Recently Anne Rice , the author best known for her vampire novels long before Twilight , renounced her faith . After making a "return" to Christianity about 10 years ago , it seems now she wants no part of the Church. She still says she loves Jesus but not the people or institution called the Church.
First a qualifier. The faith she returned to was Catholicism. A system of belief that rejects the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save. Along with its false teaching on Mary,purgatory ,the infallible Pope . Well the list could go one. She never in any of her interviews hinted that she had rejected Catholicism .One thing I need to say here . I do believe many who are within the Catholic Church are saved despite the false teachings . They trust in Christ alone , in faith alone ,to save them, despite the dogmas of their Church.
But now she has had enough . In a very public letter she denounced the Church in large . Not just taking a swipe at Catholics , but by saying the Church is anti-women,anti-gay,anti-life etc.. she painted in very broad strokes , pretty much every Bible believing Church on the planet. But , hey , She still loves Jesus.
But can one love Jesus without loving His church? If He died to establish the Church and call a people out of the world to gather together in His name , to the glory of the Father , the answer should be obvious .
Is the Church anti-women or is she angry God's word revels only men are to serve as Elders . Is the Church anti-gay , or is she really angry that the only God approved sexuality is in marriage between man and woman. The whole anti-life charge baffles me because , over all ,a general read of history shows the Church ,be it Catholic or Protestant ,have served the poor, the sick ,the weak ,even with threat of death. Many giving their lives . So what is she really saying.
There are only two clear ways to look at what she has said. One , she is encountering the word of God and it is getting under her skin. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is working on her and she is struggling to come to grips with this truth.Many who first come to Jesus are left with many questions as they encounter the truth of scripture. So maybe over time we will see this as a baby , kicking and screaming as they are born .
The other is she loves the idea of Jesus . The romantic notion of a loving Savior . A hero type figure . Then like many do , cheery pick the Bible to make Him accommodate their own truths. Of course your own truths are lies. God's word is truth ,and any understanding of Him is from His word. Our own notions need to brought under the word.
Jesus said that He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Jesus said that not one dot could be removed form God's word. So if she has a problem in the Old testament when it teaches against homosexuality or sees a patriarchal conspiracy , then in reality , she has a problem with Jesus. If she has a problem with what Paul writes or Peter or John , then she has a problem with Jesus because He promised the Holy Spirit would come revealing truth . The apostles wrote according to what was revealed to them .
She says she doesn't like the people in the Church. The Church is made up of broken,hurting,hypocritical ,failing,weak,stubborn,frail,ill speaking group of sinners ,who are saved because of Jesus Christ. They are being transformed but just as a baby moves on to adulthood , many falls and failures will occur. Even in adulthood we will let people down with words and deeds. Look at the life of any Old Testament saint .
To say you love Jesus and not His Church is a contradiction. The Church is the bride of Christ . He loves her, He died for her and will bring her to glory. If he loved her enough to bleed and die on a cross , then how can we not love , what He loves.
Whatever happens with Mrs.Rice , it will be telling if she ever really believed in Jesus or just the idea of Jesus. I truly hope that she repents and truly embraces Christ.
I left the Church for 10 years. Needless to say , and I say this without exaggeration , it was the worst thing that I ever did. But God broke me of my pride,exposed my sin and laid me low. So if she is one of His , He will bring about a return and if not , she never was in Christ.
[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
(1 John 2:19 ESV)
1 comment:
It is always so sad when someone renounces their faith. Many of us have struggled with understanding what God's word really says. Usually this is because we haven't read it or we don't have a Biblically sound scholar to help answer our questions. We make assumptions and blindly follow what other people say.
Acts 17:10-12 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Would you look at that, examining the Scriptures daily to see if what they said was true. Also, look, can you believe it? Women are mentioned, as well, and in a very positive and respectful way. Of course, this is how the true biblical church views women.
Many false doctrines have been proclaimed, over the years. If we don't study has word, how can we truly know Him?
With all due respect to Mrs Rice, maybe she has a problem with everything attached to Jesus because she really doesn't know what that is. Maybe things are happening, in her personal life, that are making her question where her loyalties lie.
Plus, when I started reading and studying His word I thought, "Now, I'll be a better Christian."
But, all of sudden, I felt that I was the worst sinner out there because I kept failing. Then I realized, that up to that point, I was very good at justifying what I thought were lesser sins. It's amazing what the Holy Spirit can do on your heart. It is also amazing to realize what saved by grace alone truly means before a Holy God.
If it is His desire, may God soften her heart before she stands before the Creator. My prayers are with her. Love you, Mrs Reg
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