Here are two signs in neighboring cities that have made me shake my head in dismay every time I pass them. Lord, have mercy. (And take down those signs!)
JESUS DIED
SO THAT YOU
COULD GET A LIFE
THE BIBLE IS THE
BREAD OF LIFE AND
IT NEVER BECOMES STALE
5 comments:
one that is posted right now at a protestant church in our town...
WE WORSHIP A RISEN SAVIOR
"EVERY" DAY
this is posted in a strong Catholic community
i don't doubt that this ignorant comment is aimed at the Catholics
but i'm wondering...
are they talking about the crucifix or the sacrifice of the Mass????
Do you think I should stop in and inquire?
As a Protestant with no Catholic friends or family (though a Catholic upbringing), I never even contemplated the sacrifice of the Mass and the implications of it - I was never directly confronted with it. In the light of that experience, I would guess this sign is more a jab against the crucifix and the liturgical calendar than anything else. And, of course, a result of a poor understanding of both.
It's difficult for some to recognize that one can preach Christ, and Him crucified, and still be Easter people, people of the resurrection. Or that being Easter people does not mean that we cease to be such in Lent or during Holy Week or in Ordinary time.
All in all, it makes me sad that so few people outside Catholicism seem to understand her. There are brilliant exceptions - fortunately, many of whom are my friends.
That being said, thanks for sharing the church sign with me. I would love for you to inquire what they mean by the sign. If you find yourself so bold someday, or with so much extra time on your hands, let me know how they respond.
Looks like you have been driving through Thomasville...
i have an update!
after a number of e-mails back and forth with the pastor of this "church of christ" church i finally got an answer as to who he was directing this comment to.
....are you sitting down?
he said that he knows that some catholic churches, maybe not all, but SOME only have communion once a month
needless to say, i was speechless
(i did invite him to mass)
ps. very happy to hear about the good news with the hand surgery on your little guy
Anon,
Thanks for the update and for following up on the church signs. Very funny. It never ceases to amaze me me how little people know about Catholicism and why they're so happy to remain ignorant about it - why some would rather their ignorance because it reinforces their comfortable misperceptions. Even when directly challenged to become more familiar with the faith.
This isn't always true, of course. But it is true of 90% of the people I speak with about it.
So much of this reaction is fear - because of what one has been taught through the years, because of the rumors one hears, because of the media, and because we, as people, find some fears quite homey.
Good job on the invite too!
Post a Comment