The news of Jason Stellman’s departure from the PCA and presumed entrance into the Roman Catholic Church has travelled fast and caused great alarm. So how do we process such a move? Does frustration with American Evangelicalism necessitate a swim across the Tiber?

Regardless of reports to the contrary, the Presbyterian Church in America is not a very large denomination. In fact, we are small enough for news to travel fast when one of our rank seems to be approaching the banks of the Tiber (the Italian river which borders the city of Rome). The news of Jason Stellman’s departure from the PCA and presumed entrance into the Roman Catholic Church has travelled fast and caused great alarm. So how do we process such a move? Does frustration with American Evangelicalism necessitate a swim across the Tiber? I want to look at three things: The Appeal of Catholicism, What You Give up when you make that swim, and an alternative to such a swim.

What is the Attraction to Catholicism?

Authority – In a world where anyone with a smartphone can become an “authority” on a topic, we can find it more and more difficult to bend the knee to any source outside ourselves. While popular movements like the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street fight against the notion of power and authority, many people are yearning for some outside guidance. People want help navigating life, and the Catholic Church offers an army of priests and bishops, supposedly vested with the authority of the Apostles, able to pardon your sins and lead you into the straight and narrow. Forget postmodernism; no view is important unless it is the view of the Church. For many people, this kind of harbor from uncertainty has a great pull.

Transcendence – While much of our life is consumed with being in the now; entirely focused on connection to as many people far and wide, the Catholic church offers a faith that transcends our current experience and connections us with a supernatural reality. Unlike the worship experiences of so many churches, the RCC offers a vertical experience. For many Christians who have come out of churches largely modeled on concert venues, pep rallies and self-help seminars, this is an intriguing alternative.

Tradition – Western culture breeds a fierce self-dependence and yet people long for external authority. Our culture often mocks tradition and yet many people want to see their lives as part of a larger story. Tradition gives people this story. When you walk into a Catholic church, how very little seems new. Everything, from the priest’s clothing, to the words of the mass, seems to be an ancient artifact long-preserved, with great attention.

Legitimacy – Because of their tradition and transcendent experience the Catholic Church can create an environment of permanency and legitimacy. One does not walk into a Catholic Church and think, “I wonder if these folks will be here in a few months.” The uniformity and ceremony of Catholicism proudly declare, “we have been doing things the same for thousands of years, and we will be here long after you are dead.”

A Counter-Cultural Faith – So much of American Christianity is wrapped up in chasing fads and seeking to stay fresh. Many people are beginning to reject the commoditization of their religious experience. They are beginning to welcome a faith that can stand on its own without contorting itself to slavish fads.

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