Dogmatism
(Fr. Dave Farnum, CSP)
Catholics tend to be blamed as dogmatic.
But I've seen more of this from people who do not pronounce their faith loudly than from those who do...
From people who do not believe in truth, but in place of it, have instituted the words of man.
People, who afraid to simplify the world into a truth which is a constant tension of sin and mercy, obedience and compassion, faith and reason, etc. have reduced what they can to dogmatic principles, hoping to mete out some meaning, some clarity in a world otherwise devoid of all purpose and reason.
They hold to things that don't matter and run from things that do.
You can't play games in the hall of a dorm, but you can get drunk and have sex in your room.
How are we to love and live? That doesn't matter, just don't buy a water gun, because it's labeled "gun"... a nerf funky blaster? oh sure... it's not called a gun on the package. (A rule as a resident assistant I have to espouse repeatedly).
Am I the only one astounded?
I said it earlier, but this is insane! This is a search for something they don't have! Truth, order, Goodness and rightness. Compassion does not come from creating rules from which people are treated "equally" (equally in the sense of being held accountable to the same exact wording), there is no compassion there, but dogmatism. Compassion comes from seeing a person as God does... as part of His bride (the Church). Compassion comes from knowing the perfect standard, and holding people accountable not because it is a standard, but because it makes them better, holier, more perfect, more beautiful... compassion comes from seeing the standard, and seeing the sinner... and judging (OooOOOOOooo that word the world hates) what is best for the person, mercy, compassion, guidance, punishment, tough love, soft love... or perhaps shockingly, a combination of them. A person is not an equation with one solution... they have a multitude of needs and each need must be addressed as best as we can. Each sin stems from more than one source and each source must be treated if they are to be whole again.
Every human person is valuable and worthy of compassion.
No human person respects dogmatism in the modern sense... but every person hopes for the dogmatism I've just described... for being treated as a unique creation who deserves unique treatment, who is a complex entity with conflicting desires and ideas that conflict because they imperfectly seek the Good. Your desire is not wholly bad, there is TRUTH in it! It is a desire that yearns to be redeemed and placed on a path to wholeness, where all desires unite.
- Sticking to the rules as if only the letter of the law matters.
- Lacking compassion in cases that differ substantially.
- Refusing to bend until the rule has changed.
- Unwilling to change "bad" rules.
But I've seen more of this from people who do not pronounce their faith loudly than from those who do...
From people who do not believe in truth, but in place of it, have instituted the words of man.
People, who afraid to simplify the world into a truth which is a constant tension of sin and mercy, obedience and compassion, faith and reason, etc. have reduced what they can to dogmatic principles, hoping to mete out some meaning, some clarity in a world otherwise devoid of all purpose and reason.
They hold to things that don't matter and run from things that do.
You can't play games in the hall of a dorm, but you can get drunk and have sex in your room.
How are we to love and live? That doesn't matter, just don't buy a water gun, because it's labeled "gun"... a nerf funky blaster? oh sure... it's not called a gun on the package. (A rule as a resident assistant I have to espouse repeatedly).
Am I the only one astounded?
I said it earlier, but this is insane! This is a search for something they don't have! Truth, order, Goodness and rightness. Compassion does not come from creating rules from which people are treated "equally" (equally in the sense of being held accountable to the same exact wording), there is no compassion there, but dogmatism. Compassion comes from seeing a person as God does... as part of His bride (the Church). Compassion comes from knowing the perfect standard, and holding people accountable not because it is a standard, but because it makes them better, holier, more perfect, more beautiful... compassion comes from seeing the standard, and seeing the sinner... and judging (OooOOOOOooo that word the world hates) what is best for the person, mercy, compassion, guidance, punishment, tough love, soft love... or perhaps shockingly, a combination of them. A person is not an equation with one solution... they have a multitude of needs and each need must be addressed as best as we can. Each sin stems from more than one source and each source must be treated if they are to be whole again.
Every human person is valuable and worthy of compassion.
No human person respects dogmatism in the modern sense... but every person hopes for the dogmatism I've just described... for being treated as a unique creation who deserves unique treatment, who is a complex entity with conflicting desires and ideas that conflict because they imperfectly seek the Good. Your desire is not wholly bad, there is TRUTH in it! It is a desire that yearns to be redeemed and placed on a path to wholeness, where all desires unite.
But simple mechanical rules devoid of humanity can not unite and guide a human, they can only act as stumbling blocks, they can only divide and frustrate…
Humanity deserves better. You deserve better.
How are we going to convert the world?
Luke 2:34-35
You're heart is complex. You're heart is NOT simple. You're desires have Truth in them. You have Truth in you. The world wants to tell you that you're an input to an equation, Jesus wants to tell you that He knows you're more... SOO Very much more.
You are His Father's child, royalty in the Heavens.
You're existence is unique, precious and astounding!
God is amazed at you!
AT YOU!
Habakkuk 1:3-5
Luke 2:34-35
- and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted... so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
You're heart is complex. You're heart is NOT simple. You're desires have Truth in them. You have Truth in you. The world wants to tell you that you're an input to an equation, Jesus wants to tell you that He knows you're more... SOO Very much more.
You are His Father's child, royalty in the Heavens.
You're existence is unique, precious and astounding!
God is amazed at you!
AT YOU!
Habakkuk 1:3-5
- Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. This is why the law is benumbed, and judgment is never rendered: Because the wicked circumvent the just; this is why judgment comes forth perverted. 2 Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed! For a work is being done in your days that you would not have believed, were it told.
No comments:
Post a Comment