One day a missionary group was flying on a missionary trip to a country which had never before heard about Christianity.
The small plane was loaded with bibles. Since the plane's passengers were quite varied in their reading habits, the plane also carried a handful of books by various Christian authors, including Pope John Paul II, Jerry Falwell, Francis De Sales, Tim La Haye, as well as other christian books on a variety of subjects.
Unfortunately, the plane began having engine trouble and crashed near a group of villages. All except one person aboard the plane was killed and went on to their reward. However, the entire cargo survived the crash intact, and as the last injured missionary dragged the boxes of books from the burning fuselage the villagers reached the crash site. Despite his numerous injuries, the missionary pried open the box, pulled out a bible and cried "The Word of God!". He then collapsed and died in the arms of the tribal chief.
Although there was no one there to teach them, the villagers were ecstatic to have the books which the obviously Godly people had strived so mightily to give to them, and they set about to learn that Word of God.
However, neighboring wars and daunting geographical features would keep outsiders away for the next 100 years, and no would-be missionaries visited the country. The locals wouldn't let that stop them, though, as they devoured all the books left by their "flying angels from God". They went about reading their books and learning all they could about this wonderful and true religion. They eagerly began printing more bibles and spreading the Word of God around their country.
A hundred years later, some missionaries finally made it back into the country and were overjoyed to be welcomed as "Brothers and Sisters in Christ" by the now thoroughly converted country. Though happy about the locals' sincere faith, the new missionaries found what they considered to be peculiar religious practices and beliefs.
One such practice was their belief in "Saved by soccer". Each person, upon reaching the age of ten, would report to the soccer field. The child (or adult convert) would walk up to any person in the crowd and say "I'm on God's team" then walk onto the field and kick the ball in the goal past a scarecrow dressed up as the devil. If he or she scored a goal, then that meant they had been "saved." When questioned by the missionaries, the local pastor told them about the need for belief in Jesus and quoted Psalm 33:"Play skillfully with a shout of joy!" and openly wondered if these missionaries were "true christians" or not. "Don't you read the bible?", the local pastor asked incredulously. When the missionaries described their beliefs about salvation and told the pastor that they'd never said "I'm on God's team", let alone "kicked a goal for God" he was genuinely concerned for their souls and urged them to join him at the soccer field.
The astonished missionaries were even more shocked when the pastor showed them their bible---it was huge!--three times the size of a "regular" bible. Searching through the book they found that some things were missing---several chapters of Genesis and other OT books, three of Paul's letters were gone, and the Gospel of Luke was nowhere to be seen. Even more surprising were the extras---"The First Letter of Tim LaHaye to the Dirty Romans", "The Lamentations of Francis De Sales", and the "Acts of Jerry Falwell" among others.
"This isn't a true bible!" shouted one of the missionaries, throwing the thick book to the ground.
"Says who?" said the local pastor, "The Holy Spirit guided us as to what was truly Scripture. We only took out what you never should have added in the first place."
"What about the Gospel of Luke?!?" cried one of the missionaries."A gospel of straw" clucked the pastor, adding a dismissive wave of his hand.
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So the question is, how do you know that reading the bible only, and personal interpretation, is correct? What happens when people interpret wrongly and believe what was never intended to believe?
That's where the catholic church and the apostolic tradition that has been handed down from Jesus and the Apostles themselves come in. Without the guidance of the church, what stops us from throwing things out and believing what is convenient for ourselves? What stops humans from mutating christianity 100 years from now to something that was never intended? Without the church, people will believe what is convenient and easy for them. Which isn't necessarily what Jesus intended. Which is why he founded the church to help guide us and live with us. The church today remains as the church 2000 years ago with its teachings and beliefs.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
John Paul the Great
Monday was the 2nd anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death. I personally consider JPII to be a great man. I remember when he was elected Pope, my grandmother and my father's family were very happy to have a Polish Pope. I was very little, 8 or 9 years old, and it was an exciting event.
Two years ago when he died, I watched a lot of the coverage of his suffering and his death. There was a lot of things on tv about his life, and I learned a lot about the man I didn't know or hadn't payed attention to. At the time, it had a big impact on me because it brought me closer to my former faith than I had been in years. At that time I almost ended back in the church, but for some reason at the time I just didn't do it.
At the time, though, all the info about JPII on tv and the net and the papers was very enlightening to me. I learned a great deal about what JPII did to help conquer Communism and the whole eastern block. I learned about how much JPII valued the youth of today and took great strides to connect with them. How he pursued healing with the Jews, and called for a new understanding between all christians and a more ecumenical attitude among christians. He was tireless in his job, and traveled more than any other Pope in history. My only regret was that I never got a chance to see him in person.
But mostly what I learned about JPII was that he was a kind, and gentle, and loving, and holy man. He was truly a servant of the Lord. I think that all JPII as a man, as a catholic Priest wanted was to stay in his home of Poland and work for his people to free them from the Soviet oppression. This was a man that lived through oppression first under the Nazis, then the Soviets. All he wanted was to teach his faith, let his people worship in freedom. Yet for years and years the Polish people were oppressed and not allowed that freedom, the freedom to freely worship. He worked hard to become a priest and build churches and teach people of Jesus. He had a profound faith in Jesus, despite what he went through in his life.
I think JPII suffered greatly for becoming a Pope. I know that sounds crazy, but in order to become Pope and do the job he did, he had to truly give of himself. He had to give up all that he was, all his dreams and ambitions, all of his plans and desires, and serve the world. Instead of doing his work, he did the work of the church, the work of Jesus Christ. Just like scripture said about God emptying himself and becoming man, in Jesus incarnate, and suffering for His people sacrificing Himself on the cross for man. JPII the man emptied himself and became John Paul II, servant of the Lord.
One of the saddest things I watched about JPII was his first trip back to Poland after becoming the Pope. He returned triumphantly, defying the Communist authorities, and the people came out to greet him and celebrate him. Yet he could not revel in it, or enjoy the turnout, or celebrate the demonstration of catholic faith. He was a sad man because he knew his place was not in his country with his people. He knew that he belonged to the world now. I believe God worked through the Pope to help crumble communism and free the Polish people so that they could worship Jesus. Despite this, JPII was a sad man because he could not be with his people and enjoy the unleashing of the yolk of oppression. He belonged to the world and emptied himself to do God's work.
When JPII left Poland after his first visit, he wept because he had to leave his people. Seeing that affected me profoundly, and still makes me want to cry when I think of it.
I often think that protestants believe that the Pope and the Church strive to keep themselves in power and make dumb laws and traditions to keep people from God. And I often think many Catholics believe this as well. After seeing JPII and his example of papacy, I can't help but vehemently deny this. Anyone who sees how JPII suffered, how he wept at leaving his people behind, would understand that's not true. For he gained nothing in this world of personal gain by becoming the Pope, yet he emptied himself for the gain of God. Just as Peter gave his life to found the church and do Jesus' work. The leader of the catholic church is not concerned with controlling people or telling them what to do, personal gain or wealth. He is only concerned with fullfilling Jesus' command to the Apostles.
The problem lies, when man is involved, and man is more concerned with fitting the church into him. We should all be like Pope John Paul II, and find ways to fit the church, Jesus, God, into us. To serve God, we must empty ourselves and make ourselves a vessel for Him. As Jesus says, we cannot serve 2 masters. When judgement comes, which master will you follow?
Two years ago when he died, I watched a lot of the coverage of his suffering and his death. There was a lot of things on tv about his life, and I learned a lot about the man I didn't know or hadn't payed attention to. At the time, it had a big impact on me because it brought me closer to my former faith than I had been in years. At that time I almost ended back in the church, but for some reason at the time I just didn't do it.
At the time, though, all the info about JPII on tv and the net and the papers was very enlightening to me. I learned a great deal about what JPII did to help conquer Communism and the whole eastern block. I learned about how much JPII valued the youth of today and took great strides to connect with them. How he pursued healing with the Jews, and called for a new understanding between all christians and a more ecumenical attitude among christians. He was tireless in his job, and traveled more than any other Pope in history. My only regret was that I never got a chance to see him in person.
But mostly what I learned about JPII was that he was a kind, and gentle, and loving, and holy man. He was truly a servant of the Lord. I think that all JPII as a man, as a catholic Priest wanted was to stay in his home of Poland and work for his people to free them from the Soviet oppression. This was a man that lived through oppression first under the Nazis, then the Soviets. All he wanted was to teach his faith, let his people worship in freedom. Yet for years and years the Polish people were oppressed and not allowed that freedom, the freedom to freely worship. He worked hard to become a priest and build churches and teach people of Jesus. He had a profound faith in Jesus, despite what he went through in his life.
I think JPII suffered greatly for becoming a Pope. I know that sounds crazy, but in order to become Pope and do the job he did, he had to truly give of himself. He had to give up all that he was, all his dreams and ambitions, all of his plans and desires, and serve the world. Instead of doing his work, he did the work of the church, the work of Jesus Christ. Just like scripture said about God emptying himself and becoming man, in Jesus incarnate, and suffering for His people sacrificing Himself on the cross for man. JPII the man emptied himself and became John Paul II, servant of the Lord.
One of the saddest things I watched about JPII was his first trip back to Poland after becoming the Pope. He returned triumphantly, defying the Communist authorities, and the people came out to greet him and celebrate him. Yet he could not revel in it, or enjoy the turnout, or celebrate the demonstration of catholic faith. He was a sad man because he knew his place was not in his country with his people. He knew that he belonged to the world now. I believe God worked through the Pope to help crumble communism and free the Polish people so that they could worship Jesus. Despite this, JPII was a sad man because he could not be with his people and enjoy the unleashing of the yolk of oppression. He belonged to the world and emptied himself to do God's work.
When JPII left Poland after his first visit, he wept because he had to leave his people. Seeing that affected me profoundly, and still makes me want to cry when I think of it.
I often think that protestants believe that the Pope and the Church strive to keep themselves in power and make dumb laws and traditions to keep people from God. And I often think many Catholics believe this as well. After seeing JPII and his example of papacy, I can't help but vehemently deny this. Anyone who sees how JPII suffered, how he wept at leaving his people behind, would understand that's not true. For he gained nothing in this world of personal gain by becoming the Pope, yet he emptied himself for the gain of God. Just as Peter gave his life to found the church and do Jesus' work. The leader of the catholic church is not concerned with controlling people or telling them what to do, personal gain or wealth. He is only concerned with fullfilling Jesus' command to the Apostles.
The problem lies, when man is involved, and man is more concerned with fitting the church into him. We should all be like Pope John Paul II, and find ways to fit the church, Jesus, God, into us. To serve God, we must empty ourselves and make ourselves a vessel for Him. As Jesus says, we cannot serve 2 masters. When judgement comes, which master will you follow?
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