The title of The Times forum, Is The Church 200 Years Behind The Times?, got me thinking about my 86-year existence.

I say that the Church is not 200 years behind the times but 2,000 years; just because the Church, with all the ups and downs in this world has always been faithful to the teachings of Christ, more than 2,000 years ago.

The Church has always been faithful to Christ’s teachings, which, in my view, are very simple and easy to follow if you have an open heart. The debate as to whether the Church should come in line with today’s thoughts and trends, well, in that case I will quote Christ’s words to His apostles: “You can leave, no one is stopping you.”

“But where can we go,” they answered, “you have the words of salvation” (or words to that effect).

It all boils down to two important points, in my view: we either really believe in Christ’s teachings according to the very clear and precise gospels, or else we can leave. That is the choice we have to make really.

I do not think Christ used a philosopher’s brain in his time to teach the very simple people he chose as his followers.

One of his teachings was: “I am always with you till the end of time.” So, here, we have to have faith. Have we enough of this grace?

Another teaching of Christ is very simple to follow: when the apostles asked him about forgiveness of sins, he told them that there was no limit to forgiveness.

However, he also instructed his Church as follows: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven; whatever you loosen on earth, will be loosened in Heaven.”

I do not think we need to be great philosophers to follow Christ’s teachings.

Of course, if we find them hard to follow, we can leave, as many have done throughout the centuries. But the Church is still there.