The Southern Baptist Convention is underway this week in Indiana, with many issues up for discussion. I found Paul Dean's thoughts pretty interesting as it seems Southern Baptists - the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. -- face some of the same problems as Catholics -- the largest Christian church in the U.S.:
Membership. Currently, 16 million people claim to be Southern Baptist. But research shows less than 6 million of those individuals actually attend a Southern Baptist worship service weekly.
This sounds familiar. The Catholic Church in America reportedly has around 70 million members. Yet studies show that a significant chunk of Catholics do not attend Mass weekly.
While the issue of attendance may seem trivial, it points to a deeper problem - studies show that those who claim the title "Christian" are increasingly losing awareness of basic Christian doctrines and teachings.
In other words - while the numbers may show that the U.S. has a strong religious affiliation, if one actually based the numbers on those who not only say they are Christian but are actively practicing their faith and seeking to understand their doctrines, one would find the numbers much lower.
Paul Dean outlines some of the ways the Southern Baptist Convention hopes to tackle this problem - including implementing a Scriptural model of "loving correction of wayward members" and a Christ-like model of discipline in their local churches.
I think, when done in love, correction and discipline from leaders could be a promising solution, not just for those who may be confused about what the Christian faith is all about, but also for those who are actively practicing their faith. Do you remember when you were a child, and an authority figure failed to correct a wayward child who's ignorance or sin was causing confusion and hurt among other children? It made you feel vulnerable and angry, didn't it? You felt like you were on your own when in fact, you shouldn't have been - the responsible adult should have been there to protect you.
I think church leaders, in their efforts to be maintain membership and not offend those in error not only hurt the ones living in error but also create disillusionment among those seeking to walk the narrow path of faith, seeking to do right. They make their flock feel vulnerable and alone when they shouldn't be.
On the flip side - those pastors that speak the truth in love, hold members accountable, and give all members opportunities to grow in their faith through repentance of past wrongs inspire veteran members to grow and new members to join.
The problem of church membership won't be solved over night, but I hope that all Christians can find ways not only to renew their own faith and commitment to a local church, but to help fellow Christians fully understand what it means to be Christian.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Glimpse into China's 'One-Child' Policy
Scanning the news today, I ran across this AP headline on quake victims:
China Makes One-Child Policy Exception for Earthquake Affected Families
The policy, launched in the 1970's by the government to control exploding population growth, limits Chinese couples to one child, making exceptions for rural families, some ethnic groups, and couples where both spouses were only children. Couples under the one-child policy who have more than one child face fines for the birth of the illegal child, and siblings of firstborns are denied rights including access to state education.
In the wake of the recent, tragic quake that took an estimated 62,000 lives, the local government now has a population of ailing families who have lost their only children. In response to the tragedy, officials are allowing couples who lost their only children to obtain certificates to try for another child. The government is also allowing couples with injured or disabled children to have another child, and for couples with previously illegal children to register these children as their legal child.
Reading the article above and typing these words feels almost surreal. The government is "allowing" couples to have more than one child? The government has been denying rights to second and third children for decades? The government is granting "certificates" to couples with disabled children to grant them permission to try for -- a more perfect child?
It is rare I encounter such blatant treatment of children as commodities that can be taxed, regulated, restricted, and even denied rights based on quotas. While the quake is nobody's fault, the tragedy has been compounded by government meddling in private affairs. No child - firstborn or thirteenth born - is ever replaceable yet the agony of loss is increased when a family who desired multiple children lose their only permitted child and have no other children with whom to grieve or bond.
The quake highlights a reality of government policies of this nature: They create a situation where large percentages of families are vulnerable - vulnerable to crushing grief; to loss of their legacies; to never-realized, rewarding parent-child relationships that come from second, third and tenth-borns; to loss of the unique support and bonding that occurs among siblings; and to a void of those available to care for parents in their aging years. Studies also show that at the loss of a child marriages become vulnerable. One hopes these couples who now find themselves childless can make it as far as applying for required certificates to bring another child into the world.
Policies of this nature make the devastations of life that much more devastating. They disregard the sacredness of human life, procreation, and the bond of marriage, making family life - and thus society as a whole - unstable. I hope this recent tragedy will inspire government officials to reconsider their current laws.
China Makes One-Child Policy Exception for Earthquake Affected Families
The policy, launched in the 1970's by the government to control exploding population growth, limits Chinese couples to one child, making exceptions for rural families, some ethnic groups, and couples where both spouses were only children. Couples under the one-child policy who have more than one child face fines for the birth of the illegal child, and siblings of firstborns are denied rights including access to state education.
In the wake of the recent, tragic quake that took an estimated 62,000 lives, the local government now has a population of ailing families who have lost their only children. In response to the tragedy, officials are allowing couples who lost their only children to obtain certificates to try for another child. The government is also allowing couples with injured or disabled children to have another child, and for couples with previously illegal children to register these children as their legal child.
Reading the article above and typing these words feels almost surreal. The government is "allowing" couples to have more than one child? The government has been denying rights to second and third children for decades? The government is granting "certificates" to couples with disabled children to grant them permission to try for -- a more perfect child?
It is rare I encounter such blatant treatment of children as commodities that can be taxed, regulated, restricted, and even denied rights based on quotas. While the quake is nobody's fault, the tragedy has been compounded by government meddling in private affairs. No child - firstborn or thirteenth born - is ever replaceable yet the agony of loss is increased when a family who desired multiple children lose their only permitted child and have no other children with whom to grieve or bond.
The quake highlights a reality of government policies of this nature: They create a situation where large percentages of families are vulnerable - vulnerable to crushing grief; to loss of their legacies; to never-realized, rewarding parent-child relationships that come from second, third and tenth-borns; to loss of the unique support and bonding that occurs among siblings; and to a void of those available to care for parents in their aging years. Studies also show that at the loss of a child marriages become vulnerable. One hopes these couples who now find themselves childless can make it as far as applying for required certificates to bring another child into the world.
Policies of this nature make the devastations of life that much more devastating. They disregard the sacredness of human life, procreation, and the bond of marriage, making family life - and thus society as a whole - unstable. I hope this recent tragedy will inspire government officials to reconsider their current laws.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Virginia Tech One Year Later
It’s been a year since the country watched the dreadful Virginia Tech shootings unfold, leaving 33 students and faculty dead. In the months following the shootings, darkness and despair lingered as our morning newspapers greeted us with blown up images of a cold, angry-looking killer, and news stories delved into his disturbing writings and troubling behavior. When the media wasn’t focused on profiling the killer, we were inundated with stories on what many considered to be an incompetent emergency response on the part of the university. Stories highlighted regret and anger over lives lost that may have been saved.
Yes, all in all, it was a tough year for Virginia Tech, those associated with the university, and the nation as a whole. And yet, in the aftermath of this horrific tragedy, much healing has taken place and much good has come out of the original evil. While we can’t bring back the precious lives of those lost, we can honor some of the glimmers of goodness and grace that have sprung up since April 16, 2007.
The Day Of…
While much of the media understandably focused on the horrors of Cho’s massacre, stories of true kindness and heroism emerged almost as soon as the shooting occurred. Who can forget the beautiful images of candlelight vigils and cadets in uniform? What town wasn’t, at some point, covered in orange and maroon, to show support for a school they may not have known much about before that day? Even our rivals, the
And now that a year has passed, the campus and nation has had time to reflect on the beautiful lives of those killed instead of on the killer. If you visit Virginia Tech’s remembrance website, you’ll find profiles and pictures of each person who died, with heart-felt words for each one. Students’ talents, faith, achievements and caring natures shine through here.
Some of the most inspirational stories are of the heroes like Henry J. Lee, a sophomore Computer Engineering major, who assisted professor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak in trying to protect his fellow classmates. Or how about the moving story of professor Liviu Librescu? This 76-year-old Holocaust survivor, aeronautical engineer, and researcher gave his life so that his students could live.
And not everyone who put their lives on the line met death. According to wikipedia.org, German students Katelyn Carney, Derek O'Dell, Trey Perkins, and Erin Sheehan barricaded the door of Room 207, saving many lives.
Signs of Human Resiliency
What ever happened to those students who were injured in the shootings? In a Richmond Times-Dispatch Op-Ed titled “Renewal and Recovery Within the Hokie Nation” President Steger reflected on the spirit of hope and perseverance displayed by the surviving students and staff. He felt this was especially evident in the bravery of 20 injured students who chose to return to campus. “Each of those Hokies returned to Virginia Tech to continue to learn and discover with commitment and intensity.”
Not only are current students moving forward, but the university continues to attract new students and even exceeded their recruiting goals for the class of 2011.
A Commitment to the Original
In the same Op-Ed, President Steger says, “I believe that what the world has seen in the aftermath of our dreadful day ought to serve as a lesson in how to preserve what you treasure, how to draw together when you are under strain, and how to press ahead — resuming the important work inherent in one’s mission, and recognizing the profoundly different landscape in which you must do that work.”
And indeed, even though the landscape differs in some ways, the work has continued on at Virginia Tech. Students and faculty excel, showing their commitment to the ideals held by their fallen peers and professors. Perhaps one of the hardest hit departments at VT was the English Department. Cho was an English major, as were several victims such as Ryan Clark and Ross Alameddine (this was my home department as well). If you visit the English Department’s home page today, you’ll find an abundance of scholarly achievements since the shooting.
It’s also been an inspiring year in athletics, with the Hokie football team making it to the Orange Bowl, which in spite of their loss to
And how about the Yankee’s inspirational visit to the Tech campus? Or Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver’s victory at the 2007 British Amateur, winning him a spot at the 75th Annual Master’s Tournament?
An
As exciting as sports victories and academic advancements are, the most hopeful opportunities for renewal can be found in the local faith community. College is a tough time for young adults even without a campus tragedy, and statistics show many walk away from their faith during these pivotal years. While I personally became a Christian at Virginia Tech, I had my faith tested my senior year during the 9-11 tragedy. But local church and parachurch organizations rose to the occasion in their responses to this national tragedy. I recall many students strengthening their faith in Christ or seeking Him for the first time in 2001. God’s graces were tangible through the witnesses of these students and leaders, even in the midst of darkness.
A visit to the website of New Life Christian Fellowship, a student church at Virginia Tech, shows that same active response to help students come to know Christ in light of this more recent tragedy. In a Sept. ‘07 article titled City on a Hill, Pastor Jim Pace says: “This campus and community doesn’t need Christ more than they did prior to April 16, 2007. But they can see they need him a lot more clearly.”
As I watched the news on April 16, 2007, I remember having this fleeting thought: “No one will ever want to go to Virginia Tech again. The school is ruined.” But looking back on the past year, it’s clear that while the school will forever be changed, goodness and hope still abound.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Over-the-Counter Paternity Test Raises Questions
I ran across this MSN article titled "Who's Your Daddy?" today on a new, over-the-counter kit available to establish paternity.
According to this writer's research, sales of the test have been "brisk" resolving sometimes decades-long questions for families. According to one excited customer who recently discovered the child of an old girlfriend is indeed his and not another man's:
“Our newest son has a family he never knew he had including grandparents, aunts, and three younger brothers who are all very excited to meet him.”
Another young man discovered he was not the dad of a child he thought he conceived last year.
I can't help but be saddened by the apparent need for such tests. A child's paternity would never be in question if his parents had not been involved in some truly questionable activity. Yet this news is reported with a shrug at the casual approach to sex that led to these children's sad predicaments. Is it really "exciting" for a child to find out he has a father, grandparents, and siblings he never knew about? Or is it thrilling for a child to discover that the parent they bonded with is not theirs? Perhaps it is exciting for a parent find out he has a child he can now bond with or for a former "parent" to discover he is now relieved of a financial responsibility, but I think it's inevitable that the child will suffer in these situations.
So much of our identity is tied up in our parents - their genetics, their involvement in our lives, and their commitment to each other. To miss out on key bonding with a father or to experience confusion over one's family of origin can be devastating. Even in the most positive situations - like that of an adopted child raised by phenomenal, loving parents - the child will face issues other children do not have to deal with in regards to connecting with (or failing to connect with) her biological parents.
Our society advocates casual sexual involvement as a recreational activity and nothing more. Pregnancy is seen as just an inconvenient "side effect" to be avoided by contraptions and medications. Sitcoms show individuals going to bed together on the first or second date. Teens are bombarded with talks and information on experimenting "safely." Stats show that they are listening to this encouragement from the "experts," and 50% of girls and 75% of boys are no longer virgins by their 18th birthday (meanwhile, pretty much 0% of these kids are ready to support a child should pregnancy occur). And, in spite of all the health education, a recent study estimated that 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 are currently infected with an STD.
These over-the-counter paternity tests are just another reminder that no matter how much we'd like to turn sex into a recreational pastime for our own personal enjoyment, it's so much more than that. How we approach sexuality effects our lives and the lives of others profoundly. John Paul the II was known for saying that the problem with the Western approach to sexual intimacy is not that we value sexuality too much, but too little. We treat people and their bodies like cheap commodities.
And we're reaping the results. No child should have to wonder who his parents are. No man should have to spend years wondering if he has a child out there somewhere. No woman should be in a position where she's having to prove fatherhood to receive love and support from a man. 18-year-old girls should not be hearing a doctor say that, due to contracting a common STD, they face lifelong infertility. 16-year-old boys should not be using their new driver's licenses to drive their dates to the local abortion clinic.
Yes, human beings of all ages will make tragic decisions no matter the era. But it would be total denial to say our culture's "gospel" of sexuality has not drastically increased such situations, especially among the young and vulnerable.
How much pain and brokenness do we have to experience before things begin to change? How many scarred human beings do we have to encounter before we trade MTV's "Beach Week" in for the true and lasting love that comes with waiting, maturing, and embracing the exclusivity of family life? What would our world look like if we treated sexuality for what it really is instead of what Cosmo magazine or Planned Parenthood says it is? I can only imagine how much happier the world would be.
According to this writer's research, sales of the test have been "brisk" resolving sometimes decades-long questions for families. According to one excited customer who recently discovered the child of an old girlfriend is indeed his and not another man's:
“Our newest son has a family he never knew he had including grandparents, aunts, and three younger brothers who are all very excited to meet him.”
Another young man discovered he was not the dad of a child he thought he conceived last year.
I can't help but be saddened by the apparent need for such tests. A child's paternity would never be in question if his parents had not been involved in some truly questionable activity. Yet this news is reported with a shrug at the casual approach to sex that led to these children's sad predicaments. Is it really "exciting" for a child to find out he has a father, grandparents, and siblings he never knew about? Or is it thrilling for a child to discover that the parent they bonded with is not theirs? Perhaps it is exciting for a parent find out he has a child he can now bond with or for a former "parent" to discover he is now relieved of a financial responsibility, but I think it's inevitable that the child will suffer in these situations.
So much of our identity is tied up in our parents - their genetics, their involvement in our lives, and their commitment to each other. To miss out on key bonding with a father or to experience confusion over one's family of origin can be devastating. Even in the most positive situations - like that of an adopted child raised by phenomenal, loving parents - the child will face issues other children do not have to deal with in regards to connecting with (or failing to connect with) her biological parents.
Our society advocates casual sexual involvement as a recreational activity and nothing more. Pregnancy is seen as just an inconvenient "side effect" to be avoided by contraptions and medications. Sitcoms show individuals going to bed together on the first or second date. Teens are bombarded with talks and information on experimenting "safely." Stats show that they are listening to this encouragement from the "experts," and 50% of girls and 75% of boys are no longer virgins by their 18th birthday (meanwhile, pretty much 0% of these kids are ready to support a child should pregnancy occur). And, in spite of all the health education, a recent study estimated that 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 are currently infected with an STD.
These over-the-counter paternity tests are just another reminder that no matter how much we'd like to turn sex into a recreational pastime for our own personal enjoyment, it's so much more than that. How we approach sexuality effects our lives and the lives of others profoundly. John Paul the II was known for saying that the problem with the Western approach to sexual intimacy is not that we value sexuality too much, but too little. We treat people and their bodies like cheap commodities.
And we're reaping the results. No child should have to wonder who his parents are. No man should have to spend years wondering if he has a child out there somewhere. No woman should be in a position where she's having to prove fatherhood to receive love and support from a man. 18-year-old girls should not be hearing a doctor say that, due to contracting a common STD, they face lifelong infertility. 16-year-old boys should not be using their new driver's licenses to drive their dates to the local abortion clinic.
Yes, human beings of all ages will make tragic decisions no matter the era. But it would be total denial to say our culture's "gospel" of sexuality has not drastically increased such situations, especially among the young and vulnerable.
How much pain and brokenness do we have to experience before things begin to change? How many scarred human beings do we have to encounter before we trade MTV's "Beach Week" in for the true and lasting love that comes with waiting, maturing, and embracing the exclusivity of family life? What would our world look like if we treated sexuality for what it really is instead of what Cosmo magazine or Planned Parenthood says it is? I can only imagine how much happier the world would be.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Thoughts on Excommunication
An acquaintance forwarded this link to me outlining the formal excommunication of three women seeking priestly ordination in the Catholic Church.
I found reading the declaration of excommunication interesting - it's not often you see one of these. The language used is not what some might expect. Often when you think of the word "excommunication" you think of a big, bad medieval bully church asserting his authority over it's tiny members. But this declaration articulates the Church's true stance on excommunication.
In a statement given by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke on Nov. 11, 2007, he said:
"I have communicated with Ms. Fresen, Ms. Hudson, and Ms. McGrath, and informed them that if they participated in an attempted female ordination, they would be excommunicating themselves from the Catholic Church. In the apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that the Catholic Church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women. This teaching is to be held definitively by all the faithful as belonging to the deposit of faith. Because they participated in the attempted ordination, Church law requires me to publicly declare the excommunication." (emphasis mine)
A key aspect of excommunication is that a church member is knowingly and willingly choosing to separate themselves from the Church's teachings. Members of authority do not wave a magic wand and deem one "excommunicated" at their whims - excommunication is ultimately a decision on the part of the excommunicated one. Indeed, the dilemma here is that the Church has established it has no authority to grant the desires of these women, no matter how eloquent their arguments. Women priests don't jive with Catholic theology - it goes against many key teachings. Should these women desire to be ordained ministers, they'll need to find another philosophy or religion to subscribe to, which they are free to do (or, they're free to accept these teachings, and come back into the Catholic Church).
I found reading the declaration of excommunication interesting - it's not often you see one of these. The language used is not what some might expect. Often when you think of the word "excommunication" you think of a big, bad medieval bully church asserting his authority over it's tiny members. But this declaration articulates the Church's true stance on excommunication.
In a statement given by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke on Nov. 11, 2007, he said:
"I have communicated with Ms. Fresen, Ms. Hudson, and Ms. McGrath, and informed them that if they participated in an attempted female ordination, they would be excommunicating themselves from the Catholic Church. In the apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that the Catholic Church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women. This teaching is to be held definitively by all the faithful as belonging to the deposit of faith. Because they participated in the attempted ordination, Church law requires me to publicly declare the excommunication." (emphasis mine)
A key aspect of excommunication is that a church member is knowingly and willingly choosing to separate themselves from the Church's teachings. Members of authority do not wave a magic wand and deem one "excommunicated" at their whims - excommunication is ultimately a decision on the part of the excommunicated one. Indeed, the dilemma here is that the Church has established it has no authority to grant the desires of these women, no matter how eloquent their arguments. Women priests don't jive with Catholic theology - it goes against many key teachings. Should these women desire to be ordained ministers, they'll need to find another philosophy or religion to subscribe to, which they are free to do (or, they're free to accept these teachings, and come back into the Catholic Church).
Thoughts on Baptism
With other writing assignments demanding my attention, it's been awhile since I've posted. But I'm going to try to post a little more frequently!
Some big things have been going on as of late, both personally and beyond. First, at our Easter Vigil my brother-in-law, at the age of 31, was baptized and received Confirmation and first Eucharist. This was very exciting for our family! There were several baptisms that night, which is a bit unusual because often those seeking union with the Catholic Church have already been baptized. For those unfamiliar with how the Catholic Church views baptism, the catechism states that this is the "door" through which we access all other Sacraments - it is the first step in union with God:
1213 Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Christ saw baptism as an integral step in becoming his disciple, and commanded the apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28: 19-20) Once a person is baptized, there is no need to repeat the process because baptism is not a "welcoming ritual" to establish denominational membership, but a Sacrament that unites the individual with Christ.
1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.
A person can walk away from their baptismal vows, reject Christ at any point out of free will, but even after doing this, should the prodigal return, baptism need not be repeated. It doesn't have an "expiration date." Baptism, although sometimes a source of hair-splitting, hot debates among Christians, actually opens the door for unity among the different Christian communities. All who are baptized are brothers and sisters in Christ - no matter how often we may squabble!
Also, one of the neatest elements of attending a baptism is the opportunity to renew your baptismal vows as an adult (like many Catholics, I was baptized as an infant). The priest goes through the entire creed, asking if we reject evil and embrace salvation in Christ, allowing parishioners to affirm with an "I do" at each key teaching. Christ also tells His disciples to teach those they baptize...I certainly hope all who received baptism this Easter will continue to receive instruction. Too often, it's tempting to think "Well, they're baptized now, job's done!" No way - faith is a lifelong pursuit of gaining wisdom and understanding.
Speaking of understanding...
With our culture becoming less traditional in its expression of Christianity, it seems there's an increasing number of individuals wandering around who have never been baptized, are unsure if they were ever baptized, or who have been baptized in the name of a god that is not Christian (there was a recent explosion of blog postings on a situation where individuals had been invalidly baptized using gender-neutral language. While the sentiment seems nice, these unfortunately aren't the words Christ used in Scripture.) I find this increase in unbaptized individuals disturbing and sad. While God certainly can save whoever He wishes, it is a bit frightening to see how much confusion reigns over the nature of God, salvation, and sin. I fear there are many vulnerable souls out who are missing out on the benefits of the graces received through baptism.
It especially saddens me to see fellow Christians claim baptism by water is not necessary, even though Christ Himself was baptized by water in the Jordon and said "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3: 5)
Speaking of hot debate over baptism...
B16 baptized a high-profile Muslim journalist over Easter:
http://wwwcwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=57413
As expected, some are very angry, claiming the Pope did this to sort flaunt triumph over the Muslim community. I highly doubt the Pope and this recent convert risked their lives to feed petty pride, but I especially liked one of the comments left at the end of this article. The reader pointed out that in light of the recent death of the Chaldean Archbishop in Iraq, the Pope took it as his paternal responsibility to take on this high-profile baptism himself, thus protecting the lives of the Bishops underneath him. As fierce as some media like to portray B16, I think it's fair to say me and many of my fellow Catholics see him as a spiritual father - and this baptism reaffirms the care he has for his spiritual children, no matter what their background.
Some big things have been going on as of late, both personally and beyond. First, at our Easter Vigil my brother-in-law, at the age of 31, was baptized and received Confirmation and first Eucharist. This was very exciting for our family! There were several baptisms that night, which is a bit unusual because often those seeking union with the Catholic Church have already been baptized. For those unfamiliar with how the Catholic Church views baptism, the catechism states that this is the "door" through which we access all other Sacraments - it is the first step in union with God:
1213 Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Christ saw baptism as an integral step in becoming his disciple, and commanded the apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28: 19-20) Once a person is baptized, there is no need to repeat the process because baptism is not a "welcoming ritual" to establish denominational membership, but a Sacrament that unites the individual with Christ.
1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.
A person can walk away from their baptismal vows, reject Christ at any point out of free will, but even after doing this, should the prodigal return, baptism need not be repeated. It doesn't have an "expiration date." Baptism, although sometimes a source of hair-splitting, hot debates among Christians, actually opens the door for unity among the different Christian communities. All who are baptized are brothers and sisters in Christ - no matter how often we may squabble!
Also, one of the neatest elements of attending a baptism is the opportunity to renew your baptismal vows as an adult (like many Catholics, I was baptized as an infant). The priest goes through the entire creed, asking if we reject evil and embrace salvation in Christ, allowing parishioners to affirm with an "I do" at each key teaching. Christ also tells His disciples to teach those they baptize...I certainly hope all who received baptism this Easter will continue to receive instruction. Too often, it's tempting to think "Well, they're baptized now, job's done!" No way - faith is a lifelong pursuit of gaining wisdom and understanding.
Speaking of understanding...
With our culture becoming less traditional in its expression of Christianity, it seems there's an increasing number of individuals wandering around who have never been baptized, are unsure if they were ever baptized, or who have been baptized in the name of a god that is not Christian (there was a recent explosion of blog postings on a situation where individuals had been invalidly baptized using gender-neutral language. While the sentiment seems nice, these unfortunately aren't the words Christ used in Scripture.) I find this increase in unbaptized individuals disturbing and sad. While God certainly can save whoever He wishes, it is a bit frightening to see how much confusion reigns over the nature of God, salvation, and sin. I fear there are many vulnerable souls out who are missing out on the benefits of the graces received through baptism.
It especially saddens me to see fellow Christians claim baptism by water is not necessary, even though Christ Himself was baptized by water in the Jordon and said "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3: 5)
Speaking of hot debate over baptism...
B16 baptized a high-profile Muslim journalist over Easter:
http://wwwcwnews.com/news
As expected, some are very angry, claiming the Pope did this to sort flaunt triumph over the Muslim community. I highly doubt the Pope and this recent convert risked their lives to feed petty pride, but I especially liked one of the comments left at the end of this article. The reader pointed out that in light of the recent death of the Chaldean Archbishop in Iraq, the Pope took it as his paternal responsibility to take on this high-profile baptism himself, thus protecting the lives of the Bishops underneath him. As fierce as some media like to portray B16, I think it's fair to say me and many of my fellow Catholics see him as a spiritual father - and this baptism reaffirms the care he has for his spiritual children, no matter what their background.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Divorce and Parenting
With all the recent media attention on Britney's Spears' sixteen-year-old sister's pregnancy, I ran across this peice on 12 celebrity parenting jobs gone wrong:
Famously Bad Parenting
The article briefly chronicles the sad upbringings of famous names like Drew Barrymore, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Jackson. Note how many of these struggling celebs were raised by divorced parents.
Of course, many who were raised by divorced parents manage to avoid some of these worst-case scenarios - like getting hooked on cocaine at age 13. Yet, kids of divorced parents do need to acknowledge that they are at a disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to navigating the complexities of adulthood.
One helpful resource I stumbled across recently was a ministry called Soul Healing Love. Drs. Bev and Tom Rodgers offer insights to adult children of divorce by addressing some of the unique challenges they face - especially when they enter into marriage themselves. Even reading a few articles shed some light on my own upbringing and how that has seeped into my relationships today.
So many from my generation grew up in broken homes. While our backgrounds inspire us to do things differently, they also can leave us lacking the proper tools to change. If we want to change the trend, and raise the next generation in healthy, committed, loving families, I recommend we seek out resources like the ones offered at Soul Healing Love.
I honestly can't think of a better gift to my parents than showing them that I've learned from their hardships and can now offer a different kind of life for their grandkids.
Famously Bad Parenting
The article briefly chronicles the sad upbringings of famous names like Drew Barrymore, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Jackson. Note how many of these struggling celebs were raised by divorced parents.
Of course, many who were raised by divorced parents manage to avoid some of these worst-case scenarios - like getting hooked on cocaine at age 13. Yet, kids of divorced parents do need to acknowledge that they are at a disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to navigating the complexities of adulthood.
One helpful resource I stumbled across recently was a ministry called Soul Healing Love. Drs. Bev and Tom Rodgers offer insights to adult children of divorce by addressing some of the unique challenges they face - especially when they enter into marriage themselves. Even reading a few articles shed some light on my own upbringing and how that has seeped into my relationships today.
So many from my generation grew up in broken homes. While our backgrounds inspire us to do things differently, they also can leave us lacking the proper tools to change. If we want to change the trend, and raise the next generation in healthy, committed, loving families, I recommend we seek out resources like the ones offered at Soul Healing Love.
I honestly can't think of a better gift to my parents than showing them that I've learned from their hardships and can now offer a different kind of life for their grandkids.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
What to Do About the Golden Compass?
Okay, so it's been a busy few months. For those of you who have held out in hope that I may one day post again, well, that day has finally arrived. :)
So what has been consuming my time? Well, as of late, the controversy surrounding the new movie The Golden Compass. It's based on a trilogy titled His Dark Materials -- currently quite popular in England. The editors at Crosswalk took it upon themselves to stay abreast of the cultural discussion, and we read the first book as well as attended an early screening of the movie. If you'd like to know our thoughts after that rather intense experience, check out our round table discussion here:
Round-Table Discussion with Crosswalk Editors on The Golden Compass
Oh, and if by some chance you are, after receiving a gazillion panicked emails, still wondering if this might be a good film for your kids? The quick answer is: No, it's not. I wouldn't delve into this movie or the books with any one younger than say, a mature teen.
So what has been consuming my time? Well, as of late, the controversy surrounding the new movie The Golden Compass. It's based on a trilogy titled His Dark Materials -- currently quite popular in England. The editors at Crosswalk took it upon themselves to stay abreast of the cultural discussion, and we read the first book as well as attended an early screening of the movie. If you'd like to know our thoughts after that rather intense experience, check out our round table discussion here:
Round-Table Discussion with Crosswalk Editors on The Golden Compass
Oh, and if by some chance you are, after receiving a gazillion panicked emails, still wondering if this might be a good film for your kids? The quick answer is: No, it's not. I wouldn't delve into this movie or the books with any one younger than say, a mature teen.
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