Saturday, January 4, 2014

A Higher Standard Needed for Christians


While I will acknowledge Facebook isn’t the “be-all-end-all” of current trends, I’ve notice a growing number of Christians “fighting back” with insults toward any anti-Christian expression. While I don’t question the motives of these individuals, I do wonder what benefit is gained by such reciprocation. Jesus taught to “turn the other cheek” and many Christians seem to have confused defending the Faith with fighting back. While there is an appropriate place for what the Church refers to as, apologetics, and there is a tradition of the Church engaging the society, the Church has always been cautious, if not avoided, attacking the opposition.

The Sacred Tradition of the Church is to focus on members INSIDE the Church. It has been, and continues to be, the emphasis of the Church to guide BELIEVERS into a communion with God through the Eucharist. We cannot argue others into Communion. We cannot debate faith into someone’s heart. ONLY the Holy Spirit can inspire others to believe. OUR role is to continuously strive for OUR repentance and OUR (the Church as a body) relationship with Christ, while inviting others to discover the Good News and freedom that is Christ.

I invite readers of Be Transfigured! to embrace a new, and higher, standard for the New Year. Rather than attacking those who attack you, acknowledge and repent of YOUR sins. Rather than worrying about whether someone else’s sins will keep them out of heaven, acknowledge that YOUR sins are no less dangerous.

Just a thought.

No comments: