03-08-26

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 8, 2026
Isn’t it great when life is going smoothly and nothing unexpected occurs? We need to enjoy those times in life, all seven peaceful minutes. You probably understand the point I’m trying to make. It was the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, who said, “The only constant in life is change.” I remember when pagers became the thing, and I was this stick in the mud who publicly declared there was no way I’d have a pager as I did not want people to be able to find me in every moment of life. Today, if I accidentally leave my phone at home, I find myself in a near anxiety attack. Things change! There are some of you who remain old school when it comes to books, yet I’ve known a few of those who, as vintage book people, suddenly realize that when traveling, it doesn’t take up much space to load twenty books on your device as compared to carrying a duffle bag of books. In most circumstances, if you like the old way, whatever the thing might be, that’s probably okay. But when people attempt to force their own dislike of progress on others, we have a problem. During a time of change, when the new thing is still very much the new thing, it’s okay to ask questions. It is important to weigh the positives and concerns. Yet with that in mind, I’m pretty sure James Garfield would have appreciated that a few more doctors would not have been so dismissive of this new thing called Germ Theory. It was not the bullet that killed him, but the doctors who didn’t wash their hands before probing the wound. And when it comes to religion, so often we cling to the nonsense and lose sight of our core values. Of course, it is often much easier to be passionate about the fringe nonsense than it is to be passionate about the things that Jesus actually taught. Fringe issues, such as the number of candles on the communion table (an argument from my childhood), don’t really require any sort of sacrifice. Choosing love over hate, mercy over revenge, or peace over violence, will always cost us something. And most of the “progress” occurring within the life of Christianity is progress associated with expanding the nature of love and mercy. It makes some folks so uncomfortable that they pick a fight over what kind of bread will be served at communion or something similar. This way, they can appear passionate about the things of faith without actually feeling the discomfort that a faith not stuck in the mud of history will often cause. I believe the faith we are called to live is a faith led by a Spirit that is always expanding our perception of God’s unconditional and limitless love.

May any discomfort I feel, Kind and Merciful God, be comforted by your grace. This world needs the Gospel of Jesus, and not a church unable to see how your love and mercy have no limits. Give us the courage to be stretched a bit more so our lives might resemble you. Amen.