In the opening chapter of Holy Ground Chris Castaldo recalls a story of how as a boy he first understood what Catholics truly believe. He begins by saying how both faiths began from a common bible (almost common since the Catholic bible includes the deuter-canonical books) and common creeds like the Apostles and Nicene creeds. However like two sets of dominoes that run in parallel begin to diverge after that point. What is the cause of this divergence?
The cause of this divergence comes down to a different interpretation of how the revelation and authority of Jesus extends to the church, and by extension into the world.
Catholics understand the incarnated presence of Jesus to be in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This is why the church was understood by Catholics to have divine authority over God’s people.
Catholics believe that revelation and authority fall into the hands of the church through apostolic succession while Evangelicals see Jesus’ infallible revelation to consist of Scripture alone. Castaldo shows this by saying how through scripture:
God grants new life (John 5:24, Rom 10:8-10; Eph 1:13; James 1:18; Heb 4:12)
Reveals his will (Matt 4:4; Matt 7:21; 1Tim 3:6-16; 2Tim 2:15; 2Tim 3:16-17; Heb 1:2)
Rules over his people (John 17:17; 1Cor 14:37; Phil 2:16; 1Tim 5:17)
Evangelicals see the scripture as the sole infallible guide for salvation and stands alone as the supreme source of authority upon which the Christian faith is based. Catholics understand Sacred Tradition to be equally authoritative as Scripture.
So it can be said that the major difference boils down to authority. What is the authority that defines and directs one’s faith? One way to think of it is also allegiance. If you’re a Catholic or Protestant how is your allegiance to Christ defined? Catholics can be seen as having an allegiance to Christ through the Catholic church. Protestants have allegiance to Christ through personal faith in Christ.
With this fundamental difference Castaldo shares 5 major reasons why Catholics have departed their Catholic backgrounds and moved towards the Evangelical tradition.
1. Every believer is called to full-time ministry
2. Relationship with Christ must take precedence over rules-keeping
3. We enjoy direct access to God in Christ
4. There is only one proper object of devotion - Jesus the Savior
5. God’s children should be motivated by grace instead of guilt
He has gathered this information from surveys, focus-groups, and interviews. Those five major reasons are also the next five chapters in the book which we’ll look at next one chapter at a time.
Well as promised the book I’ve chosen for the task ahead is Holy Ground by Chris Castaldo. I picked up this book for two main reasons. It addresses something of great interest to me which is Catholicism, the religion I was raised in, and secondly the book was recommended by men I highly respect such as D.A. Carson and J.I. Packer.
Chris Castaldo was a Catholic who grew up in Long Island, New York and worked full-time in the Catholic church. His book is a personal testimony of his journey from the Catholic faith to the Evangelical faith. He speaks with pastoral care and balance knowing where he came from and where he now is. This book is part testimony, focus-group research, theological study, and just excellent discernment in addressing the major differences between Evangelicals and Catholics.
Normally I’m not very comfortable with words like journey and pilgrimage because my theology of God’s sovereignty and election. Why is this? It’s because I can at times have an imbalanced perspective on doctrine and people. That is to say, I tend to look only at the doctrinal issues instead of the person whom I’m talking to! Castaldo attempts to address this very issue. He says,
When we communicate the gospel to Catholics we often make the mistake of thinking that our conversations should directly address doctrinal issues. This is not only incorrect, it is impossible. When speaking to a friend about faith, we don’t speak directly to his religious beliefs; we speak to a person who holds religious beliefs. This is a crucial, overlooked distinction.
Castaldo divides the book into two major parts. The first part discusses five major reasons why followers of Christ have left the Catholic church. The second part is concerned with how one is to naturally and winsomely emulate Jesus among Catholic loved ones and friends. This book is somewhat unique in that he intermingles a lot of personal testimony throughout. It helps for a very interesting and fascinating read. The effect is like when you’re listening to a preacher speak and your attention is piqued when he delves into an illustration or story that draws out a particular truth.
I hope that you’ll follow along with me and be encouraged as I am as we read through this book!
Over the holidays we saw the movie Julia and Julia and I was surprisingly entertained. Who didn’t watch Julia Childs as a kid?! As you’ve seen in the commercials the premise of the movie is how a girl named Julia creates a blog about her favorite cook: Julia Childs. She blogs through all the recipes in her book and finds herself immersed in the life, mind, and cooking of Julia Childs.
How original is this: I think I will blog through a book! OK, that’s the easy part. Now which book? I suppose something like this would help kickstart this blog again. While looking over the blog I realized the subtitle for my blog is “Gospel, Culture, Missions, Internet, Technology.” I would like to read a book about something that my wife and I are going through right now and that is sharing the Gospel. In particular sharing the Gospel with Catholic friends. Yup, I think that’s the topic for the next book.
I’ve said enough for now. The next post will probably be the start of what I hope will be a helpful and interesting series. Now hold me to it!
I’ve often wondered when I would starting posting entries on the blog again. The reason for the absence has been primarily Facebook. I’ll admit it - I like Facebook! It seemed silly that I would try to update 2 places about the ins/outs of my life. So I’m at the point of possibly shutting down the blog and just stick to social networking venues like Facebook and Twitter.
Or maybe the lapse in blogging just needed a jump start on what to write again. Who knows.. in any case if you’ve wondered what I’ve been up to it’s far easier to join me on Facebook and/or twitter.
President Obama announced that he will be selecting Sonia Sotomayor as Supreme Court Justice to replace Justice Souter. Obama based his selection of Sotomayor by describing her as having a “rigorous intellect” and further saying, “I share the view that the proper role of the judiciary is one of interpreting the Constitution and acts of Congress, not legislating from the bench” … in other news Sotomayor on video jokingly says that laws are made from the bench.
I hope everyone had a great 3-day weekend. As for me and my household we spent a good portion of our weekend shopping for Christmas gifts. Consider us odd, but spring/summer is the best time to shop for Christmas.
In the 3 shopping areas we went to I couldn’t help but notice how many people were out and about shopping. “But I thought we were in a recession? Aren’t people out of work? Aren’t people trying to save their money?” It dawned on me that the perfect way to stimulate the economy is not bailouts or reducing taxes, but increase America’s days off!
It seems to me that when people are not working they tend to spend money. Yes we try to save money but even in our attempt to save money we are spending money. For example many today are trying to save money by reducing the type of vacations they are taking. Trips to Europe or Hawaii may no longer be the norm but instead folks take less expensive vacations, but they still spending money. Most people on their days off will work on their home. Working on their home requires supplies which need to be purchased. Others may work on their yard, again requiring supplies. Still there are others who will look for bargains in order to “save money” yet spend money.
Dear, Mr. president,
I suggest that you give us more holidays in order to stimulate our economy.
As some of you may know, today is the national day of prayer. Dan Phillips shares a great insight on the meaning of prayer and the entire nation praying.
I oppose the National Day of Prayer, when it comes right down to it. Oh, I understand the argument: we should acknowledge God, and so forth. Okay, but — acknowledge “God,” as a proper noun, generic? Like acknowledging “beer,” but not naming a label?
Well, what use is that? Is it pleasing to God? Certainly not. When God says “God,” He certainly never means “However you define that word.” He always means “However I define that word.”
Is prayer about making ourselves feel pious? Or is prayer about God?
Thanks for visiting my blog! Look around and find something interesting. As the subtitle states I try to focus on the state of our American culture, the gospel of Christ, missions, and geeky tech. Otherwise sorry for having wasted your time… (more here).
Well as promised the book I’ve chosen for the task ahead is Holy Ground by
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