By: Rodney Beard
In my lifetime, there have been 7 Popes who have been in “power,” some ok and some not so ok, from Pius XII who invoked Papal infallibility, to Benedict who was the first to resign since 1730 (I was suspicious of that too). And now, we have one I think I like better than all of the others combined, Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has challenged the Roman Catholic Church to not be so focused only on gays, abortion, and contraception, because the church has become “obsessed” with issues that are, simply put, the law of the land and the choice of individuals. He believes, and so do I, that our mission as the Church has to be more directed and focused on the Body of Christ being what he called a “home for all.”
I too think it’s imperative that the Church share its views on all of the aforementioned topics, while understanding the vital nature of drawing all people regardless to personal choices into a relationship with the Lord. It should not be the will of Christianity, to as the Pope put it to, “interfere spiritually” in anyone’s lives or choices but to show the love of God to all.
The Pope I am beginning to really respect as truly authentic also stated that, “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.” He went on to also state that, “The Church has sometimes locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules,” and that “the people of God want Pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials.” That is one of the truest statements of the year.
Coincidentally, I preached a sermon the week before the Pope’s message and espoused the very same issues. I made it quite clear that distractions like these make it difficult to make an impact on the 90% of things we can affect change on right now, to regain our former credibility as the Church…the most respected influence in the community of man.
In my sermonic dissertation I mentioned the fact that the modern day church is “obsessed” with things that the church cannot change, but seems to be preoccupied, or consumed with, or fixated on, things that have no chance of being undone such as abortion, Gay and Lesbian issues, or even ACA (Obama Care). I posited that, while these are serious issues and should concern us all, they are issues that have been duly legislated by the laws of the land, and in other words…those ships have already sailed. To put it another way as we say in Louisiana, “that alligator done already got out of the pond.”
The Church that we can and should be, needs to focus more on what we can and should change in society as The Body of Christ right now, rather than allow anything to be pushed to the side anymore. It’s as if we are trying to go back in time rather than move forward in the Kingdom purpose for which we are called today.
The Church is caught up in the past that we have forfeited, and that’s the devils world. In our preoccupation with the past, our present, and possibly future work has become stagnant, strained, and subject to hatred for those we don’t know or understand, or do not agree with, for whatever reasons we try to justify based on our “religious beliefs.”
The Church must find its balance again because this generation sees our glaring failures, false perspectives, and prejudices, but honestly, won’t stand for it. The Church has to be more inclusive rather than exclusive if we are to reach those who will, and want to come to Christ. We can be that “witness” if we purpose in our hearts to “just do it” and not for a segment, but for the totality of mankind in the love of Our Lord. If we don’t, we could become as the Pope put it, “a house of cards.”
Now even though Pope Francis did not condone any behaviors or choices that he feels is contrary to his faith, he did say this:
“A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality,” he said to Jesuit priest Fr. Antonio Spadaro, who conducted the interview for La Civilta Cattolica. “I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a Gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person? We must always consider the person.”
Before making that earth-shattering statement while on the Papal jet, Pope Francis asked the question I never thought I would know a Pope could ask…”Who am I to judge?” That sent the whole world into a tail-spin as his query was a witness of the fallibility of a mere man, regardless of his coveted and honored position. There is only One Judge. Wow, in my lifetime I may have seen the Church come full circle from Pius XII to Francis.
I agree with this Pope nearly 100%.
Stand Your Ground Church!