Evangelization in lieu of Apostasy

Evangelization in lieu of Apostasy

We first must put these two attributes that support or diminish Church affiliation into a perspective that makes sense for or against either one.  Lately we have been looking at the tragedy of Apostasy that has crept into the Church; Protestant as well as Roman Catholic.  The very premise of this abuse has placed a corrupt atmosphere on the shoulders of those who still seek a Church attachment with other Christian attendees.  All we can ascertain is a turning away from God that becomes the definition of this age-old scenario.  

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer who promises a sign or wonder urging you to follow other gods, whom you have not known, and to serve them even though the sign or wonder he has foretold you comes to pass; pay no attention to that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God, is testing you to learn whether you really love him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  (Dt 13: 2 - 4).  Herein we may view apostasy ahead of the New Testament.  We now understand that the current leaving of Christians from their solid adherence to Christ and the church we worship in for another wonder that literally pushes God away from the Truth.  In all this uprising that threatened the allegiance to the God the Israelites owed a dedication and worship to, has now resurfaced in this 21st century and promises to pull man away from the true God who seeks our attention and prayers.

Let us take a moment to look at another side of this generation of Christians that may fall under this idea of turning away from God.  What is the manner of evangelizing that all of us who do attend Church, with the image of community, perform works that represent the very essence of what we are to do with this faith.  Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works,”  Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.  (Jas 2: 18).  

An argument that stands as a monumental controversy between Catholics and Protestants is the idea that works alone cannot save us.  James is not saying we do not have faith but our faith must show what that faith produces as we serve by evangelizing through serving the needy and poor in spirit.

There are many one-time Christians (Catholics) that have decided for some unknown reason to avoid Holy Mass and seem to appear that they have joined the apostasy movement.  As I watched these members of social justice I saw one woman making time to attend to a needy woman’s needs who would be in harm's way without her untiring busy daily activities.  Her belief in Christ has not diminished since she trusts in the presence of Christ at every moment she spends with this needy woman.  Her husband is a reformed addict and is at the point of needy addicts who look to him for advice and he stands as a sponsor for more than one recovering human being.  

I have heard from more than a few people who because of the sexual scandal in our Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese have a difficult time to spend one hour at Mass because of this tragic incident .  I have discovered a solid sign of faith in Christ, the Catholic Church and its Magisterium, but not enough of a desire to attend Mass.  I cannot judge their decisions but admire their abilities that reach out to those in need because they believe and adhere to what Jesus died for.  I see this as the grace of God reaching them in spite of the adjectives that some may use to judge their faith.  

At our judgment before Christ there will be a discernment that each of us must adhere to.  Did you attend Holy Mass frequently, and then did you reach out to those you are to be an evangelizer to?  

The first evangelizers were the 12 Apostles (including the other disciples who followed Jesus) and their efforts led to suffering as Jesus experienced the same, and martyrdom (except John on Patmos) as Jesus was crucified for our sins.  We are called to extend the words of Jesus by becoming like him, in faith and evangelizing to the ends of the world.

Ralph B. Hathaway