On my Blog and Making Comments!

Okay, in my last post I mentioned that I was going to post about upcoming stuff in the YG, as well as stuff about the blog itself. By the end I realised that I'd bored everyone enough that maybe I should leave the actual blog stuff for its own post. That way any visitors who aren't involved in the YG would still see it.

The reason for this is that I know that once in a while, or more often, friends, acquaintances, and total strangers stop by to read stuff. That's awesome! Many of these people are not themselves Catholic, and so you may not agree with everything that I've posted here. If that is the case, and you want to learn more, please, feel free to post questions in the comment section. That's what it's for! This site, as well as the YG in general, isn't designed so much for defending the faith, as for explaining it to those who already believe and have a basic grasp of Catholicism. I want to encourage that basic level faith to grow. I want to encourage your level of faith, no matter what level you're at, to grow!

But this site is not primarily apologetic in nature (apologetic in the sense of "This is why we're Catholic and why we believe what we believe", not "I'm sorry we're Catholic", just in case there was any confusion as to the term "Apologetics" which means defense). But I love apologetics and debating (maybe too much) and if you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to voice them. In the comments section I will take the time to interact with your concerns, arguments, and opinions, and try to defend Catholic teaching with regard to them. A good example of this so far is the dialogue I've had with my buddy Jake on our Blessed Mother, Mary. Again, this is what the comments are for. That's not to say that if you agree with everything I say you shouldn't comment! I can always use some encouragement! :D Let me know you're reading, if you're reading! It gets lonely over here.

The subject of this thread is primarily based on a couple of recent debates I've had with a fellow named David. I've never actually met him (he's from the States), but he posted at The Daily Disciple about the "difference" between "being religious" and having a relationship with Jesus. I understand the point he was attempting to make. It's a popular point among Protestants (especially the Pentecostal brand that I came out of when I converted to Catholicism). I'm not entirely sure what denominational stripe David is. That's not really important. But at Daily Disciple I posted an argument.

Then I looked up his blog (because he left the addy) and saw that his most recent post was on the same subject. So I posted to his comments about how I disagree. I personally believe that while it is possible to be "religious" without really knowing Jesus, it is impossible to really know Jesus without being religious, in that our religion (Christianity) is how we live out our relationship with Jesus. If the Church is the body of Christ, then we cannot separate the head from the body, adhering to one and not the other. This debate went on for a while until he called it off.

Then he posted about salvation and made a point about saying "the sinner's prayer" will invite Jesus into your heart and you will be saved. So I asked where that concept is found in the Bible, and we got into a debate about what exactly saves us, faith alone, baptism, following the Law, yada yada yada. It really was a fruitless debate and I was being rather wrong and uncharitable in pursuing it. I find it really hard to back down from a good debate. Finally, David again said enough. He said that if I had any further comments, to make them on my own blog. That is good and sensible. David, if you read this, I apologise for my behaviour. It was indeed uncharitable.

The reason that this comes up, though, is that David told me that he had come here, and disagreed with a lot of what I had written, but that he hadn't posted out of respect for my readership.

David, and anyone else reading this, please don't take that approach here! I welcome the debate (though, and I need to follow this too, let's keep it friendly). My "flock" is more than welcome to participate in the discussions that follow. Seeing opposing sides to your viewpoint is a wonderful way to grow and to develop critical thinking skills that often aren't ably taught in the school system. So seriously, voice concerns, objections, and arguments. Think through the issues. Here is a safe forum for that!

I enjoyed our discussions over at Dave's blog, but he's right. That's not the place for them. So I submit that this is, to a degree. The main page is for teaching. The comment sections are for going deeper, disagreeing, or debating the teaching. Maybe we'll never reach an agreement or a conclusion, but hopefully we'll better understand the other's perspective and grow from the process!

God bless!

(For those interested, and if David doesn't mind, his blog is at www.getoutoftheboat.blogspot.com. He does have a lot of good things to say. Our debates were in the topics "It's Personal" and "More on Forgiveness". Read up if you want, but don't continue the arguments, since he's requested they be finished.)