Friday, February 22, 2013

bicycles and grammar

My passions often change but seldom waver. To create and extend a metaphor, I am a fixed gear bike while most of my friends are mountain bikes (and consequently, mountain bikers). In many ways, I still operate life with pedal backwards brakes. Sometimes I fly over the handle bars. Luckily, I have an awesome pit crew that intercedes through the wreckage.

Last night was a pedal-backwards moment.

I had been operating on the words of a simple vision, presumably from God. I was deeply convinced that I needed to prescribe to formal religion in order to rightly worship Jesus Christ. Intertwined in this vision was the confidence to marry a particular man. After the aforementioned young man broke up with me and moved on (as mountain bikes are adept at any terrain) I continued pedaling through life. Religion and earthly relationship merged inseparably.

Well-meaning family and friends stepped in to point out how I was hurting myself in this process. Yet, I remained convinced and pedaling. My choices were "all" or "nothing", and I didn't like the sound of nothing. I was too proud to admit my reality, too blind to see my deception.

Whether it was the sum total of sound advice, or the prayers of the faithful, or the very interception of the Holy Spirit of God; finally, last night, I stopped. 

I realized that the single vision I clung to came at a moment reeking with the garbage-scent of sin and death. Satan himself appears as an angel of light, after all. I saw with new eyes how God never abandons His beloved. I saw the hope of His best plans for those He loves. Nowhere did I see requirements to earn His favor.

In this new Light, I even see how God could restore fellowship with those I left and with those who left me. I am no longer convinced that God desires me to marry the particular man from the vision, rather that God desires me to love Him with entirety. And with renewed clarity comes renewed passion.

For all of my life I can remember, I desire unity within the Church. Roman Catholic traditions have taught me to revere the God who made us, knows us, loves us. Evangelical Christian saints have shown me how to love God in attitude and actions. Believers of Christ in developing nations have challenged me to follow Christ regardless of danger to self or family.

The last few months, I have been investigating membership in the Catholic church, but I see my capitols were backwards. That's where my theology boils down to a point of English grammar:
I belong to the catholic Church. 

Scriptures describe a single Church. Christ pursues His Bride in beautiful, holy monogamy. The word "catholic" means "universal". The single Church spends eternity with Christ.

Learning Roman Catholic traditions strengthened my respect and appreciation for the Church. Recognizing and making real the promise of life forever with Christ, I am strengthened and encouraged by the saints of every age. Together, we comprise the Bride. Together, we worship God forever. Together, we make His name great.

To those of you planning to come on Palm Sunday in support of my reception to the Roman Catholic church, thank you for loving me as a sister in Christ. But, go ahead and clear your schedules and worship our Lord whatever ways He makes Himself known to You.

I no longer feel compelled to become "Catholic" as I come to understand my propensities to the fixed-gear lifestyle.

Please pray for unity within the Bride of Christ. Please pray for the realization of the catholic Church, whether we get to taste it this side of death or not. Because, regardles of my own personal encounter with death, I rest assured knowing the Church will prevail forever.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18




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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys