An Evangelical returns to the Catholic Church
May 30, 2007, 7:04 am
Posted by Joseph A. Komonchak
Tremendous interest has been shown in the return to the Catholic Church of Francis Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a post from which he has since resigned. In an interview (http://ncregister.com:80/site/article/2772), he explains the steps that led him to return to the Church in which he had baptized and raised. Two points of note: (1) what he has to say about Catholic liturgy and catechesis in the 1970′s; and (2) the emphasis he places on the Great Tradition.
My 33 year old son who was bought up Catholic has for 10 years practiced the Evangelicalism of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has become disillusioned with its narrowmindedness and is content with living by the belief that all ways to God are equally valid. I was ordained during the transition year 1965 and would appreciate any leads that Joe would provide that could lead today’s kids to a Spirituality based on Gaudium et Spes. I read Chenu’s Theology of Work and it is not enough. Is there something from Congar that did not make it into the final document that would turn on his generation?
Jim wrote of his son: “He … is content with living by the belief that all ways to God are equally valid.”
Where would anyone get that notion?
The Maid
Probably just an overreaction to all the sexual abuse crap in the Catholic Church and elsewhere.
“Evangelicals can learn from Catholics that Christianity is a historical faith that did not vanish from the earth between the second and 16th centuries. That is what I mean by “learning from the Great Tradition.”
This has always been a legitimate criticism of the Reformation in that it seemed to nullify so many centuries. On the other hand many Protestants have always well regarded the Fathers of the church. So Beckwith might be a little superficial here and perhaps selective.
Beckwith further opines:
“On the other hand, the fact that many Catholic parishes do not offer the expository preaching and theological teaching to their members found in the best Protestant churches should force Catholics to critically reflect on whether they are adequately evangelizing and equipping their own people to enter a world hostile to the Christian worldview.”
No one disagrees with this. Give Beckwith the task of meeting with every pastor in every parish. As to Joe K’s question, a counter question may be, was the catechesis any better before 1970? Are those question and answer books devised to counter Protestants prior to V2 considered catechesis?
I must admit that I am troubled about this conversion. I would rather see a greater blending of the churches with acceptance or at least tolerance for marginal things. Despite objections,
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=19296
we should focus on the substantial matters. Rather than regret on the lack of frequent communion services, evangelicals should increase them and even attend Catholic ones.
I would rather see a dialogue on these things so to increase enrichment and participation. Despite some objection there is little dispute about justification nowadays and there are so many reasons for working together.
I think this approach aids unity rather than we have the best church approach.
I am still trying to figure out why Beckwith did this.