Catholics vs. Christians
Have you noticed lately how Catholic churches are getting empty by the day while the Christian community gets bigger and bigger each Sunday?
“Both groups believe that there is only one God, who is three-in-one (“Trinity”): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And both agree that Jesus is God the Son of human flesh.” Then what could explain why one community is losing “power while the other one is winning?
I believe that Catholics have stayed in the past, their “rules” are too strict, and that is their main goal, following the rules, without considering that the actual goal is to “give glory to God and share eternal life with him.” They have forgotten about the importance of building a community, somewhere to feel safe at a place where everyone there has the common love for God, “The Catholic church is a human organization which has its origins in the early gathering of Jesus’ followers (Christians) in the first century AD. Like all human organizations it is imperfect, and over time political and other motivations have led it further and further away from its original foundation”. This community has concentrated on just the main believe, going to church for an hour and living by the bible.
On the other hand, there is the Christians community who have a way of loving God and believing in him that belongs in the 21st century. Their primary goal is practiced continuously in their gatherings; “To love God and obey his commandments while creating a relationship with Jesus Christ and spreading the Gospel so that others may also be saved.” They use the music of this age, they talk about subjects we care about, and they make an effort of getting you involved. A place where you feel safe and in a second family, sharing the same beliefs and values.
As I said before Catholics tend to obscure the message God supposedly sends. Even though I mean no offense, their methods are unusual for people of this new generations. Millennials tend to be rebels and want something that gives them more of a free will rather than a community full of rules “A Catholic believes they have to reach a certain moral standard and have to follow all the church rules in order to get into heaven, and the average Catholic feels inadequate about their performance.”
Unlike Christians who think “whoever beliefs in the Son has eternal life” which means that if you believe in God and recognize him, it makes you a good Christian. Though this may be their belief, they don’t just stop there; they include their practices, practices that help the community grow and stick together, for example, acts of charity and including communion.
As a former Catholic, I can only speak for myself, saying that for me it began to be a little tedious, more than compelling by the word of God they misplaced it and would use fear as a method of appeal. This for me only makes me want to get farther rather than closer. One thing I will admit to is perseverance, every Sunday for at least an hour, plus baptism, first communion and confirmation, all this to attest that even as a baby when your baptism happens you are devoted to God, and at least for the few months of your formation it actually feels like a community in building.
Still, the question stands, what is the Catholic community missing? We have fallen into a phase where rather than doing, we talk; we tell people of the good we are doing and that this matters, but we have forgotten to do and care. Not because what we do matters or because it makes a difference, but because we do it for the Lord.
I honestly consider that if we implement some of this next tactics, we may regain our community, big or small but loving and caring as it was.
“The first thing we need to do, according to Stevenson, is put ourselves aside — including our worries, our fears, and our pride.” Let us be reminded that what we do is not for us, but for God and that he is not judging or counting your acts.
“The second way we can build better church community is by being willing to put in the time (and real community definitely takes time to grow!)” It is not enough to be at church for an hour and then leave for a week forgetting who you serve, not even knowing the people you go to church with. Get involve and lend your services wherever you might consider they are needed. The church is always in need of people who care.
Finally, I consider that if we were to not forget but not make ruler the first matter of order, this could possibly create a change
But truly, it does not matter what your religion is, focus on what your heart says and do good by the world.