“Don’t ask why, ask what—
What am I suppose to do?”
St Padre Pio
(a killdeer hunkers down on Mackinac Island, MI /Julie Cook / 2017)
In reading through the the tiny book that literally fell off the shelf
the other day, landing squarely at my feet,
There Are No Accidents / In All Things Trust God
by the late Fr. Benedict J Groeschel
with John Bishop
(https://cookiecrumbstoliveby.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/there-are-no-accidents/)
I have naturally circled and highlighted things that happen
to “speak” to me as I go.
The first half of the book is a running dialog between and interviewer
(John Bishop) and interviewee (Fr Benedict)
The book was published in 2004 but as I’m reading through
all comments, questions and responses,
I’m finding them to be ever most timely.
As in not much seems to have changed in 13 years time…
but perhaps only grown wider in both depth and scope.
Fr Benedict notes that “there is a decline in society in the western world.
Because, after all, sexual morality, among its many purposes,
is the protection of family life.
That is a very high, primary responsibility.
Family life is decaying everywhere.
The cause is a naïveté of the pro-abortion group,
and particularly Planned Parenthood.
They not only have done everything possible to undermine the sacredness of life,
but have done everything to undermine sexual morality.”
He goes on to explain how “the media” follows along these same lines of thought.
Fr. Benedict points to a study /survey that was conducted in California,
around the same time of the interview, of approx. 200,000 media folks.
The results showed that 92% of them favored abortion on demand…
and that 94% favored public acceptance of homosexual relationships.
Opinions that obviously ran/ run very counter to the teachings of the Church
(and I mean the universal Christian Church not only the Catholic Church).
Next Fr Benedict points out that there were also numbers showing,
once again numbers true to the time of the interview,
that 94% of folks in the US believed in a personal God.
92% believed in meeting God upon departing Earth and 86% believed that Jesus Christ
was the Son of God.
Yet Fr Benedict also points out that despite the high percentage numbers,
in actuality, he notes that most of those folks have no idea of what all any of
that really means—of which basically boils down to “faith without content.”
Which obviously made me think.
Faith is indeed a noun but I believe it also a verb…
as in Faith, our Christian Faith, is not merely something passive,
but rather active…as in it seeks, searches, serves…
Christianity is not a passive religion.
God is not a passive God.
He expects more from us than a lukewarm, quasi connected relationship.
He expects that we follow and live out His commands, His words.
There is no picking or choosing,
no this but none of that…
It is not easy and most everything He tells us runs counter to what
the world would have us say, think and do….
It’s all or nothing.
And it appears that more and more of those who profess to have faith,
are currently opting for nothing….
“Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways,
to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies,
according to what is written in the Law of Moses,
that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,
so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying,
‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in
truth with all their heart and with all their soul,
you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
1 Kings 2:3-4
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
[…] via Faith without content — cookiecrumbstoliveby […]
I knew this book would have you writing some corkers. 🙂 I look forward to seeing what it inspires next. Or have you finished?
Haven’t finished yet. Despite being a small book…it’s meaty and I want to take my time to digest and glean any bits of wisdom…because it fell for a reason you know 😉
😇😇😇
Julie, thank you sharing what has been in process for centuries. The last thirteen years is uncovering the reality of the lack of true Christianity as we see it. Our seeking, searching, and serving is the light through us in the darkness that has always been. Sadly, many do not care that they live in rebellion against the one who came to save us, yet claim the name of Christian. The Lord is still doing His work through those who are His, few though they be. We are grateful that we can claim Him as Lord and Savior. Blessed be the name of the Lord.:)
Amen Fran!
That missing content is a proper education. Generations of parents have failed to provide content for their children.
Ordered a copy of that book Julie! There was one left on Amazon UK.
I find a resolve in the good father that is lacking today.
And sadly today folks will look at the words of a priest or monk with skepticism having deemed them all pedophiles, but that is just what Satan would want.
Fr Benedict relays a story about the english cardinal John Newman.
He tells of the time when the letter was delivered from Pope Leo that Newman had been named a cardinal.
All the clergy and priests were gathered as they waited for Fr Newman to offer some words on his appointment. He waited a moment, stood and then said “All my life I have opposed liberalism”
That was it.
That was his speech.
And Fr Benedict says that Fr Newman was speaking of theological liberalism not sociological liberalism…which means belief, or faith, without content.
Much of what we see sweeping across the Christian Church before our very eyes….
there is a danger in all of this as it is not only faith without content, but faith that is built
upon the washing sands….
The book is short and sweet…but the gems are there to be found.
As Fr Benedict reminds us that “we will go through trials and the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church….” and I do believe he speaks of the universal church here, not merely the Catholic church.
That’s a relief (the bit about the universal church). I shall look forward to finding all the gems!
He’s not rabid David..just full of common sense on common ground—a Franciscan who worked very closely for years with Mother Teresa—and he relays a few funny stories about her that I enjoyed reading
Good. I like common sense, Julie. I had a quick scan through the Amazon preview and read some of the reviews before ordering. Looking forward to reading it. Although the reading pile is quite considerable at present!
I know what you mean- it’s like I can’t get through one single book at a time as the pile is high- I start, stop , move on then revisit — not a good consistent reading approach