I had my first experience getting on the air on a radio show recently.
A few weeks ago I was listening to 1450 AM, which is the Catholic channel here in the Fort. I have been listening to 1450 more often lately. I find it interesting and truly want to understand more of life and faith from that perspective. I am also finding more and more points of unity between us, but that's another blog. Additionally, lately I am increasingly less interested in hearing Protestants talk about Catholicism, I'd rather hear it from the source, from someone inside. It's not a big deal, it's just that we all have an axe to grind.
This particular show I was listening to that day had two guest hosts, a gentleman and a lady, both former protestants. I found that very intriguing. I guess I don't really know anyone who has converted from Protestantism to Catholicism. That alone drew me into the program more deeply. They were not "cradle Catholics," but could honestly and (hopefully) accurately speak from both perspectives.
It was a 'call-in' show, answering all sorts of questions, and if I remember correctly one of the guest hosts had some book coming out which they were promoting between responding to callers.
After listening to a few callers I noticed that the main guest host, the gentleman, mentioned about three times that he did not recommend Catholics attending Protestant Bible Studies. I paid little attention to this at first. Then after the third time I thought to myself, "This is a Catholic radio show, and given the historical, theological, and practical chasms between us, would this guy ever recommend a Protestant Bible Study?" Then I remembered he and the co host were former Protestants. So I called to find out.
Some producer/screener answered my call and asked where I was listening from and what my question was. So I told her. She said, "That's a great question." I must admit that made me feel good.
So then all of a sudden I am on hold, listening to some random song.
I've never been on the radio before and she didn't give me any indication as to if or when I'd be actually on the radio. But I've listened to enough radio to know that there is some delay and you are supposed to turn down your radio when you are on. Like a trapeze artist I am waiting on hold, listening to the radio for ... well for my own voice I guess, and driving to meet a friend for some coffee (dangerous I know mom, I know).
So I waited.
As I'm listening to the radio I hear the main host say, "And now we go to Jordan in Fort Wayne, Jordan what's your question?"
I turn down the radio quickly, shift from third to fourth, and get into it. I introduce myself and categorized myself spontaneously as a "Generous Protestant." The host says, "Well that's great, we hope in return to be Generous Catholics in return," which I liked very much. I have come to describe myself as this recently mostly in effort to consider myself and the body of Christ as larger (historically and denominationally) than I used to and larger than many believers are comfortable admitting. It is also a step of unity in my ind.
So I asked my question, with no absolute expectations but his response still caught me by surprise. In Brief, he went on to say that in his experience and many others protestant bible studies had been used as Trojan horses to draw in, isolate, 'teach,' and ultimately convert Catholics to Protestantism. He then said if it were a simple bible teaching, open, accepting study than he would advocate it. There were a few other items mentioned between us but this is the sum and substance of my question and our interaction.
I was walking up to Starbucks, already five minutes late, my friend waiting. The host started plugging some product and i was uncertain if my call was over officially, so I just hung up.
After I left Starbucks I had a chance to process more of that conversation:
1) The "Trojan horse" view I mostly ascribed to a generational gap. As a former protestant the guy actually seemed to have some experience with this type of group, ulterior motives galore. Perhaps I hoped this was a generational situation. I wanted to believe that that type of underhanded, sly 'evangelistic' (if you can call it that...) methodology didn't exist today. Moreover, I don't want to believe that the small possibility that some believers had to develop some true community and dig deeper into the Bible and discuss it openly and grow together in faith, hope, and love was squandered on fruitless 'bait and switch' and argumentative apologetics, towards people (who in my opinion) are brothers and sisters, part of the body of Christ.
2) As I thought more, there is certainly a significant divide between these two branches of the faith and I am not convinced that a Protestant radio-host, etc. would be so generous as to recommend a Catholic Bible study. I could be wrong, but I did appreciate his openness. I also don't mean to communicate that this guys opinion would be the opinion of all Catholics on this matter, that's obvious.
3) It made my heart sink a little bit to hear, what I consider to be mostly false assumptions, about Protestant Bible Studies. It made me equally sad to consider somewhat false assumptions that Protestant have about much of the Catholic faith. Its funny, recently I asked my Catholic friend, Dan, if he thought overall that Catholics were more favorable to Jewish people than Protestants. He paused, and said, yeah "I think so." And I think the same might be true for Protestants as well. This makes no sense at all. I don't even really need to get into that do I?
The call was interesting, and fun, and helpful, and thought-provoking, and unifying in my eyes.
I may tune in more often and call in again.
