Not long ago a teenager asked me
if I was a Christian, a question which hadn't been put to me for a very long time. I paused, then said yes, feeling the enormous
weight of my answer. This teen had not
yet been baptized, he said. As for me, I
was born into a home that was neither wholly Roman Catholic nor totally Calvinistic. For years, my parents argued about churches so
that I myself wasn't baptized until the age of four! In such a climate, religion risked becoming a
sore spot for me. Instead, thanks to
Scripture, I gladly chose Jesus on His own terms. Jesus had come to put "new wine into new wineskins" after
all. The world's many sects were
starting to look like old wineskins to me.
Jesus promised that His "yoke
was easy" and His "burden
was light." He told us not to judge
one another or to be anxious about details, not even about tomorrow. I have always found Jesus' teachings easy to
love. Nonetheless, I still ask myself what
it means to be a Christian. Does a definition
exist? Does being a Christian imply an
obligation to participate in a church? Does
it mean that once we say we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our sins are pardoned
and we will be granted life everlasting?
Does it require a knowledge of Scripture? Is it imperative for Christians to court
poverty rather than riches? Is being a Christian
a call to evangelize? Is Christianity a
way of life, the 
rules of which are simple: "You
shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind," and as
important, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"? I still wonder, why are Christians content to
be splintered? Unlike in Italy, in the
U.S. there are many denominations. Most
people belong to the one they were born into while others shop around for a
church that feels right. In my life I have
known, and have sometimes worshipped with, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians,
Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and even "Jews for Jesus." I have discussed the faith with Jehovah's
Witnesses and Christian Scientists and have exchanged views with a few devout Christians
from far-off countries. There are
notable differences among the sects, including their respective Bibles. Moreover, the Catholics and the Orthodox
acknowledge the divinity of Mary while the Protestants downplay her _0426_-_Kirill_Pasquza.jpg)
completely.
Protestants do not confess to their
ministers nor do they celebrate communion often, while in Catholic and Orthodox
liturgy, the Eucharist is offered daily.
Protestant ministers, Episcopal priests, and some Orthodox priests can
marry, just like Jewish rabbis. What
ties all these sects together then? How
amazing that they all grew out of the context of Hebrew communities in the Middle
East over 2,000 years ago. Jesus taught people
to stop stoning each other to death out of blind obedience to Law. That was a novel idea 2,000 years ago. In some places, where capital punishment
exists, it still is. Jesus said we are to
take the beam out of our own eyes before pointing at the splinter in another
person's. Show mercy to everyone you
meet, He says. Everyone. Learn to give, and
to forgive. Are you without sin? No?
Then do not accuse others, for "the
measure you give will be the measure you get." Better to be a contrite sinner than a proper hypocrite. Jesus had zero tolerance for hypocrites. He went so far as to say, "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your
heavenly Father is perfect." That,
I believe, is what Christianity is about. When we are finally perfect, we will know
it. There is no sense in arguing with
each other about form when we are still so far from our goal. Jesus knows the difficulties we face, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard,
that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Gratefully, as we struggle daily with our
egos, and face our myriad fears, and try to control our wayward tongues, we do not
have to walk alone. Jesus also said,
"For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." When it comes to gathering together, most of
us have l'imbarazzo della scelta,
"the embarrassment of a choice," to use an Italian expression. Churches are not lacking. Perhaps what is lacking at times is our will
to continue on this hard path. But we
can do it! We can be like Jesus! Don't give up trying! Never give up! I wish everyone a blessed Holy Week, 2014. May we all be free to gather in His name. Amen. UN'AMERICANA A VENEZIA
rules of which are simple: "You
shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind," and as
important, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"? I still wonder, why are Christians content to
be splintered? Unlike in Italy, in the
U.S. there are many denominations. Most
people belong to the one they were born into while others shop around for a
church that feels right. In my life I have
known, and have sometimes worshipped with, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians,
Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and even "Jews for Jesus." I have discussed the faith with Jehovah's
Witnesses and Christian Scientists and have exchanged views with a few devout Christians
from far-off countries. There are
notable differences among the sects, including their respective Bibles. Moreover, the Catholics and the Orthodox
acknowledge the divinity of Mary while the Protestants downplay her completely.
Protestants do not confess to their
ministers nor do they celebrate communion often, while in Catholic and Orthodox
liturgy, the Eucharist is offered daily.
Protestant ministers, Episcopal priests, and some Orthodox priests can
marry, just like Jewish rabbis. What
ties all these sects together then? How
amazing that they all grew out of the context of Hebrew communities in the Middle
East over 2,000 years ago. Jesus taught people
to stop stoning each other to death out of blind obedience to Law. That was a novel idea 2,000 years ago. In some places, where capital punishment
exists, it still is. Jesus said we are to
take the beam out of our own eyes before pointing at the splinter in another
person's. Show mercy to everyone you
meet, He says. Everyone. Learn to give, and
to forgive. Are you without sin? No?
Then do not accuse others, for "the
measure you give will be the measure you get." Better to be a contrite sinner than a proper hypocrite. Jesus had zero tolerance for hypocrites. He went so far as to say, "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your
heavenly Father is perfect." That,
I believe, is what Christianity is about. When we are finally perfect, we will know
it. There is no sense in arguing with
each other about form when we are still so far from our goal. Jesus knows the difficulties we face, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard,
that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Gratefully, as we struggle daily with our
egos, and face our myriad fears, and try to control our wayward tongues, we do not
have to walk alone. Jesus also said,
"For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." When it comes to gathering together, most of
us have l'imbarazzo della scelta,
"the embarrassment of a choice," to use an Italian expression. Churches are not lacking. Perhaps what is lacking at times is our will
to continue on this hard path. But we
can do it! We can be like Jesus! Don't give up trying! Never give up! I wish everyone a blessed Holy Week, 2014. May we all be free to gather in His name. Amen. UN'AMERICANA A VENEZIA
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