Jun
16
Column – Equipping the Toolbox
June 16, 2010 | Comments Off
Of the two things people should never discuss, common wisdom tells us, one is religion. Perhaps the subject of papal infallibility doesn’t need to come up during Bunko night. And maybe predestination isn’t a great conversation starter for a first date. But common wisdom is often trumped by Biblical wisdom, and if there is one thing a disciple of Christ is called to do, it’s captured in the song many of us remember from childhood: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
Certainly, as St. Francis is supposed to have said, we are to preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. And sometimes, it is necessary.
That occasion might come at Thanksgiving when your sister remarks that she hasn’t been to confession since 8th grade. It could be when your niece comes home from Bible camp, bothered that she was told that Catholics were idolaters. Even more troubling, it might be when that little voice inside asks, is there really a God?
The practice of defending the teachings and practices of the faith is called “apologetics” (from the Greek apologia). Many, upon hearing the term, assume Catholic apologetics has something to do with obsessively apologizing for being Catholic: I’m sorry, everyone. I know I smell like fish and incense today.
This series of columns is designed to equip you with the tools and insight to defend any teaching of Catholic Christianity. This may seem like a daunting task, but the good news is that your partner in this effort is the Holy Spirit, who (if you haven’t heard) is excellent with this sort of thing.
There are certain tools with which all Christians must equip themselves to defend the faith, including an understanding of the teachings of Christ and his Church. One of the most important tools, though, is the confidence to speak up when God gives us opportunities to instruct those who have questions and counsel those who have doubts. Scripture exhorts us to always be ready to give an explanation for the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15) and to contend for the faith delivered to the saints (Jud 1:3). And really, do any of us want to experience the fate of the lukewarm mentioned in Revelation 3:16, which is that God will spew them out of his mouth? That honestly sounds like it wouldn’t be very fun at all.
For the individual wanting to get better at defending the faith, now is as good a time as any to begin filling that toolbox. One of the best ways to start would be to record the book, chapter and verse from any Scripture citations within these columns, labeling them by subject. The three in the last paragraph, for instance, are great verses to be labeled “Zeal for the Faith”. Before you know it, you will have built a notebook of handy Scripture references to help explain your very Biblical Catholic faith to others.
On that note, there are many teachings of the faith that others wonder about or challenge, especially members of Protestant denominations who come from a very different background.
Where is Purgatory in the Bible?
Why do Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints instead of God alone?
Why should I go to some man to confess my sins?
When asked questions such as these, Catholics should always meet them with charity and with a willingness to either provide an answer or find one if we are still growing in the faith ourselves.
However, there is one extremely important question that we, as Catholics, must ask first when dialoging with other Christians. This question, which will be revealed and explored in the next column, is one that many non-Catholics have never asked themselves, but which makes all the difference in the world when understanding the faith that Christ, himself, established
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