.S. Jägerstätter's example also shines a condemnatory floodlight on the behavior of other Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, in Hitler's Third Reich. How differently might things have turned out had they all stood up to the Führer like he did?"
ReplyDeleteRoman Catholic scholar concludes that the Jesus story is a fraud! http://vridar.org/2013/12/26/47632/
ReplyDeleteIt's a long read, but well worth it, as Neil Godfrey takes you through his book chapter by chapter.
How many Catholics would know this?