Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Home
Catholic
What to Say to That Bible Christian

What to Say to That Bible Christian

Last updated on: May 29, 2014 at 2:22 pm by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

What to Say to That Bible Christian 2014-05-29T14:22:13-05:00 Fr. Dwight Longenecker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We had some fun with the eighth grade class this week. I was asked to teach some basic Catholic apologetics. I began with explaining where Baptist and Bible Christians originated, why they believe in sola Scriptura and the best way to counter their most common challenges.

So often the secularists mock Christianity by pointing out that Christians don’t actually obey the Bible. They dig up verses from Leviticus banning pork and shellfish and calling for adulterers and witches to be stoned to death. Then they say, “Ha! Why do y’all use the Old Testament ban on homosexuality when you’re not willing to keep those other laws. Huh?”

It is, of course, a shallow and stupid argument, but one which shows how strong the Protestant fundamentalist form of Christianity is in the United States.

If the secularists use it against the Bible Christians, it’s also a good tactic in Catholic apologetics.

So I got the kids to look up the Bible verses banning all contact with pigs, the consumption of “beasts that swim but do not have scales and fins” and for good measure threw in that verse from I Timothy saying women should not have braided hair or wear gold jewelry or pearls.

Mock horror when we spotted one girl with her hair in a braid wearing a gold necklace and pearl ear rings. More dismay at the thought that lobster, oysters, scallops and shrimp were off the menu. More shock horror at the thought that not only could they not have bacon, but pork barbecue was out of the question and most shocking of all–no FOOTBALL!! Why ? Because footballs are made of pigskin and you ain’t allowed to touch the flesh or the carcass of the pig.

The point being that all Christians do not take the Bible literally. They pick and choose what they believe and obey in the Bible. Catholics do too, it’s just that we acknowledge the fact and have a reliable authority to help us discern the way forward and interpret the Bible correctly.

This explanation moved on to some enjoyable role play. I took the part of the Bible Protestant. An eighth grader took the Catholic part

FDL: So Jared, you mean to say you’re a Catholic?!

J: You bet!

FDL: So why do y’all call priests Father when Jesus says in Matthew “Call no man Father”?

J: Have you ever eaten at Red Lobster?

FDL: Huh? I guess so.

J: What did you order?

FDL: I don’t know. Fried Shrimp and Scallops I think.

J: Sinner! The Bible says you can’t eat that! What about pork barbecue? Do you like that?

FDL: Shore I do. This is South Carolina!

J: Sinner! Don’t you know the Bible bans all pork products? What about football. Do you play football?

FDL: Man! This is Clemson Land. Go Tigers! You gotta play football!

J: Sinner! Dost thou not know that to touch the carcass of a pig is a great sin and what is a football but the skin of a pig?

FDL: You’re crazy man!

J: OK. I’m just trying to make a point. I think it is okay to eat pork, play football and enjoy oysters. But here’s my point. You admit that there are certain verses in the Bible you don’t take literally, I mean even though it says don’t eat pork or shellfish and don’t touch a pigskin that it’s okay to do that?

FD: I guess.

J: So there are some parts of the Bible you can disobey if it make sense?

FD: Seems that way.

J: Same with us and that verse about “Call no man Father.” See, in Jesus’ time there were pagan religions in which the people called their teachers and gurus “Father” and “Master” and worshipped them as semi divine beings. We call the priest father, not because we worship him or think he’s God, but because he’s the father of our family of faith.

FD: Oh.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 27, 2014

A Kiss and A Rock

Next Post

May 29, 2014 How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anglican Matters Apologetics Architecture Blobble Study Book Reviews Brideshead Caitlin O'Rourke Catholic Art Catholic Culture Church Politics Chust for Nice Contemporary Culture Duane Mandible Ed Blanch Film Reviews Fr Harvey Nicolaitan Frank Viola Mantilla the Hon More Christianity Mrs Brady Catholic Old Lady Mystery of the Magi Norman Anderson Queen Hillary Saints and Supernatural Spirituality The Inklings The Vicar Theology Todd Unctuous Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz