Matt Fradd's Blog, page 13

What to Look for When Buying a Bible

Bibles come in all styles, from the beautifully illuminated Book of Kells to hip teen versions.

But are all Bibles created equal (in terms of construction)?  No, they’re not.

Here‘s what makes a good Bible.

Stitched binding
The strength of a Bible is in its binding. Given that a Bible is a book you want to pass down, binding matters.

The “block” of the Bible (the text pages stacked together) should be stitched, not glued. Sadly, many publishers take the block and glue it to the side of the binding. Then the Bible is only as strong as the glue.

In premium Bibles, the pages are sewn to the binding, which generally lasts much longer than glue.

A good translation
The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition is one of the best translations out there. It’s faithful to the original texts, yet easy to understand. Stay away from translations that take too many liberties. Also, note that Protestant Bibles don’t have all the books that Catholic Bibles do.

The Bible lays flat
Few things are as frustrating as having to hold your Bible open with your elbows as you fold your hands together in prayer. One slip and the book closes and you lose your place.

Hardcover Bibles are difficult to keep open, but some leather-bound editions easily comply. The key is the flexibility of the binding.

A beautiful cover
As we said, your Bible is one of those possessions you want to last past your death. It’s the Word of God and so it should be clothed in glory. Plus, a beautiful Bible, proudly displayed in your home, may catch the attention of a visiting atheist or fallen away Christian!

Ultimately, the value of a Bible lies in its content. But exteriors do matter, so keep these tips in mind next time you go Scripture shopping!

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Why You Should Read This Amazing Short Story by Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is most famous for “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Silmarillion.” But did you know he also wrote short stories?

Perhaps his most famous shorter work is “Leaf by Niggle.” If you haven’t read this gem, I recommend that you do so! You can finish it in well under an hour.

Here’s why “Leaf by Niggle” is worth your time.

An Allegory of Artistic Creation and the Spiritual Life

Tolkien wasn’t a big fan of allegory, yet symbolism abounds in Niggle’s world.

Niggle has been spending his entire life working on one painting. But most people ignore the emerging masterpiece and quickly forget Niggle after his death.

Niggle goes to a place akin to Purgatory. On his way out — before he reaches Heaven — he enters an earthly paradise. It’s his painting, transformed and brought to life by God.

What’s the symbolism? Niggle represents Tolkien. The painting is “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Silmarillion,” which consumed much of his life.

Tolkien is suggesting that — maybe — he and others would enter the world of “The Lord of the Rings” before going to Heaven.

This might sound insane, so let’s turn to Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories” to try to understand it. There he posits that God, in His infinite bounty, may take our feeble works of imagination and make them real. After all, according to Tolkien, legend and history have fused in the Gospels.

Of course, we have no way of knowing if this is true. But we do know that with God, all things are possible.

So why not get a copy of “Leaf by Niggle,” grab a glass of your favorite beverage, and lose yourself in a heartwarming tale of God’s infinite goodness!

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What Do Catholics Owe Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has put faithful Catholics in a tough spot. He’s the true successor of Peter and we owe him obedience as such. But he also says and does things that have us scratching our heads, such as cracking down on the Latin Mass and chastising conservative Catholics while seemingly giving liberals a free pass.

This is a good time to remind ourselves what we owe — and don’t owe — the pope.

Who the pope is (and is not)
The pope is not the Oracle of Delphi. He’s not a demi-god who can usurp truth and reason or overturn divine and natural law.

But he is the vicar of Christ and the successor of Peter. He’s given the threefold power of teaching the truth, administering the sacraments, and governing the Church in the name of Christ.

The meaning of infallibility
Infallibility is a negative charism. It guarantees that the pope doesn’t teach heresy. It does not mean that he defines teachings in the best way or at the best time. It also doesn’t protect him from error when he speaks as a private individual. In fact, most statements from popes do not meet the criteria for infallibility (though they may still be authoritative).

Infallibility covers faith and morals. It does not cover science or other branches of secular knowledge. For example, the pope can authoritatively speak on our moral obligations IF global warming is real. But he can’t infallibly state that global warming is happening.

When Catholics should speak up
The Code of Canon Law stipulates that Catholics have not only a right but also a duty to manifest their opinions to Church leaders when these leaders stray from their sacred office.

However, before doing so, make sure you are informed about the matter you are speaking about.

Remember, Christ is still guiding His Church, even if her shepherds do things that leave us baffled. Also, thank God for the good lessons Pope Francis has taught us. Let’s take them to heart as we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the Holy Father.

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The State of the Church

A few thoughts about the state of the Church from an unsophisticated and uneducated—but hopefully humble—Catholic.

When things are chaotic and turbulent, a reasonable response is fear and anxiety. When we are fearful and anxious, a reasonable desire is to be consoled and reassured. It seems more than obvious that many (most?) faithful Catholics are in a state of fear and anxiety regarding the state of the Church and are looking for consolation and reassurance. I see two extremes:

Extreme 1: “All is basically well. Yes, there are problems, yes Pope Francis says and does some confusing things, but almost all of this is blown out of proportion by the media and by online RadTrad types. Things are well. Things have always been well. We need to stop overreacting.”

Consoling, reassuring, but — from where I’m standing — whether intended or not, an act of gaslighting. Things are not well and pretending that they are is insulting, not to mention a lie.

Extreme 2: “Pope Francis is not the Pope! He is an antipope! And more, he may in fact be the antichrist!”

This option at least seems to take the fear and anxiety we feel seriously but offers a false conclusion. But, false answer though it is, it is at least *an* answer. It seems to give us some sort of clarity. Never mind the terrible consequences this false view will inevitably lead to in the not-too-distant future (illegitimate bishops who have ordained illegitimate priests; illegitimate cardinals, one of whom may be named pope next). We want to be soothed now! The fear is too much! The anxiety is too great now!

Ok, here’s the not terribly insightful, not at all satisfying, third option: Acknowledge the corruption, the bad decisions, the false teachers and your own wretchedness. Then, like Job, sit in a pile of dung and wait upon the Lord. As my spiritual Father put it, “Stay in the tension. Every heresy comes from trying to force a resolution in the tension. Remaining in the tension, stretched out on the Cross, is the only way. And it feels/smells like a dung heap!”

One more piece of advice for me and for you: Continue to live by and teach the truths of the Holy Catholic Church. The failure of others (including leadership) to do this does not alleviate us of the responsibility to do so. What else? Ask that God make you a saint. And while waiting on that, at least be kind to the people around you. Don’t cause your loved ones any unnecessary grief. Be a cause of joy for them. Be gentle with yourself and with those around you. Pray at all times, forgive your enemies, read the writings of the Holy Fathers and frequent the sacraments. And don’t leave the dunghill.

Told you it was going to be unsatisfying. If you have a better answer, I’m all ears.

Some words to meditate on:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” – Lamentations 3:25

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” – Isaiah 30:18

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” – Psalm 33:20-22

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” – Psalm 37:34

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” – Psalm 62:5

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” – Psalm 37:7

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;” – Psalm 130:5

“Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” – Proverbs 20:22

“I wait for your salvation, O Lord.” – Genesis 49:18

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Do Atheists Worship the State?

Atheists pride themselves on breaking the “chains” of servitude to God and the Church. But do they unwittingly worship another god?

Many atheists have a fill-in for God and it’s called the state. Here’s why.

The allure of the state.
In a sense, the state is a perfect society. By “perfect,” we don’t mean flawless. We mean complete. The state is self-sufficient. It doesn’t need outside help.

The state builds roads, secures food, combats crime, and (supposedly) protects its citizens’ rights. By contrast, the family is an imperfect society. Families normally need outside help to survive and flourish, such as hospitals, grocery stores, and places of worship.

Since the state supplies most of our needs, it’s easy to unconsciously deify it. We see this with left-wing atheists who constantly clamor for the state to provide more benefits.

Atheists may claim to put the individual first, but many are willing to sacrifice individual freedoms if the state so desires. We see this with recent attacks on freedom of religion and speech.

We all have a God-sized hole in our hearts. Someone — or something — has to fill it for us to be happy.

Which would you rather have: a loving, all-powerful Father who sent His son to die for you or flawed political leaders who are prone to lie and throw you under the bus when you inconvenience them?

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What Is the Q Gospel?

In our Bibles, we have the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. For centuries, scholars have debated which of these came first and whether one evangelist borrowed from another.

More recently, some scholars have talked about a document called “Q.” Maybe you’ve heard of it. But what is it and is it a threat to your faith?

Let’s find out.

What is the Q Gospel?
The Q Gospel is a hypothetical document. Scholars posit its existence to explain why there are similar passages between Matthew and Luke that are absent in Mark.

Why is this important? Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain many of the same stories about Jesus, so it’s curious that Mark omits some of them.

The dominant hypothesis within mainstream secular New Testament scholarship is this: Mark writes his gospel very early on. Another unknown person writes a document called “Q,” which contains many teachings of Jesus. Matthew and Luke come along and use Mark, Q, and their own writings to compose their gospels, but they don’t use each other’s material.

Not all scholars accept this hypothesis. They say Luke used Matthew’s material and Q didn’t exist.

Does the Q Gospel theory pose a danger to the faith?
Not necessarily. Scripture scholar F.F. Bruce suggests that Q was an early form of the Gospel of Matthew or a lost collection of sayings penned by Matthew. According to this hypothesis, Mark writes his Gospel first and Matthew produces Q. Later, Matthew — or one of his followers — takes his early writings, Mark’s material, and new Matthean material to produce the Gospel of Matthew.

This position is compatible with Catholicism. Do note, however, that some scholars use other versions of the Q hypothesis to discredit the Church’s traditional understanding of Scripture. They posit that anything not found in Mark or Q is made up.

Just be cautious when you encounter a scholar supporting the Q hypothesis. Make sure their position doesn’t undermine the divine inspiration of Scripture.

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Does the Bible Approve of Slavery?

Many non-Christians try to undermine the credibility of the Bible by saying it contains no explicit condemnation of slavery. Some go so far as to blame the Scriptures for perpetuating this heinous act.

Sadly, there are even Christians who have used the Bible to justify the slave trade.

Does the Bible actually approve of slavery? Let’s examine both the Old and New Testaments to find our answer.

 

The Old Testament
Under Moses’ leadership, true slavery was outlawed among the Israelites. You could indenture a fellow Israelite if they owed you money, but you couldn’t treat them as a slave. Their civil rights remained intact.

They could work for you to pay off their debt, but only up to a point. During Jubilee Years, these obligations were canceled and you would have to free them.

Deuteronomy 15 allows the Israelites to enslave the Hebrews surrounding Israel, but only temporarily. Note that the Hebrews were a larger group than the Israelites. They included other descendants of Abraham, such as the Ishmaelites.

The Israelites were allowed to keep these slaves for six years, then they had to release them. A slave sometimes wanted to stay with their master for the security that was provided. The ancient world was, after all, a brutal place. Masters had to care for slaves when they were sick, but they couldn’t force them to stay indefinitely.

While we wouldn’t consider this an acceptable position today, it is nowhere near similar to the more inhumane forms of race-based slavery that came later. In the ancient world, anyone could become a slave.

The New Testament
St. Paul tells masters to be good to their slaves and says slaves should obey their masters. Is St. Paul condoning slavery?

That’s reading way too much into the passage. Nowhere does Paul say that slavery is good and desirable. He’s trying to work with the cultural norms of the time.

Many slaves in the Roman Empire were entirely dependent on their masters for food and shelter. Even if he wanted to, St. Paul couldn’t have commanded everyone to free their slaves, as that would have put many of the slaves’ lives in danger. Many slaves simply wouldn’t have had the skills to survive on their own.

As social structures changed, the Church became more vocal in criticizing slavery. And it was especially harsh on race-based slavery — such as the African slave trade. The Bible gives absolutely no support for slavery based on race.

As history shows, Christians should not try to justify slavery from the Bible. That’s a serious misuse of the sacred text.

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Is Your Image of God Too Small?

Scrupulous people often unintentionally minimize the infinite mercy of God. They sink into despair over their sins and imperfections, not fully realizing that God — even then and there — is working His grace to make them worthy of His eternal kingdom.

Read on to discover just how enormous God’s love is for you.

God shows that He wants to save our humanity by assuming it.
Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, takes on a human soul, body, intellect, will, and emotions. He even adopts the defects associated with sin, but without the sin itself.

God became flesh to give you the confidence that your whole life can be a place of encounter with Him. He too lived a human life. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, thirsty, and even die.

Be patient with yourself.
Let this give you confidence as you anxiously regard your imperfections. God created your humanity to grow progressively over time. There are things you may struggle to possess now (such as virtue), but you’ll have them later if you persevere.

When you look at particular moments in your life, you may be horrified. A better approach is to ask yourself, “Where is the Lord on the move in my life at the present moment and in the big picture?” This will inspire you to feel the mercy of God in your life more deeply.

For example, humility is usually an old man’s virtue. If a younger man boasts, “I’m going to show just how humble I am,” he manifests false humility. It’s easier for him to simply say, “I’m proud, but I believe that God’s healing grace can grow me beyond my present pride, so long as I continue to show up to prayer, Mass, and my friendships.”

God has given you a whole life and He intends to perfect you over the course of it so that you come to a better knowledge and love of Him. Trust that He’ll make something of you beyond your limited capabilities — if you simply let Him.

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Why Jesus Was Born at Just the Right Time in History

“When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4). Christ chose to be born in a specific time and location. But why first-century Palestine rather than, say, medieval France or ancient China?

We can’t comprehend the full depth of God’s wisdom. But when you examine the events around the time of Christ’s life, it’s clear that they helped Christianity take off.

Let’s examine a couple of these events and marvel at the wisdom of God’s timing.

Social conditions were just right to facilitate the rapid spread of the Gospel through the civilized world.
Jesus was born during the Pax Romana — the Roman Peace. This was a time of relative prosperity and stability in the empire. It followed centuries of war and the bloody transition from republic to empire.

Palestine was under Rome’s rule and benefited from its many blessings. During this time, the Roman Empire spread throughout much of the European continent, northern Africa, and the Middle East. It had a great network of roads that made travel through the empire quicker and easier than ever before. While each region maintained some local customs, Roman culture left its mark everywhere.

All of this helped the Gospel spread more rapidly than it would have in most other historical periods. St. Paul traveled to many parts of the empire establishing new Christian communities and he kept in touch with them through letters. This network was only possible because of the roadways, which were kept safe by Roman soldiers.

Additionally, Greek philosophy was popular at the time and many Greek philosophical concepts were used to explain difficult Catholic beliefs.

The codex appears around this time.
By “codex” we mean a traditional book — pages stacked and bound. Codices were invented around the time of Christ and gradually replaced scrolls, which were easily crushed or smudged and thus harder to preserve over time. If the Gospels were written as scrolls, they’d be harder to carry around the empire and fewer would be around today. Some of the earliest manuscripts that we have come from codices.

God makes use of everything to accomplish His will. We’re indebted to the great Roman Empire for setting the stage for the coming of our Redeemer, even if its intent was to further its own glory and power.

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4 Times Mormonism Changed Its Doctrine

There are many good Mormons out there doing their best to follow their consciences. But their doctrines show a disturbing trend — they change over time! How can this be?

Unlike Catholics, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) believes in ongoing public revelation. Members believe there are still prophets who are revealing new beliefs from God. Conveniently, they often change their church’s teachings to match the political and cultural zeitgeist.

Here are four major cases of the LDS leadership changing their official doctrines.

 

Polygamy
Early Mormons justified their polygamy on religious grounds. Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS church, had dozens of wives. Later, God supposedly revealed to His people that He no longer wanted them to practice this.

Racial diversity in LDS leadership
For a long time, Mormons denied women and black men full access to the church on doctrinal grounds. In 1978 — when the Civil Rights Movement was making strides — they received a revelation that it was time to allow black men into their priesthood and temple.

Blood atonement
Brigham Young was the second prophet and president of the Mormon church. He taught several things that were later considered unorthodox by Mormons. One such belief is blood atonement. According to Young, some sins — such as adultery — require the shedding of the sinner’s blood in order for him or her to receive forgiveness. If a man found his wife in bed with another man, Young believed the husband should slay them both to save their souls.

Adam the Lord
Young also speculated that Adam — the first man — was the true God and creator of this world. Mormons were to worship Adam alone. Mormon leaders later deemed this belief heretical.

Christ made it clear that His teachings would often contradict the wisdom of the world. It’s no surprise that the world hates the Catholic Church for adhering to supposedly “out-of-date” teachings. We don’t have the convenience of changing doctrine to suit our age because we know that the eternal truths of God transcend time.

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