The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Elise Newman
It would seem more appropriate given the content I am about to disclose that I would have 95 reasons, which would promptly be nailed to the stage in Shortess Chapel. Nevertheless, I wish to publish a mere ten ways in which the Catholic Church seems more biblical and effective than the Protestant Church. Please note that my intent is that of iron sharpening iron.
1. Celibate leadership.
Growing up as the daughter of a Protestant minister, I have witnessed on more than one occasion the struggle of the married minister between the importance of family and the call of the ministry. Celibate leadership is a principle, which Paul speaks of extensively in I Corinthians 7 when he states, “An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs (vs. 32).” It appears that celibate leadership is the ideal way of doing things. I am not arguing that it is the only way churches should function; I am arguing that it is the best.
2. Holistic worship.
The approach to worship in a traditional mass service involves each of the senses. Incense for smell; architecture for sight; music and chanting for the ear; communion for taste; kneeling and standing for touch.
3. Unity.
A common solution to problems in Protestant churches is for the church to split. This is heartbreaking for believers to endure and is exactly the opposite of what Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane when he said, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me.” (John 17:23) The Catholic commitment to unity is attractive to those of us who have witnessed the petty divisions that plague Protestant country churches.
4. Daily mass.
Acts 2:47 mentions the Lord added to the early church daily. This meeting on a daily basis to worship God and support one another in community is something the Catholic Church has maintained throughout the centuries.
5. Latin mass.
Oh yes, reading the Nicene Creed in the original Latin text gives a feeling of unity within the body of Christ which transcends the boundaries of time. When reading the creed you participate in a Christian tradition alongside Athanasius, Augustine and Mother Theresa.
6. Importance of imagery. From crossing oneself to praying the rosary, the Catholic faith is full of imagery that is beneficial to those of us who spend our time thinking or analyzing meaning.
7. Aesthetics.
Closely tied to imagery and holistic worship is the value Catholics place on making their churches aesthetically pleasing. In his book Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton commented on European cathedrals, “Christ prophesied the whole of Gothic architecture when…He said, ‘if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’” The glory of God is visually realized in cathedrals.
8. Lack of first person singular pronouns during mass.
The only time an individual references self during mass is to acknowledge human failure and our need of Christ. It seems to me that Protestant churches have largely bought into our culture’s rampant individualism and offer ministries for individuals rather than focusing on the whole church body. Mass gives priority to the church as whole and the focus remains not on the individual, but on corporate response to the Word.
9. Pedigree.
The Catholic Church traces its roots directly back to the days in which the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. Because of the commitment to unity within the Catholic tradition, they have maintained a single, unbroken line of leadership.
10. Confession.
The sacrament of confession is beneficial to the individual for the catharsis of inner struggles that we tend to suppress and hide from other believers. I have observed from the student environment at CIU a number of students living in shame over their sins because they were too afraid of what would happen if someone found out. This kind of environment is exactly what the sacrament of confession avoids. We should be free to pour out sins in the confidence of a wise leader.
Conclusion
I could probably write ten reasons why I am not Catholic today, however, this would be irrelevant to the audience that reads this publication. The purpose of writing this article is to implore those of us at CIU to examine different areas of the Christian faith and see God at work in places we may not expect. It is true that some people come out of the Catholic Church wounded or confused; however, I can honestly say that God has chosen to heal wounds I have suffered at the hands of the Protestant church through my interactions with the Catholic Church. Sitting in mass at the Catholic Oratory in Oxford brought healing in my life and revived my love for the Lord. My sincere hope is that this article will inspire critical thought and sharpen your theology. Peace be with you.