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Is the Church Worth Fighting For?

October 7, 2019 by Andy Lesnefsky 25 Comments

It is a question that sadly needs to be asked, is the Church worth fighting for? Why? And what does this mean for me?

At some point, you’ve either been this guy or this girl in this situation or witnessed a good friend in this situation: A romantic relationship came to a crashing a halt, and you must decide do I hold out hope that this relationship can be restored? Is this relationship worth fighting for? Or is it over?

Many Catholics over the last few years have sadly felt like their relationship with the church has gone up in smoke or that they church the fell in love with looks so very bruised and broken. Some feel disillusioned with the Church on a broader level. Even more people have experienced the brokenness of the church on the local parish.

So, do we fight for the church? Why? And what does this look like?

Many of you know that my full-time job is the President of Vagabond Missions, a Catholic ministry to inner-city kids. Our amazing missionaries work alongside our mission partners to reach out to unchurched kids. In the cities we serve, we partner with the diocese and a local area parish church. The partnerships are a big part of how we operate and we are blessed that several of our youth centers are in buildings owned by a parish partner.

About a month ago, I was feeling frustrated. I don’t even remember what the specifics were, but I began to think maybe it would be easier to operate a non-profit that didn’t have to deal with the politics of church life.

I realized I was grappling with the question. Is the Church worth fighting for?

It may seem like an oxymoron, but I felt like the Lord spoke to me in a way that was both subtle and loud. His answer in my prayer was also both direct and indirect.

“I died for the church.”

I contemplate Jesus dying for me sometimes in prayer. Sometimes I may even spend some time praying about how Jesus died for the Church. He was not only fighting for the big “C” Church, meaning the Church he wanted to establish, but I felt like he was saying so much more to me.

He fought for his bride radically. He laid down his life that his bride might live. I felt like he was saying to me that he didn’t do this for a theological concept, but for the local church as well, “the parish.”

To the world, it looked like he gave up, but we know that isn’t the storyline. We can be tempted to give up on the broader idea of the church or on its expression in our local community, but we need to remember the love of the cross is his love of the church.

We can’t give up. The world needs the church. You need the church. I need the church.

She’s beautiful. She’s broken. She seems to be a mess, but we can’t stop fighting for her.

“In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course.” – Saint Boniface

The church needs you.

Let’s fight. Let’s recommit to following Christ, knowing that means taking up the cross day after day. Don’t give up on the church because Jesus didn’t. Don’t give up because Jesus didn’t give up on you.

Christ didn’t merely forfeit his life. He suffered. He endured excruciating pain.

The fight isn’t going to be easy. The fight means tough conversations. It involves exposing the darkness to the light. It means accountability and a new transparency.

The new ardor, new method, and new expression of the new evangelization are needed desperately today.

But let’s be perfectly clear. What the Church needs most of each of us, is simply what Christ asks of us: our entire lives. Our response to his love must be holiness. We need a generation of people striving to be saints who love the bride of Christ as he did who are willing to die to ourselves each day and pick up their cross.

Let’s pray. Let’s fast. We need the church, and the church needs us.

I’d love to know what you think. Please comment below or shoot me an email.

We need your help. We’ve got big plans for our Advent and Lent video series, but can only do it with your help. We are more than 1/3 of the way to the Advent series minimum of $12,500 and 1/5 of the way to our total goal of $24,100 for Advent and Lent. These series will reach millions of people with the good news through video and social media. Only your support brings this project to life. Donate today at kickstarter.com/projects/redeemedonline/faith-made-simple

Filed Under: Holiness, ShareJesus

Novena to the Holy Spirit

May 29, 2019 by Lauren Gates Leave a Comment

Did you know that the very first novena in our Catholic tradition dates back to the very first Pentecost?

From EWTN’s website: “The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost! It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.” 

As the Easter season draws to a close and Ordinary Time begins, join us in praying this powerful novena for the next nine days as we wait for the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts!

You can find the prayers for the novena here. 

Watch today’s video featuring Andy Lesnefsky:


From all of us at RedeemedOnline, we can’t thank you enough. Creating professionally produced Catholic media takes a lot of resources, time, and energy. Everything we do is with you, the end user in mind. What started as a small project has grown and blossomed.

Thank. You.

You’ve made every launch we’ve ever done a huge success, including last week’s launch of Spiritual Warfare 101.

As a special thank you, I’ve opened up one the most popular parts from our sharing faith course available a pay whatever you want course: Catholic Teaching on Sex. This includes three different videos- The Catholic View of Sexuality, Talking to Your Kids about Sex, and Talking to Your Kids About Pornography.

Pay whatever you want means you name your price. You can pay $0.00- really, it’s my gift to you. Remember though it’s only available for the next 48 hours (until 2 PM on May 31.)

CLICK HERE TO NAME YOUR PRICE AND GET THE COURSE

You are a blessing to me and I hope this course blesses you. Thanks again for being part of what we’re doing at Redeemed Online!

-Andy

Filed Under: Easter, Holy Spirit, Prayer, ShareJesus Tagged With: Holy Spirit, Novena, Pentecost

Praying with the Bible

May 23, 2019 by Lauren Gates Leave a Comment

The Bible has been described as many things over the centuries: our Church history, a road map to heaven, a love letter from God, etc. One of the most important titles we can give the Bible is “a prayer.”

The Bible contains every sort of prayer imaginable. Particularly in the Psalms, there are passages of praise, passages of lament, and everything else in between.

Through the Bible, God reveals to us how we should pray. He gives us words where we may have none of our own, and through the Biblical figures, He shows us how He answers prayer, to encourage us.

By taking time every day to meditate on the Scriptures, we learn to hear God’s voice. It is of the utmost importance as Christians that we learn to recognize God’s voice, so that we can discern when He is speaking to us in our daily lives.

If praying with the Bible is something you feel inspired to try, you can start by opening up to the Psalms, or the Gospels. Ask God to open your heart and mind to what He wants you to hear, and after reading a passage, pause in silence to listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Take advantage of this beautiful tool that God Himself scripted through the Biblical authors. He knew then what you and I would need to hear today.

Watch today’s video featuring Andy Lesnefsky:


Podcast Scripture Reflections for this week:

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

Filed Under: Easter, ShareJesus Tagged With: Andy Lesnefsky, bible, Easter, prayer, Scripture

Lie #3: The Most Dangerous Lie of All

May 18, 2019 by Andy Lesnefsky 1 Comment

I think this is the most dangerous lie of the devil.

The third and final line that Dave VanVickle will be examining today, is that spiritual warfare is simply an analogy. Perhaps, at first glance that doesn’t seem dangerous, but it’s important we understand why it is.

As a parent, I’ll never forget when my son struck out in baseball for the first time. Up to that point, baseball is kind of pretend. The coach pitches until you hit the ball, or they put up the tee for you to hit off. When you strike out, the game becomes real.

Obviously spiritual warfare is much more serious than little league baseball.

In this video, Dave explains the danger of believing that spiritual warfare is only an analogy. It’s a wake-up call to remember the battle is real. How do you truly prepare and what are your tools for fighting?

This is the last of this little mini-series and tomorrow is the big launch day of Dave’s Spiritual Warfare 101 series. (Be on the lookout for a special one day discount sure the Redeemed Online subscribers.)

Here’s today’s video:

As we launch this series, your prayers are appreciated and I would love to pray for you. What can I be praying for you for today? Shoot me an email, or comment below and let me know.

God bless,

Andy

Filed Under: Easter, ShareJesus, Spiritual Warfare Tagged With: Dave VanVickle, Easter, spiritual warfare

Lie #2: The Devil is Equal to God

May 17, 2019 by Andy Lesnefsky 8 Comments

Wow! I have loved hearing your feedback and questions so far on our mini-series on Spiritual Warfare. Here’s a sample of my favorite comments ☺:

 

Today’s video is another home run from Dave VanVickle. It’s on the devil’s second biggest lie: The Devil is equal in power to God.

Check out the video:

Let us know what you think and what questions you have about Spiritual Warfare as we continue this series. Comment on the blog, Youtube or Facebook!

God bless you!

Andy

Filed Under: Easter, ShareJesus, Spiritual Warfare Tagged With: Dave VanVickle, Devil, Easter, spiritual warfare

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