Both Are "Fullness"

Fundamentally, says Kreeft, an Evangelical is faced with the choice of trading one fullness for another, and that’s the dichotomy that we, as Catholics, must erase.

As an Evangelical Protestant convert to Catholic myself, I’ve been profoundly attracted to the idea of receiving the fullness of Christ in the Catholic Church: being able to receive Christ in the Eucharist, being able to receive more of a more of God’s graces through the sacraments, and reconnecting to the ancient Christian Church.

But, it’s a significant trade-off to leave the Evangelical world and become a Catholic.

To give up an enriching Evangelical community of fellowship, worship, and prayer.

Many parishes are sleepy: their worship music drones on with no one in particular joining in, their priest’s homilies are trite and without thread of a theme, their programming for families (something as basic as Sunday School) is largely absent, and they don’t feel like communities (everyone keeps their coats on and has a foot out the door by the end of Communion).

This is what Kreeft means by trading one fullness for another.


Source: K. Albert Little - The Cordial Catholic on Patheos, 26 April 2016, "The Catholic Church Must Become More Protestant", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/albertlittle/the-catholic-church-must-become-more-protestant/

Octave of Prayer

What were some of the important historical antecedents to this octave of prayer? Certainly in the 19th century, the desire for Christians to pray together was part of the spirit of the age among those alarmed by the divisions which weakened the power of Christian witness. In 1846, for instance, the Evangelical Alliance was established in London and had developed both international and inter-church connections. Ruth Rouse noted that it was “the one and only definitely ecumenical organization . . . which arose out of the Evangelical Awakening in the 19th century” (A History of the Ecumenical Movement: 1517-1948). The concept of unity espoused in their constitution was union among Christian individuals of different churches for renewal in the Spirit; they would not deal with the question of the reunion of churches. The Alliance set aside one week beginning on the first Sunday of the year, for united prayer by members of different churches to pray for renewal in the Spirit.

Source: Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A. - "BACKGROUND: Brief History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", by Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A., Associate Director of Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, http://geii.org/week_of_prayer_for_christian_unity/background/brief_history.html

Gary Kinnaman / Phoenix

Late 1990s.

I preached a series of messages on what Evangelicals can learn from Catholics and what Catholics can learn from each other. Perhaps half of the people in my congregation were from a Catholic background. (I never called them “former” Catholics.) Most of their families were divided: Catholic family members were offended and angry their loved ones were no longer attending mass, and Catholic-background folks in my congregation wanted their Catholic family members to be “born-again.”

For my message on what we can learn from Catholics, I invited the local monsignor to do a video for us to answer the question. After the service, my wife said, “I want to go to his church.”

My purpose in this teaching series was to bring down the dividing walls of misunderstanding and hostility. As my dear friend in Phoenix, Auxiliary Bishop E. Nevares loves to say, “Can we just pray together?”

2000.

We formed an interconfessional team (Catholics, Mainline, Evangelicals) to plan and implement a citywide celebration of the 2000-year history of Christianity. About 35,000 attended the event at our baseball stadium. I served on the planning team, which met at the diocesan center.


Source: Gary Kinnaman - Presented during Movement Day NYC, representing the John 17 movement and Greater Phoenix and Arizona Catholic/Evangelical Bridges, as posted on the John 17 FB page on 1 November 2016.

George Yancey (as per the Daily Texan)

George Yancey, a sociology professor at the University of North Texas, held a lecture Monday on what Christianity can teach about increasing interracial communication on racism.
...
Yancey isn’t a theologian but said he believes taking a Christian approach toward talking about racism is a step in the right direction.
He said Christianity teaches people how sin permeates the core of our life and this provides different groups reasons not to trust each other.
Yancey introduced the mutual obligation approach to solve the problem of interracial communication on racism. This approach has everyone recognize people’s sinful natures and in realizing this, people have the obligation to work toward a healthy dialogue. He said people need to recognize the cultural or racial differences at play and work toward a solution that can be accepted by all.
...
Active listening is another strategy Yancey presented, which involves listening to opposite perspectives. He said you don’t have to agree with other people’s perspectives but listening to them will help move the conversation forward.
...
One audience member brought up the issue of alienating those that did not practice Christianity. Yancey said you don’t have to be Christian to practice this approach on dealing with racism.

Source: Van Nguyen - Daily Texan, "Professor lectures on taking a Christian approach to interracial communication", 20 Sept 2016, http://dailytexanonline.com/2016/09/20/professor-lectures-on-taking-a-christian-approach-to-interracial-communication

Hanna Miley

10 – Hanna (and I) began to pray prayers of blessing. “Come Lord Jesus. Redeem the past. Manifest your kingdom. Bless the Eifel and its people.”

11 – A Jewish follower of the Jewish Messiah had returned, in fulfillment of God’s calling to her people Israel—to bless the Gentiles. Genesis 12:3


Source: George Miley - Maturing Toward Wholeness in the Inner Life, Chapter 1, "Restore the Ancient Anointings", http://www.quellen.org

Identificational Repentance in Austin

Some of your ancestors had land taken away from them in the Southwest, in direct violation of the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed with the Mexican government by the US

Today, it is hard to know Christ’s acceptance from us when you feel targeted by our police, rejected by our politicians, and taken advantage of by contractors who leave you unpaid or underpaid after a hard day’s work.

So as a white person, I apologize on behalf of my people, repent before God for our sins, ask for your forgiveness, and express my heart’s fervent desire that this would change.



Source: Thomas Cogdell - Repentance towards Hispanics during the 2007 Global Day of Prayer service in Austin Texas

Catholic becoming Orthodox

He was supportive of me when I was received into the Orthodox Church at a parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in Amsterdam. Not every Catholic priest I was close to at the time viewed this as a positive event. Dan teased me: “This kind of thing can happen when you love your enemies.” He was referring to my frequent trips to Soviet Russia in the 1980s and the two books that came out of those journeys.

Source: Jim Forest - "Father Daniel Berrigan, SJ: Why Should an Orthodox Christian be Interested in Him?", Orthdoxy In Dialogue, 12 Dec 2017
https://orthodoxyindialogue.com/2017/12/12/father-daniel-berrigan-sj-why-should-an-orthodox-christian-be-interested-in-him-by-jim-forest/

Cardinal Sean O’Malley

Then, on Saturday afternoon, over 800 people from a broad spectrum of denominations came to a Catholic church to meet and talk over lunch, share faith in workshop discussions, join their hearts and voices in a prayer service, and after, to participate in a mission and volunteering fair in the church hall. The variety of music served as a symbol of the richness of gifts within the Christian family, led in turn by a Pentecostal worship team, an Orthodox Byzantine choir, a Coptic Orthodox choir, a Taizé chant group, along with regular Catholic/Protestant hymnody. The service was co-presided by eight church leaders, and in his homily Cardinal Sean O’Malley reminded those present that we are all members of the one body of Christ through our common baptism, and that “our divisions are an impediment to our announcing the gospel and prevent people from accepting the good news.”

Source: Thomas Ryan, CSP - "Keep the Fire Burning", Paulist Fathers blog post, 6 February 2017, http://www.paulist.org/the-conversation/keep-the-fire-burning/

Worthy

(7) And then the Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. (8) When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down in worship before the Lamb. Each of the 24 elders held a harp and gold bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people. (9) And they sang this new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. (10) You made them a kingdom and priests (a priestly kingdom) to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth!”

Source: The 24 Elders - Quoted by John the Beloved in Revelation 5:7-10 (IEB)

Crystal Cathedral

... the story of Christ Cathedral is deeply ecumenical, just like American Catholicism generally.

The U.S is traditionally a Protestant, even Calvinist, culture, and as a result, Catholics have been compelled to make their peace with the Christian “other” from the very beginning. It’s no accident that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, now a global observance, began in the U.S. in 1908 with the Graymoor Friars, led by a Catholic convert from the Episcopal Church.

Christ Cathedral is not only ecumenical in the sense that it was built by a Protestant preacher and televangelist, architecturally reflecting a Protestant sensibility, but also because there’s a graveyard on the grounds containing the remains of members of Schuller’s congregation.

Called “Cathedral Memorial Gardens,” it becomes the fourth active cemetery within the Diocese of Orange and the only one that’s ecumenical. (It’s actually rare these days to have an operating cemetery adjacent to a church, though it was once the norm.)

Deliberately, the cemetery is open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, reflecting the multi-denomination ethos and history of the site.

Source: John L. Allen Jr. - "Crystal Cathedral captures the American Catholic story in miniature", Crux, 7 July 2019
https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2019/07/07/crystal-cathedral-captures-the-american-catholic-story-in-miniature/

The Catholic Church supporting an Anglican Evangelistic Initiative

While no magisterial statement has been forthcoming, Catholic officials have expressed themselves positively: Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican curate at Holy Trinity, Brompton who functions as a chief spokesman for Alpha, was presented on the strength of his Alpha involvement to the Pope in February 2004, an audience made possible by another senior churchman who is a firm advocate for Alpha – Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher to the Papal Household. (See Alpha News 2004) In France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, recorded remarks on the Alpha introductory video, saying, “For the French church, Alpha is a great opportunity for our time. It is a wonderful gift that we have received from England.” (Ibid) Additionally, Scotland’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien wrote in a brochure for an Alpha conference in Glascow, “I see the Alpha course as an initial and very important tool for … the ‘rechristianization of Scotland.’” (Ibid) In Austria, Salzburg’s Archbishop Dr. Alois Kothgasser observed about Alpha, “I rejoice that this course now also is increasingly spreading within the Catholic Church in Austria and that through it people find a living faith in Jesus Christ.” (Alpha für Katholiken 2003, p. 1) („Ich freue mich, dass dieser Kurs nun auch in der Katholischen Kirche in Österreich immer mehr Verbreitung findet and dass durch ihn Menschen zu einem lebendigen Glauben an Jesus Christus finden.“)

Source: Paul Miller - Footnote 45 of "Evangelicals Cooperatively Evangelising & Discipling with Catholics in Faithfulness to Evangelical Distinctives", by Paul Miller

Anything That ________ Is Good For Me

Last week I had the privilege of hiking in the Montana wilderness with Rankin Wilbourne, a dear friend and pastor from southern California.

As we shared about the challenges, blessings and setbacks we’ve both experienced in our personal lives and ministries, Rankin said something I will never forget:

“I’ve discovered that anything that humbles me is good for me.”

Wow. That put many of my life experiences into a more helpful perspective.

I hope it will do the same for you.

- Ken Sande

PS – Rankin’s first book, Union with Christ, was just featured in Christianity Today. I’ve just started it myself, but I already see direct applications to relational wisdom. I commend it to you as book that will profoundly impact your relationship with God and the people around you.


Source: Rankin Wilbourne - As quoted by Ken Sande in his Relational Wisdom blog entry for 22 August 2016, http://rw360.org/2016/08/21/anything-humbles-good/

David du Plessis

I had all the sympathy one could hope for from that collection of Pentecostals, but they had very little sympathy for one another. The clash occurred at the outset, the organizers against the non-organizers, the Americans against the Sweeds, and so on.

As for me, I was mellowed, a new man, so full of love from my new-found experience with forgiveness that I refused to be drawn into a quarrel. Things were so tense and so filled with fears of loss of individuality, of conformity to man rather than conformity to the Lord, that some factions couldn't even eat together. Their hostility had to be bridged.

I met privately with several of the brothers who trusted one another and still had some trust in me, posing a step towards reconciliation. "Could some of you who are respected and influential suggest that the arguments stop, even for just a few hours, and that a committee be appointed for just one evening to seek solutions for these problems and bring forth a report?"

In desperation, these leaders agreed and the idea was posed to all factions. ... Finally it was agreed ... We secluded ourselves in one of the smaller meeting rooms of the conference center, slightly uneasy about our purpose as well as about one another ... I jumped right into the heart of the matter, turning first to the one who had been described as the Swedish champion fighter, Joseph Mattson-Boze. "How far, Joe, would you go at working out a plan for us to meet in fellowship and to discuss our common problems, to try to help one another, without calling it an organization? How much could you do without violating your conscience?"

There was a long silence. Then he began, slowly at first, but warming to his vision for mutual assistance and fellowship without sacrificing autonomy.

When he finished, I turned to the Englishman, Fred Ssquire, who was the leading champion for organization. He said quite simply and openly, "If that's what Joe feels will satisfy the Scandinavians - and I think he's made a fine proposal - then I'm sure that will satisfy me, and I'm confident it will satisfy the British and Americans."

And just that quickly, it was settled. The two champion fighters were reconciled, finding that they were not nearly as far apart as their loud public words had made them seem.


Source: David du Plessis - From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, pp. 168-170

A Cosmo Girl

My name is Carmen Briceno, but everyone calls me China (sounds like "cheenuh"). I'm 35 years old, the daughter of a diplomat, and I was born in Venezuela but have lived in United States for most of my life.

Growing up, I was what you might call a "cradle Catholic" — my family went to Mass every Sunday, but we weren't incredibly religious, more culturally Catholic. I didn't have a deeply personal relationship with God in any sense. It wasn't until later, as a young adult, when my faith became my own and I allowed God to change my life.

When I moved to Virginia as a young adult, I got into volleyball — which, in a way, paved my way toward God. While playing, I met a Christian girl. She was my first non-Catholic friend. She wasn't pushy and never tried to get me to convert. Instead, she was instrumental in demonstrating to me what a relationship with God could really be like, because in her I saw a deep, tangible love and a personal connection to Jesus Christ. Watching Jesus alive in her, I thought, That. I want that.

She brought to light some of the answers to questions I never knew I had. When she asked me about my relationship with God, I truly had no idea how to answer. When you're not questioned about your faith, you may not know the depth of what you're missing. Around that time, I also met a priest, Father Juan, who met with me regularly and explained so many things about faith and the Bible to me. So through these two blossoming friendships, my faith was deepened or, in many ways, awakened.

In 2005, I got the opportunity to go to Cologne, Germany, with 20 other young adults, led by Father Juan, for International World Youth Day. It was a powerful week of prayer, service, and fellowship with the Pope. I'd never seen anything like it; people were on fire for God and were not afraid to express it.

There, I felt the first inkling of what would become my vocation. I felt the Lord speak to me in prayer about my relationship with Him — and, no, it's not a dramatic audible voice or anything like that! He simply said to me: You've given time to other boyfriends, but have you ever thought about me? How about you give me a chance? I had to listen. I had to give him the chance.
...
After World Youth Day, my faith was set ablaze, and I was thirsting to know more about what the Lord was asking of me.

Source: Carmen Briceno - As told to Lisa Marie Basile in Cosmopolitan magazine, "I Am Happily Married to God — as a Consecrated Virgin", 12 Sept 2016, http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a63987/married-to-god-consecrated-virgin/

Wounded & Wonderful City

I got a text earlier today which really encouraged me. It came from a youth worker who had been working with a group of young people in Belfast who had inspired him. This was part of the text he sent me:
"I have to say I was so taken back by their generosity. And thoughtfulness. Perhaps our wounded and wonderful city is beginning to heal through our young people. Go raibh maith agat".

Source: Author Unknown - Quoted by Fr. Martin Magill in a FB post on 22 March 2017

Multi-generational Faith

(5) I remember your sincere faith—a faith that first lived in your mother Eunice and your grandmother Lois (see Acts 16:1-3) and I am convinced now lives in you. (6) Because of your faith, I encourage you to fan into flame the gift of God, which was imparted to you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of fear but the Holy Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

Source: The Apostle Paul - 2 Timothy 1:5-7

Christian de Chergé

[Story of Christian de Chergé, who forgave his murderer 2 years before he was killed, in a prophetic letter]

"I would like, when the time comes, to have a space of clearness that would allow me to beg forgiveness of God and of my fellow human beings, and at the same time to forgive with all my heart the one who will strike me down ... In this 'Thank you,' which is said for everything in my life from now on, I certainly include you, my last-minute friend who will not have known what you are doing ... I commend you to the God in whose face I see yours. And may we find each other, happy 'good thieves' in Paradise, if it please God, the Father of us both."


Source: Johann Christoph Arnold - Why Forgive?, pp.57-58