Michael Gallaugher, of Christian Conservative, asks the following question.
Nearly all people of faith believe their fate before God will depend largely upon our individual lives. However, some people believe the judgement awaiting us in the next life will not only be weighed against our lives as individuals, but the fruit of the broader culture we take part in shaping as well. I'm curious to get your reaction to the latter belief.
To which I responded:
The Catholic Church teaches that there will be both a particular judgement and a last judgement. We also believe that the faithful are not only saved as individual souls, but also as the Mystical Body of Christ.
This was not well-received by the Protestant commenters. I'm not sure if they really oppose the Church's views or oppose them because they are "Romish" views. Could any of Protestant readers clarify this for me? Would any of my Catholic readers be able/willing to help me defend the Church?
Funky Dung
Comments 5
I'm a Catholic reader (and a Pittsburgher to boot). I think a couple of the guys on that blog did sort of close their minds without checking the scripture references in the Catechism. But I also think that your post was misleading.
I understand your second sentence to mean that we are saved by relationships that mediate God: the Body of Christ. If that's what you meant, I agree. But your second sentence's reference to "being saved" follows a first sentence that focuses on "judgment." When I first read the post, this progression (judgment-judgment-being saved) gave me the initial impression that you felt one is judged per one's status as part of the Body of Christ. If others besides me got that impression, it explains their reaction.
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Posted 25 Jan 2005 at 3:30 am ¶I know I've had very similar discussions with friends (all Protestants like me) that deal with the distinction between the judgement between the goats and sheep and the judgement of individual believers.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were uncomfortable with the fact that you said "The Catholic Church teaches…" rather than "I believe…"
To a Protestant–especially one not affiliated with a hierarchial denomination–this might seem like trying to assert the authority of the RCC over them.
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Posted 25 Jan 2005 at 5:43 am ¶As a rule my Sunday posts aren't designed to spur debates per se, and I word the questions so as not to exclude any religion, even Judaism. I like hearing different views, leaving individuals alone to seek truth out themselves. I apoligize if Alex, you felt cut out in any way.
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Posted 25 Jan 2005 at 1:34 pm ¶Who'se Alex, Mike?
Anyhow, no I didn't feel cut out. I just wanted some outside perspectives on the comments. Catholic-Protestant dialogue is very important to me, so I'm trying to figure out how to be better at it. It's frustrating when Protestants dismiss Catholic teaching out of hand without bothering to find out what they actually are. In the future, I'll try to present teachings from my own viewpoint.
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Posted 25 Jan 2005 at 1:49 pm ¶(sorry Eric). You bet - we're on the same page there.
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Posted 25 Jan 2005 at 5:32 pm ¶Post a Comment