Stop Defending Your Faith

As a veteran catechist, I am often approached after class by fellow Catholics seeking help on issues of the faith. They usually come forward because someone challenged them to defend their beliefs. Embarrassment ensued when they were unable to offer a cogent reply.

I contend it is time to “redirect the fire.” No more defensive mode. No more half-hearted apologies. No more shame. It’s time to take the offensive - charitably and respectfully - but with conviction. It’s time to challenge the challengers.

As members of the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ, what possible reason do we have for being on the defensive? Why do we feel compelled to prove our beliefs when they comprise the entire deposit of sacred revelation? As Catholics, we lack nothing in our journey toward salvation. The Catechism beautifully reminds us of our heritage by quoting the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio):

“For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, that we believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the People of God.” [Emphasis mine]

We are blessed with over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition. We have great martyrs and Saints, powerful Sacraments, insightful Synods and Councils, a splendid Catechism and the inspired writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Moreover, it is only under the authority of the Successor of Peter that the world has been able to experience God’s Word in Sacred Scripture. Being beneficiaries of this rich legacy does not mean we should be judgmental or smug. Our baptism, however, demands that we beckon others to discover the truth.

Instead of being on the defensive, we should be challenging others why they are not part of the one true Church. With a heritage so deep and wide, who could possibly order the Catholic Church to “explain herself?” Why would someone not want to be immersed in the fullness of the Christian revelation? What keeps millions from joining us in mining the treasures of this ancient faith?

Imagine demanding that a great actor or sports figure prove the reason for their worldly acclaim. They would respond by leading us to a room filled with the awards and distinctions of a lifetime. Our challenge simply evaporates, for without having to utter a single word their body of work spoke volumes.

Recall the analogy of the Church as a large ocean liner. Over the centuries, groups of people decide to mutiny for various reasons (heresy, apostasy and schism) and strike out on their own. Setting out in their lifeboats, they take various things they deem important. Agreement becomes the norm of faith rather than obedience. One eviscerates Holy Scripture and takes a couple Sacraments, another takes Scripture but no Sacraments, another keeps Catholic teachings but disallows the authority of the Pope and yet another decides Christ is not God. And on and on...

All these little lifeboats are now out and away. All refuse to come back despite our pleas from the railing. They choose to chart their own course, beholden to no apostolic authority. They craft their own religion or “spin” Christianity to their liking. Everything they have comes from the mother ship - mere fragments of Catholicism ripped from the tapestry of Tradition.

Given their separation, can we guarantee their "safety?" No. Can we assert that they have all the means to salvation? No. Can we affirm that they are on the right track? We cannot. By leaving the bark of Peter, they trade the fullness of the faith for shadowy fragments and subjective interpretations.

Pope John Paul II reminds us that the greatest sin of the modern era is Christian disunity. He rightfully insists that we cannot change the world if we do not speak with one voice and love with one heart. The Church is a multitude of interrelated parts. Remove some of the parts and it is no longer able to function properly. The Catechism reminds us to pray for all who belong in any way to the People of God. Especially those who have an “imperfect communion” with the Catholic Church and those who “have not yet received the Gospel.”

Though longing to be one body of believers, we are called to honor and preserve God’s revelation intact. We cannot abridge our Sacred Tradition. The cultural notion that prompts celebration on the things we share in common can also dismiss the things we do not. We must not sacrifice truth at the altar of ecumenism. Our goal is to entice everyone to the warmth and safety of the mother ship, not to join them in the lifeboats. Only when all are safely aboard will our task be complete.

Be proud to be a Catholic. Radiate that joy by encouraging others to discover the majesty of Christ’s one true Church. Remember the next time a challenge is issued, issue one of your own. Charitably respond by asking why anyone would be content with only a morsel of the feast!