I picked Alex up from school on Friday. To fill you in, he is at a new school this year. Since pre-school, he has always attended a "non-denominational" classical Christian school. I put that in quotation marks, because every non-denominational school/church, has had some pretty strong beliefs, or core values, and pretty quick to set you straight if you don't agree with them. Why don't they just name themselves something? Sorry for going off on a tangent on that...and all my non-denominational brothers and sisters, you know I love you. Anyway, we moved him to another "non-denominational" classical Christian school (but much more of the teachings of reformation at this one).
Anyway, on with my story. Alex entered the car very distraught when I picked him up. He said that he and some kids in Bible class got into the discussion of Mary. He said they didn't believe that she was sinless, and only Jesus was sinless. Alex explained to them that if Jesus, who was without sin, was carried in her womb, and physically connected to her, how could she NOT be sinless! How could a woman who had sin in her, carry a baby who was and would be forever sinless? He got very upset about this and asked his Bible teacher, "Isn't Mary sinless?" To which he responded that the kids should stop the discussion and continue it with their parents when they got home.
Well, the conversation did not stop, but continued without the teachers knowledge. One little boy told Alex that he was going to hell because he was Catholic, and what Catholics believe is not true!
Really? Ten year olds? I mean, I have been told the same thing (by a teacher when I was in high school...nice), but ten year olds? And 4 short weeks into school mind you.
Alex was devastated, and asked if he could go to a Catholic school. Being the mama bear, I wanted to scoop him up in my lap, and say "yes baby, whatever you want!" But I didn't. I told him why we believe, what we believe about Mary (which he obviously knew, and held his own!), and why he ISN'T going to hell.
I started thinking back about being 1 of 2 families that were Catholic in my high school, and what I had to put up with. Honestly, I think it made me stronger in my faith. It led me to study more, and really be able to defend what I believe. I'm glad I went to a Christian school, and really glad I didn't go to a Catholic school. I know there are arguments for all kinds of schools, and they are all good arguments. I think that the decision has to be made for the individual family. Our decision was more educational, but feel strongly about Christian education as well.
For us, we were no doubt, led to this school by our Lord. So much prayer went into our decision, and we are very glad to be there. I know that this won't be the last time that Alex is challenged. We can only pray that it makes him even more proud to be Catholic, and that much stronger in his faith.
P.S. I spoke with the parent of the boy, and she was very upset. She said that they have talked to him and he is going to work on controlling his mouth (we have that problem in our family too). He apologized to Alex at school the next day, and all is well. Of course we forgive them. I just pray that Alex can move past the hurt really soon.
3 comments:
Ooooh, this burns up the Auntie Bear!! However, I'm so proud of that sweet boy! He was so brave to say what he believes with conviction! I vividly remember being told on numerous occasions that I was going to hell for being Catholic & I just crawled in my shell & hid! I'm not justifying those people's behavior, but I'm so glad I was persecuted! It brought me where I am today & honestly, I'd thank those people for challenging me to explore the beautiful Faith I may have never otherwise known! And I don't wanna hate, but I'm not convinced that the 10 yr. old boy came up with those words/ideas on his own. He has been taught this somewhere! So, even though he may be being taught to hold his tongue, he can't control what's going in his ears. We need to cover those people in some serious prayer that they may see the error of their ways & educate themselves in Truth!
Well, can BB Bear have a little input? I'm Protestant, always have been. But I'm in one of the Protestant groups that don't hate Catholics as a rule. Still, they don't know much about the early church and believe things entirely not true. I have friends of a different Protestant branch who have been taught from childhood to very much dislike (hate to use the word "hate") Catholics. When Donna converted, honey hush! I actually LOST a lifelong friend. Any time she said something in error about the faith, and I explained the truth...she told me I was being "defensive". In other words, she did not want to hear anything that did not match up with her perceptions. Now, I just don't talk :( I had no idea the kind of persecution Catholics had to endure.
I'm so sorry that little Alex has had to encounter this kind of persecution so young. But how blessed he is to have a Mommy who sits him down and explains to him what you believe and why.
For any Protestants reading this, please let me clear up one BIG thing you may believe in error. I did myself until I studied as Donna and Marc were converting. Catholics did not add books to the Bible. The New Testament canon of the Catholic Bible and the Protestant Bible are the exact same, with 27 books. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders came together and eliminated 7 books from the Septuagint. So, then you had a Jewish Bible and a Christian (what is now called Catholic) Bible. During the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's, Protestants reformers decided to keep the Catholic (or Christian at the time) New Testament but changed its canon (Old Testament) from the Christian/Catholic canon to the Jewish canon. 1500 years after Jesus died, books of the WORD were removed that supported such things as prayers for the dead, Purgatory, intercession of the saints in heaven and intercession of angels.
Perhaps most people know this, but I still hear people who say, "Those Catholics just added books to their Bible to support those weird beliefs." So much misunderstanding.
I'm so sorry Holly- 10 is so young to have to be dealing with the misconceptions that he will have to face all his life (especially if he lives in the South). As you konw there is what the Catholic church believes, and there is what people THINK the Catholic church believes, which are very different. I think you handled it well and I'm SO PROUD of Alex for knowing his faith and defending it. What a special boy! I didn't know you were so persecuted in high school- I'm sorry about that too. And for the record, Martin Luther himself believed Mary to be sinless as did all Christians at the beginning of the church- she was the "ark" of the new covenant.
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