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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 798 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Feb 19th, 2007 02:04 pm |
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 Tis’ said that confession is good for the soul Of course, we Catholics have known that for a long, long time: 2,000 years to be truthful. Oprah’s got a long road ahead if she wants to catch up with us.
This is an informal “confession” of sorts. It’s the confession of a recently rattled Catholic who’s been trying to walk a tight-rope between the local Baptist church (ABC) my family’s been attending for the past dozen years. The pastor’s a great guy and I enjoy volunteering my time there. The church has been terrific to my family. But, there was only so much of the “contemporary” and easy-going theological watering-down I could endure without protesting openly with what I saw as the creeping influence of mega-church style of worship. I'm a real Tevye in this respect, shouting "Tradition" from the rooftop accompanied by my fiddling friend.
Outside of my differences with the Baptists, I was also drawn to the high-toned and very traditional liturgy of the Episcopal parish we used to attend. (That’s what the very bland “New Order” Catholic liturgy has done for this traditionalist.) So, for about a half a year, I attended services there, by myself. As a “cradle Catholic” I was tempted to return, but whenever I’d drop a hint of this to my wife, who at that time was adamantly disgusted with the Church as it was passing through the pedophile priest/Episcopal cover-up scandals. So, I took the easy way out and instead of doing the right thing and just rejoining the Church I was baptized into, etc., I settled for attending our old Episcopal parish to at least have a “flavor” of that old time religion. (Believe me, Catholicism is THAT Old Time Religion,” but some of us have to stumble and break a few ribs to find out the hard way.)
Well, I returned to our Baptist church and never gave much though to wandering again, save for my private yearnings to cross the Tiber on my own. Which I did, justifying the “bold move” on the grounds that if I want to receive the Sacraments again, I’d at least be honest about it. (Funny that I never realized that it takes a lot of doing to get oneself booted out of the Catholic Church. Check out ZENIT’s listing of stories for February 16 or 17 this year.)
Now my reasons for our family joining the Baptists in the first place are a bit “complicated” and to make a long story short, let’s say I did whatever I could to honor my sacramental vows of matrimony. Granted, though, their conservative theological values on the major matters of the times appealed a lot more to me 12 years ago than what we felt we left behind at our former Episcopal parish. Sadly, though, we did miss the comraderie of old friends, the wonderful liturgy and the beautiful music.
Even though I’d immersed myself into the new Baptist church, I could never quite buy into all of its teachings and sola scriptura, etc. Back in the back of my head and deep in my heart, I just knew there was more to the picture than what the new post-modern evangelicals were trying to say, not to mention those old timie Baptists, some of whom thought I finally became a Christian by joining with them.
What finally had me really thinking I was too far and fast asleep for so many years was the moment I learned that the Baptists did not believe in Jesus’ Real and Corporal Presence in the communion, which they only held once a month. Then, the sacrament of Baptism isn’t exactly a sacrament within some evangelical circles. It all depends on that one glorious moment when the erstwhile sinner proclaims his faith in Jesus and accepts the Lord as Personal Lord and Savior. I simply assented to believing in Jesus when we joined. They took my belief as a “done deal.” Now they’re asking for an upfront confession of Jesus as one’s “personal Lord and Savior.”
While most of the readers on this webpage are familiar with the evangelical process of conversion, some of the readers may not be aware that the sacrament of Baptism isn’t required. It’s simply a public affirmation of a private decision made before. Hmmm, this didn’t square with what I remember Jesus telling Nicodemus about the need to be baptized with both water and spirit. This, along with the mere ceremony of Communion got me thinking it was time to make a move; but with discretion.
No big deal, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit more tolerated than fully accepted. Strange though, coming from a local church that allowed membership in two different churches as a means of accommodating so many transient academics and students in the college town of Amherst, MA. Dual Citizenship, and I was, like St. Paul, going to take advantage of it.
Dang, I still had this thing with the Book of Common Prayer. This is what the lack of a liturgy will do. Despite whatever the old-time Episcopalians might say in their despair over the new BCP, by and large it’s an improvement over the “New Order” millions of Catholics must endure week after week.
My wife suggested that we attend our old Episcopal parish’s Christmas Eve Mass, and I was more than game. Too much so. Both of us were not satisfied at where we were. But I decided that since it was highly unlikely that my wife would join me across the Tiber. So, I let my feelings make up a batch of rationalizations for my desire to return to our old parish, even though its rector is very liberal. Let’s face it though, no matter how many rationalizations I tried to use to suit my waffling compass, there was no getting around what I was hearing from the major fight over homosexuality, etc. within the Episcopal Church -- and there was just no way I could justify, rationalize or gloss over in my mind and heart.
So, those of you who read my postings of last fall, don’t fret, I meant every one of them. But let this be a lesson to all those susceptible to sentimentality messing with better reason. Just as a reasonable person wouldn’t give a puppy as a gift at Christmas, it doesn’t pay to get swayed by what really amounted to ersatz “catholic” ritual and liturgy.
So, here I am, heart and soul (and head on a platter). But, to be honest, I’m not only a repentant soul for being sucked into holiday sentimentality, etc., I’m an angry repentant soul. Angry at myself for almost getting sucked into making a real dumb mistake. But also angry at so many American liberals who’ve done a wonderful job of pulling a lot of wool caps over a lot of folks’ eyes.
So, I wrote a letter to my wife, saying the Anglican Communion is basically kaput, and I was going to start attending Mass at a local Catholic parish, while still volunteering at the Baptist church. And, of course, I emphasized that any midnight mass would be a Catholic one from now on.
Surprisingly, and thankfully, no negative reaction. As the Irish would put it, the "Time of Troubles" had passed.
Let my wanderings and meanderings into the swampy shadow lands of compromise and expediency give hope and proof that it’s possible to make it back to the land of cloudless skies and to borrow the words of a wonderful Catholic author, J.R.R. Tolkein, “all who wander are not lost.”
If you have to, be like Ulysses and tie yourself to the mast rather than be sucked in by the sires of the easy solution. There are none, save for landing safely in a sound harbor. That safe harbor has a name, The Catholic Church.
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For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 772 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Mon Feb 19th, 2007 11:53 pm |
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What is an "ABC" Baptist? All But Christ??? - No, that can't be it. What does the ABC stand for? 
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 798 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 02:05 am |
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American Baptist Churches. Very mainline Northeastern liberal denomination based in Valley Forge PA. Although the church my family belongs to isn't in favor of all the latest "gay liberation agenda" nonsense, the ABC does support homosexual marriages. Geeesssshhhh.
Thankfully the pastor is a man of principles, ditto for the deacons as opposed to the parent outfit. It'd be unfair to say all of the other ABC churches are Anything But Christ, but the office in PA sure needs some shaking up if it still thinks it ought to call itself "baptist."
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For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 772 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Online
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 07:31 am |
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| Thanks for the definition. A liberal Baptist? Boy, that is a new one on me. But then, most of the Baptist I have known personally, were in Oklahoma and years and years ago.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 798 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Online
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 01:03 pm |
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Believe it or not, there are actually some So. Baptist churches being planted around New England, one of which is in Amherst, MA -- of all towns. They're getting very agressive up in these parts, even though there are very few places where conservative Protestants can feel at home like an Okie from Muskogee.
Even the Catholic dioceses and parishes in New England tend to be much more liberal than what you might find throughout the rest of the country.
The US actually has 44 states, then there's New England. Need I say more?
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For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 01:09 pm |
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Steven Barrett wrote: The US actually has 44 states, then there's New England. Need I say more?
43 states, New England, and Louisiana!
I promise we're not like anywhere else, especially on Mardi Gras!
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 798 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Online
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 02:51 pm |
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Thanks to the Puritans, history's biggest killjoys, we never had a chance to start up anything like Mardi Gras up here. After all, Christmas was outlawed for years and years by the Puritans.
Let the good times roll down in Louisiana!
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For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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