A recent cover story in Newsweek magazine proclaimed, “Forget the Church: Follow Jesus.” This issue contained a story by Andrew Sullivan that in essence claimed that Christianity has been destroyed by politics, priests, and get-rich evangelists.
The author instead urges people to ignore those who have “destroyed” Christianity and embrace Jesus. Sullivan cites St. Francis of Assisi as an example of what a follower of Christ should be: someone who lives simply and renounces worldly power.
This issue of Newsweek came out during Holy Week, at a time when Christians are immersed in remembering the passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus. It’s sad that a national magazine decides to publish an article critical of Christian churches at this time.
The article itself — and the fact that it was even published — also shows an embarrassing lack of knowledge of Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus Christ contained in the Bible. We know that Jesus himself attended the synagogue. He obviously had respect for the Church of his time and was raised according to its traditions.