2022.12.18 Living the Truth

Living the Truth

Psalm 26 • Matthew 22:35–40

I was born in 1969. Many of you know I was raised Catholic. In 1969, The second Vatican Council had radically changed the ways Catholics worship and live, and those effects were still being figured out in my childhood. The Catholic Mass was translated into local languages instead of being celebrated in Latin all over the world - RADICAL! My childhood churches experimented with musical instruments other than piano and organ with mixed response — something protestant churches took a couple more decades to experience, but familiar nonetheless for those of us who were around the church in the 1980s and 90s.

But I would propose the most impactful change made in Vatican II was a departure from using the formal Roman Catholic catechism. For centuries, the catechism was taught rigorously so that every Catholic would be well-versed in the beliefs of their Church. Other Church Councils amended and altered the catechism, but the formal catechism was the basic curriculum for the entire church. So, why change that? Well, it was taught rigorously … but it wasn’t learned rigorously, and it was not taught particularly well.

So, my earliest years of Christian education consisted of a hodge-podge of muddled theology mixed with pop psychology as local churches figured out how to teach the faith without … well … without teaching the faith.

It is not surprising, now, that people my age and younger who were raised and never departed the Church have trouble describing the Church’s positions on theology and various other issues.

Meanwhile, Protestant Churches in the days of my youth were focused on pointing fingers and pounding the pulpit loud enough to make sure everyone knew the preacher was angry about the world’s sins and making sure everyone understood they were worthless pieces of poo without Jesus. That may be a bit harsh … it’s not terribly inaccurate, but it is a bit harsh.

I’m not criticizing the truth of those sentiments. I preached just last week that we are all doomed without Jesus because of our sin problem. But I preached that sentiment with the same personality and language you’ll see when we have a cup of coffee together.

While the Catholic priests of my youth were busy talking to their congregations like a college professor, many protestant preachers were engaging in performance art becoming dramatically different people when they stepped into the pulpit. Even in our 20’s, Annette and I knew one preacher whose voice changed when he preached. We knew the person, but the preacher was unrecognizable from that person.

Of course, there were exceptions to these generalities. In my Middle School years, our church had an older priest. Father Rusty was one of the most emotional men I’ve ever known. The homilies he preached without tears were the exception. He didn’t need to pound the pulpit to let you know he cared … you knew. People would encounter him in the hallways at the hospital, and before they left a brief conversation, Father Rusty may have been in tears. In fact, the hospital named their chapel after him.

I do believe the Catholic faith has been watered down by not teaching the catechism, and I believe the Methodist faith has been weak by not HAVING a catechism. But the faith has not become real to me in the listing of beliefs.

In our Advent reading this week, we encountered this reality:

“Jesus’ truth is not complicated or harsh. It is not a catechism or a manual.

[next slide]

Rather, Jesus has asked us to do two things: love God and love our neighbor.”

“Belonging to the truth of Christ means giving ourselves over to love.”

While knowing and teaching the basic tenets of our faith is incredibly important … it’s neither the starting nor the ending point.

Do not read

“Belonging to the truth of Christ means giving ourselves over to love.”

The starting and ending points are giving ourselves over to love of God and love of neighbor. The starting and ending points are rejecting the human standard to “take care of #1”. You see … Love of self is the problem, not the solution!

Living the Truth

Being emotionally available to cry in the pulpit, or in the parking lot, or in the halls of the hospital. Being available to love … REALLY LOVE our neighbors. Father Rusty set a good example for me, and I hope to live up to his example in my better moments.

I’d like to conclude today by praying Henri Nouwen’s words and the closing prayer from Wednesday’s devotion. Let’s pray:

Oh Lord Jesus, I thank you. I praise you. I love you. May our hearts be one so that the world may recognize that it is you who sent me, not to condemn, but to offer your heart for all who search for love. [Nouwen]

Loving Christ, teach me your ways. Make my heart like yours. Amen. [Devotional]