2 John 10-11 Means the Catholic Church Should Not Be Concerned About Market Share

Over the last few days pundits , sadly many "Catholics" have said if the Church does get with the times many will leave. As to get with times they mean decide to disregard scripture and ignore 2000 years of consistent teaching and or Holy Tradition of the Catholic and many Protestant faith communities on such things as sexual ethics, marriage , abortion, etc .

Others have said that if the Catholic Church decides to act on:

Galatians 1:8-9 ,

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Romans 16:17,

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them

and

2 John 1:10-11

John 1:10: If anyone comes to you, either as a teacher or a brother, and brings not the doctrine that Jesus had taught us, or he brings some error concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus, or something that is anything contrary to it, receive him not into your house nor receive him as a teacher or a brother.

Do not give him any encouragement or God speed because he deludes souls, and undermines the glory and kingdom of the Lord Christ. Let us not think it strange, that there are deceivers and opposers of the Lord Christ's name and dignity now, for there were such, even in the apostles' times.

2 John 1:11- For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. He that gives him these prayerful greetings and encouragement becomes a partaker, to that extent, in that teacher or brother's evil deeds.

Then people will leave and go elsewhere.

Well so be it and I don't take that lightly.

I saw this over via Catholic Underground at Effortless Catholicism .


Hat Tip to the Ever Sardonic Crescat for this quote:

… do you know some one who prefers to attend a congregation centered parish? You know, those churches where every one wears flip flops and swim trunks and Jesus is just glad you bothered to show up.

Well every time I hear an argument made in favor of such an environment all I hear is blah blah blah blah I’m too lazy to make any real effort blah blah blah blah.

While it’s a bit harsh, it’s not wrong. Jesus didn’t ask us to casually wander in the direction of that-a-way, He told us to take up our cross and follow Him… Too often, we try to make everything to do with Christianity as simple and painless as possible. Why? Perhaps it’s because we’ve become infected with the corporate mentality that the Church is a business trying to attract customers and competing the “Christian Worship Center” down the road. In fact, only the Catholic Church has the sacraments and so we’re not really competing at all… At least, no more than the First Class $200 Steak House is competing with Burger King. Of course one is easier and faster and cheaper – but the burgers can legally come from 14 different cows! ........

Well that does sound harsh and indeed sounds like something one does not say nowadays but it needs to be said. If aCatholic wish to leave the Sacraments, the Body and Blood of Christ , etc over the fact the Church cannot change sexual morality at their convenience so be it.

My Priest gave a wonderful Homily for the Feast of the Corpus Christi. He said it is unpopular to say in some Catholic quarters but we along with the Eastern Orthodox have got the Real Presence and other's don't. That does not mean that God does not operate and cannot save Christians in other Faith communities. But as he put it that is GOD's business how he does that not ours.

Another part of our business is maintaining the Apostolic Deposit of Faith in which so many Christians are now in the business of denying. That is going to be useful when that house of Cards others are building based on supposed revelation of the Holy Spirit that just is about 40 years old at the most and just happens to be occurring while they just happen to be walking around comes tumbling down.

Now how do I maintain this with the thoughts of Mark Shea who I also agree with in his post This pretty much makes my point for me...

The distinction here is not that Catholic are in error or are missing the mark. It's not that we got to get rid of these sinful Catholics for indeed we just have too look at lives to know we should not be casting stones. In fact we are not talking about getting rid of Catholics at all.

However are talking about having to put sanctions , which the Church views as medicine, on Catholics that in quite public opposition to the Church and seek to undermine her teachings. Catholics being sinful, not following her teaching is nothing new. However what is a newer development is Catholics doing this publicly and using the power of the State, media , and other cultural forces to go against her. All while saying they are Catholics in good standing. At some point sanctions must happen. At some point one cannot take Communion which is a sign of unity with the Catholic Church when you are seeking to undermine the very basics of the faith.

If they wish to leave because of that well good luck and I will keep you in my prayers. I hate to see them go but what happens to them next is God's business not ours.

The Church should not fear this. As stated above we are not a business that is competing with anyone. If we lose "market share" in the short term because of our stance so be it.