Testimony – The Draw of the “Mother Church”

Medellin, Colombia – It was Sunday morning. I had arrived in the beautiful country of Colombia just three days earlier and my travel-size supplies were running out. I headed for the shopping mall. My plan was to get there early to avoid the shopping crowds that would arrive later.

While trying to locate the stores I needed, I heard beautiful music ascending from the ground floor. Looking over the rail I saw a large crowd gathering and hundreds of chairs being set out. A concert, I thought to myself. The music was so beautiful I had to go down and check it out. As I got closer I saw a lady soloist singing a song with Christian lyrics accompanied by beautiful contemporary music. When I say contemporary, it was a far cry from any rock music so often played in Protestant churches today. It was a spiritually uplifting melody without the use of any percussion instruments. Yet, it was modern and attractive to the ears of the young and adults alike. This was a Catholic mass served right in the middle of the shopping mall.

I listened for the next 20 minutes to a sermon about the sacrifice of Jesus, delivered as beautifully as I had ever heard before. After a prayer, the beautiful music filled the entire mall again. As worshipers slowly left the makeshift sanctuary, every soul was touched, my own included.

I contemplated my Sunday morning worship experience throughout that day. I could easily have mistaken the mass that day for an Adventist service. I am a Christian with some firm Protestant beliefs. But wow, I still have a hard time believing I had just witnessed a Catholic mass. It was more relevant and attractive than anything I have seen or heard in the Protestant world.

That very same Sunday as I walked through the city’s business district with many high-rise buildings, it was getting dark and the streets were empty. I hurried to get home but soon I came upon a large crowd of people surrounding one tall office building. As I got closer I could see that the bottom floor had a wall of folding doors that opened to the street. Inside was a modern Catholic sanctuary. The 500 seats were filled to capacity and the crowd spilled into the street. A scene very similar to the one I had witnessed that morning unfolded in front of me. The mass was served, accompanied by music like I have never heard before. The crowd was listening so eagerly and silently that a pin falling on the ground would be heard.

I’m stunned by the silence, devotion, and respect as I stood at the end of the street overflow. A prayer followed. When I heard Amen, about five men approached me offering a handshake. Two of them hugged me and wished me blessings. They were complete strangers not only to me, but also among themselves. Yet, a strong sense of brotherhood and spiritual belonging was felt. I wondered when I had experienced something even nearly as close in the Adventist church. I could not remember.

It was the last week of March, the holy week when the Christian world celebrates the death and resurrection of Christ. Daily Catholic events were held throughout the week all over the city.

The following Sunday I visited a small village. As I walked the picturesque streets, I saw a crowd of people approach with palm branches in their hands. It was Palm Sunday. As I watched the scene it was as if I found myself in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, watching Jesus triumphantly entering into Jerusalem greeted by thousands of followers.

I am still a firm Protestant but I can now see why so many are attracted to the Catholic church. Witnessing this Palm Sunday procession, the scene of Jerusalem reenacted, the whole Biblical story came to life. Everyone was happy and cheerful, just as it was in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

For a few days I witnessed several Catholic events in the streets. The locals talked to me about the various Biblical events, witnessed to me, taught me about Jesus, and all the important traditions of their church. I often found myself speechless – our roles have been reversed! Am I not supposed to be the one educating them?

I now understand why the Catholic Church is so attractive in the eyes of the young people in Latin America. The Catholic churches are full of young people, and understandably so. The worship services are attractive, contemporary, full of life, offering answers to the problems of daily life in the form of personal consultations following the service.

The Spirit of Prophecy confirms: “Many Protestants suppose that the Catholic religion is unattractive, and that its worship is a dull, meaningless round of ceremony. Here they mistake. While Romanism is based upon deception, it is not a coarse and clumsy imposture. The religious service of the Romish Church is a most impressive ceremonial. Its gorgeous display and solemn rites fascinate the senses of the people, and silence the voice of reason and of conscience. The eye is charmed. Magnificent churches, imposing processions, golden altars, jeweled shrines, choice paintings, and exquisite sculpture appeal to the love of beauty. The ear also is captivated. The music is unsurpassed. The rich notes of the deep-toned organ, blending with the melody of many voices as it swells through the lofty domes and pillared aisles of her grand cathedrals, cannot fail to impress the mind with awe and reverence.” The Great Controversy, 566.

Today, the music is unsurpassed as well and upgraded for the 21st century. Moreover, large Catholic churches are open seven days a week. Anyone can stop by at any time, sit down, pray, contemplate, have a moment of silence with God. I saw students doing just that on their way to the university every morning. Are there any Protestant churches open where a Protestant student could stop by? Not that I know of.

So often we hear of traditional Protestant churches closing their doors because there are not enough worshipers. Their worship style is centuries old and unattractive to someone in the 21st century. Certainly, nothing like this is happening in Latin American Catholic churches.

The Catholic church has whisked itself into the 21st century successfully, with ease and grace. Catholicism is relevant to the modern person, has a leader that enjoys a celebrity status, offers a contemporary service, while maintaining its millennia old traditions – a blend that is attractive to millions. It’s a success story.

Knowing what I know as a Protestant, everything described above is a beautifully packaged deception. One cannot resist to think of the text, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 NKJV). If I did not have the knowledge of the Bible and history I would belong to that deceived group. I’ll admit, I liked what I saw in those Catholic services.

However, “Brilliancy of style is not necessarily an index of pure, elevated thought. High conceptions of art, delicate refinement of taste, often exist in minds that are earthly and sensual. They are often employed by Satan to lead men to forget the necessities of the soul, to lose sight of the future, immortal life, to turn away from their infinite Helper, and to live for this world alone.” The Great Controversy, 566, 567.

But still, I cannot dismiss this recent Catholic experience as a complete deception just yet. There is a lesson to be learned. We must be careful to never preach about God’s justice with mercy nowhere to be found. God is love. Let’s show it to the world. Now, when I see a stranger in my church, I reach out to him or her with a firm handshake and a smile.

So often I hear the gospel presented as warning. Excuse me, the word gospel means exactly the opposite: good news. I choose to portray my church and God as highly relevant to the modern person in the post-Christian world. May God help us to show to the world that we are not a church of the 19th century. We’re a relevant 21st century movement with lots to offer: First and foremost – salvation, then fellowship, love, healthy lifestyle backed up by 21st century science, education, and respect for God’s law that He always balances with mercy.