I overheard one side of a phone conversation at work today. This is what I heard...
" It's Friday, we can't eat meat- get out the chicken for dinner."
(other person talking)
"Well, some people say chicken is just like meat, but Grandma always said it was different..."
Oh my goodness!
I don't celebrate lent, and don't claim to know what it's all about. In my very simplistic understanding of it, it is supposed to represent the 40 days of Christ's time in the wilderness when He fasted and was then tempted by Satan. And those who celebrate lent are remembering that time, and out of Reverence to Christ and His suffering, give up something dear to them for that 40 day period before Easter known as lent. Many give up "red meat" or all meat ( which is why you can get some kind of fish special at almost every chain food place during this time of year as well- but isn't fish meat too???), soda and/or other confections. Others give up pastimes and such. But I guess the thing that stuck out the most (and has stuck out for years growing up when classmates would talk about what they couldn't have during lent) is that most people I've had contact with around lent don't even know why they are celebrating it at all. All they know is they can't have meat on Fridays...
WOW! Talk about traditions of men!!!
I hope I can always remember to hold to what is most important to Christ... and not traditions...
"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." Mark 7:8 NASB
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9 comments:
so...what does that make pork...the other other meat?
weird
I have heard that the Catholics are allowed to eat FISH on Fridays during Lent. I would have thought that was MEAT too, but I guess not.
Who knows why exactly, but as for mens traditions those too can get altered. The truly devout Catholics do not eat any meat on Fridays(red, pork, chicken, or fish) on any Friday of the whole year!! Those that are a little less devout will only eat fish on the Fridays during lent. I guess like most religions the Catholics have made consessions for the new generations! Maybe the whole abstaining from meat on Friday is their "sacrifice" for God!! I better stop before I get on my soapbox!!
There are Catholics out there who are born-again Christians, and they understand WHY they have all of the traditions they do. I don't think they've made concessions (at least according to the Catholic faith - individuals will do whatever they want, in any denomination), but there are those Catholics (and every other denom) who just play the Sunday Christian thing.
I don't agree with everything that Catholics do/believe, but I LOVE that they place such an importance on the lenten season and Jesus' death and resurrection. I've never given up anything for Lent, but I do enjoy the extra services and special messages that we have during this season.
Just makes me laugh. I think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Toula - Mom, he doesn't eat meat.
Mom - That's OK, I make LAMB!
I think there are Christians who used to be catholics, but I don't think that anyone who is truly seeking to serve the God of the Bible would feel that they could do that in a catholic church. And I honestly believe that if they are truly seeking to serve God, he would lead them away from that man made environment. I know that there is not one denomination that is perfect, but I do think some try to stay closer to what the Bible teaches than others do. From what I've seen of the catholic church, I'm not sure I could point to any "practice" or "doctrine" of theirs that even remotely resembles anything of the Church that Christ established in the New Testament and told his disciples to teach throughout the world.
Sorry, Suez, I totally disagree with you. Have you spent much time with a born-again Catholic? Or any time in their church? My BFF from high school is Catholic. I'm 100% convinced that she and her family are born-again Christians. Her parents study the Bible and taught their kids to do the same thing. They worship the same God and Jesus that I do. They believe that Jesus was born to a virgin, sent by God, died on the cross and rose again 3 days later. They believe that they must put their faith in Him and follow His commands - and they DO follow his commands.
To be honest, the biggest reason that we have chosen not to be part of the CofC is because a lot of people in that denom are so judgmental about other people's beliefs. I don't doubt that there are true Christians in CofC and every denom, but we haven't witnessed a lot of it where we've been.
And I've seen people who don't behave the way I think Christians should in other churches I've been part of, but it's not my place to judge.
We might have to agree to disagree on this one! =)
Sally- the only thing I can say is Thank GOD I don't have to be the one to make the decisions on judgement day!
Yes, there are harsh, judgemental individuals in the CofC. There are in any denomination. And unfortunately, those people do turn off a lot of people to Christ. But I have the assurity that they will be judged by the measure they judge with- they will be held accountable, but it is not my place to decide their fate or condenm them (as some in the church feel it is their right to do this- who am I to know the heart of someone else?)
Christ did tell us that we are to judge their fruits (works) to know if they are from false prophets or not though. There is a difference between condenming and judging. He also said that only those who do the will of the Father will be welcomed into the Kingdom (Matt 7:15-22).
So that means I have to make sure to work out my salvation (Philippians 2:12-13) and do my level best to make sure I am following God's commands and not man's, so that I won't be one of those that he tells to depart from His side because He never knew me.
:-)
I believe it is safe to say that the majority of people claiming to be Catholic have no idea which of their beliefs are actually in the Bible and which are not, have no idea what it means to be Catholic vs. Protestant, and are unaware that the Catholic Church contradicts Bible teachings in many ways.
Too funny about chicken not being meat! LOL
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