Feeling Lost Within the Church by Pastor Walter Snyder This week we have a series of questions and comments from the same reader, one who obviously struggles with some extremely pressing matters. Q: We are Catholics floundering due to the child abuse within our denomination. It's hard to ascertain the truth in this; for instance my mother believes the allegations are false and are the work of Satan trying to infiltrate and dismantle the church, a result of today's psychology promoting victimology as an excuse for sin. My children believe it is the results of non-Christian anti-whites trying to get them to give in to sin and unacceptable behavior. A: Sadly, I think that these events actually happened and that the coverup really occurred. Because sin is part of the entire human condition, church leaders (not only Roman Catholic, but everywhere in Christendom) may fall prey to temptation either to sin sexually or to sin by hiding the sins of others. While many interpretations occur, my ~personal~ opinion is that much of the root problem is enforced celibacy. This not only creates ongoing pressures upon moral, upright men but also could screen out many who would willingly enter parish ministry if allowed to marry. Additionally, a an all-male pool of individuals preparing for the priesthood can be an enticement for those already inclined toward homosexual behavior. Q: The Bible is confusing on the issue of the chosen people, are the chosen people a race or a group of folks who follow Jesus? A: Under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, the apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:8-9) speaks clearly on this: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people." When he writes "not a people," Peter indicates readers not belonging to Israel according to the flesh or circumcision, but by faith. This corresponds with Paul's numerous comparisons of the New Testament Church to Israel, noting that faith in the God of Abraham, not blood descent is what makes a true Israelite. Q: Are the Jews going to hell for not accepting our Savior? A: All who deny that Jesus is the Christ are condemned to eternal condemnation, regardless of race or tribe. Jew or Gentile, white, black, brown, or other, there is only one Way, one Truth, one Life, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Q: Are the blacks the seed of Satan? A: All, regardless of race, who deny Christ are considered Satan's offspring (see John 8:39-47). Q: I argue that blacks who accept Jesus are the same as whites who believe the same. I believe Jews can convert to Christianity. Am I wrong? A: Only if Scripture is wrong. Race seldom finds mention in the Bible. Likely the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26f) was black, but race wasn't the issue, it was knowing Christ. And all the first Christians (the disciples, the faithful women, and the like) were Jews---so were all or almost all of the 3000 Pentecost converts (Acts 2:41). Even among the religious leaders, "a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)" Q: It becomes difficult to answer my children's questions as they face sin every day in school, with drugs, homosexuality, violence, racism and, corruption. More devastating to them than the alleged acts of Catholic priests was the church's coverup: The church isn't practicing what it preaches---or does it in its acts of forgiveness? A: I'll not comment directly, but will ask that you examine the evidence to see if what happened was truly forgiveness or if it was instead the hiding of sins. Q: The kids point out that most Christian churches consist of white congregations. A: Maybe in certain areas, but not across the nation or the world. For example, the greatest number of Lutherans on any continent is in Africa. Q: We have visited the Lutheran church many times and like what we see and hear, faith is the most important thing. How do we teach our kids to be faithful and obedient to the word of God while they are being labeled as ignorant, homophobic, racist, and told it is illegal to voice their Christian values? They feel persecuted as they don't push their beliefs but simply try to stick to them. A: Such resistance is the result of sin. Jesus cautions us and Acts and the Epistles remind us that those who believe in Christ and who live and speak their faith may face persecution, even to the point of death. We teach by proclaiming the Word and by living it in our own lives, regardless of the consequences. Q: The children are confused, wavering in their faith and skeptical of changing churches. Our family genealogy is Roman Catholic---our way of life, our traditions, and our ancestry. Please be as helpful as possible, I'm concerned that our absence from mass has allowed outside influences to confuse them. A: This is likely so. You ~must~ find a congregation and a church body that places faith in Christ above all else, that confronts its own sinful tendencies, that avoids prejudice yet still condemns sin, and that will, if possible, be as much like what you've grown up with as possible. I think you're asking many of the right questions to me; why not take this reply along with you and talk with the ministers of some of your area churches to see how they respond? Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. 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