Part 2: Literally Catholic

Basically, Christians Believe? 

Part 2: Literally Catholic 

The word catholic means universal or general12. It comes from the Greek word katholikos, which means “regarding the whole”12. The word catholic is used to describe the teaching and the faith of the Church that is universally united in its worship and doctrine3. The word catholic also implies that there are no divisions or branches within the Church3.  More like what we are not. If we’re honest that is. We are not unified anymore. And I’m not sure of the last time we were? I think Anti-denominational was an attempt at it, however, they became a everything goes. (In my opinion. Address hate mail to Santa at the north pole. My people will be in touch.) Or rather everyone is welcome.   “What?” you say, “Isn’t everyone welcome in God’s house?”   No. Not if they’re un-repentant, poisonous snakes looking to sow seeds of discord and non-biblical doctrine within the church.     1Corinthians 5:1-8  “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.  6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth    So I’m not picking on just the Never-denominated: To the broken branched methodist and Lutherans; is not modern sexual ‘orientation’ much the same type of sin and widely accepted social practice we denounced in Pauls’ day? Haven’t we, the church, already addressed all the things that are currently dividing us today? Were not the Corinthians also proud?   Brothers and Sisters in Christ. What do you believe? Are we Consistent? Can we (or you) point someone new to who you are as Christ defines it and why? Again I ask, why do we differ from church to church if we all have the same bible? And again I ask, Why is there any discussion at all?  If the bible, God’s eternal word, is our guide? Why do we, the created, assume to “interpret” God Almighty’s clear, unchanging, true words?  This should Never be compromised. Yet that’s exactly what “interpretation” of the Bible (God’s Word) has gotten us. Compromising on a regular basis with the World that we are in, yet supposed to be set apart from. A peculiar people is what we are to be. Different. Transformed and new. Get rid of the yeast.

Brave Talk by Melody Stanford Martin — Book Review

This book, although not written by a Christian, will be of interest to Christians as a useful guide in building relationships in the face of conflict.  Ms. Martin’s father was a Pentecostal minister, but she describes herself as a “rainbow liberal” so she has learned to work hard at creating community despite seemingly insurmountable differences of belief and opinion.

When we don’t deal with conflict, it doesn’t disappear.  It can affect our ability to sleep, learn, make decisions, and cope with daily life.  It can cause us to develop unhealthy habits and self-destructive behavior.  On the other hand, dealing with disagreements well (i.e. brave talk) will make our relationships less fragile and our communities healthier.  Disagreement helps us to hone and better present our own beliefs to one another.

Topics discussed include power, domination, the different types of disagreements, fear, anomie, feelings, assumptions, core values, rhetoric and more.  There is plenty of great advice about how to communicate clearly and be more persuasive. You will find out what type of communicator you are, and get tips for improving and expanding your communication style. Throughout the author emphasized that the relationship is more important than the impasse.  Even when we disagree strongly, we can choose to understand one another, give each other the benefit of the doubt, and offer respect.  These ideas are clearly need to be cultivated in our society today, and we Christians are the ones who should be doing it!

The epilogue makes the following points about difficult conversations:

• It’s not all about you
• It’s hard work
• You should advocate for the things you believe in with all the articulate, passionate energy you can muster
• Things will sometimes by awkward or uncomfortable
• Things may even be painful
• Humor helps
• Courage means sharing your heart and understanding the risks of opening up

There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter, so the book would make a great read for a book club or discussion group.  There are also a number of helpful appendices containing some helpful tools.

VERDICT:  4 Stars.  There were a few things I didn’t agree with (lol) but overall, it was an informative and eye-opening read.  I recommend it.

For more on conflict and communication see:

Who Made me a Judge or Arbitrator Over You?

Selma — Movie Review

Peacemaker or Peacekeeper?