Finally Home

The Conversion of Scott Hahn

Like many, Scott grew up without a religious upbringing.

As a teenager he had begun heading down a bad path. But in tenth grade, a minister from YoungLife helped introduce him to Jesus. Scott accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and his life began to turn around. He eagerly studied Scripture and began to share the Gospel with others. He especially loved to share with Catholic classmates, who he believed were being taken in by a false Christian religion.

He went to seminary and became a successful pastor.

After graduating at the top of his class, Scott was asked to lead a growing Presbyterian congregation. They were delighted as he shared with them the “big picture” of the Bible, how God began a rescue mission by gradually forming a family of faith. Through Jesus, all peoples and nations are now invited to be part of this family of faith, united as sons and daughters of God the Father.

Scott was surprised to notice an unexpected pattern.

The treasures he was discovering in Scripture seemed eerily similar to what he had heard of Catholic beliefs. The more he researched from Catholic sources, the more he was amazed to find that the Catholic faith had very sound, biblical answers to his questions. He realized that most of his objections had been based on misunderstandings of Catholic beliefs.

He began to be convinced about the Catholic Church.

Scott studied and prayed, seeking to follow the evidence wherever it led. As much as his emotions didn’t want it to be true, the Scriptural and historical evidence was pointing toward a surprising conclusion: despite its many human flaws, the Catholic Church is actually the spiritual family founded by Jesus, the same Church described in Acts!

Scott was at a crossroads, spiritually and professionally.

If he became Catholic, how would he provide for his family? It would cause a tremendous strain in his marriage, and he would lose many of his friends. But he knew that he could not continue as a pastor and preach doctrines which he no longer believed. After much prayer, he contacted a local parish and became Catholic that Easter.

With joy, Scott realized he was finally home.

He was so grateful for the faith of his youth, and now he felt that this faith was fully blossoming. As he received the Eucharist for the first time, he was closer to Jesus than he had ever been. Scott rejoiced that he was now part of the family God started so long ago, with so many beautiful gifts, where his love for Jesus could grow ever deeper.

Dr. Scott Hahn is now a popular author, speaker, and professor. He is known for sharing the treasures of our faith in an engaging, down-to-earth manner. He shares his conversion story in Rome Sweet Home and the big picture of Scripture in A Father Who Keeps His Promises.

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A Marvelous Unity

The Catholic Church is One

300,000 people can gather in Saint Peter’s Square.

When there are large celebrations in Rome, the square is filled with Catholic faithful from around the world. Even though they come from different ethnic groups, social classes, and nations, there is a marvelous sense of unity as a single Church. They may not speak the same language, but they are bound closely as brothers and sisters in faith. It is a beautiful example of how the Catholic Church embraces all people and unites them as one family of faith.

Like the early Church, the Catholic Church is united by Jesus.

In the New Testament, local churches were formed in each city or region. But Christians took for granted that they were part of a larger spiritual family, spread over many languages and lands. Jesus united them as his visible body on earth; his followers shared the same teachings, worship, and apostolic leadership. This is what one still finds today in the Catholic Church.

Catholics are united in the faith received from the apostles.

Just as the apostles went and proclaimed one Gospel to all who would listen, the Catholic Church still proclaims that same message throughout the world. Catholic beliefs do not vary from place to place. The Nicene Creed is professed every Sunday, for example, in every Catholic parish in the world. There are no hidden teachings; all who desire can know the Catholic faith and ask God for his help to live in accord with these truths.

Catholics are united in worship.

Every Sunday throughout the world, Catholics unite in their local churches for the celebration of the Eucharist. The prayers and Scripture readings are the same across the world, but translated into the local language. By their baptism, Catholics are united as adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. By receiving Holy Communion, Catholics not only become intimately united with Jesus, but also united with one another as a spiritual family.

Catholics are united by apostolic leadership.

Most Christian communities are led by a pastor or another leader. The Catholic Church is also led by a pastor, whom we call the pope. As discussed in the previous message, Catholics recognize the pope as the successor to Peter and the bishops as successors to the apostles. Just as the early Christians remained united in the faith through the ministry of Peter and the apostles, Jesus still shepherds his flock today through the ministry of the pope and the bishops.

There are many beautiful ways of living the Catholic faith.

One might imagine that this unity means that all Catholics are exactly the same, with a boring lack of individuality, but this is not the case. Different cultures bring their own unique ways of expressing the faith, and individuals find within the Church a great variety of prayer forms, spiritual practices, and callings. Helped by their spiritual family, each person is called on a unique journey, walking with Jesus to become the saint that he is calling them to be.

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Shepherding His Flock

The Catholic Church is Apostolic

Jesus changes Simon’s name to “Rock.”

When God gives someone a new name in the Bible, it signifies a new identity and mission. In Matthew 16, Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, which means “rock” in their language. “I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus is declaring that Peter will be the rock upon which he builds his family of faith, the Church.

Jesus uses language associated with the royal steward.

He promises Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19) Jesus is echoing language found in Isaiah 22:15-25. Each king of Israel had a royal steward who ran the kingdom on the king’s behalf and spoke with his authority. The steward wore large keys on his shoulder as a symbol of his office. The office was continuous, passed from one steward to another.

Jesus is making Peter his royal steward.

Hearing this language, the apostles would have understood that Jesus is bestowing an office of leadership upon Peter. Jesus is the king of heaven, and Peter will be his royal steward, leading the Church on his behalf. Since the Church on earth will always need a visible leader, this office will continue after Peter. The “keys” of leadership will be passed from generation to generation.

Jesus sent out Peter and the apostles to lead his Church.

The early Church was built upon the apostles, who Jesus sent to continue his ministry. Led by Peter, the apostles taught and led in the name of Jesus. When theological disputes threatened to split the family of faith, the apostles gathered together and settled the issues definitively, as seen in Acts 15. Through his shepherds, Jesus kept his flock united as a spiritual family and faithful to the true Gospel.

The authority of the apostles was passed on.

As the Church grew, the apostles would pass on their authority to new leaders through the laying on of hands. These new leaders, called bishops, likewise passed on this authority to the next generation of leaders in the same way. Throughout the history of Christianity, when questions of faith arose, the bishops would gather and bring clarity. Through the ministry of these shepherds, Jesus kept his flock united and faithful to the Gospel.

The ministry of Peter and the apostles continues today.

The pope is the successor to the apostle Peter, and Catholic bishops are successors to the apostles in general. If one could look back through time, one would see an unbroken chain stretching from bishop to bishop all the way back to the apostles, through the laying on of hands.

The Church is still built on rock.

Like Peter and the apostles, the pope and bishops are imperfect servants, but Jesus works through them to keep his Church faithful to the faith he gave to the apostles. Through these leaders, Jesus continues to guide and shepherd his universal Church so that it can bring his light to all nations.

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Traveling Through Time

Worship in the Early Church

About the year 150, Justin wrote to the Roman Emperor.

Justin Martyr was a renowned Christian author and teacher in the second century. Seeking to end the Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians, Justin wrote an open letter to the emperor explaining and defending the Christian faith. Although he was eventually beheaded for refusing to renounce Jesus, Justin’s letter allows us to travel back in time and see a fascinating glimpse of Christianity in its early years.

Justin describes the Christian worship and practices of his day.

He writes that they gather together every Sunday, for “Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead on the same day.” There are readings from “the memoirs of the Apostles and the Prophets.” The leader verbally instructs those present, “exhorting the imitation of these good things.” Then bread and wine are brought forward, and the leader prays over them at considerable length, using the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. The bread and wine are then given to the people to receive. Afterward, deacons take a portion of this bread to those who are too sick to come to the worship.

Justin explains, “This food is called among us the Eucharist.”

Not everyone is allowed to receive the Eucharist, he explains, but only those who share their beliefs, have been baptized, and are living a holy life. This is because they do not receive the bread and wine “as common bread and common drink,” but rather they have been taught that when this food is “blessed by the prayer of his word,” it “is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.”

The worship Justin describes is very familiar to Catholics.

Each Sunday, Catholics around the world experience what Justin outlined. After we are nourished by God’s word in Scripture and preaching, we are nourished by Jesus himself in the Eucharist. Like the Christians of Justin’s day, we believe that Jesus works a miracle and becomes truly present in Holy Communion. He nourishes us spiritually and allows us to be united with him, body and soul.

Justin is one of many authors known as the “Early Church Fathers.”

Many were taught by the apostles themselves, or by someone who learned directly from an apostle. As one read their works from the first and second centuries, one recognizes beliefs and practices that are still associated with the Catholic Church today. This shows that the Catholic faith was not invented sometime along the way, but stretches all the way back to the first generations of Christians. The Eucharist, for example, is reflected in John 6 and other writings of the New Testament, and can be traced clearly through each century of Christian history.

Our Catholic faith unites us with the people of Justin’s time.

In the previous message, we explored how the Catholic Church is a worldwide family of faith. Catholics can travel anywhere in the world and, even if we don’t understand the language, we can feel completely at home. Similarly, if we had an opportunity to travel back in time and join Justin’s congregation for a day, we would feel completely at home. It would be the same worship, the same Eucharist, and they would be our brothers and sisters. Jesus unites us as one beautiful family of faith, stretching across the centuries.

One can read Justin’s letter by searching online for “The Apology of Justin Martyr.” (“Apology” here means “explanation.”) He describes Sunday worship in paragraphs 65-67.

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A Worldwide Faith

The Catholic Church is Universal

This cross represents the Christian population around the world.

If each of the one hundred figures in our image represent one percent of the world’s Christian population, the 13 red figures would represent Orthodox Christians, such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox. The 37 green figures would represent Protestant Christians, including 4 Lutherans, 4 Anglicans, 4 Pentecostals, 3 Baptists, 3 Presbyterians, 1 Methodist, and 1 Adventist.

The 50 blue figures remaining would be Catholic Christians.

Even though Catholics are a minority in many parts of the United States, Catholics represent just over half of the world’s Christians. Since Christians make up about a third of the world’s population, about one of every six people in the world is Catholic. This is one of the amazing things about the Catholic Church: it is a worldwide family that unites peoples of all cultures, nations, and backgrounds.

“Catholic” comes from the Greek word that means “universal.”

The Church has been called Catholic since at least the turn of the first century, when Ignatius of Antioch used the term to describe the Church started by Jesus. Just as a “universal remote” works for all televisions, when Ignatius spoke of the Church being universal, he meant that it includes all of humanity, rather than being limited to a particular area or demographic group.

Through the Church, Jesus begins to unite the human race into a new spiritual family.

In the Acts of the Apostles and the rest of the New Testament, one sees the Church spreading across all social and geographic boundaries. Gentiles and Jews became brothers and sisters in faith. Master and servant worshiped side by side. Rich and poor hoped for the same heavenly inheritance. Humanity, broken apart by sin, was starting to be reunited by Jesus into a new family of faith.

Wouldn’t we expect Christ’s Church to be universal?

Jesus commanded his apostles to go make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that he had taught. (Matt 28:19-20) If Jesus has been guiding his Church for two thousand years, wouldn’t we expect the Church to have done as Jesus commanded? Wouldn’t we expect his Church to have spread everywhere, teaching consistently across the centuries and across the world?

This is what one finds in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic faith touches the heart of people of all cultures, through all centuries. Unlike most faiths, it is not limited to a particular area, language, or social group. Wherever Catholics travel, they can join their brothers and sisters in worship. The prayers might be in a different language, but they still feel at home, for they are united in the same family of faith.

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An Invisible Body?

The Church is Visible

How does one find an invisible man?

In our previous message, we met Joe, a fictional man seeking the Church begun by Jesus. He wants to be part of the family of faith described in the New Testament. But such a quest assumes that the Church is actually a visible and identifiable group of people. This was the way that the Church was understood by Christians for the first fifteen centuries of Christianity: a visible family with members, leaders, teachings, and worship that can be clearly recognized.

In recent centuries, there arose a different view of the Church.

When new churches were begun in the sixteenth century by the Protestant reformers, each with their own teachings and ways of worship, visible unity no longer seemed possible. It was proposed that the Church is actually an invisible union of all who believe in Jesus, regardless of religious affiliation. Thus, only God can identify the Church and its members, because only God can see into our hearts. If this is true, then Joe’s search for the Church started by Jesus would be impossible, as hopeless as finding an invisible man. But is this what Jesus intended?

Jesus used visible, concrete images for the Church.

When Jesus spoke about the Church, he used images such as the light of the world, a flock of sheep led by a shepherd, and a city set on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Such images show that Jesus intended his Church to be visible and recognizable. His followers are to be united in his truth, reflecting the unity he shares with the Father. (John 17:21) Jesus gave his apostles authority and sent them out to continue his ministry until he returns in glory. (Matt 28:18-20)

In the New Testament, the Church can be clearly identified.

The Church could be recognized by its teachings, which were the same everywhere. (Eph 4:4-6) It could be recognized by its worship, which centered around the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor 11) The Church could also be identified by its leaders, who taught and led with authority received from Jesus. We see this authoritative leadership throughout the Acts of the Apostles, and especially during the important theological deliberations of Acts 15.

The Church is the visible body of Christ.

One of Paul’s favorite images for the Church is “the body of Christ.” (1 Cor 12) By its very definition, a body is the physical aspect of us that is visible to others. Our visible bodies manifest our invisible souls. It is only because of your body, for example, that your soul can communicate and act in the world. Christians are indeed united spiritually in the Holy Spirit, but they are also meant to be united in a visible family of faith. In order to faithfully teach as Jesus taught and serve as he served, the Church needs to be visible, just as the Lord’s body was visible to his contemporaries.

We should expect the Church to still be recognizable today.

It will have grown and developed over the last two thousand years, but the Church would still be recognizable as a visible family of faith, with the same essential elements it had in the time of the apostles. By looking for these essential elements today, one can still seek out the Church begun by Jesus.

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Finding a Family

How Does One Choose a Church?

Imagine Joe, a man raised without any faith background.

He began to read the Gospels out of curiosity, after a friend gave him a copy of the Bible. As he read about Jesus, Joe was surprised to find himself captivated. He started to explore the reasons for faith, and he slowly became convinced that Jesus truly is God, just as he claimed to be. Joe realizes that his life can no longer remain the same; he wants to follow Jesus and be a faith-filled Christian.

Joe visits different churches and tries them out.

He really liked the music in one church, the friendly atmosphere in another, and the dynamic preaching of various pastors. But one thing is very troubling to Joe. Each church claims to get its teaching straight from the Bible, yet he finds that the churches disagree on many important matters of faith and morals. He knows that, just like in math or science, two conflicting teachings cannot both be true. How can he be certain that a particular church is faithfully teaching all that Jesus intended, without error or omission?

Has Joe been going about this the wrong way?

As he prays about all of this, Joe realizes that he had been seeking a church that fit his own preferences and tastes, as if he were looking for a new gym or country club. Shouldn’t his decision be based on something more than his musical preferences, or his appreciation of a particular preacher? Shouldn’t his decision be based on truth, and on what Jesus desires for his life, even if it does not line up with his own initial expectations or personal tastes?

Joe decides to search for the Church that Jesus started.

In his reading of the Acts of the Apostles, Joe saw a beautiful family of faith begun by Jesus and built upon the apostles. Reflecting on this, Joe concludes, “If Jesus gave us a Church, and it is still around today, then that’s the Church that I want to belong to. I want to be part of that family of faith. I want to receive all of the gifts that Jesus intended me to have on my journey with him to heaven.”

Joe continues his search in an unexpected place.

He knows that the Catholic Church has been around longer than the other churches in town. But he has heard so many bad things about the Catholic Church over its long history, and the recent scandals make it the last church he would ever want to join. As Joe thinks back upon the New Testament, however, he remembers that the twelve apostles struggled with sin and brokenness, and the early Church was full of saints and sinners. Reluctantly, he decides to give the Catholic Church a quick look, so that he can cross it off his list.

What would Joe find?

Joe is fictional, but many people have been on a faith journey like his. As they distinguish truth from misconception, countless people have been surprised to discover that the Catholic Church has the same characteristics as the Church in the Acts of the Apostles, but with centuries of growth and development. In this message series, we will explore some of these aspects that a person like Joe might discover about the Catholic faith.

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