A controversial subject many would not dare to touch. Why is that? Must we be afraid to voice opinion when it comes to God? Just who is right or wrong when it comes to man? Only God knows the truth and the answers. If we ask respectfully should we be silenced? So with that in mind I ponder what the title states. It is not to condemn but ask just what are causes for the decline of the Roman Church and the growth of Protestant denominations? Is it a sign of the last days or a sign of a need gone unfilled?
Nowhere has the decline of the Roman Catholic Church in my opinion been more evidenced then in Europe and South America. The churches are almost empty in many western “Catholic" nations of Europe and those leaving the church are more numerous then ever before in South America. Certainly in the United States there has been a steady decline in church attendance [excluding illegal workers from Mexico which may hide the real numbers] and conversion to other versions of Christianity. Africa, with its less modern societies has actually seen growth for all but Roman Catholicism is also under attack from other Protestant denominations.
However, the new Pope is going to South America to try to “stem the tide" of those leaving. Now the church’s position as understood, is that there is no salvation except through the Roman Church. Therefore anyone who was once a member of the church and leaves it is, in their opinion, placing their salvation in jeopardy. Now don't jump, they do not say you can’t make it but it is just that much harder. Now this is not to say who is right or wrong I will leave that to a higher authority.
Now lets consider the reasons? I apologize if I tend to make it more simplistic because no one could address everything in one article. Now these are my opinions only, however, I do believe they are in keeping with the thinking of many and while some will agree, some will not.
Well first, protestant church services seem to be more entertaining in their worship. I do not mean that negatively. Oh sure they preach the Word and they have their moments of deep prayer but the basic service seems to be focused on physical human requirements. People evidently need to “feel" something when in fact spiritual in reality has nothing to do with any physical feeling one gets. In fact God says that when you are at you’re lowest and you pray this is really the purest spiritual time of prayer. I will say though that Protestants seem to have more of a zeal for their beliefs. So in that regard has it turned on a switch of worship somewhere. Perhaps that “physical" connection is the thing that perhaps they need as justification they are right or perhaps to bring them closer to God?
Secondly Protestants seem to interpret the promise as having little more then a belief. Catholics seem to be more in the execution. Example, give your 10% tithe and God will surely give back. In others words if you are poor you may believe you will get out of being poor if you believe in faith and do your part and give. This certainly has major appeal in areas where people have practiced Catholicism for years and seen no results.
Certainly an emphasis on speaking is also essential. Just like the good politician you can say a lot and deliver little but they will still love you. There are some on TV that people are mesmerized over. These people have the million dollar homes, cars and Rolexes but that doesn’t matter and they are consistently asking for more and people respond. The giving message is repeated over and over again and it tends to make one believe that is how you can motivate God? Where it becomes hard for any believer is when it just doesn’t happen. However, I don’t see giving as trying to force Gods hand. I see it as faith. You see God has a plan and you can’t force His hand. Only if it is His will then it will come to pass.
Also Protestants have a real belief in the maniufistations of God, healing and the miraculous. The gifts of the spirit materializing in services. Now that is not to say Catholics do not have the same. However, it is not as pronounced openly. Another factor is evangelization as a key part of the Protestant church. Converts, converts, converts is the goal. One must understand that “preaching" has become seemingly more of a job in today’s world rather then a vocation and that seems to effect all faiths. Oh sure there is a zeal in doing Gods work. But just how do these new preachers survive unless they can grow their flock? Just a fact and one that does not apply to all who seek to serve God but many who find they are ministers with no income.
Finally, Protestants provide a promise of salvation simply by accepting Christ into your heart and professing you believe in Him. They don’t say much when you continue your sinful ways other then you are a backslider and have to stop. However, once you profess Jesus you really have nothing to worry about if you professed Him sincerely a least once. He paid the price for your sin.
As for the Catholic service it goes back to the early church and has been around for 2007 years. It is based on the Sacramental and the signs and symbols of the church and the early apostles. Sure some forms have changed but the basic liturgy and celebration of the Eucharist has been in place since then. The Mass revolves around varied aspects of worship and while music is an integral part it is in a secondary role to enhance the celebration of The Body and Blood of Christ as the focal point.
Catholicism has more stringent requirements for salvation with varied degrees of sin and other mandatory obligations that dictate your eternity. Examples, missing Sunday Mass is a Mortal Sin and therefore bypass go and head in the other direction, unless confessed or given absolution and you have done penance but if you die in sin you have a problem. If you die on the road without confession and no "final absolution" or "the last rites" you go right to the boiler room unless God intercedes. So this in our modern world in my opinion does not play well with peoples perspective of a God who is Mercy.
Catholicism requires discipline, commitment and dedication, which are all excellent attributes but and that is a big but, we are in a world of easy living and I don’t have time to wait give it to me now philosophies. In fact many “converts" from Catholicism strangely return if possible and confess on their deathbed. Could it be one is covering the bases?
Certainly there are many other factors, which contribute in many ways to this falling away. Divorce, abortion and an easy life style all make it easier to not be Catholic and have to worship God in a manner that condems much of what man does. Is that wrong? That is not for me to decide just an opinion. Deep and profound questions that man has a hard time resolving and simply a fact I point out.
Priest celibacy, sex scandals, theft and a host of other human failures have all impacted the Roman Church. However, it has been that way since the beginning and certainly other Christian churches have had their fair share. However, now we have a more educated society and more questioning then centuries ago when the church was the purveyor of all information and the only source for salvation. In fact today many in the Catholic Church do quite well economically as well. No more “rectories" but a new home and car and a nice pension so in that regard they follow their counter parts. Could that be the answer to increased vocations in a materialistic world or is it celebacy and the requirements imposed by the church which once again may be noble but do not fit the current worlds perspective?
Now I am a Catholic myself. I love the Mass and especially the celebration of the Eucharist. It is for all who believe the most sacred and most binding part of the Mass. It is when God Himself humbles Himself to be with those who profess to follow Him. That is why it is should not be taken lightly to receive the Host as Paul states. It is something that many Catholics have no reverence for today and which many Protestants claim is only a “remembrance“ and not the real body and blood of Christ. However, it is that which makes the Catholic Church unique! That God Himself is present in the church and Tabernacle for real and according to His Word. Do you dare face Him or seek Him there?
Well certainly the scriptures that profess remembrance are accurate and Catholics also do that because of His sacrifice and death. However, Protestants rarely speak to John 6, also in Gods Word, that is very definitive concerning this sacred food. They rarely speak to Paul’s statement on the Celebration and they rarely accept that this was practiced from the time of the early church. In fact Martin Luther never disclaimed it and that came from other segments of the reformation. This is now a major separation point for Christian churches but the glue in my opinion that holds the Catholic church together. It is the main point for those who leave the church to consider because to leave means you evidently never totally believed in it to start with.
Now finally the Word itself talks about the decline of the church in the last days. What church are we talking about? If we talk about the Christian church then we must include every denomination. However, if we are talking about a specific church could that be the Roman Church, which is the only one with ties to the original Apostles as its founding leaders? It does say "Christians" so I believe it is quite possible that all churches will eventually be impacted as the Roman church is now because they will be impacted in my opinion by worldly perspectives. As people grow further away from the a spiritual need they will leave that which they believe is no longer necessary. Why go to church at all? I'll just worship God when I feel like and where I am? I don't need fellowship because I talk directly to God.
So now that we have touched on the differences that might be distinguishable we get back to the title of this article, just what is the answer to the decline and specifically of the Roman Church?
Well as I stated my opinion is rigidity in requirements and not the celebration, although while sacred and solemn in execution it does not appeal to all. It may have appealed hundreds of years ago when the power of the church was absolute but not in today’s society. John saw this and tried to change the Mass to be more inclusive. It is evidently has not changed enough?
Therefore in my opinion I do not see a reversal in attendance but a continued decline in numbers. Not that there isn’t a significant numbers of people who call themselves Catholics today and who profess many things while it does not mean they are what they profess they are. You can establish that fact anywhere you look today. In fact many Christians who profess to be really do not know much about the church or their faith regardless of their denomination.
Now my opinion is more emphasis on the Sacred is the key for the Roman church. They may say how more sacred can we get? I have found zeal by the young for these aspects and a longing for it in all aspects of society I do not see it as part of their “marketing‘. To think this is not an important aspect of the church today is to be in my opinion ignorant. All churches have extensive marketing arms, although they may not be called as such. So the church has an opportunity to make people understand the mass and what it does in worship of God and in ones spiritual life.
Perhaps a look at celibacy and confession and the human condition would be a step forward in the resolution of differences? Simply as opinion and as I feel many Catholics would like to see the church also consider the levels of sin. Everyman sins and what sin is greater then another? Certainly one sin is more profound but none the less sin. It would be nice if they could shuck off their beliefs in the use of music, when and what types. It needs to considers the use of music as God states, “Is the highest form of worship". Not that it over powers but more in line with youth masses and the physical drawing into worship. You see there is much dissent by older priests about the use of this in mass that it is a mjor contriobutor to the driving away of the young. I know first hand as a prior youth minister. However, I do believe it can be added without disrespect and in many cases embellish the sacred. I have seen it first hand!
So it is my belief and opinion that until then many will not “practice" the faith they were born into and many will leave and for those in the hierarchy of the church to ignore that, condemn them and do nothing about their salvation is the main cause of the churches situation in South America and elsewhere.
Now that is not for me to say for I am but a layperson and I must follow those in authority. Yet, the laity is encouraged to speak out. So, in that aspect mercy, compassion and love must be the foundation of any church that professes to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore those are the principals, which must drive His church and in implementing such we should consider that which encumbers us not reaching that objective and bringing others into the fold or which causes them to leave.
I do believe, in opinion only, the Protestant churches represent those qualities more in today’s world and that is why people are converting in droves. I also believe it is easier to ignore your sins with them. You go to church, have a good time and then go home and continue your ways knowing you are saved and Jesus paid the price. You do not have much of anything else to do? With Protestants you can’t get a better deal anywhere. Sorry I said it so simple but that is what it is.
I sincerely believe that worship of the Lord and how you elect to do that is your choice. Paul has stated there are many ways and different for all. So if the Catholic church desires to bring people back to the fold then they, and I believe this, must look at how Jesus approached the people. Was He rigid or did He go to the sinner no matter where? Some need the sacred and some need the music and in either case they are reaching out to God. In fact I can really enjoy a good Pentecostal service, swing past the Baptists and head over to Mass. But you know something I will be chastised when I get to that Catholic Church. Perhaps that is the root cause of the decline?
Why do we insist in keeping the division when the Word has stated there is no need to have it? Please correct me but Love is the essence of the entire Bible. If God can love me and forgive me why can’t man?
However, the key to all Christian religions is once you become a believer is “Go and sin no more"! Therefore the real issue is mans ability to reconcile with his God and how he chooses to do this.
It is for all of us and if we doubt that I believe we fool ourselves. Can you say you do this and if your faith, denomination, religion, makes you achieve this? If you answer yes, then in my opinion you are in a relationship with your God, who as a Christian is the same one as mine. So maybe we need to remove those things that inhibit us from becoming one and then the term Catholic [Universal Church] will be just what it was when it started and any Christian church building will do to worship Him we call Lord! Then perhaps the Pope would not have to go anywhere to stem to flow but could work on increasing it?
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2007 Copyright ©2007 Robert T Melaccio Sr.
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