Doubts

I’ve been going through a lot of doubts lately. Having been exposed to so many denominations, and watching how so many of us think differently, I’ve been having trouble finding my rock. I remember Mitt Romney saying that his being a Mormon gave him foundation and stability. I understand how people cling to their denomination’s beliefs to give them a foundation. So, if you say “I’m a Catholic”, people know where you come from. The same goes with saying you’re a Muslim, or Jew, or Buddhist. We like to put people in boxes. There is comfort for the observer as well as the person, knowing who we are.

But I’m a Christian. What does that mean? There are so many different kinds of Christians. I found this flyer that was given to me from a Catholic friend. She knows I’m “ecumenical”. (Read the flyer) They all follow Jesus in some way.

I’ve been listening to a podcast by an evangelical pastor named Chip Ingram who I really like.  I’ve learned a lot from him. This podcast is about Doubts. He talks about our society today and how many people have left the church. There’s a large percentage of young people who have never heard the gospel. Do you think it’s important? What is the Gospel to you?…(Share time).  Chip says that Christians are being considered the enemy in many ways: hypocritical, judgmental, close minded. But was Jesus like that? I don’t think so. Christianity is being judged by people’s behavior, as it should be, so if Christians are not acting like Jesus, maybe there is a problem. Chip says that the way to bring people back to Christ is not by sending them to a Christian college, or going to church every Sunday, or preaching to them. It’s by our actions. We should be so strong in our love and commitment to Christ through our behavior that people want to know what makes us tick. That’s how we can bring people to Christ.

I do think that our society is losing a moral compass. There are too many suicides among our young and old people. People are lonely and empty, looking for love in all the wrong places! I believe Jesus can fill that void. He has certainly filled my void and the Bible has given me guidelines on how to live. I wonder what compass young people are using today. There aren’t many rules out there any more. Is that good or bad?…(share). I know I need a rock to hold on to, and I also know that we’re all God’s creation. I think our behavior is important, and God sees what we do, but what I think is even more important is what God sees in our hearts. He wants to have a relationship with us. For me, that means talking to Him, opening my hearts to receive His guidance, reading scripture as if it’s God talking to me.  So few people actually read the Bible. There is so much wisdom and hope in scripture. One of the things I like about the Catholic Church is the depth and richness of the Mass.  Contemplation is important, but so is reading scripture and prayer.

The Evangelicals are big on Salvation, eternal life, and that in order to go to heaven you have to be a Christian, or “saved”. They take scripture literally and stand on the promises given. I hope there is heaven. I want eternal life, but I also believe that God’s kingdom is here and now and I choose to be a sheep in Jesus’ pasture. I need the Holy Spirit to help me be the person Jesus wants me to be. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that is my guide on how to live my life.

Amen