...the greatest risk to Catholic thought is to downplay, secularize or attempt to harmonize it with the zeitgeist....And it's the greatest risk to the important role the Roman Catholic Church -- or any church -- has to play in society. The more a church is harmonized with its culture, the less relevant or important it is in its culture.
Many years ago, David Neff at Christianity Today challenged me with this historical insight: the churches which had the most influence on their cultures were those that focused on what made them unique and different from those cultures. Churches which focused on being part of a particular culture usually wound up being co-opted by that culture.
The church is, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "the pillar and bulwark of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15 (NRSV) Its ministers should be seen, again according to the apostle, "as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries." 1 Corinthians 4:1 (NRSV)
There are many good humanitarian things the church can do in society. And the church needs to do them, because we appreciate the value of each human life. But there are many institutions that can do the humanitarian things. So if the church falters in caring for people, it will hurt the church, but other civic and humanitarian groups can care for those needs.
A society that loudly echoes Pilate's question "what is truth?" needs the church to be the church. It needs the church to be the bulwark of the truth. And only the church can be the church. So if the church falters in being the bulwark of the truth, if the church falters in caring for the mysteries of the gospel, there is no one who can take up the task.
The best gift the church can give society is to be the church. To care in the name of Jesus Christ. To stand up and defend what is true. To proclaim faithfully the gospel of grace. It may not be popular, and it may not be welcomed. But this is the best service we can offer our culture.
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