Why This Baptist’s Favorite Place to Pray is His Local
Catholic Parish Church
by Michael McDonald - June 13, 2018
As a
Baptist, I watch people in airports, in restaurants, in the mall… and in
church. I wish I could focus on God in church, but I just can’t when there are
people around.
So
there have been times that I have needed to find a church with no people inside
to pray. In today’s world, that is not an easy task. I just Googled, “Why do
churches lock their doors,” and I found quite a few reasons. It is nothing but
common sense I guess: robberies, homeless people, vandalism, etc.
But
Pope Francis said that churches should not give in to these kinds of societal
pressures. He said, “There are places in the world where doors should not be
locked with a key. We must not surrender to the idea that we must apply this
way of thinking to every aspect of our lives. To do so to the Church would be
terrible. Churches, parishes, institutions with closed doors must not be called
Churches; they must be called museums!”
Fortunately,
there is a church near my home that is open most of the time. I have never been
there except during daylight hours, but it has always been open and there are
seldom people there.
Yes, it
is a Catholic church and I am not Catholic, but no one has ever tried to stop
me from entering and praying. I don’t think
anyone ever would, although I’m sure I look very much like an average
interloping Baptist.
There
are a lot of things I like about Catholic churches:
1) I
like Holy Water.
We had
some in a Mason jar once. A Catholic friend gave it to us to help sell our
house. My wife sprinkled it on me and our son. I’m not sure why. Yes, the house
sold pretty quickly after that.
This
church has Holy Water in a font at the entrance. I touch it to my forehead
going in and coming out. I hope it doesn’t taint the water for others and I
hope there are no surveillance cameras.
2) I
like those things – I think they are called kneelers.
You’ve
seen them.
Catholic
people know when to kneel, when to sit and when to stand in the Mass. I’m sure
that’s how they identify Protestant visitors in their services. So, when I am
there by myself, I put a kneeler down and kneel on it. I don’t think God
requires that we kneel before Him, but I think we should.
I
always cry when I hear “O, Holy Night” and it comes to that line, “Fall on your
knees”.
Every
knee shall bow…
3) I
like the crucifix.
It
gives me someone to talk to. I imagine that He listens to me better if I am
looking at Him.
I was
visiting someone in a Catholic hospital many years ago with two other men.
There was a small crucifix on the wall. One of the men took it off the wall and
put it in a drawer. He said, “My God is no longer on the cross.” The other
friend who happened to be a Baptist pastor said, “So, why did you put Him back
in the tomb?” I wish I had thought of that.
When
God answered my prayer
I’m
like most Christians I guess. I don’t call on God much except when I need Him.
I first visited this neighborhood church when I was in need of a job. I had
been looking for months, sent out a couple of hundred applications, and was
just about to give up.
I
decided to give prayer a shot. I had tried prayer of course, but only in my
house or in a church with people. It’s just not the same.
I very
tentatively walked through the doors, expecting to be yelled at. No one yelled.
I did the Holy Water thing and the kneeler thing and I talked to the Man on the
Cross – the One who established the Church. I did that three times in one week.
I got
the job offer the next week. I’m sure it was just a coincidence.
So
maybe this church locks its doors after hours. I don’t know. But I am grateful
that it is open for my use at least some of the time when I need it. I’m very
glad that there is not a sign that says, “No Baptists Allowed!” I am most
thankful that my God is willing to meet me there and listen to my pitiful
attempt at conversation.
Thank
you, Lord. I’ll see You again soon.
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