Allow me a moment of distraction, while I react and respond to a few articles that seem to be hot among my friends. These articles are about Evangelical Millennial's who are attending Catholic Mass. Which, if you're not into Christian lingo, means Protestants are going back to the Catholicism. In other words, a few hundred years ago we killed each other (in Europe) over who went to which religious service, but now we're mingling peacefully. Thank God the war is over!
But is it? For while we've stopped hacking each other to death with swords and spears, we're still leery of the other side. After all, evangelicals aren't exactly happy that 20-30 somethings are going to High Church traditions (High Church as in traditional, meaning liturgy, formal dress, sit/stand services, no coffee etc; not meaning High School). While some are ecstatic that liturgy and being uncool is now, um... cool? Others still shake their fists and wonder what happened. Why are the youth of evangelical churches forsaking their own religious culture in exchange for something else?
The answer is as unsurprising as Martin Luther's 95 theses. Luther hated (his own words) the indulgences (as in greedy money gaining tactics disguised as holiness) of the Church. He wanted the Church to clean up its act (Church with a capital C meaning the universal (latin word is Catholic) body of believers. church with a little c means a local gathering. We are all catholic in this sense, but not Catholic.) And the church he was referencing was the Catholic church. Luther was Catholic. He liked being Catholic. He didn't want to be Lutheran, but due to politics, greed and a couple of really upset money grubbers and a prosperous German prince, he ended up starting his own movement, later to be called Lutheranism (I don't know of any Lutheran who would use the word Lutheranism). But I digress.
With this in mind I decided to read Luther's 95 theses. You can read the ones I read at: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm. With these in mind, I decided to see if I could deduce why evangelicals would become Catholic. Meaning, do they see what Luther saw in the tradition he started out in, and desire to be a part of something else? I believe they do, because I believe those who are leaving the evangelical church aren't doing it to be cool, but because they are disgusted by what they see. And I think the outside world is too.
Without further ado, here are 14 of Luther's theses, with my modern interpretation beneath them, I thought relevant to the currently circulating articles and shifting demographics:
1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
If you've been a part of any church, you know that the people who lead aren't perfect. They sin, and when they sin spectacularly they hurt the image of Christ we as believers hope to manifest. It makes the Church look like hypocrites. We desire that our whole lives be changed by the message of Christ, not simply being changed into holy-looking people who secretly go out and do whatever we want when no one's looking. Repentance means a turning away from the way we conducted our lives before Christ and stepping into something new and seeking it with all our hearts.
3. Yet its meaning is not restricted to repentance in one's heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.
This repentance is not in name only. It shows up visibly in the way we conduct ourselves. Its an all the time thing, not a part-time pastime. Our reputations should conform to the message of the gospels. We should have no need to conduct publicity or marketing campaigns to make the Church or a church look good. Such behavior is evidence that we have not repented of our sins.
6. The pope himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by God; or, at most, he can remit it in cases reserved to his discretion. Except for these cases, the guilt remains untouched.
No leader of the Church can declare someone forgiven, only God forgives. Leaders can only declare what they see manifested in another's life. Christian leaders are not God and cannot usurp His authority or His decisions in order to admit someone into the church fellowship. God is Judge and God alone.
19. Nor does it seem proved to be always the case that they are certain and assured of salvation, even if we are very certain ourselves.
While this argument stems from the idea of purgatory, it centers on the certainty of salvation. If we are confused of our own salvation, we cannot take certainty of salvation from the words or actions of a Church leader. We should be certain of salvation based on the message of the gospel, not the words of men.
21. Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope's indulgences.
There is nothing we can do as people to ensure the salvation of another. This is God's task, any man who claims he can give or do what only God does, as described in the gospels, is a liar, and should not be listened to.
28. It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God.
Money does not determine salvation, neither does a specialized Church program; intercessory prayer and God's decision to act are what change the hearts of humanity.
32. All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
Charitable giving is not the same as grace and forgiveness. Giving money is good, but it is not a means to heaven.
36. Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys plenary remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.
Forgiveness is for those who repent and turn from their lives. It is not a certificate given out by men and it is not a prayer for salvation that never effects the way we live.
40. A truly contrite sinner seeks out, and loves to pay, the penalties of his sins; whereas the very multitude of indulgences dulls men's consciences, and tends to make them hate the penalties.
A repentant heart is not afraid of the journey of forgiveness and change. Repentance brings about a desire for reconciliation towards those who have been wronged by the one desiring repentance. Though this journey may be difficult physically and emotionally, it is still undertaken.
43. Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.
It is better to show God's love and grace through social services than to build a nice looking building.
51. Christians should be taught that the pope would be willing, as he ought if necessity should arise, to sell the church of St. Peter, and give, too, his own money to many of those from whom the pardon-merchants conjure money.
If the need of the word be so great, we should be willing to sell our Church buildings and sacrifice our earnings for the cause of living the gospel.
62. The true treasure of the church is the Holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
Our treasure is not a light show, rock band, worship center or any other material thing. Our treasure is the word of God, the grace he gives us and the ability to live it out.
94. Christians should be exhorted to be zealous to follow Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hells.
Christian living costs something; it's not suburban comfort while people suffer in the streets. This is the life we should be encouraged to live, and encourage others to live by our examples.
95. And let them thus be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace.
May we put our hope in the gospel as we lived it, not prayers we said but never walked on the street, nor in any other thing taught to us by those who never wore the gospel on their feet.
When I think on these things, it is no surprise that some would leave churches and go to other churches where they hope to become part of living out the gospel. I would think we should always seek out the truth, and those who preach it. Regardless of denomination, division of the Church or any other reason we decide we cannot stand together as the body of Christ. We should seek to be One, as Jesus prayed for us on the night he was betrayed. Jesus's prayer of intercession needs to be the prayer of the catholic Church. We still need to grace of God to be made whole, we as in the Body of Christ.
Is such a thing even possible? Is it possible for the Church to unite as brothers and sisters with one Father and one Mother? I pray that that day would come, and I hope to live in such a way that I would never discourage another believer simply because our styles of worship are different. I should hope that whatever differences we find in material practice are made up for in the physical living of the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ.
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