Are You A Gang Member? Part 3

Are Catholics bad? 

Some would say yes. But instead I am going to offer that they are a part of a system that has become corrupted. Why did various Catholic Bishops protect pedophiles? One aspect might have been pedophiles protecting each other. But the most likely explanation is that rather than doing what was right, the desire was to protect the institution, the gang to which they belonged. Bishops talk to other religious leaders in their church who have the same background. A group-think develops to defend the institution, and instead of being fired, or even transferred to an institution where there are no children, the pedophiles were just assigned to a different parish.  This is the classic definition of insanity--you keep doing something that is not working hoping that this time it will work.  

It didn't. 

It is possible, to paraphrase Jesus, to be in the system, but not be of the system--sometimes. It depends on the system, it depends on the individual. It is always hard not to be a team player even when the team is corrupt. We believe the lies of the team, and as the gang member I quoted in part 1 said, "It is all lies." 

I remember being a part of a religious gang over a decade ago. I supported the church financially. I drove hundreds of miles a month. The church would reimburse some for mileage, I never did request it. I spoke every week, and was the main speaker in the area. I wrote on Internet forums to defend the interests of my gang. I became a hack. 

When a difficult situation arose locally, I naturally expected to receive back from the gang the support I had given it. I journeyed to denominational headquarters to present my case. I expected that I would be supported. But alas, those that had the preeminence both locally and denominationally prevailed. How naive I was. While I was never technically decredentialed, I found out later, I was put in a position where I had to leave. It could, and probably was, said that I had made the choice myself to leave.  

Any system naturally corrupts those that belong to it, they that are "of" the system. Thus Catholic Bishops, whose lifetime devotion to their church and ideals should really not be questioned, became corrupt because it was necessary to defend the institution. The gang trumps all. 

I am not saying in this three-part series that one can never vote for a political party, although I am less and less interested in such matters. Nor am I saying one cannot be a member of a nation state. Nor am I suggesting you not join a church. But instead, I am saying you need to understand the corrupting nature of being a gang member, and leave that behind. 

I remember singing a song written by the uncle of the founder of my denomination. It was a reworking of the first psalm. I sang that I "would not stand in sinners' way." I had no idea what this meant. Later I came to understand that it meant not to associate with sinners. As you read the words of the psalmist ask yourself who are you like? Are you a tree standing tall, bearing fruit for all? Or do you hang out, defend and associate with the gangs of this world? 

Are you a gang member? 

Psalm 1

The Message (MSG)

1 How well God must like you—
    you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon,
    you don’t slink along Dead-End Road,
    you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College. 

Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

You’re not at all like the wicked,
    who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
    unfit company for innocent people.

God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row.