So to set the scene. We just looked at the first four centuries of the early Church and have now fast forwarded a thousand years to the Protestant Reformation. The student see Martin Luther look towards Rome with a gleeful feeling of anticipation. Anticipation of seeing the holiest place on Earth. What was he thinking.
I’ll tell you. A lot more than all four of my Sophomore classes. Sorry for throwing shade at my beloved Sophomores who I adore. My students couldn’t envision what the ultimate Christian community should look like. Why in blazes not???
I have a few thoughts and hopefully none of them are correct.
Is it because what they’ve been taught for years in Catholic education (in schools at home and in the parish) has shown them that there is no such thing as the ultimate Christian community. If you’re thinking along the lines of God’s Kingdom on Earth, yes we are talking about the same thing. Have we perhaps separated the Saints from reality so that we don’t see what we can and should all become?
How about this. Are we modeling a Christian community and that’s the best they think it can be? We have a school of grades that judge, bells that demand that we sit in a certain location for a specific time, friend groups that teach exclusion far more than inclusion, and a belief that everyone’s truth is correct and so act the way you want unless you’re breaking serve rule.
Is it possible that our version of God and Jesus isn’t relatable and so they can’t fuse faith with their lives?
Interesting Adam. Not just with school, but what kind of modeling do they see from the Church that impacts their perspective as well? This is timely based on what Bishop Barber expressed, that I shared yesterday with everyone. Knowing where weaknesses might lie is the first step in improving the situation.
Fascinating blog… I read so much into this but I think Kevin's comment is spot on so I will leave it at that.
It is funny that you mention our school being a place of judgement, with unreasonable demands, and being exclusive. I find many Catholic Churches to be no different. What is your idea of the ultimate Christian Community? How do you know that it is an objective idea rather than just your own version of heaven? I think I am with your students….I dont have any idea.
On a side note – once Luther got to Rome and saw how unholy it was he started his own church so I found this to be a very provocative (in a good way) analogy to the ultimate christian community
Miranda I actually find Churches to be much worse. I've experienced different situations in Churches where some are welcoming and I've truly found a community, and others where after a year no one really even knows I exist.
I felt like in youth ministry is was a constant push back to not follow what the Church does on a regular Sunday, and to strive to be inclusive and reach out to those on the fringes. It has been in working with teens creating music that I feel that we've created a little heaven on earth.
On the Luther note I often have the dream of just rebelling and starting a fresh. I'll have to tell you about the Fishing Church idea that I've had for the past 20 years…
the back and forth leaves me with even more questions about why you are frustrated with the sophomores for not having a quick definition for you… feels like the concept is not that crystal clear — even for the adults. It is clear YOU have a vision… but was the objective for your students to adopt YOUR vision?
Adam, I have to say that I see where your sophomores are coming from. It seems like there would inherently be so much subjectivity and bias influencing everyone's view of this sort of utopian community. I'm not sure my ideal Christian community would look anything like yours or anyone else's. I do like that you have your students grapple with how to create the type of community that they want to live in though.
Mike I agree that there should be a lot of subjectivity surrounding what this utopian community should look like. I was surprised that they had no input on what that community would look like. I imagine that people would have a dream of what a better society/heaven on Earth would look like.
Elizabeth I wouldn't say that it is my vision exactly because I would say that my vision is highly influenced from the Church. So I could say that I have a biased. The Church seems consistent in wanting to help the poor and homeless, advocate for non violence and preach turning away from sin (thus sinning against others). Understanding the Reformation without understanding a vision for an ultimate Christian society doesn't create a clear picture of why Martin Luther was so passionate. I would say that the objective was to empathize with Luther by knowing what he wanted for society.