I've spent a lot of time thinking about why I'm Catholic. My shortest answer is simply that it is a
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But I haven't spent
much time thinking (or writing) about the reason why most serious
fundamentalists and evangelicals are NOT Catholic--
--and why they do not
even consider it a viable option or even a possible choice among many choices.
It comes down to
this. The Catholic Church does not see herself as a possible choice among many
choices. The fact that the
Church states that She is the Church Christ founded makes most (if not all)
evangelicals dismiss her completely.
It sounds too much
like a cult.
Cults believe they
are the Church. The Way. Chosen. Established by God Himself.
So, Catholicism is
lumped in with the groups that make this claim. You say that you are the Church
Jesus Christ founded. Enough said. I'm out of here.
There is a problem
with that generalization. What if there really is a Church that was founded by
Jesus?
She would have to be
present from the moment of Pentecost forward. She would have weathered the
gates of hell and still be standing. She would have to be able to point to a
line of holy people that were made holy while in the embrace of this Church.
She would have to have a message that touches hearts of people in every culture
and time. She would have to transcend time, politics, history, culture, trends,
whims, and the theoretical. She would have to be able to set up shop in
Calcutta, India and be as valid there as she is in Des Moines, Iowa or New York
City or La Paz, Bolivia.
She would have to
have a resume.
She would have to
have a pedigree.
Both the resume and
the pedigree would have to resemble Christ.
History would have to
affirm her claim and Christ would have to be present there. Really and truly.
One, holy, catholic, apostolic.
There is only one
antidote to the fear that says, "You can't say that! You can't say that
you are the Church! Come on. You're sounding like a cult now."
The only antidote to
that kind of fear is Jesus Christ Himself.
He is here.
His Body is here, for
you.
His Blood is here,
poured out for you.
The same Christ.
A perfect love.
And perfect love casts out fear.
Yes, it is a radical
claim. It is an absurd claim - unless it is true. John 6. It's true.
Come home. He's
waiting for you. In the Eucharist.
