Some Roman Catholics Don't Heed the Gospel Because They're Too Stuck in Their Comfortable Prison Cells Called Religion

 

I was thinking about the scene in the movie God's Not Dead when an old woman with dementia faces her apostate son. The movie scene itself has the description of a comfortable prison cell that would keep the person inside then the door is shut. Sadly, some Roman Catholics today are in the situation that they don't want to leave their religion because it's like a comfortable prison cell. It's just like how some criminals actually dread the day they are set free from jail and would rather be in jail. Roman Catholicism itself has become a comfortable prison cell for some Roman Catholics - it's their comfort zone and they enjoy this captivity.

As a former Roman Catholic, life seemed really easy until God turned it upside down with family dysfunctionality. I was thinking of how being a member of a Jesuit parish before meant plenty of business connections, you could easily do business, you could easily earn money, get prestige, and all of these are comfortable. It's like having a prison cell where it's not just well-maintained and clean but also gives you a luxurious set-up at the same time. It's a far cry from the prison cell where Paul and Silas were locked up in Acts 16 where they were not only chained but it was full of pests. For a person to be locked up in a dungeon in Paul's time - they can't wait to serve their time. But when a prison cell is really more of an apartment or a prison - it becomes too comfortable.

Why are Roman Catholics too comfortable with their religion? It's not only because works salvation is appealing to fallen man. It can also be because of how much easy it is to be in a popular religion than in an unpopular one. Consider the Pope is more popular than the honest-to-goodness evangelical pastor. It's very easy for some Roman Catholic to say that evangelicals are jealous of their Pope's popularity. They also get some comfort in repeating rituals and vain repetitions such as the Rosary. They feel that they are more comfortable and "assured" when they do confession to a priest than when they directly confess to God. All these are really but cold comfort that will lead to nowhere but Hell!

The call of the Gospel is anything but comfortable. Nobody truthfully said, not even Jesus, that the Christian life will be easy. Rather, Jesus' command is to take up your cross and follow Him. A cross is a symbol of hardship or even death. The Christian life can mean you can lose your connections, wealth, or even your very own life. Many Roman Catholics do have the problem of a sword dangling on their neck (figuratively speaking) should they heed the Gospel. The commendation of their fellow parishioners can turn into condemnation. I was mocked severely when I became a born again Christian - more mocked then when I stopped attending masses and thought of becoming either atheist, Buddhist, or even Muslim along the way. 

The apostles didn't live glamorous lives either. Peter (whom Roman Catholics claim to be their first Pope) didn't get the admiration of the public whenever he went. Rather, Peter was persecuted left and right. Peter even went to jail. Peter didn't even accept the adoration of the masses. Peter had no big Basilica or a primitive Pope Mobile either and adoring fans everywhere he went. The apostles' lives were far from glamorous. Paul suffered from unjust detention and torture many times. These guys were certainly not living comfortably. Besides, Jesus' earthly ministry was that of a suffering servant, not a glorious king who got the cheers of the world everywhere He went. Roman Catholics who are still resisting the Gospel because of fear of losing their comfort zones need to realize that the Christian life is not a call for a life of comfort and ease.