tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post8757802202922740050..comments2023-08-19T23:23:19.849+10:00Comments on Sentire cum Ecclesia: Sentire Cum Ecclesia and Subservience in the New TestamentSchützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-24531763848669607362008-09-17T11:21:00.000+10:002008-09-17T11:21:00.000+10:00Indeed Fraser. In my class on Paul the other night...Indeed Fraser. In my class on Paul the other night they got sick of me quoting from Luther - but he wasn't wrong on everything. <BR/><BR/>The passage to which Fraser refers is the beautiful and apt paradox:<BR/><BR/>"Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all."<BR/><BR/>No-one could put it better.Schützhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-42313311395212356912008-09-16T17:51:00.000+10:002008-09-16T17:51:00.000+10:00And you could have included the beginning of Luthe...And you could have included the beginning of Luther's Freedom of a Christian. For ecumenical flavour. And all that.<BR/><BR/>It's also interesting to consider how many times the Apostles (and the Lord) use the words 'authority' and 'truth' in relation to such words as 'freedom' and 'liberty' and 'disciple'. Not that there is an opposition between these things. But that, I gather, is the point. As you seem to be saying...Fraser Pearcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12402988203846623356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-6236392082153390352008-09-16T15:00:00.000+10:002008-09-16T15:00:00.000+10:00in one piece of personal correspondence, I was acc...<I>in one piece of personal correspondence, I was accused of "sucking up" to the hierarchy.</I><BR/><BR/>I can't imagine who would have said that!! lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-79198846952094847732008-09-16T14:03:00.000+10:002008-09-16T14:03:00.000+10:00I won't comment on Mr Coyne's view of you, save to...I won't comment on Mr Coyne's view of you, save to say that having read his e-pistles for many years now I am not surprised that he doesn't hold a positive view of those who disagree with him. <BR/><BR/>A recent post at the Intentional Disciples blog <A HREF="http://blog.siena.org/2008/09/bone-deep.html" REL="nofollow">"Bone Deep"</A> suggests that many Catholics are simply unaware of the notion of personal discipleship. In my experience that has certainly been the case.<BR/><BR/>No one denies that Jesus had disciples, but the truth that - as a Christian - I am also called to be one of them is something I only encountered in recent years. And only due to the work of the Siena Institute (credit, where credit is due.)<BR/><BR/>I suspect that if someone had pointed that dynamic out to me earlier, then the blunt zeal of my post-reversion years would have been mollified and perhaps, just perhaps, I would've avoided the "ortho/heterodox" culture war that I fell into.<BR/><BR/>From conversations with younger Catholics I have become persuaded that one of the most significant problems that we have in the Church in Australia is also quite solvable. Many young Catholics who have become quite "activated" after their reversion/conversion/whatever, struggle to find mentors who can guide them in the faith. Lacking these role models, they become attracted to the loudest voices they can find. Popularly this tends to be in lobby groups (e.g. Right to Life) or movements with secular appeal (e.g. Make Poverty History.) <BR/><BR/>Please note, I'm not disparaging either of these groups. In fact, it is because both of these are founded in good convictions that makes them quite attractive. However the danger is that a Catholic becomes "for Apollo" or "for Paul" instead of for Jesus. <BR/><BR/>Imagine the difference if newly energised Catholics were reminded - or informed for the first time - that they are to be disciples of Christ, and if older Catholics were willing to support these younger Catholics through mentoring and modeling the faith to them. Imagine that.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I suppose some might regard that as a subservient view of the Christian life, but it needs to be remembered that the chief mark of a Christian is that he follows Christ.Shanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870946033991209731noreply@blogger.com