I went to a Catholic mass a few weeks ago – a first! As a member of the protestant, or evangelical church, I’ve never had a reason to visit a Catholic church except on tourist duty in France, but that’s another story…
The funny thing was that I went to mass for a college assignment (write a report on your visit to a church that’s different to your own church background). And I say funny, because “I’m here on an assignment” was the answer I gave the priest when we shook hands at the end of the service – he asked questions about whether I was new and why I was visiting. I’m sure you’re supposed to make up another answer in such circumstances, but hey, everyone must have noticed me scrawling away in my notebook, failing to say the right thing at the right time, and missing all the cues to bend down on one knee at appropriate times. So I’d already figured the game was up!
Anyway, I took away two lasting impressions. Firstly, I felt much more comfortable than I thought I would – we are, after all, all Christians despite our different perspectives.
Secondly, hung high on the wall at the front of the church was a wooden cross with Jesus affixed, head bowed, and a crown of thorns fastened firmly on his head with little trickles of blood on his forehead.
Back in class the following week, the subject of crosses came up (funny that, given we’re at college…but anyway). Other students remarked on the cross in the Catholic churches the visited too. I wasn’t sure what had intrigued me until our lecturer (& Tabor founder) Barry Chant observed that Catholic churches typically depict Jesus on the cross, while protestant churches depict an empty cross. BINGO!
I’d grown up looked at an empty cross. The significance? The bible says Jesus died on the cross, died, was buried, and rose again. The empty cross symbolises the fact that he did not remain on the cross. The Catholic church has a different perspective in that they choose to focus on Jesus’ suffering – he’s symbolically still on the cross in their eyes.
Now don’t get me wrong here, I’m trying not to make a judgement call either way. But this line of thinking is an extension of an earlier post where I asked about your image of God. Is He the fire and brimstone God, or the loving and kind God? I’m amazed at variety of perspectives that have emerged from a single, incredible, event in history.
May 29, 2007 at 1:45 am
Mark, both images of God are true. God is Our Father and therefore is our parent. He treats us as His children. As a parent I know that there are times when the best thing I can do for my children is BE A PARENT-in many ways discipline is another aspect of love. So my image of God is a loving, frightening, awe inspiring parent. He takes us by the hand and guides us, we can have our little tantrums, but He is always ready to hold out His arms in loving grace…
Thank you for the blog, we can talk later about the suffering Christian, the glass half full or empty and the cross.
May 29, 2007 at 7:36 am
I did something similar a couple of months ago. I have grown up in a non-denominational church, and I decide to go to Jewish messianic synagogue. I just wanted something different. But boy talk about sticking out, their service is so packed with tradition stand up, sit down, at one point you even turn around and face the back.
What was so great is to see we can all call Jesus Saviour and not have to be clones of each other. It’s important also to put faces on people who believe a little differently. it makes them human instead of “those people” or making them out like the enemy.
May 29, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Interesting you went to visit a catholic church… i dated a catholic guy once and I..having a very similar church background to yourself… surprisingly found a connection with God there, albeit not knowing all the ritualistic ‘steps’ and confessions etc.
But i did like the ritual… which may for some ‘modern’ christians, seem a bit ‘old fashioned’.
However, i completely agree with you– Jesus died and ROSE again.
Something I think the Catholic tradition seems to place less emphasis on… however, i think their focus with some ‘modernising’ of the catholic tradition now is moving somewhat away from worshipping Mary as well… which is a whole nother kettle of fish!