Why Are Apologists so Often Negative and Vinegary? The apologist necessarily has to enter into what many call negative territory because we say (just as Jesus and Paul did) that some things or ideas are wrong, and people dont like that in our nicey-nicey, relativistic, supposedly so tolerant (but in reality quite the opposite) age. We condemn errors and show why they are errors out of a motivation of love, because falsehood and sin never helped anyone along on the road to heaven and sanctity. Thus, what those of a certain prevalent outlook view as a negative undertaking is quite a positive (though at the time, unpleasant and not much fun) endeavor, motivated by love and the desire to see Catholics be happy, fulfilled, and joyous in their walk with Christ in the Catholic Church. Error and sin (in doctrine and behavior, respectively) must be opposed by anyone who loves God and the Church and the pope and the unity that God intends for us all to have. St. Paul commanded us to oppose it. People (including myself) love that old saying You catch more bees with honey rather than with vinegar. No doubt, this is true. Its human nature. But as a full-time apologist I cant ONLY do all the nicey nicey stuff that no one would object to. It would be wonderful to always be positive all the time (I hate friction and conflict as much as anyone), but its just not possible in this line of work. I have to also say, x [idea / doctrine] is wrong and explain WHY (that is the apologetics), and say [well-known person] y is wrong and show how and why they are in error. Thats part of the deal. Jesus and Paul did the same thing. Would we say to them, just do all the warm fuzzy honey stuff and forget about rebuking the Pharisees and turning over the table of the moneychangers and dont say we should separate from the divisive and the contentious.? St. Paul even named names of those who opposed him and who fought against the truth that he was preaching. The names are in the bible: for all posterity to observe. How negative is that? But for all we know, some of those men may have been saved in the end. If we made this sort of complaint to Jesus and Paul, they would have done all those things anyway because it was part of their mission. Yet this is frequently expressed to apologists. Its part of my mission, too, to call a spade a spade and rebuke wrong and harmful behaviors that lead to schism and bad relations within the Church, and to oppose error and show why it is error, and to demonstrate that the Catholic Church offers a true alternative that is far superior. Some toes get stepped on and feathers ruffled, in so doing; I cant help that. Its the nature of the beast. We have to proclaim truth as we see it, according to the teachings of Holy Mother Church, the Bible, and apostolic tradition. That necessarily includes error, and thus we are directly involved in vinegar activities. I would love for it to be otherwise, but its my duty to proclaim and defend truth, and that will never be solely a warm fuzzy undertaking. It is for those who agree with whatever is being defended, but for those who disagree it is often contentious and sometimes ugly, once they start fighting back against the truths being proclaimed. Its part of the apologists cross to bear, and we bear it joyfully, with full consent, knowing that it is inevitable. We not only have to be in the middle of many messy controversies (and I absolutely detest those, believe me), but also get accused of being contentious ourselves and no different from those whom we oppose, in the very act of opposing the contentiousness and error. Thats another cross I willingly bear as an apologist, if by that, it means that more people will hear the gospel and the message of the fullness of Christianity to be found in Catholicism. Ill apply that suffering to the souls Im trying to reach with the message. Its all good in the end. Gods providence reigns supreme. Those aspects of my work I dont enjoy at all, but I still love the work of an apologist overall and wouldnt trade my life for anything. We are all most content and fulfilled and joyous in that life that God has assigned to us, by virtue of calling and vocation. St. Paul taught that. Whatever your vocation is, dear reader, I urge you to fulfill it to the fullest.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:48:44 +0000
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