For one of our classes we have to go to 4 different kinds of churches: Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, and Assemblies of God. I love and hate this assignment all at once because I feel like I'm intruding on the Catholics' mass or the Assemblies of God make me uncomfortable (I grew up in a church where we didn't pray out loud or sway to music). The Anglicans I love, but I haven't gotten around to visiting them yet.
Yesterday, however, I went with a larger group than I thought to a Catholic mass. Now, I know that you don't take Catholic mass unless you are Catholic (respect and all that jazz), but this large group I was with was unsure. So we walked in late to the service and sat in a front row (there were several sections to this gigantic church). Anyway, when the time came for mass, the little usher man was looking at me to get the line started, and I'm avoiding eye contact...I know, I'm mature. But as I sat there watching all these people take mass right next to me (in my bright green jacket), I was wondering what they thought of us. No one came to talk with us after the service, but do the Catholics feel like we're observing them, like monkeys? If so, then why do people insist we go to a Catholic mass? Is it the liturgical side of things? I don't know, but I feel like I'm intruding every time I go to a Catholic service (which has been all of twice in my life).
On the other hand, I do like to see what the differences are between Catholics and Anglicans. Such as the invocation of the Saints and Mary. One of the passages read during the service was from Hebrews and it said something about how our journey in life is being aided by saints (I tried to look up the passage, but couldn't find it...but it was in there). The whole sermon then was about how we ought to pray to the saints because that's where our help comes from. Um...I think not, but I was not about to stand up in mass and declare my Protestant beliefs...no. Then during a prayer they asked for God to remove faithful saints from Purgatory. I didn't say amen at the end of that one.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Australian Christians are in church because they truly believe in what they are there for. Unlike in America where you go because your family goes and that's just what we do. It's so much easier to find true Christians here than in the States, I can tell you that. But one thing we've been talking about in my View from Australia class is that Australians feel vulnerable (as a nation) and like having a protector state (currently the US). So if they feel vulnerable all the time and like having a big protector, then why is it so hard to talk with people about God here? Not just about God, but what He's done for us.
My director, Kimberly, has lived in Australia for 5 years and goes regularly to a Bible Study where nothing gets done. She said it's more like gossip time. But Australians are afraid to let you into their world and be completely raw and vulnerable to you. But then how do you learn from people? How do you see the goodness of God in people's lives? How do you mourn with you brother or sister or rejoice with those who rejoice? To me it seems like a very closed off society where no one would want to talk with you. But in actuality, Australians are the most friendly people on the planet (well, right next to Southerners). They smile, say hey, and always ask how you're doing. People here at Wesley really want to get to know "The Americans", but not in any deep/meaningful way. I don't know, seems contradictory to me.
Well, on that note, continued prayer for my stay here is quite welcome. If you could lift up my host family as well that would be amazing. Sue and Peter Bock are some of the nicest people who want to share with us and feed us chocolate bikkies until we puke, but Sue is the only Christian in the house. So, prayer that our lives would reflect positively on the Bock family and not discourage Peter, Oskar, and Carl (the two sons who live with us) from loving God as much as Sue does.
Oh, and mail is quite welcome here ;)!!
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