And fair enough, to some extent, since I gather his non-trinitarian lot view us the way we would view someone who stood up in the 10 a.m. morning service and started chanting "Jupiter Optimus Maximus". I wouldn't want anyone to be squirming with suppressed conscience on our happy day. But if he had come, he would have had to put up with the congregation singing the mighty "In Christ Alone", containing the lines:
"No power of Hell, no scheme of ManI like to think my trinitarian faith means I could attend a satanic black mass or an Aztec blood sacrifice and still emerge unscathed at the other end. (I also like to think I will never be asked to, as it could be pushing ecumenism too far.) It's an access-all-areas, go-anywhere pass. It's spiritual Thomas Cook travellers cheques. It's life in all its fullness. Christ rules and Christ rocks.
Can ever pluck me from his hands ..."
That's my faith, anyway.
But he likes the readings.
"In Christ Alone" is a fantastic choice. I was really surprised to see on the copyright that it was only written in 2001. Rousing tune, theologically sound lyrics, no bridge and no endlessly repeated choruses!
ReplyDeleteIt's just a small part of the overall entertainment, though, as you will see. I'm assuming you can come? (Has the general family invitation been communicated to you yet?)
ReplyDeleteI see where you're coming from. Once I was in Bangkok and went to see the Reclining Buddha. I had a choice of observing from a distance, or coming up close, which would have meant taking my shoes off out of respect. I chose to observe from a distance because I wasn't going to take off my shoes for a big lump of metal. Nor was I going to give anyone the impression that I might.
ReplyDeleteYour post seems to suggest there is black or white; you're right, or you're wrong; you believe, or you don't; and these binary divisions cover all areas of life. That is where we disagree. Yes, there is belief or disbelief at either end of the spectrum, but in between are those people who are simply mistaken - and basically, it doesn't really matter that they do.
I don't believe in transubstantiation either; but, I can see where those who do come from, and as long as they don't make it a key article of faith then there's no problem. Further up (or down) the scale, I have considerably more difficulty with something like praying to the Virgin Mary. But I've been to services where it's happened, and when everyone else starts on the Hail Marys I've just closed my eyes, directed my own prayers to the appropriate inbox, and imagined that good Protestant mother of Jesus looking baffled at receiving so much attention and saying "so what do you want me to do about it?"
So on that level, yes, we can all be serving the same God even though we disagree on unimportant matters. God knows what is going on in our hearts and that is what he judges.
I don't think you'll find a single note of disagreement in what constitutes a marriage between either of our churches; therefore I honestly don't think that you coming to mine or me going to yours would count as being yoked with unbelievers. If it was Moonie mass wedding, or one of us was a polygamist getting hitched to wife no 7, that would be a different matter because in such cases the differences are pretty fundamental. But not here.
Early Christians spoke a different language to us, and wore different clothes, and wouldn't begin to recognise everyday things that you or I take for granted. Why is it so important to do things exactly as they did?
ReplyDeleteIn a patriarchal household the father will set some house rules that everyone follows. Beyond that, the father isn't worried if one of his children prefers classical music while another listens to pop. Or that one likes to pass his time reading novels while another prefers games. In fact, a good father will delight in that diversity, while the family continues to nourish and love one another through the important things that they keep in common.
A Christian of Biblical times might not recognise the physical outward expressions of my worship, but if he could read my heart then he would recognise what is there immediately.
Fair enough Ben, I see your point of view about the father with his children. Its a good illustration.
ReplyDeleteObviously we disagree on its point, but we've all got the same father like you say.
In some ways I see where you're coming from in general, its good to meet people who believe in God, believe in Jesus, good to talk with people like yourself for whom their beliefs form the basis for their way of life.
Maybe we just disagree on our definition of truth.
Cue Pilate!!(John 18:38)
Hope your day goes well at work, see you Thursday.
I'll keep looking at your blog. I'll make sure my next comment will be one which is purely in agreement with your post!
Daniel