Foundation of Everything
Part 2 of 3
Getting the Most Out of Catholicism
Contents
Uncompromising Worldview
Our worldview shapes the way we experience life. Indeed, it shapes who we are and who we are becoming. If we choose the Catholic worldview—or even draw nearer to examine it—we must look at it for what it is and not what someone else is trying to make it! As mentioned earlier, many Catholics no longer hold the Catholic worldview. Indeed, many religious, priests, and bishops no longer hold it. Some blatantly contradict it in favor of the modern worldview.
We must explore the Catholic worldview as it is—without compromise. If we do not, we are not truly giving the worldview of Christ a chance. We are simply creating a façade to dress up the modern worldview we still cling to! The Lord himself says that if we are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, he will spit us out of his mouth (Rev 3:16). He tells us that we cannot serve two masters. We will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. We cannot serve God and the world (Mt 6:24). We cannot hold both the worldview of Jesus Christ and the worldview of modern society. It’s simply impossible, and the harder folks try, the more they fail.
Trying to embrace the modern view and remain Catholic is always catastrophic. This infidelity to Jesus’ worldview has brought scandals and growing divisions. It has drained the life from believers and urged the exodus of folks from the Church. And we can hardly blame them. If at the end of the day, we offer the same worldview they get everywhere else, what is the point of practicing the faith? What is the purpose of the Church?
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The Primary Purpose
The Church has many purposes. The Church has many jobs, many hats, many projects. However, there is a primary purpose that defines her more than any other. A primary purpose commissioned by the Lord himself. A primary purpose that defines, purifies, and empowers the Church.
So, what is this primary purpose? Is social justice the primary purpose of the Church? How about providing low-income housing?
Those are purposes, but certainly not her primary purpose.
How about promoting socialism under the guise of social justice? Or globalism? What about diluting our beliefs and morals—or directly contradicting them to please the worldly who preach an unthinkable and unworkable worldly utopia without God?
Most certainly not! We’ve already covered that mess.
Is the Church’s primary purpose getting people to go to church and receive the sacraments?
We instinctively know this isn’t the whole story, though many priests certainly behave and preach as if these were all that matter—as if simple participation in these is the summit of our faith—as if these insured a Catholic worldview. If you want more from your faith, then volunteer at the parish. That’s it.
The sacraments are central to what the Church does—even central to who the Church is—the very Body of Christ. However, these are not an end in themselves. These are not the purpose but rather sources of grace and community to aid and support the true primary purpose!
So, what is the primary purpose of the Church?
The primary purpose of the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity in general is to form disciples. Indeed, everything good she does depends on forming living, growing disciples! This is not to say “grow” as in to form many, but “grow” as in the formation of passionate, knowledgeable, loving followers of Christ. Without this, nothing else works. Without this, we have decay and death—a living death. We certainly see this in many places. And even our growing disciples seem ill-equipped to battle it.
Since Vatican II, the Church has urged a “new evangelization” to evangelize those who have already been baptized—to “re-evangelize” them. Many Catholics need a new encounter with Christ; they need to become living, growing disciples.
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The Living, Growing Disciple
A living, growing disciple deeply understands that his life is meant to be a journey to God—that this is his primary purpose and nothing else should compete with it. He fathoms that this journey will utterly transform him and grant him a share in Christ’s Divine Sonship. He knows with his entire heart that “the Son of God became a son of man so the sons of men might become sons of God” (St. Athanasius, c. 297-373).
The Growing Disciple • James 1:19-25; CCC 1694
- Has developed a heart for God that motivates his/her attitudes and actions.
- Is willing to make any sacrifices to grow, even change his/her schedule.
- Observable changes in attitudes and actions can be seen.
Is committed to chastity, sobriety, and excellence in their state of life. - Consistent in continually growing in the basic habits of the Christian life, including but not limited to:
- Seeks interior growth through daily prayer with Scripture and spiritual reading (John 1:1-18; Ephesians 6:18)
- Grows in sanctification through the reception of the sacraments (Acts 2:42)
- Builds character through the virtues and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-16)
- Accepts suffering and uses it to unite him/her to Christ (Colossians 1:24)
- Practices the spiritual and corporal works of mercy (Matthew 25:31-46)
- Is open to the Holy Spirit (John 16:7; 12-13)
The above description of a growing disciples comes from FOCUS, as adapted from The Fuel & the Flame: Ignite Your Life & Your Campus for Jesus Christ by Steve Shadrach and Paul Worcester, et al. They define the progression of discipleship as Beginning Disciple, Growing Disciple, Commissioned Disciple, and Disciple Maker.
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Forming Disciples
The Christian worldview is indeed an amazing, unparalleled worldview, yet it is also far more than a worldview. Christianity is an encounter with Jesus Christ; it is a growing intimate relationship with Jesus; it is following Jesus wherever he calls us. More than anything, it is a fire to be caught—a divine fire of love ignited in our hearts. While it is true that any person of goodwill honestly seeking God will indeed find him, it is also true that disciples are not formed in isolation. Again, the fire is caught. And the fire starters are always disciples already ablaze with the very same divine fire!
Catching fire isn’t as easy as it used to be. We no longer live in a society infusing us with the Christian worldview everywhere we go. We have few religious inspiring the laity and nurturing disciples through lay orders. And we have few healthy families capable of passing on the Christian worldview to their children. Attending weekend Mass and catechism have proven entirely inadequate. Even attending Catholic schools and involvement with youth groups have proven to have no effect on retaining Catholics. A faithful on-fire pastor certainly helps, but even this rarity is not enough. Small doses of the Christian worldview from afar are not enough. We need ongoing, personal interaction with living, growing disciples who can support each other and help kindle the flame in the rest of us.
What we really need is a support group with at least one living, growing disciple in it! We need prayerful small study groups to be these support groups. These groups are around. Prayer groups, Bible studies, and lay orders do abound; however, they are not nearly as common as they need to be. And often ongoing formation or personal growth are not emphasized enough. Some don’t even promote the Catholic worldview we’re seeking! However, regardless of the limitations of some variations of these groups, these groups are our best option. Indeed, these groups, properly formed and led, can provide everything the practicing Catholic needs to become and thrive as a living, growing disciple. The well-formed and well-led small church community can provide personal interaction with living, growing disciples who can support each other and ignite the flame in everyone else.
To Part 3: Getting the Most Out of Your Small Church Community →
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