Right Direction Wrong Reason
This article is a great example of bad religion. Basically it says, that the Pope and his councilors have rethought the Roman Catholic long held stance on babies that die prior to Baptism. They now believe there are "serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and brought into eternal happiness."
This is not about bashing or finding fault with Roman Catholics because I see Protestants do similar things.
My point of contention is the reasoning behind their positional shift. The article states, "Pope John Paul II and Benedict had urged further study on limbo, in part because of 'the pressing pastoral needs' sparked by the increase in abortion and the growing number of children who die without being baptized."
Basically they are saying that because our soceity is in the toilet they are changing their theology to fit the needs of the time.
What the heck?!
We are in trouble when we allow societal pressure or circumstantial pressure or even our own rational minds dictate truth. Does God change because society is digressing or flourishing?
I for one believe that infants who die go to heaven. But not because I have studied what scripture or other liturgy says about the issue but rather because I know God.
Isn't this the reason for the cross? So we no longer have to know about Him but so that we can come to know Him personally?
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (Jn 17:4)
When we know God our theology and truth may change or rather grow as we see Him more clearly but it certainly doesn't change based on circumstances or societal pressures.
This is not about bashing or finding fault with Roman Catholics because I see Protestants do similar things.
My point of contention is the reasoning behind their positional shift. The article states, "Pope John Paul II and Benedict had urged further study on limbo, in part because of 'the pressing pastoral needs' sparked by the increase in abortion and the growing number of children who die without being baptized."
Basically they are saying that because our soceity is in the toilet they are changing their theology to fit the needs of the time.
What the heck?!
We are in trouble when we allow societal pressure or circumstantial pressure or even our own rational minds dictate truth. Does God change because society is digressing or flourishing?
I for one believe that infants who die go to heaven. But not because I have studied what scripture or other liturgy says about the issue but rather because I know God.
Isn't this the reason for the cross? So we no longer have to know about Him but so that we can come to know Him personally?
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (Jn 17:4)
When we know God our theology and truth may change or rather grow as we see Him more clearly but it certainly doesn't change based on circumstances or societal pressures.
posted by Mike Rea at 1:02 PM
4 Comments:
Dude, Mike, may the Lord give you His peace,
Please know that you are reading a media article and they will say anything and spin soundbites to make it sound like the Church is "changing", "cracking under sociaetal pressure", but neither of these are true. The Church has never held any authoritive position or declared anything on limbo. It was simply an outgrowth of speculative theology both in the patristic period of the Church and the later scholastic period. The Church is revisiting it now in order to make a clear statement because of pastoral need, not because of societal pressure. It is much better to read what the Church is saying about herself and why she is doing things, rather than reuters, fox news, etc.
I want to encourage you brother. Lets keep walking in the Light.
I assume you know what you are talking about when it comes to Catholicism so thanks for shedding some light here.
My point though really is more about how we allow people, circumstances, or our own rational thinking dictate who God is without knowing Him for ourself.
Can you clarify the "pressing pastoral need" that at least in part has driven the need to clarify or change the church's view? That seems kind of odd to me as well. Does a pastor need the people above him to clarify a stance in order to better minister to someone in need? That sounds like control, maintaining the party line and/or lack of intimacy with Jesus as well.
Thanks for taking the time Bro'
Hey Mike, Christ's peace to you, may it surpass all understanding!
The pastoral need has come up in the last decade with the insane rise in abortion and the question as to what is the fate of the souls of those children. When reading the Early Father's of the Church, many, not all took a pretty hardline on unbaptised infants. So recently (the last decade) the question came up again. That is the need.
I totally feel you about how many of us really let rationality lead us instead of the often irrational wild fire called the Holy Spirit, but as with many things in this Life that Christ has given us, it is a both/and scenario. John Paul II said that Faith and Reason are two wings of the same bird and that we truly do need both to fly. Rerason when enlightened by the Spirit is certainly truthful indeed and yet without reason man would be nothing more than a beast. For more on this, I think you could really dig a document (encyclical) titled Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason)
and yes, there are times when a pastor does need clarification from the body, in this case the head, on some things. It isn't control, but it is a virtue of asking and being docile. It was the same way at the council in Jerusalem when they were clearing up some things abput the gentiles and arguing back and forth. then Peter stood up in their midst and settled the debate, not because he was awesome in himself, but because Christ said he would be rock-he would bind and shut with special authority, one way of turning and strengthening his brethren.
So in the end I don't think it is a party line, but the body of Christ continuing to hash out and unfold some of this great mystery that is our faith, our hope, and our Love- the Splendor and Mystery of the great love affair we call our God.
I this helps and blesses. Please ask me to clarify if I didn't explain something well or you want to go further into it. I will gladly and humbly walk there.
Peace to you Bro and those you have care of!
Thanks for taking the time and helping me see this from your perspective.
I love turning the diamond and looking at it from different angles.
Shalom!
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