What would Jesus do? Catholics are doing it.
By Tom Quiner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smyl-DMU3TM
A Quiner’s Diner reader made some provocative comments about modern day Christians:
“Jesus and the disciples did not sit in a building and ask people to come, they did “communal road work” preaching, performing good works and miracles where ever they went.
I admit and respect the many Christians that are active in their communities yet let’s face it, of the supposedly 70.4% or 247 million American Christians only a very small percentage is represented. Those that are represented are very often promoting their own church or chosen denomination and form of worship.
Christians spend millions of hard earned wages to fight the special interests, the ACLU and the Supreme Court and we are not winning or stemming the tide of either immorality or sin.
All I am saying is why not take all those millions and build Christian Schools, youth activities centers and family support centers.
Instead of one Church or denomination how about a whole community of Christian’s acting as one force to make a difference? How can you expect to attract new and bring back old if you do not do something bold and public for all to see as the work of Jesus not the work of one Church?
How do you expect to follow the Great Commission of the disciples to preach to all Nations one soul at a time?
Christianity in America is approaching the same destiny as most of Europe and by 2018 to 2020 is predicted to be in close competition with the Islamic faith.
That is just not acceptable. What Would Jesus Do?”
The writer suggests modern Christians aren’t doing bold and public things in our communities and the world as demanded by Christ.
I beg to differ.
I could produce lists, long lists, documenting lavish humanitarian outreach by Evangelical Christians, Methodists, Lutherans and on and on. Let me focus on Catholics. I know their record best, because I am one. And I’d like to focus on a very small sliver of Catholic outreach: Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities is the largest charitable organization in the world, assisting over 9 million needy people in the U.S. alone each year. Every Catholic Church supports them through sacrificial giving.
What does Catholic Charities do?
They work toward reducing infant mortality.
They increase the number of kids with health coverage.
They increase access to healthy food for the hungry.
They reduce the number of families and individuals forced to live in emergency shelters.
They are increasing the quantity of affordable housing units.
They work to increase fathers’ involvement in families.
Their programs increase access to quality affordable early childhood education.
They increase the rate of high school completion.
They work to increase the number of youth participating in postsecondary education or workforce training.
They’re the biggest adoption provider in the country.
This is where we Catholics put our money to make an immediate and direct impact on not just the pre-born, but of everyone. This gets to the heart of being Catholic.
We are called to embrace the social justice teachings of the Church which begins with the sanctity of life. Catholics believe life begins at conception. Despite liberals’ insistence that we butt out of politics, we just can’t when we see a million plus human beings killed, while they grow in the womb, each year.
Here’s what’s interesting about Catholic Charities: They serve the needy without regard to religious, social, or economic backgrounds.
Catholics simply want to serve.
We simply want to serve real living and breathing children … and adults. Catholics are doing this in the public square day in and day out. You know all the stuff the writer above demands of Christians? Well Catholics are already doing it.
We don’t stand on soap boxes beating our chests and telling the world how great we are. Christ said to help the poor with love, and our reward will come in heaven, not this world.
Because we quietly go about doing humanitarian outreach on every continent of the world, people like the writer above think Christians are a bunch of praying, do-nothing hypocrites. Here’s the thing: we’re not a bunch of big mouth Donald Trumps, we’re just quiet, praying Christians doing a whole bunch of good in the world.
I’m so glad the short video above was made which showcases the staggering impact Catholicism has had in the world.
The writer asks, “what would Jesus do?” Catholics are doing it.
I hope I’ve been able to constructively clear the air.
The unfortunate, all too common misconception is that Christianity is a club for goody goody two-shoes perfect little angels who think that they’re just wonderful and do “good works” and stuff. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Christianity isn’t for people who think they’re perfect; it’s for people who realize that they aren’t and that they need a Savior.
Because of what He did for us, we are driven to praise him and to minister to the non-believers, pagans, Jews and fellow Christians alike, striving to be like him in everything we do. It’s not the actions that prompt the salvation, it’s the salvation that prompts the actions.
Amen, Bro!
‘e pluribus unum’= ‘one body in Christ’
“Catholic Charities is the largest charitable organization in the world, assisting over 9 million needy people in the U.S. alone each year. Every Catholic Church supports them through sacrificial giving”.
Sacrificial giving, really, here is a quote; by Alexander Light, HumansAreFree.com: “Jesus was the poorest of the poor. Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the wealthiest institution on earth. (…) How come, that such an institution, ruling in the name of this same itinerant preacher, whose want was such that he had not even a pillow upon which to rest his head, is now so top-heavy with riches that she can rival – indeed, that she can put to shame – the combined might of the most redoubtable financial trusts, of the most potent industrial super-giants, and of the most prosperous global corporation of the world?”
You make my point better than I could make it myself, these charities, these donations, theses so called sacrifices are made in the name of Jesus not the Catholic Church. Which if you take the time to read any of the volumes of Philip Scraff’s The History of the Christian Church., you will find little cause to feel special about Catholicism.
When Christians decide that Jesus is; John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” King James Version (KJV) When they decide to put aside the my Church is better than your Church and follow Pauls’ lead in Romans 4:1-4
1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
then and only then will we be able to change the future of Christianity.
That said my only concept is that of a “Unified” Christian movement, revival of the true “body of Christ” and the focused effort to take back our America, our Europe our Christian World View.
I cannot find anything impossible about this concept except the petty differences in piety that festers among Christians and Church denominations.
Which Church would Jesus join? If your answer is all of them then my concept is not only a valid idea but a reasonable solution.
“e pluribus unum” – literally means “out of many, one”, not “one body in Christ”. It has no Christian connotations whatsoever.
“Annuit Coeptus” – “He approves of the undertakings” – may have more of a Christian background, assuming that “He” means “God”.
My point is that out of one body in Christ we have created over 200 denominations and around 35,000 Churches in America. My goal is a reference using an American term “e pluribus unum” to call the many, denominations and churches back to the one body in Christ as intended. I purpose that if this is accomplished then and only then can we expect to restore the Christian Foundation the American Fathers started with, One Nation Under God.
Fair enough. Thanks for the clarification.