Pastor Craig has another church up north in Feltre. It's a fellowship that began when a few of its citizens commuted all the way down to Montebelluna to attend church there. As word got out, more and more people began commuting until they asked Craig if he could do a teaching in their town every once in a while. They were blessed with a building to begin Wednesday night services.
It's really small, but pretty much filled to capacityOn the road back to Montebelluna, a student and I were chatting with Pastor Craig about Italy an its people. We had an interesting conversation about the way they do religion in their country. Interestingly, I found that they're overall much less religious than most people think, which is surprising considering Christianity's deep roots here. Even so, Catholicism is evident just driving through towns displaying street signs named after "saints," and just about every region has its own token vintage chapel. But a large majority simply don't practice regularly, let alone have an understanding of God's Word. Many use church only to fulfill a traditional obligation, or attend on special days that seem holier than the rest.
Pastor Craig pointed out how the atmosphere in these cathedrals tends toward the dreary and cheerless. Although you'll find symbolism inside depicting Jesus, He's often depicted broken and dying on the cross. Jesus' death was definitely a central event that is foundational to the Christian faith, but even more important is the fact that He conquered death by rising from the grave to take His place at the right hand of God. "Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right Hand of God, who also intercedes for us." --Rom. 8:34 The news just gets better from there, because once we've accepted Jesus as the One and only way to the Father, then we too have our security with Him, as it says "Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." --Colossians 2:12
Not only is it heartbreaking that these Italian churches place a strong emphasis on death and sorrows, but they take a step further away by neglecting the command of God in Exodus "Do not make any gods to be along side Me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold." They neglect this with their apparent reverence and prayer to certain saints and especially Jesus' mother Mary. Elevating Mary to near deity status isn't only an Italian thing, and God must've known it would become a problem since it happened twice in the New Testament where Jesus had the opportunity to elevate His mother above average human status, and He nearly did the opposite: "Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.' He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.'" -- Luke 8:20-21 And later on in Luke: "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" --Luke 11:27-28.
Tradition definitely holds its valuable place in our world (without it, I wouldn't be enjoying some of the tastiest food ever!), but it can also lead people to automatically believe certain things without being accountable to seek for themselves. I pray that more and more Italians==well actually, that everyone--questions their lifestyles and rituals, and are eventually led to the real truth that is only revealed in God's Word.
Pastor Craig pointed out how the atmosphere in these cathedrals tends toward the dreary and cheerless. Although you'll find symbolism inside depicting Jesus, He's often depicted broken and dying on the cross. Jesus' death was definitely a central event that is foundational to the Christian faith, but even more important is the fact that He conquered death by rising from the grave to take His place at the right hand of God. "Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right Hand of God, who also intercedes for us." --Rom. 8:34 The news just gets better from there, because once we've accepted Jesus as the One and only way to the Father, then we too have our security with Him, as it says "Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." --Colossians 2:12
Not only is it heartbreaking that these Italian churches place a strong emphasis on death and sorrows, but they take a step further away by neglecting the command of God in Exodus "Do not make any gods to be along side Me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold." They neglect this with their apparent reverence and prayer to certain saints and especially Jesus' mother Mary. Elevating Mary to near deity status isn't only an Italian thing, and God must've known it would become a problem since it happened twice in the New Testament where Jesus had the opportunity to elevate His mother above average human status, and He nearly did the opposite: "Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.' He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.'" -- Luke 8:20-21 And later on in Luke: "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" --Luke 11:27-28.
Tradition definitely holds its valuable place in our world (without it, I wouldn't be enjoying some of the tastiest food ever!), but it can also lead people to automatically believe certain things without being accountable to seek for themselves. I pray that more and more Italians==well actually, that everyone--questions their lifestyles and rituals, and are eventually led to the real truth that is only revealed in God's Word.
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