St Matthias', Dallas: News, Events, and Parish Resources

Kreeft's visit was part of St Matthias' annual Eastertide celebration, which includes an educational component. St Matthias' is "big on education," says The Rev. David Houk. Adult education programs at St Matthias' run through much of the year. In his talks and sermons, Kreeft, who is a professor of philosophy at Boston College and the author of many books, emphasized that Christians should be wise in how they speak about their faith to others. When asked about how to answer skeptics, Kreeft said that Christians should act as artists and scientists.

As Father Houk summarizes Kreeft's point, "the first thing is to 'paint a picture' of the beauty of God. Show the skeptic that Christianity is desirable. Appeal to the heart. Then the skeptic may get to the place where he wants to believe but can't. At that point the Christian apologist or evangelist takes on the scientist's role and answers objections to the Christian faith. By this point the skeptic's heart is already involved and there's some momentum."

One of Kreeft's emphases at St Matthias was the possibility of reunification between Protestants and Catholics. In its first millennium, the Christian Church enjoyed unity. Since the mideleventh century, however, the Church has become increasingly fractured. Kreeft hopes that Christianity's third millennium will be one of reunification.

In a Saturday afternoon talk, he focused on the rift between Catholics and Protestants. One thing for Catholics to do, he said, is to become completely focused on Christ - that is, to recognize that tradition and the sacraments are only about Christ.

If Catholics do this, Kreeft said, then Protestants who worry that Catholics are not concerned about developing personal relationships with Christ will see that, in fact, Catholics are just as devoted to Christ as they are. "When Catholics are evangelized," Kreeft said, "Protestants will be sacramentalized."

St. Matthias' has already secured the speaker for next year's Eastertide celebration: Thomas Howard, Professor of Literature at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and the author of numerous books, including The Liturgy Explained, Evangelical is Not Enough, and On Being Catholic.

Speakers in previous years include David Mills, senior editor of Touchstone magazine, and Sister Mary Charles of All Saints Convent in Maryland.



		St Matthias' Parish News Boston College's Peter Kreeft speaks at St Matthias' *By Preston Jones. First prinited in the June, 2003, Esprit, the monthly newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas* On May 17 and 18, St Matthias' Episcopal Church in Dallas hosted the noted Christian writer and apologist Peter Kreeft. On Saturday afternoon, Kreeft spoke at a meeting open to the metroplex. He later spoke at a parish dinner, preached at both of St Matthias' Sunday services and taught during the adult education house between services. Kreeft's visit was part of St Matthias' annual Eastertide celebration, which includes an educational component. St Matthias' is "big on education," says The Rev. David Houk. Adult education programs at St Matthias' run through much of the year. In his talks and sermons, Kreeft, who is a professor of philosophy at Boston College and the author of many books, emphasized that Christians should be wise in how they speak about their faith to others. When asked about how to answer skeptics, Kreeft said that Christians should act as artists and scientists. As Father Houk summarizes Kreeft's point, "the first thing is to 'paint a picture' of the beauty of God. Show the skeptic that Christianity is desirable. Appeal to the heart. Then the skeptic may get to the place where he wants to believe but can't. At that point the Christian apologist or evangelist takes on the scientist's role and answers objections to the Christian faith. By this point the skeptic's heart is already involved and there's some momentum." One of Kreeft's emphases at St Matthias was the possibility of reunification between Protestants and Catholics. In its first millennium, the Christian Church enjoyed unity. Since the mideleventh century, however, the Church has become increasingly fractured. Kreeft hopes that Christianity's third millennium will be one of reunification. In a Saturday afternoon talk, he focused on the rift between Catholics and Protestants. One thing for Catholics to do, he said, is to become completely focused on Christ - that is, to recognize that tradition and the sacraments are only about Christ. If Catholics do this, Kreeft said, then Protestants who worry that Catholics are not concerned about developing personal relationships with Christ will see that, in fact, Catholics are just as devoted to Christ as they are. "When Catholics are evangelized," Kreeft said, "Protestants will be sacramentalized." St. Matthias' has already secured the speaker for next year's Eastertide celebration: Thomas Howard, Professor of Literature at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and the author of numerous books, including The Liturgy Explained, Evangelical is Not Enough, and On Being Catholic. Speakers in previous years include David Mills, senior editor of Touchstone magazine, and Sister Mary Charles of All Saints Convent in Maryland.
		St Matthias' Church (ANGLICAN) A Parish of the Anglican Communion in the Province of the Southern Cone -- the Diocese of Argentina 3460 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75234 Telephone: 214.358.2585 Email: office@stmatthias-dallas.org \| WHO we are \| WHAT we're about \| WHERE you can find us \| WHEN we gather \| \| News, Events, and Parish Resources \| HOW can I find what I'm looking for on this site? \| \| HOME \|