Has the Way of the Most High Changed?

Has there been a paradigm shift in the essence of what it means to attain purity, or holiness of life? Does true growth in the spiritual life – involve a deepening of one’s understanding of the revealed Word of God? Or, can what has been revealed and lived out by the faithful for millennia, be overturned for a complete difference in kind?

All one need do is watch the mainstream news and one will hear many examples of how God’s law, and revealed truth, are scorned in favor of so-called legislation. How grave matter, and sinful behavior, are presented as allowable and even desirable by the masses, with no regard for morals or what God intends for all of mankind. Those, who openly proclaim an alleged “right,” to that which God alone has sovereignty – and brazenly push governments and authorities to enshrine these “rights” into laws.

But, does the legality of any given positive law, necessarily ensure that what is being legislated, coincides with God’s law? For example, if one were to consider the “legality” of abortion, it should seem obvious – that what has been enshrined as “law” here – does not coincide with God’s law.

This begs the question, should a Christian be obligated to uphold and obey laws that fail to take into account the supremacy of God’s Eternal law, that which God has revealed to all mankind? What has shifted in the mind of man, that makes him believe that God’s law can be flouted, or that basic morality can be legislated out of the equation?

This seems to begin with the notion that God does not exist, and if God does not exist, then it is solely up to men to legislate what passes for good and bad behavior. And this, devoid of Objective Truth, that which is Universally True for all people – regardless of one’s individual perspective. In addition to this, those who doubt the existence of God, tend to adopt the ever-fluctuating landscape of relativism, (my truth versus your truth) without ever considering – the Truth.

Surely, one is able to recognize the philosophical error of this view, the quagmire presented, when each individual relies on his or her own perception of truth, in contradiction with what every other individual believes the truth to be.

The solution is what it has always been – if men and women of good will remain open to recognizing it: “God is not a human being who speaks falsely, nor a mortal, who feels regret. Is God one to speak and not act, to decree and not bring it to pass?”[1] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways–oracle of the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”[2] “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”[3]

God’s thoughts and ways are above those of mankind, He is Truth Itself, and no untruth is in Him, He does not change, but remains always the same – yesterday, today and forever!

The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, affirms this in chapter II, paragraph 8:

Therefore, the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 The 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see. Jud 3). [(cf. Second Council of Nicea: Denzinger 303 (602); Fourth Council of Constance, session X, Canon 1: Denzinger 336 (650-652)]. Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the People of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.

This tradition which comes from the Apostles develops in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. [(cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 4, “On Faith and Reason:” Denzinger 1800 (3020)]. For there is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. This happens through the contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure these things in their hearts (see Luk 2:19, 51) through a penetrating understanding of the spiritual realities which they experience, and through the preaching of those who have received through episcopal succession the sure gift of truth.[4]

It is clear from what has been stated in the above document, a text which holds the highest level of authority in the Catholic Church, that true development is gained with the help of the Holy Spirit, and growth achieved – in understanding the realities and words which have been handed down by the Apostles. Thus, they who are true believers, treasure and hold to these teachings, they understand them to be the very life and worship of the Church. Knowing in their hearts, that these teachings and traditions promote an increase of faith, and foster in them a greater holiness of life.

Thus, how is it that one can begin to distinguish between true development in Church doctrine, and a corruption of the teachings of the Church? St. John Henry Newman considers this in his writing, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine: “Christianity, on the other hand, has principles so distinctive, numerous, various, and operative, as to be unlike any other religious, ethical, or political system that the world has ever seen, unlike, not only in character, but in persistence in that character. I cannot attempt here to enumerate more than a few by way of illustration.”[5]

This is to say, the Church, in possessing Divine principles unlike those of any other religious, ethical, or political system the world has ever seen, is clearly – a living, breathing, entity, wholly in union with God, and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, it is distinctly unsuitable, for men to challenge, or attempt to change, the essence of what has been revealed in the Word of God:

The adult animal has the same make, as it had on its birth; young birds do not grow into fishes, nor does the child degenerate into the brute, wild or domestic, of which he is by inheritance lord. Vincentius of Lerins adopts this illustration in distinct reference to Christian doctrine. “Let the soul’s religion,” he says, “imitate the law of the body, which as years go on, develops indeed and opens out its due proportions, and yet remains identically what it was. Small are a baby’s limbs, a youth’s are larger, yet they are the same” (cf. Commonitorium 23).[6]

This concept is effectively the same as modification, or adaptation within a species. How over the course of centuries, a species develops, for example, a bird’s beak growing longer to support its being able to feed itself in a changed environment. The bird’s essence remains quite the same, while its beak varies in size. Or, drawing from the example above, how a human zygote, (the first stage in the life of a human being), possesses the capacity to develop into a full-grown human being, it possesses no facility whatever, to mature into an adult deer. This would be contrary to the essence of a human being; it would not be modification, or adaptation within a species, but a complete change in kind, from one species – to another entirely.

Just so, development in Church doctrine: “to be faithful, must retain both the doctrine and the principle with which it started. Doctrine without its correspondent principle remains barren, if not lifeless….”[7] Barren and lifeless, because – in the endeavors of sinful men, self-will and agenda enter the realm where God’s will and Revealed Word should reign supreme. The result of this, cannot be said to be life giving, it is not modification, or adaptation in the same vein, nor does it stem from the same root, instead, God’s Word has been corrupted, overlooked, or simply ignored.

Clearly, it is not God, nor, His Word that has changed! Rather, it is the grace of God, and His unchanging Word – that restores the hearts of men: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”[8] “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.”[9]

Therefore, out of love for God and neighbor, confident in the knowledge – that God’s Justice requires that all be held accountable for their actions: “…you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.”[10]

Rather, trusting in the mercy of God – His free gift of grace and His loving providence:

Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant….[11]

[1] Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Catholic Church, Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible (Washington, D.C. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Publishing Co. 2011)., Num 23:19. (Hereafter cited as NAB).

[2] Ibid., Isa 55:8-9.

[3] Ibid., Heb 13:8.

[4] Vatican Council Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano) 1962-1965 :, and Catholic Church Pope (1963-1978 : Paul VI). 1965. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, November 18, 1965. Washington, D.C.: National Catholic Welfare Conference. Ch. II., Article. 8.

[5] Newman, John Henry, Charles Frederick Harrold, and Ottis Ivan Schreiber. 1949. An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine. New ed. New York: Longmans, Green., pg. 302.

[6]Ibid., pg. 159-160.

[7] Ibid., pg. 168.

[8] NAB., Rom 12:2.

[9] Ibid., Heb 4:12-13.

[10] Ibid., Deu 4:2.

[11] Ibid., Act 20:28-31.