I’ve often written about why I treasure Catholicism. Today I thought I’d praise the things I believe our Protestant brethren do especially well.
Biblical knowledge. Fundamentalists and evangelicals, in particular, know their way around the Bible like they know their morning commute. When they read the New Testament, they hear all the Old Testament echoes. They’ve memorized favorite passages of comfort and praise. They can explain God’s plan of salvation with numerous Scriptural references. Few Catholics know their Bible as well as the average Baptist layman.
Religious education. The Bible was once only available in Latin and its interpretation was reserved for the clergy. The Reformation changed that, and conservative Protestants feel obliged to promote Scriptural literacy. Sunday school kids get prizes for memorization and “sword drills” (finding a quotation quickly). They attend Bible camp in the summer. Lay adults meet in weekly Bible study groups, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide their understanding.
Sermons. A Protestant sermon runs about twice as long as a Catholic one. What’s impressive is how many preachers can hold your attention for 20 minutes. To a Protestant minister, nothing is more important than the Sunday sermon. Many ministers seclude themselves and spend an entire day or more preparing their sermons. Catholic priests seldom have that much free time, and their homilies can reflect that limitation.
Evangelization. We Catholics resist door-to-door evangelists and wince when asked if we’ve accepted Jesus as our personal savior. But at least conservative Protestants recognize the Christian’s duty to proclaim the Good News. Our grandparents believed Catholicism was the one true church and prayed for conversions. Our parents supported Catholic missions. The fear of appearing intolerant has silenced our generation. The Vatican’s “New Evangelization” won’t work until we figure out how to share our faith without sounding unbearably self-righteous.
Hymns. Catholics have always had beautiful liturgical music. We’re way behind, though, when it comes to songs a congregation can easily sing. Modern composers like David Haas and Marty Haugen do great work, but I miss Protestant standards like “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” or “Abide with Me.” It’s not surprising that the world’s favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace,” written by a Protestant.
Architecture. I love soaring arches and stained glass windows like those in our cathedral. However, I also like the plain, white churches that Protestant missionaries brought to Hawaii. These meeting halls honor simplicity. Only the pulpit, communion table and baptismal font are needed. Anything else might distract worshipers from attending to the Word. It’s not gold and candles that make a church feel holy; it’s the numerous heartfelt prayers offered there.
Sense of Ownership. As an adult Protestant, I knew how my church worked. A lay person chaired an annual budget meeting which laid out projected expenses and invited discussion. Immediately after approving the budget, we signed individual pledge cards, knowing exactly how much the church needed and what our share would be. In most Protestant denominations, the local church hires and fires their pastor (or at least has a voice in the process). These are two reasons why Protestants feel their church is their responsibility.
Protestant Sunday School teachers introduced me to God. They taught me Bible stories and how to pray. A Protestant urged me to make a lifetime commitment to Jesus Christ. Another mentored my study of Church history and Protestant theology. It was that study which led me to become a Catholic. I wonder what kind of Catholic I’d be if I hadn’t had 40 happy years as a Protestant. Bless, Holy Mary, the land of my birth.
Kathleen welcomes comments. Send them to Kathleen Choi, 1706 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720, or e-mail: kathchoi@hawaii.rr.com.
