For many believers, there is a single dividing moment when they came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That has not been my experience. I have been a believer since I was quite young, but with no particular epiphany moment to define that belief. I guess I would describe it as more of a progressive understanding of who I am before the Lord and, most importantly, my need for a Savior.
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, in a working middle class Italian family, in a neighborhood and town that was largely Italian and French, and almost exclusively Roman Catholic. I attended a Catholic grammar school, grades one through eight, that was in the same building as the church. While in grade school, I served on the altar, having memorized the entire Mass in Latin at an early age, prior to the church’s adoption of celebrating the Mass in English. I took my involvement in the church and my spirituality very seriously. By the age of ten, I even thought that I had a calling to the priesthood, however that never materialized. Eventually, I attended a prestigious Catholic college preparatory high school and did all the dutiful things that a Catholic was expected to do. But there was really not much spiritual growth.
My relationship with the Catholic Church changed quite a bit as I grew older. I began to question many of the things that I took for granted throughout my life, and I always thought that all churches were the same. Gradually, I left the only church that I knew, always believing that there was something fundamentally wrong with me because I no longer “got it.” But periodically, knowing that I should be participating in some manner, I would return only to have the same questions and confusion that marked my advancement through adolescence into adulthood. In so many ways, the Catholic Church had a strong hold over my thinking. Even as a child, I remember being warned that we shouldn’t speak to Protestants, although I never understood exactly why.
The thing about the Catholic Church is that it’s not a teaching institution. It is more about its own traditions, much of which is not Biblical. I never read the Bible because we were never encouraged to do so. The buildings and spaces that they create are typically very beautiful, and conducive to solemn worship and prayer. While all the imagery of the Bible is present in those buildings, ritualistic activities and the repetitious “Mass,” the essential Gospel message that men are sinners in need of a Savior seemed largely secondary. It was only by the sovereign Grace of God that I understood this early on, but I would have to say that it was in spite of my participation in the Roman Catholic Church, not because of it.
It is here, though, that I would also like to acknowledge my mother, who always spoke to me about Jesus Christ while I was growing up. I was fortunate to have her as an early spiritual mentor and, in retrospect, would have to say that she was “born again,” even though we Catholics did not fully understand what that meant. Towards the end of her life, being housebound, one of my fondest recollections is seeing her read her Bible every day, throughout the day. When she passed away in 1990, that was the one thing of hers that I asked to have.
Throughout my life, I have always spoken to God, and have sought Him out through Jesus Christ in the times that I most needed Him, just as my mom advised. And just as important, I have oftentimes heard from God, even when I was not thinking of Him or paying Him the attention that I should. In His perfect timing, God led me to Harvest Community Church when I was 46 years old, in the year 2000. This was the start of a new millennium, and the start of my spiritual journey. You see, God saved me when I was young, but it was in my middle age that he finally planted me. It is here at Harvest that I have received the accelerated and concentrated learning that I so desperately needed but lacked. It is also here where God instructed me that I would serve.
That is correct! God told me that this is where I would learn, but it was not going to be for free! I didn’t get it at first, but within a short time I was elected to and accepted the position of Deacon at Harvest Community Church which, according to His purpose, I have faithfully upheld for most of my time here.
Why am I telling this story? Well, for one thing, I believe it’s interesting … at least to me! The other reason is simply this: Truth is truth. It’s not subject to my opinion, nor anyone else’s opinion. We find truth in the written Word of God. It is amplified in the words and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who the Bible refers to as the Living Word. It’s something that took a large part of my life to fully grasp. Our small, non-denominational Protestant Church is passionate about teaching the Word of God, and discipling those who passionately seek to know it.
If you have never been part of a church, or if you have not been part of a church in a while; if you have never heard the Bible taught, or haven’t heard it taught in a while; if you have had questions, or have been confused or even hurt by a church in the past, I urge you to seek us out and find out what we’re all about. It could be the start, or resumption, of your spiritual journey! God bless!