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Published On: Apr 07, 2009 10:27 AM
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Published On: Apr 07, 2009 10:27 AM
Ashes to Ashes...
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of
Lent. For Christians, this is the period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) that
precedes Easter. It is to be a time of reflection and a time to humble
ourselves. It is a time to take our lives into account and rid ourselves of the
things in our lives that separate us from joyful obedience to God
.
I've written several times about the wranglings in the Presbyterian Church (USA), the denomination to which my husband and I belong. Mostly these arguments are about "the gays" of course, since conservative straight guys are always seemingly more concerned about gay sex than even gay people are. Instead of realizing, to quote Kate Hepburn, "Every family has its little ups and downs," they refuse to concentrate on their own ministry and can't curb their need to be denominational busybodies and fusspots.
Anyway, a week or so ago, a small group of Presbyterian Churches got together and started making plans to leave the denomination. They'd like to call it a schism, but it's really more of a chip or splinter, just as I predicted. This group, which calls itself "New Wineskins" has about 200 churches, less than 2% of the denomination, and it's sounding like less than half of them are going to leave.
Now, on my best days, I really don't think they should leave. I think the church is stronger with them than without them. But, if they really feel that they need to go, then no one is standing in their way. All of these folks could simply decide next Sunday to start attending some other church they like better. But, they're not leaving quietly. They're not just "shaking the dust off their sandals" and walking away. Nope, they need validation. They want to make a stink. They want face time. (And, it's all about money and property.)
So what does this have to do with Ash Wednesday?
One of the traditional readings for Ash Wednesday comes from the book of Isaiah (58: 4-10) and it applies so perfectly to these "New Wineskins" folks.
4: Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5: Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6: "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7: Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8: Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9: Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10: if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
These folks have tied the church up in knots for years with their quarreling, fighting, pointing fingers, hitting with wicked fists, and separating all of us from concentrating on sharing our bread with the hungry, housing the homeless, and clothing the poor. So, I'm beginning to come to the unfortunate conclusion that maybe it is indeed time for them to go. If they go, perhaps there's no better time than Lent. Lent is a time to take our lives into account and rid ourselves of the things in our lives that separate us from joyful obedience to God. They should go quietly and humbly and the sooner, the better for everyone, so the denomination can truly experience a joyous Easter resurrection.
I've written several times about the wranglings in the Presbyterian Church (USA), the denomination to which my husband and I belong. Mostly these arguments are about "the gays" of course, since conservative straight guys are always seemingly more concerned about gay sex than even gay people are. Instead of realizing, to quote Kate Hepburn, "Every family has its little ups and downs," they refuse to concentrate on their own ministry and can't curb their need to be denominational busybodies and fusspots.
Anyway, a week or so ago, a small group of Presbyterian Churches got together and started making plans to leave the denomination. They'd like to call it a schism, but it's really more of a chip or splinter, just as I predicted. This group, which calls itself "New Wineskins" has about 200 churches, less than 2% of the denomination, and it's sounding like less than half of them are going to leave.
Now, on my best days, I really don't think they should leave. I think the church is stronger with them than without them. But, if they really feel that they need to go, then no one is standing in their way. All of these folks could simply decide next Sunday to start attending some other church they like better. But, they're not leaving quietly. They're not just "shaking the dust off their sandals" and walking away. Nope, they need validation. They want to make a stink. They want face time. (And, it's all about money and property.)
So what does this have to do with Ash Wednesday?
One of the traditional readings for Ash Wednesday comes from the book of Isaiah (58: 4-10) and it applies so perfectly to these "New Wineskins" folks.
4: Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5: Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6: "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7: Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8: Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9: Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10: if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
These folks have tied the church up in knots for years with their quarreling, fighting, pointing fingers, hitting with wicked fists, and separating all of us from concentrating on sharing our bread with the hungry, housing the homeless, and clothing the poor. So, I'm beginning to come to the unfortunate conclusion that maybe it is indeed time for them to go. If they go, perhaps there's no better time than Lent. Lent is a time to take our lives into account and rid ourselves of the things in our lives that separate us from joyful obedience to God. They should go quietly and humbly and the sooner, the better for everyone, so the denomination can truly experience a joyous Easter resurrection.
Posted: Thu - February 22, 2007 at 10:32 AM