For our most recent adventure, a number of us from Falls Church took part in a community chili cook-off. Out of 13 competitors, the top-10 were recognized. We made the bottom-3. :)
As with so much of life, however, there were much more meaningful storylines stretching through the course of the event. For one, our church has successfully participated in another community event. Ten of our members were there, and a number of them helped out. Second, those that helped out did so in accordance with their God-given gifts. One man made the chili while a couple of younger ladies made the sign. About half a dozen people took turns manning the table. Third, most of these volunteers were young adults, showing that stereotypes have plenty exceptions. Fourth, there were a number of encouraging conversations that took place and plenty of cards handed out.
One of our young adults went to the basement bar after the event upstairs (in the American Legion building) and started talking with one of the older ladies at the bar about "fire chili" (apparently made with beer and whiskey). The lady doubted that such a chili would ever appear at this event because of the religious types. Our young man laughed and said that he was a part of the church group. Another Christian stereotype dashed!
Perhaps my favorite conversation was with a Catholic friend. He learned that I was a Presbyterian pastor and asked about the difference between Catholics and Presbyterians. "I know the Lutherans don't pray to Mary like we do," he added. I told him that all Protestants, regardless of denomination, believe that there is one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
I told him that the primary difference between the two concerns the work of Jesus Christ. Catholics generally view the grace of Christ as what gets them across the line, while Protestants generally believe that our salvation is Christ's work from start to finish. An old Catholic saying goes something like this: To those who do what is within themselves, God will not deny grace. As Salty the Songbook (a giant blue cartoon songbook, not a priest) later sung: Do your best and God will do the rest.
Note that I said "generally," as there are some Protestants who have little to no understanding of the full nature of God's grace in Christ and some Catholics who do. Also note that the difference is often not in the concepts--both believe in "grace," but in the meaning behind the concept. Don't go accusing your Catholic friend of not believing in grace! But we as Protestants believe in grace alone (Galatians 2:15-16; Philippians 3:1-11).
At the same time, this partial view of grace that many hold to leads to what many of your Catholic friends will often call "Catholic guilt." Many Catholics feel the vast weight of the law upon their shoulders--a weight they can't cast off with any amount of penance. It's no wonder. We all know that God is holy and that we are left without excuse, but we suppress that truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1). It is tempting to tell ourselves that we play a role in our salvation, but the temptation turns to terror as we realize that all we can earn is wrath.
In countering the Jesus-plus grace of the Judaizers, Paul gently reminds us that it was for freedom that we are set free--so let us not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Since Christ has perfectly kept the law in our place, we are now free to live for God's glory and enjoy Him forever. If Christ's work wasn't complete, then we are not free.
Even these basic distinctions are broad and could be contested, but hopefully this gives you, the reader, a few points of contact. Talk about grace and the passages mentioned. Talk about guilt and the hopeless task of carrying a weight that will inevitably crush us apart from Christ.
These conversations with folks in the community are a constant joy for me, and more and more, they will be a constant joy for the people of Falls Church: An OPC
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