World Youth Day has come and gone in thoroughly [or supposedly] secular Australia.  Our t.v. screens have been filled night after night with endless streams of shiny, happy, bright, young international things marching happily along, singing and proclaiming their faith in Jesus.

Protestants don’t really have the capacity to bring young people together like this, given our divided &  schismatic nature.  Secular Australia likes to assume that the church is filled with ageing people and will die out some time soon. The images from World Youth Day clearly show a new vibrant [did I really just use that word?] generation who seek after God. The images contradict the popular notion of a doddering church.

The question I have in my mind is whether or not this would ever be possible with Protestants?  I personally don’t think so.  We are way too divided, and way to committed to our own favourite personalities or brands to come together in such astonishing unity.

We could definitely not have a Pope. Theology aside [the primary reason we would not have one!], we could never unite ourselves enough to accept leadership in that way coming from a single source.  The various personalities and ’stars’ that we all have provide too much of a comparative field for that to ever be possible!

Whilst my theological views lead me to view the institution and practises of the Catholic church with grave suspicion, Catholics themselves regularly contradict my thoughts and feelings.  I know some brothers and sisters in Christ who are Catholic who live lives of passionate worship and mission continually.  The presence of the Spirit and His gifting within them shine out.  In fact many of my Catholic friends leave your average suburban Baptist in the dark when it comes to visible signs of life and mission!

So I left wondering what to make of the after effects of World Youth Day.  At its most basic I would much prefer a more unified church, that would come together in such visible ways to contradict the popular notions [urban myths] about a dying and inconsequential church.  Of course I don;t want that to be at the expense of good theology - especially ‘my’ theology!