Wednesday, March 27, 2002

Catholics and Baptists: Many differences but a common Savior

By REV JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

The Catholics had a fine service March 19 as they celebrated the Silver Anniversary of the ordination of the Reverend Mr. Tom Zaworski as one of the first married deacons in the Catholic Church. The celebration was conducted at The Catholic Church of Saint Gabriel in Fayetteville. Archbishop John F. Donoghue presided over the service, a high tribute to Tom and his family.

The church house was full, a true testimony to Tom's faithful service over the last 25 years. Many fellow deacons participated as well as present and past pastors of Saint Gabriel's. The Knights of Columbus provided a bright and beautiful color guard. The ladies of Saint Gabriel prepared some of the most appetizing array of snacks and desserts ever to stretch half of the church's length. It was no doubt that all the folks at Saint Gabriel's wanted to get across the message, "We love Tom."

In giving remembrances concerning Tom, one of Tom's long time friends noted that Tom possessed a strong sense of right and wrong and would often go to extremes to express his opinions, but that in the final analysis Tom would always manifest the spirit of Christ himself.

Now, the rest of the story: guess who was also invited? You got it: that now grown-up boy from southwest Georgia where 50 years ago, a Catholic was from another planet. Who was there? You've got it: that pastor trained at a Baptist seminary.

You see, Tom invited me to participate in the celebration by reading a portion from the Apostle Paul writings in First Timothy. Tom, as a devoted Christian who is a Catholic, and I, a historical Baptist, believe differently on many matters of faith and doctrine. However, there was enough spiritual glue at the point of confession of Christ to allow me to participate in the celebration.

As the ministers were gathering in the sacristy, I was honored to talk briefly to Archbishop Donoghue. Donning my black Wesley preaching robe, I explained to him that we did not use various vestments; to which he responded, "I think at times we have too many." In the course of our conversation, it hit me, "Hey, this is a genuinely nice guy, under all those vestments."

The celebration included the Eucharist, which we call The Lord's Supper. Well, Catholics and Baptists differ on the matter of the supper. They say that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We say, the bread and Concord grape juice stands as a symbol for Jesus' sacrifice of his life on Calvary. So, what should we do? Get mad with one another and call each other the devil?

In sensitivity to those of us in the service, we were invited to come forward and receive a blessing instead of the bread and wine. The Catholics would not want me to betray my beliefs by taking of the Eucharist with different presuppositions, but they also did not want to offend. What did I do?

I went forward and asked for a blessing. Do you know what the Archbishop did? He blessed me and touched my forehead. I walked back to my seat sensing a deeply pleasing presence of the Holy Spirit. Did not our Lord Jesus himself explain that the world would know that we are his followers as the world sees the love we have for one another?

So yes, I believe with every fiber of my being that "He" who unites Baptists and Catholics is greater than the differences that separate us.

Although we may not be able to eat at the same table now, Jesus promised a day when we will come from the east and west and sit down at a table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.

If love covers a multitude of sins (which the Bible says so), then certainly God's love in Jesus Christ can cover a multitude of doctrinal differences. Count me on the side of lifting up our uncommon common Savior and appreciating our differences.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of

River's Edge Community Church

1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215

770-719-0303

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