Talk About Faith

A book that is on my reading list is written by a young man, James Haws, entitled, From Willow to Sacred Heart.  As a young man James Haws left Catholicism and began attending the Willow Creek Christian Church, near Arlington Heights, Illinois.  Now many have heard of this place.  Willow Creek is one of several Mega-churches that has a spectacular Sunday worship, and large offerings of educational and support services for its members.  Just the mention of Willow Creek tended to send shivers down the spines of many a catholic pastor.

Anyhow Haws tells about his experience in this book of moving away from the Catholic Church, and back again.  This is not an uncommon experience of many of the catholics who leave the Church.  As they move out of young adulthood, begin to raise a family, or begin to become established in life, many will return to the Church.  In his text Haws observes some similarities in ritual and the importance of tradition.  There are 'rules' that the members follow, as there are expectations of those who are members of the Church.

 

Some of the overlapping themes are that of community, preaching the Gospel, and pastoral care.  What Haws seemed to discover is the importance that is put on others bringing Jesus to you.  There is no such thing as a spiritual lone ranger in the Catholic Church, or at Willow Creek.

 

This year at Kairos I was able to really watch the young people much closer than usual.  What astounds and attracts our young people to this experience is that it might be the first time that they have experienced faith, ministry, and real life conversion stories.  What is more is that the conversion has occurred in the midst of their peers.  Other young people are telling them that they had been confused, anxious, hurt, and even making bad decisions; and by faith in Jesus Christ they found fulfillment in their lives.

 

As catholic we do not do that enough.  We might be quick to complain about the music, a building project, the way the pastor parts his hair, but do not witness to the power of grace or blessings in our life.  This would seem unreal since our Church was founded on the proclamation of the apostles.

 

Willow Creek should not scare us.  But when we look at the upper shelf faith experiences, such as CHRP or Kairos, we should ask whether we ask how well we proclaim and bear witness to our faith.  More so, it is our responsibility in faith to take responsibility for what we have received and what we profess.  When we show Christ to others as part of our daily routine, less and less of the faithful will be inclined to look at other places to worship.