Are the days of acceptable Christianity really over?

A truly remarkable speech was delivered at the 10th Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on May 13. Robert P. George, McCormack professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University and chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, spoke to a mainly Catholic audience but his remarks could easily apply to other Christians, regardless of faith.

George got to the heart of the matter from his first words: “The days of socially acceptable Christianity are over. The days of comfortable Catholicism are past. It is no longer easy to be a faithful Christian, a good Catholic, an authentic witness to the truths of the Gospel. A price is demanded and must be paid. There are costs of discipleship — heavy costs, costs that are burdensome and painful to bear.”

He further posited that while one could identify with being a Catholic, attending Mass and being seen as politically correct, it does not mean that one “actually believes” the church’s teachings on marriage, sexual morality or the sanctity of human life. In doing so, even if one believes in those teachings but “is prepared to be completely silent about them, one is safe — one can still be a comfortable Catholic.”

George’s most searing indictment was reserved for those who are ashamed of the Gospel. “In other words, a tame Catholic, a Catholic who is ashamed of the Gospel — or who is willing to act publicly as if he or she were ashamed — is still socially acceptable. But a Catholic who makes it clear that he or she is not ashamed is in for a rough go — he or she must be prepared to take risks and make sacrifices. ‘If,’ Jesus said, ‘anyone wants to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.’ We American Catholics, having become comfortable, had forgotten, or ignored, that timeless Gospel truth. There will be no ignoring it now.” He compared this situation to Peter’s denial in the Garden of Gethsemane that he was one of Christ’s followers.

The issues George raises are being raised in mainline and other churches. One need not hear many Catholic services before hearing these themes espoused. Being a witness to the Gospel today has a price.

“To be a witness to the Gospel today is to make oneself a marked man or woman. It is to expose oneself to scorn and reproach,” George continued. “To unashamedly proclaim the Gospel in its fullness is to place in jeopardy one’s security, one’s personal aspirations and ambitions, the peace and tranquility one enjoys, one’s standing in polite society. One may in consequence of one’s public witness be discriminated against and denied educational opportunities and the prestigious credentials they may offer; one may lose valuable opportunities for employment and professional advancement; one may be excluded from worldly recognition and honors of various sorts; one’s witness may even cost one treasured friendships. It may produce familial discord and even alienation from family members. Yes, there are costs of discipleship — heavy costs.” Around the world, Christians who stand up for the Gospel are currently exposing themselves to grave risks. I think of Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, a pregnant mother in Sudan, a Christian and the wife of an American, who has been condemned to be flogged, and has been sentenced to be put to death after she delivers her child. She was offered the chance to renounce her faith but refused to do so.

Last year, Christianity Today reported that persecution of Christians is on the rise in eight African countries, citing the 2013 WorldWatch Open Doors USA list of religious freedom violators. Mali, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Niger were new entrants to the list last year. “Africa, where Christianity spread fastest during the past century, now is the region where oppression of Christians is spreading fastest,” Open Doors noted. Twelve of the top 50 persecuting countries in the world on the 2014 Open Doors list are African.

Nigeria and the U.S. are currently trying to locate and rescue more than 200 schoolgirls, many of them Christian, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom reported in 2013 that more than 12,000 people were killed by the Islamists in their anti-Christian attacks.

Although the speech Robert George made was primarily to draw attention to several specific issues prominent in Catholicism and other denominations, I cite the African examples as they represent the reality that there are places today where Christians who are not afraid to stand and be counted suffer sever consequences, including death. In a recent Anchorage speech, Timothy Cardinal Dolan noted a whole floor was devoted to annulments in their New York City office building. His dream was to replace it with marriage rebuilders.

George ended on a note of challenge. “We would much rather be acceptable Christians, comfortable Catholics. But our trust in him, our hope in his resurrection, our faith in the sovereignty of his heavenly Father can conquer fear. By the grace of Almighty God, Easter is indeed coming. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Never be ashamed of the Gospel.” Whatever you get out of his speech, I think the message is clear. The easy days of Christianity are over.

Chris Thompson is a religion scholar who visits local churches and writes about his experiences and matters of faith on his blog, Church Visits, at adn.com/churchvisits.

Original ADN Article Post
http://www.adn.com/article/20140524/chris-thompson-are-christians-too-content-just-being-comfortable

Mother’s Day brings pleasant thoughts of my Christian mother.

Sunday is Mother’s Day in the United States.  As far as national holiday spending goes, Mother’s Day ranks third.  There will be many commemorations of mothers in the churches with special presentations, flowers and sermons devoted to the topic. In 2013, Americans spent almost $170 per mother making moms feel wanted, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. This year should be similar

Lately I’ve been reminiscing about the impact my mother had in my life, and it was significant.  She passed several years ago. I was with her when she died.  The many days and nights preceding her painful death gave me an opportunity to reflect on her life and her influence on mine. Though I did not always agree with her, I have to admit, in the final analysis, she was passionate about her religion, religious beliefs and love for her children.

Her mother grew up in a fine Christian home, but having a bit of a wild streak in her, she married a soldier at the start of World War I. She was 13.

My grandfather was not a religious man initially and did not appreciate my grandmother’s–and later, my mother’s–desire to worship. He continued to resist Christianity until the 1950’s, when he finally joined Grandma in affiliating with her faith. His attitudes and behaviors to my Grandma changed, making her life much more tolerable.

By this time my mom had married and moved away, but was experiencing somewhat similar circumstances in her marriage and faith practice. My dad ultimately allowed faith to become a dividing wedge between them.

My mom’s faith was strong and she raised her four children in it.  A sincere follower of Christ, she was a leader in her church, years ahead of her time. All of us were included in her every religious activity, including church music, youth activities, Bible studies, and Christian Education.

Because she was extremely talented, many local churches competed for her services as choir director and organist. I was expected to sing in her choirs and often pressed into providing special music. I felt as though I was a member of several churches when I grew up.

That proved to be a problem at one point when I began dating a girl from the “other church,” and Mom moved swiftly to disrupt the relationship

Providing a Christian education for her children was automatic, something she worked hard for by earning cash to provide the money to pay for it. It didn’t end there. Most of us also attended Christian colleges, gaining a respectable faith-based education. She was intent on having one of her boys become a minister, and it was almost me.

Ultimately, several life choices propelled me away from fulfilling that desire, but I’ve always wondered about the “what if.” THis was a bitter disappointment to my mom, but she rarely showed or mentioned it.

Mom’s Bible was well-marked but not the only one she had.  That last Bible, given to her more than 30 years before she passed, had seen significant use. Of all the books, Revelation was the one most heavily marked. Clearly she looked forward to a better land, free from pain, heartache and death. She had her eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and relied on His promises.

She direct youth choirs and played church organ into her 80’s.  In her late 80’s, she was forced to give up playing for church services due to her arthritis. Hundreds of school-age youths received their training in art and music through her patient attention.

Mom loved God’s creation and was a distinguished horticulturist, experienced in growing perennials and herbs. She always gave the glory to God for His splendid creation. Her passion for growing flowers extended into her art, and her dry brush-technique watercolors were painted by the hundreds. She executed 500 to 600 paintings in her lifetime. Most were sold through galleries or given as exquisite gifts to well-loved friends.

I know she knew how much I loved her, even in those last trying days. It was a time for reflection, made  more bearable knowing I’d tried to see her as often as I could, especially over the final 30 years of her life. She shared that wonderful trait of loving her children as did her mother, who preceded her in death by only 15 years.

One night, shortly before my grandmother died, as I was sitting with her in her hospital room, I asked her if I could read to her from the Bible. “Oh no, it’s all in here,” she said, pointing to her head. She then proceeded to quote me Psalms short and long, telling me they were of comfort to her through the long nights.

My mod was like my grandmother regarding scripture, taking comfort in her faith and having faith in the promises of Jesus. I miss my mom, but I can only commend her way to parents who waver about providing a strong faith bases for their children. It continues to work for me, thanks to Mom and my grandmother. I’m thinking of Mom as Mother’s Day approaches.