Letting God outa' the Box

Friday, October 31, 2003

 




Lots of hulla-balloo continues to reverberate around the consecration of Canon Robinson in the Episcopal Church. However, through the light of study of the English Reformation and the beginnings of the Anglican Church, our current situation looses some of its sting.

It seems like Anglicans have been arguing for over 500 years (not to mention the close to 2000 years of debate in greater catholic Christian church). Debate and difference of opinion as well as scriptural interpretation seem to be a genetic trait of the church that goes back to our Jewish roots even before Pharasees and Saducees disagreed.

Herbert O'Driscoll penned an interesting book Confound Them! Diabolical Plans for the Church in the style of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letter. It would seem that our disagreements and division are but honey to the devilish author of these letters. The more firm we stand in our positions of disargeements, the more delight we provide the Devil. Having a history of finding myself in moderating positions, I feel the pain of the argument. I fear the hate and resentment that a 'loser' may feel; I fear the pride that will temp a winner. Ever been in the middle when two loved ones argue? Any memory of parents fighting? Is it a sickening memory for you as well?

Often today is associated with "the Devil's Holiday". I've always disliked that association. I have fond memories of trick-or-treating, the smell of autumn and scorched pumpkin in the air. Halloween was a time to laugh at and mock those childhood fears of death, monsters and devils. Seemed logical that we would make fun of death on the eve of remembering all the saints who have gone before us. Halloween seems very logical to me in a Christian sense because Christ defeated death and outwitted the devil.

The passage, "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith." from 1 Peter 5:8-9a and in the Book of Common Prayer's Compline service, seem like a good Halloween prayer. The only problem is that it seems to make the devil out as that mythic beast or the red-suited, pointy-tailed guy. The devil is within us...each of us...a part of us that we cannot truely exocise while we remain on this earth...no matter what side of an argument you are on...winner or loser. According to O'Driscoll, our disharmony is the treat the devil delights in...disharmony within our very selves or between two people...it does not matter. Disharmony seems to be a fertile breeding ground for hate...hate (anti-love) for ourselve or others. Very much the opposite of the commandment that Christ says is the greatest...love yourselves, love God, and love others.

We must all be sober and watchful that our disagreement (internal and external) do not become fodder for the roaring lion.

Happy All Hallow's Eve and a peace-filled All Saints and All Souls Days


Fr. Bill 8:46 AM

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Saturday, October 18, 2003

 
My sermon at Church of the Atonement, October 19, 2003

Isaiah 53:4-12
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:35-45
Psalm 91 (9-16)


In today’s Gospel Mark’s Jesus shows a special concern for the way we as his followers are called to live together.

We see this in the way He explains to his disciples that they are to be servants when James and John ask him for places of honor. When James and John asked to be at Jesus’ right and left hands in glory, the other disciples were angered by their request. Jesus took this opportunity to educate the whole group about the way his followers are called to live together. He explains that true honor comes from serving people not from lording over them like a tyrant. A leader is one who serves the people not the some who rules over people.

This week the Primates of the Anglican Churches met to prayerfully discuss the effects the recent actions by the Diocese of New Hampshire and the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada. While some Anglicans wanted the Primates to make a decision on the issues of sexuality and mandate their decisions using the threat of excommunication, the Primates did not do so.

I realize if Mark’s Jesus were in this situation, he would remind us of our call as his disciples to spread the Good News of God’s love for us, not to squabble over our issues of right or wrong. Our Primates have done just that.After the meeting
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, stated: “I believe that the family we belong to, the family of the Anglican Church around the globe, has to be an instrument of God's love for the world and that means that, in seeking to hold together as a Communion, we have to be seeking to serve that purpose and no other.” To do this is no easy challenge.

The idea that we can disagree and remain friends seems to have drifted away from us. We often become so caught up in defending our position that we sacrifice our relationships. In our competitive society, winning is prized; we hold winners up in positions of honor and glory. Just as we held up the Cubs while they were still in the pennant race. And how quickly we were to condemn The fan who tipped the ball in Game 6. Yet, Jesus is instructing us as His disciples, to be different. We are to see the honor and glory in servitude. We are to hold up the Cubs for their hard work Not just their winning record. We are to forgive the man who tipped the ball and even share his pain

Jesus is calling us to drink from the cup he drinks and be baptized with his baptism. Living into our baptism often means going against societies norms and even against our own wants and desires, just as Jesus did.

In our baptism, we are charged to continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers. We are to persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. We are to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. We are to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. We are to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. This is not always the easiest path to take and often goes against the winds of societal norms and our personal desires.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul speaks of the difficulties we face. He likens the Word of God to a two-edged sword that pierces us so deep it can divide our soul and spirit. Yet, He reminds us that what Christ is asking us to do, is something that He has already done. Christ sympathizes with the struggles we face. Paul instructs us to present our troubles to Christ so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to love and serve one another. In times when we are motivated by our desires or by socials pressures to divide into bi-partisan groups, Christ calls us, through our baptism, to remain united despite our disagreement. It is when we disagree that we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. It is when we disagree that the Good news of God’s love in Christ can bring us together. As we come to the Altar, we are called to give up to Christ all those things we hold in our hearts that cause separation and division. Anything that separates us from the love of ourselves, from loving others, or from God’s love can be given up to Christ so that we may receive mercy and find the grace to heal us in times of need.

Fr. Bill 9:46 PM

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