To sell out the Gospel...

We worship a God who became vulnerable and chose, at every turn, to utterly give up earthly power for the sake of others. “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”

And it was, and is, the witness of martyrs—those who willingly forsake earthly power—who are the seeds of faith and reform.

The opposite is also true. When the Church scrambles for power, influence, and self-protection like everyone else, we drive people away, we squander our credibility.

During a talk at the recent SEEK conference, the president of Catholic Vote said; “If Catholics aren’t at the table, they’re on the menu.”

She was talking about social and political influence, but this mentality doesn’t only present itself politically. It presents itself every time a bishop, for example, chooses to hide behind attorneys and bankruptcy laws in order to avoid the truth and take full responsibility for the Church’s failures.

If we aren’t at the table, we’re on the menu. In other words, if we don’t seek power and self-protection then we will be persecuted. But why are we afraid of persecution? why are we so afraid that we’re willing to sacrifice our beliefs and values?

Jesus said, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” To sell out the Gospel because of fear of losing power, privilege, wealth, and security—is there a greater anti-witness?