As we sat having breakfast on Sunday at our favorite pub, where you can have a "Hammer" breakfast consisting of cheese, a boiled egg, ham, fruit, a small glass of orange juice and some bread, all for 2,5 euros(I wonder how they make a profit, its much cheaper than eating at home), we discussed a wide range of issues, inevitably getting round to the controversial pronouncement made by the Catholic church last week. Apparently, I had been deceiving myself in thinking that heaven is my destination. I have it on the authority of none other than Pope Benedict XVI that I was deceiving myself.
I am Pentecostal, although I begin to feel less and less at home in the disorderly services that are sometimes credited to the Holy spirit. Don't get me wrong, I believe in the manifestation of God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I even speak in tongues and believe in miracles. Yet, I do not believe that God can reside in the midst of the chaos and personality worship that many pentecostal churches have become. Maybe I have backslidden without knowing it? Somebody help me here.
How does this have anything to do with the Catholic church's pronouncement? My hubby has a deep respect for the Catholic church, even though he is Lutheran, because he says it is the only church that has remained unappologetically "conservative". Some of the Catholic church's doctrines are very impractical, and have definitely not stemmed from the bible- at least not the bible as I know it- maybe they have developed sometime in the almost 2000 year history of the church. However, unlike most of the other churches around, and the worst of all are the unregulated pentecostals, especially in developing countries, the Catholic church is not moved by every wind of doctrine. Its changes are usually well thought out(at least compared to the other churches). I guess the political clout of the Catholic church, not to talk of its huge financial resources make it easier for it to have an independent voice.
The Yoruba say, only God knows them that serve him, I do not dare to judge any church, all I wish is that every once in a while these religious "leaders" would pause and take a look in the Book they claim to live by.
5 comments:
I'm a Pentecostal like you and I cannot stand 'noise'. I'm fortunate enough to worship at a church where there is a time and a place for 'noise' and the pastoral board is made up of theologians, Bible scholars and good old fashioned preachers. A great mix which means their teaching are not halfbaked. I don't go to conventions - too noisy and as for the manifestations of the Holy Spirit we see in some Pentecostal churches, these are not always from God. Order, decorum and having a sense of perspective is what the Apostle cautioned.
I've been going through a reflective time myself. More and more, I'm drawn to the contemplative nature of Catholicism. In fact, next week is my father's 10th year memorial and I will spend some time in my local Catholic chapel, thinking, reflecting and just enjoying the silence. There are charismatic Catholics as there are charismatic Anglicans. If ever I was to move away from Pentecostalism, it's more than likely I'll gravitate towards charismatic Catholic and no, I don't see a conflict.
Nope, you're definitely not alonein your thoughts.
Personally I don't agree with the Pope's statement.
While on the one hand I am happy that the Catholic church has remained 'unapologetically conservative' (extend my thanks to your hubby), I think that even being conservative should have its limits. Benedict XVI is too conservative.
One more thing, for the records, I believe that going to heaven is dependent on the individual in question, not on what church (or wherever else) he worships...
Interesting post - I always like to see other Naijas who are not afraid to question themselves and their faith
Thanks for all your comments.
@christian writer, I'm more inclined towards the Lutheran/Anglican church myself, for the simplicity of the service, the orderliness and the loveliness of the hymns and liturgy. Funny, I think the liturgy means so much more to me precisely because of my "pentecostalness".
When you said, "Only God knows them who serve Him," you basically said all that needs to be said concerning this...
Sometimes we may not just understand the totality of the ballistics of worship...but God searches the heart of man...
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