Introduction
Why don’t all Christians believe the same things about what Jesus taught? The answer to that question has been discussed and debated for centuries now. Perhaps a more common question today we might hear though is why does it matter whether they do or not? Our Lord himself gives us a reason it matters:
“And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
This passage is a prayer from our Lord. For us. Right before he goes to die for us. He is praying for those who believe in him. Christians. And he is praying that they be one. Not just to tolerate each other or to collaborate on pro-life ministry efforts. He prays that we be one “as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee”. The Father and Jesus do not simply tolerate each other or collaborate when they see fit. They are of “one mind” to borrow a phrase from St. Paul. There love is so deep it is a person, the Holy Spirit. Christ’s prayer then is that we are to be bound together as Christ and the Father are bound. A bond of love.
A step further though, His prayer given to us through Holy Scripture records the consequence of being one--The world will believe that the Father has sent him. From this we see that the opposite is true. Not being one is a hinderance to the world knowing the Father sent Jesus. This gives a proper perspective now to any discussion of why Christians believe different things and why its important to try and be of one mind where there is division. How can we be one if we don’t agree about what it means to be one with Christ. Out of love for our Lord Jesus Christ I invite you to consider this strange quandary of our divisions and to consider my invitation herein to discuss how we can be one.
I am a Roman Catholic who lives in Hastings Minnesota. I am not a priest nor theologian. I am a layman struck by the prayer of our Lord for divided Christians and out of love for him I wish to speak with any Christian who sees the importance to be one.
If you are reading this letter I or one of my fellow Catholic brothers handed you a card inviting you to this website. While writing a letter offers certain advantages in communicating, I hope you will be open to an opportunity to meet in person. You are welcome to join me at one of the local coffee shops in Hastings, MN every other Saturday morning or there is a similar opportunity in St. Paul MN. The dates and times can be found here: (link) I am always there with a couple fellow Catholics and we wish to dedicate this time to speaking with those who wish to follow Christ and pursue being one as our Lord wills for us. If you are not able to join at those times we are happy to sit down at a different time convenient for you. Just let us know through the website here. If meeting in person is not something that you feel comfortable with you are welcome to reply or ask questions over email or through this link: (link)
However you wish to participate I hope you might read or listen to some of the key arguments that demonstrate the Catholic Church is the true and only Church of Christ. I’m not presuming you have any desire to be Catholic and I can tell you I don’t have any doubts about the Catholic faith. My aim is to share these arguments with you as a place to start our effort to be of one mind. I certainly share them in an effort to persuade you, but I hope to hear why you don’t find them convincing if that is the case. I will answer any sincere question and reply to any objection you may wish to bring to an in-person discussion or in an email. If you choose to listen to my 3 arguments I thank you and know I will not be hostile to you or your questions in turn. They are very short and all three of them are on the website. They are not meant to be comprehensive just an aide to starting a discussion:
1) How we can know Christ’s Church by looking at the origins of our difference. 2) An Examination of Authority as it relates to the Scriptures. 3) The witness of the most profound miracles providing witness to the Catholic Church as Christs true Church.
I pray this letter and the humble treatises on a few Catholic beliefs will serve, not as the start of a battle of ideas for pride’s sake, but as a place to begin conversations face to face, pastor to pastor, parishioner to parishioner. At a time when the world seems determined to tear itself apart perhaps a reunion of Christians can be a witness to a wayward world and help it to know that the Father has sent him. Our Lord has prayed for us, what more help can we need to discover the truth of his teachings?
For Love of Jesus Christ and in pursuit of giving him greater glory I leave you this letter and invitation.
Christ’s peace to you,
Derek Roush