My husband just did our taxes and it occured to me that we are suffering from too many choices. Variety
is the spice of life. It is also the bane of humanity. Human kind has become
confused. When I was a kid, phones were black. Period. Shampoos were limited in
options to a few brands and television to a few channels. I admit, I like
variety too, but at one point is enough, enough?
For instance, how many more religions do we
need? (Stay with me and I’ll get back to taxes.) There are an estimated 41,000 Christian Churches. Yet, the
Word of God calls for, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph.
4:4). Jesus says, “I will build my Church” (Matt. 16:18) not
churches.
need? (Stay with me and I’ll get back to taxes.) There are an estimated 41,000 Christian Churches. Yet, the
Word of God calls for, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph.
4:4). Jesus says, “I will build my Church” (Matt. 16:18) not
churches.
There is no mention in Scripture of variety being
desirable for religion.
desirable for religion.
“…complete my joy by
being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one
thing” (Phil. 2:2). Yet, once the splintering began, those faiths continued to
morph and splinter.
being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one
thing” (Phil. 2:2). Yet, once the splintering began, those faiths continued to
morph and splinter.
Once our Christian religions began to splinter,
teachings wandered far from whence they came. Religion itself became so
blasé that no-religion and anti-religion took hold of our culture. Sexual
orientation too called for more diversity, giving us: LGBTQIA: An
acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning, intrasexual, asexual. (Where’s the “H” for heterosexual?) No one is saying
people simply choose their sexual orientation, and that is another topic for
another day, but orientations and lifestyle choices have created more layers of
choices. Speaking of which, have you done your taxes yet?
teachings wandered far from whence they came. Religion itself became so
blasé that no-religion and anti-religion took hold of our culture. Sexual
orientation too called for more diversity, giving us: LGBTQIA: An
acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning, intrasexual, asexual. (Where’s the “H” for heterosexual?) No one is saying
people simply choose their sexual orientation, and that is another topic for
another day, but orientations and lifestyle choices have created more layers of
choices. Speaking of which, have you done your taxes yet?
Below
are the marital status types you can choose from and the states that
recognize them according to Turbotax Support:
are the marital status types you can choose from and the states that
recognize them according to Turbotax Support:
• Registered Domestic Partnerships (RDP)
◦ California
◦ District of Columbia
◦ Nevada
◦ Oregon
◦ Vermont
◦ Washington
• Civil Unions
◦ Connecticut
◦ Illinois
◦ New Hampshire
◦ New Jersey
◦ Vermont
• Same-Sex Marriages
◦ California
◦ Connecticut
◦ District of Columbia
◦ Hawaii
◦ Iowa
◦ Massachusetts
◦ Nevada
◦ New York
◦ Vermont
◦ Washington
 |
| Pope Francis |
At times such as these, I am glad to be Catholic. With
one head–the pope–and one teaching. We have one Mass with the same Scripture
readings, that is said around the world.
No other Christian religion
can make this worldwide claim, as one united body in agreement on faith and
teachings since the apostles.
can make this worldwide claim, as one united body in agreement on faith and
teachings since the apostles.
The divisiveness among Catholics is largely among
Catholics protesting Catholic teaching. So silly. All they have to
do is find some other Church if they don’t like Catholic
teaching. Many don’t understand Catholic teaching actually has
changed again and again and again only once it changed, it ceased to be
Catholic and became something else. Various denominations had to leave the
Church to change traditional teachings to suit their preferences. You can’t
have your cake and eat it too. Either stay in the Church and accept what it
teaches, or find your brand of religion elsewhere.
Catholics protesting Catholic teaching. So silly. All they have to
do is find some other Church if they don’t like Catholic
teaching. Many don’t understand Catholic teaching actually has
changed again and again and again only once it changed, it ceased to be
Catholic and became something else. Various denominations had to leave the
Church to change traditional teachings to suit their preferences. You can’t
have your cake and eat it too. Either stay in the Church and accept what it
teaches, or find your brand of religion elsewhere.
Does all this divisiveness matter? We are
all Christians, right? Couldn’t all the numerous references Jesus
made of “one body” and “one church” mean the whole Christian
brotherhood? Well, let me ask you: Is falsehood as good as
truth? Could Jesus oppose Himself in His
teachings? In Luke we read: “But he knew their
thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid
waste and house will fall against house’” (Luke 11:17).
all Christians, right? Couldn’t all the numerous references Jesus
made of “one body” and “one church” mean the whole Christian
brotherhood? Well, let me ask you: Is falsehood as good as
truth? Could Jesus oppose Himself in His
teachings? In Luke we read: “But he knew their
thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid
waste and house will fall against house’” (Luke 11:17).
Choices and variety cannot pretty-up
falsehoods. Following false teaching means a break from the
unity of truth and leads to chaos. Voila. Welcome to our world. It’s good time
to be a Catholic.
________________________________________________
falsehoods. Following false teaching means a break from the
unity of truth and leads to chaos. Voila. Welcome to our world. It’s good time
to be a Catholic.
________________________________________________
Patti Maguire Armstrong’s latest books, Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families and Dear God, I Don’t Get It are available for order.
