So, I was reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or CCC) and, came across something that I had to share. In the section on the 4th commandment (Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.) it talks not only about how we should honor our parents with our lives but, how that commandment is also speaking to our relationship to other forms of authority. Admittedly I was tempted to share the section that talks about what is required of a Christian that intends to put up an armed resistance to oppression by political authority (it is paragraph 2243 for those who want to look it up); I decided that another paragraph was even more controversial and, thus, worthy of posting. So many people want to cling to the notion that we should, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1; this verse is often misinterpreted. It is not talking about just giving in to anything that anyone wants to do or, say; this verse is talking about judging rightly. If you go on to read the verses around it and, put it in its rightful context it is talking about knowing right from wrong yet, not being a hypocrite who goes around pointing out the sins of others without addressing their own sin. The implication here is that once you have dealt with your own sin then you are in a good place to lovingly address the sins of others. We, as Christians, are particularly called to deal with the sins of the society we live in. This is where my quote from the CCC comes in: “It is a part of the Church’s mission “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.” Since God is the author of morality and, the Church is His representative on this planet we have a duty to transmit His truth into the public square. I love that it states that this is, “part of the Church’s mission …” We, the Church, Christians, are called to judge and, to judge rightly in accordance with the Bible and, the traditions that have been transmitted to us through the ages by the various apostles and their successors. Judging by the condition of society; many men do not know right from wrong in and of themselves. However, we can know with confidence what is just and good from the teachings of the Church throughout the ages. Some might say that we can’t just blindly follow the teachings of the Church but, we can trust the Church and, trust that God will honor our obedience to her teachings based on Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”, this is the basis of dogmatic law and, a primary proof text for the authority of the Church. Throughout the Bible, obedience to earthly authority is commended. How much more so does that logically extend to trusting in the one true Church that was established by Christ from the beginning? From that same line of thinking I can’t help but wonder how God views the simple acts of rebellion against that authority which are known as the protestant church. I make this last statement thinking that it must also be part of our mission to pass moral judgments in matters of church politics as well. The good news is that the truth is knowable. I am not talking about some half-truth that makes you feel good but, the whole truth that challenges one and causes growth and change in a life. Growth and, change are uncomfortable. We are not called to be comfortable; we are called to be Saints! Part of being a Saint is passing moral judgments on the matters of the world around us. It is not so much a matter of whether or not you judge but, whether or not you judge rightly. If you are not sure of how Saintly you are … judge not! If, however, you are in a state of grace and, living according to the teachings of the Church and the Bible then you had probably better start judging the world around you. Call evil, evil, and good, good; do not be like those that the prophet Isaiah talked about in Isaiah 5:8-25 (particularly verse 20). Be a good representative of God on earth. Well that is what I was thinking about. What do you think? I kind of jumped from one topic to another based on this reading. I have interpreted it into a variety of things. This is what I believe to be true. I will keep studying to see if my mind changes on any of these matters but, that is where I am now. May God bless you as you seek His truth in your life. May God empower you and make you bold in living His truth in the world you live in. Shalom.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:44:30 +0000
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