Oct
16
2009
Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic
“We have free-floating guilt, can identify the Ave Maria within thre notes, and likely have rosary beads somewhere in the attic. We also own at least one study Bible, listen to sermons in the car, and know that a ‘quiet time’ is different from a nap. We are followers of Christ who grew up Roman Catholic and are now Evangelical Protestants.”
That’s how Chris Castaldo begins his helpful, irenic, and humorous book, Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic. Chris was raised in an Italian, Roman Catholic family on Long Island, eventually graduated from Moody and Gordon-Conwell, and now serves as Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton. Talk about quite a journey. All roads lead to Wheaton I suppose.
Chris (I’m going to call him Chris since I’ve know him since seminary days) has written an extremely useful and needed book. Let’s be clear: this is not a book on what Catholics believe (though there is some of that); it’s not a polemic about why evangelicals are right and Catholics are wrong (though there’s no doubt who Chris thinks is right); it’s not a book about whether Evangelicals and Catholics Together has been a good idea (though that would be interesting). This is a book for ex-Catholics and for anyone with Catholic friends and family. It’s a look at why Catholics turn evangelicals and how Catholics-turned-evangelical can relate to the Catholics in their lives.
In Part 1, Chris explains–through surveys, interviews, and theological reflection–why some Catholics become evangelical. First, ex-Catholics appreciate an every-member ministry where all Christians are called to full-time service. Second, ex-Catholics are drawn to a personal relationship with Jesus that is more than just rule-keeping. Third, ex-Catholic evangelicals enjoy the direct access they have to God through Christ, without the need of any other intermediary. Fourth, ex-Catholics have come to see that only proper object of our devotion is Jesus Christ, not Mary or the saints. Fifth, ex-Catholic feel new freedom and joy in the salvation-by-grace-alone-through-faith-alone gospel that is championed in evangelical circles.
Underlying all of these differences between Catholics and evangelicals, Chris argues, is the issue of authority. Is Scripture our final authority or should we also put councils and encyclicals on equal footing with the Bible? With the possible exception of justification, there is no other issue that does more to separate Catholics and evangelicals more than this issue of authority.
In Part 2, Chris turns from analysis to praxis as he offers advice on how we can relate to Catholics. Because Chris can speak with an insider’s knowledge, I found it especially interesting to read his chapter on how Catholics view evangelicals. He explains that Catholics often think we are superficial, too chummy with God, hopelessly splintered, and only interested in “fire insurance.” In my experience all of these can be valid critiques of evangelicals, especially the first two. (I think “fire insurance” is pretty important, and I don’t for one minute think the Roman Catholic church is any less splintered over doctrinal and ethical issues than the Protestant church. The Catholics have more institutional unity on the face of it, but they have just as much dissension inside, not too mention plenty of people that flat-out ignore what the institution says.)
If I have a quibble with Holy Ground it would be that in one or two places I found myself wanting Chris to be just a little less accommodating and do just a little more to show how far apart Catholics and evangelicals are on some issues. But this does not detract from the overall value of the work. I have already recommended it to ex-Catholics and will again. The best part about this book is that it handles a controversial subject in way that manages to be both light and serious at the same time. This book is funny, smart, well-written, and full of grace and truth, with a healthy dose of common sense to boot. There really isn’t another book quite like it.
Holy Ground is the sort of book ex-Catholics will love to read and the sort of book they wouldn’t be embarrased to give to a Catholic friend. Chris is always respectful about his past, even as explains why he had to leave it. Many people will see their journey in this book. The rest of us will be helped to listen in on the story.
4 Comments
I love this post!! My early education (until 4th grade) was in a Catholic school. I remember learning that bad things happen to you as punishment from God! Shortly after that, my mother died. I was ten. It took years of therapy.
Kidding! But it was hard to deal with as a child. I must read this book! BTW I don’t have an attic, so my rosary is in the big storage closet. 
1. Ex-Catholics appreciate an every-member ministry where all Christians are called to full-time service.
I question the source of this belief; did you get it from the Church or from nominal Catholics? The words the Church–specifically those of the Vatican II documents–are filled with proclamations that every person is called to full-time holiness and service. I’m not really sure what you mean by ‘every-member ministry’ or ‘full-time service’. Catholics are called to both, yet each is beckoned to a distinct role. Not every Protestant is called to be a pastor or a worship leader; not every Catholic is called to be a priest or religious. But not every person is called to be a lay member, which every bit the holiness and service of a religious vocation. You’re suffering from the same false belief that many Catholics fall prey to and that Paul again and again fought, namely that religious vocations are no less holy than lay callings. But they are different.
2. Ex-Catholics are drawn to a personal relationship with Jesus that is more than just rule-keeping.
Again I would love to question your source to this reported belief. Catholicism is a faith of more than ‘just rule-keeping’. I assume you’ve acquired that belief from a poorly-formed—or ignorant—Catholic. You’re again setting up a straw man. The greatest Catholics of all time—namely the Saints—have had some of the intimate encounters with Jesus. People like Catherine of Sienna and Teresa of Avila exemplify personal relationships with Jesus that sink to incredible depths. This is what the Church calls us to. If you read any of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body you’ll dive into the most intimate encounters of Christ: the spousal relationship between Jesus and His Bride, between us and the Lord.
In regards to the ‘rules’ they are the same that a good parent gives to aid a child in growth. ‘Go to Mass’ and ‘Go to confession’ are not arbitrary. They are there for our own growth and holiness just as ‘Don’t do drugs’ and ‘Don’t sleep around’ are. The Church’s rules flow from the same rules that God has been giving even before he became incarnate; He chose to give rules to the ancient Israelites to help them along the way of holiness. Until you see the possibility of rules and guidelines as ‘blessings’ and not ‘hindrances’ this will not make sense.
Many Catholics are blind to the relationship and only see the rules that point to it. This is a fault of formation. But this is not flawed Catholicism; these are flawed Catholics.
3. Ex-Catholic evangelicals enjoy the direct access they have to God through Christ, without the need of any other intermediary.
This is an age-old debate that I believe you’ve talked about in the past on your blog. Beyond all of the historical arguments, I ask one question. Why do you blog? Why do you teach? I assume it’s to become a conduit to God; one who points the way to Him; one who reveals His glory. Why do you ask others to pray for you? Why do we read spiritual books? Every single word you write or speak—and every single person you ‘speak’ to is not Jesus—but they all point to Him or link to Him. Mother Teresa saw the face of Jesus in everyone, so she helped everyone, but also prayed directly to God (for hours each day). I hear the words of God in my mentors so I talk to them, but not solely to them. I pray solely to God. But it’s hypocrisy if you claim that ‘direct access’ to God is the only way when all of our days are filled with intermediaries.
The Church teaches that all of these sources—including the Sacraments—invite us closer to God. They aren’t the only ways, but they are other ways.
4. Ex-Catholics have come to see that only proper object of our devotion is Jesus Christ, not Mary or the saints.
Again, why do you write about Luther, or Calvin, Mohler, Piper, or whoever? They are men who point you most clearly to God. They are men who inspire you to grow closer to Jesus. The Saints are the same. Catholics are devoted to them the same way you are to your greatest influences. Mary is also held in high regard. It’s a shame that Protestants have rejected her honor, though that is slowly changing back to how it originally was for the first millennium after Christ. She birthed God. I am curious how you handle the typography found in the Bible regarding Mary; particularly the Woman in Revelation.
5. Ex-Catholics feel new freedom and joy in the salvation-by-grace-alone-through-faith-alone gospel that is championed in evangelical circles.
Two things: first these words suggest, to me anyways, that Catholicism is repressing while Evangelicalism is liberating, which I suppose is true for those who were never really Catholic in the first place. I again am forced to believe you have limited experience with well-formed Catholics who are living a free and joyous life. Second,
I remember reading your posts on the Eucharist, which I thought was decently fair in it’s presentation of Catholic beliefs. You seem to understand both sides and clearly laid out the differences. So I’m more inclined to believe that the above five statements are more a reflection of the books author’s flawed beliefs of Catholicism than your own.
But they are flawed. They do, however, form a great straw man. To paraphrase Chesterton, “The Catholic ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” One of the terrible shames in ecumenical relations is Evangelical image of Catholicism gained from nominal Catholics (and the opposite is true; so many Catholics wrongfully reject many wonderful gems within Protestantism).
As a Protestant convert to Catholicism, though, I can say through my experience that the best parts of Protestantism are fully realized through the Catholic Church. Protestant practices and results (such as ‘personal relationship’, ‘direct access’, freedom, joy, etc.) are hazy reflections of Catholic ideals.
per your last sentence sir Vogt. sincerely.
“Protestant practices and results (such as ‘personal relationship’, ‘direct access’, freedom, joy, etc.) are hazy reflections of Catholic ideals.”
I believe protestant practices and results (such as ….) are reflections of our love for what Jesus the Christ did on the cross and especially what He did 3 days later according to scripture.(resurrection) And for me personally, what He continues to accomplish in and through my life.
none of which has anything to do with Catholic ideals.
and I pray will never ever be an ideal from any religion or occult.
[...] Doug Phillips (not the one from Vision Forum) has a great interview with Chris Castaldo. Chris, as you may remember, has a new book Holy Ground: Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic. I blogged about the book here. [...]