The coach of the American football team was stridently shouting at his players, criticizing their play. “You are the most talented group I have ever coached, but you will not be able to win all the games that you should. Speed, skills, size, and more you have, but you are unwilling learn the most basic fundamentals – tackling and blocking. If you cannot tackle and block effectively and consistently, then all your talents will be wasted; great victories will elude you.” Similarly, a basketball coach was lamenting his team’s failure to apply the dribbling, passing, and other fundamentals of the game. He commented to a sports reporter, “I have players who can shoot very well, jump high, have great speed, but are unwilling to practice the fundamentals, severely limiting their success. What a waste!”
In all of life’s activities, when one lacks the basic fundamentals or information, experiencing the fullness of that activity is often impossible. In work, love, and play, certain basic attributes must be attained before one can experience success. So it is with one’s relationship with Jesus. Many individuals comment that Catholics have forsaken Jesus for a concentration on the doctrines of the church. However, love of Jesus is not possible without the doctrines Jesus gave to His church and are enunciated by it. Loving Jesus, as is all love, is an act of the will and is more than just a feeling. One of the early church fathers, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, warned, “The knowledge of doctrines is a precious possession; there is need of a vigilant soul, since many there are who would deceive you by philosophy and vain deceit.” St. Cyril added, “The children of heretics by smooth words and flattery deceive the hearts of the simple, disguising with the honey of Christ’s name the poisoned shafts of their impious doctrines. Concerning all these alike the Lord says: “Take care that no one lead you astray.” This is the reason for the teaching of the Faith, and for the expositions of it,” Indeed in the modern world, both within the church and in secular institutions, there are many who are attempting to lead Catholics astray. As St. Cyril taught, doctrines, rather than leading one away from Jesus, actually lead one to the truth of Jesus and most importantly to Jesus Himself. If one desires Christ, learn His doctrines!
Prominent Catholics in modern times also have witnessed the need for a thorough understanding of the doctrines (dogma) of the Catholic Church. Fr. James Schaal in his essay “The Meaning of Dogma” explained, “Catholicism has always taken dogmatic statements seriously because it realizes that the failure to state the truth properly often leads to error and confusion.” Many early 21st century Catholics are very confused and error prone due to insufficient promulgation of Catholic doctrines.
Yes, Catholics may have loss the sense of Jesus, but not because Church doctrines have been overstated, but rather because they have been so poorly stated or not stated as all. Just as an athlete must get the fundamentals right and practice them in order to achieve success so also one must acquire and practice the fundamentals proclaimed in the doctrines of the Church, so as to acquire an intense relationship with Jesus. As in all relationships, knowing and loving Jesus requires work. There are no shortcuts to Jesus….and eternal life. Learn and practice the faith given to us by Jesus….especially His doctrines.