What the Church Should Learn from the News this Week

1. Penn State—the only thing that matters is integrity.

I am not a Penn State fan. But I HAVE to respect the dedication of someone like Joe Paterno who has dedicated his life to the Penn State football program and has succeeded in ways that some coaches will only ever dream of. That being said…ONE IS TOO MANY.  If the fiasco at PSU has taught the world anything it should be this simple truth…not matter what else happens, in the end, integrity is all that matters—when you lose that you have lost everything.

2. Veteran’s Day:

In the midst of the battle “little” things don’t matter.

I spent a part of the day watching the war movie marathons that have been on the “classic” movie channels all week...those movies that were made in the postmodern era stress the “politically correct” aspects of war—that things like race, creed, socio/economic background, and belief systems don’t matter in the midst of war—I’d like to think that those things are true but I am not naïve enough to believe it—in fact wars are fought over ideologies and believe systems. The late Robert Webber’s last work was called “Who Gets to Narrate the World”—based on the notion that ideologies often create conflict because at their core they form “truth claims” that are sometimes contradictory to each other.

In the end, though, we have fought long enough for things that don’t matter—the battle has damaged lives and dented faith…if our struggle is “not against flesh and blood”—we should know better by now.  What REALLY matters?  It is probably not what we think---Jesus didn’t die for “things” but for people…we are really all that mattered to God…do we share the same views?

Remember to be thankful before it’s too late.

What has often been called ‘America’s greatest generation” is now aging and dying off—they are all but forgotten because the world has simply passed them by.  According to Time magazine those young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are “The Next Greatest Generation” because of the impact that they will have on America as a result of their training, and service.  This should serve as a reminder that though we live in an ever changing  world where nothing seems to be permanent we MUST live the “attitude of gratitude” every day we survive. Is it any wonder that more people choose their church home based on worship and technology than doctrine or belief systems?

Veteran’s Day had fallen out of favor a bit until 9/11 and the subsequent war on terrorism brought out appreciation to those who serve to the forefront once again.  If all the images we are bombarded with remind us of anything it is that we must speak up while we have a chance—appreciation must be our new way of life---if not for the sacrifice of others we would be unprotected.  The same is true in the spiritual realm…if not for the sacrifice of Christ we would be left unprotected so worship must be a reciprocal language when we awake each day anew…if His mercies are new each day should our worship be less?

3. Roman Catholicism—the “new” mass that reflects old theology

An article this week stated that Catholicism is on the verge of a new translation for the Mass. (you can read the entire article HERE).  The new “mass” is intended to finish what was started at Vatican II.  The Second Vatican council  developed a mass primarily for English speaking nations that kept the intent of the Latin but used language that was more idiomatic and more easily understood by those who knew little or no Latin but wanted to remain active in the pursuit of their faith.

The new mass is apparently striving to reflect the Latin meaning without using the Latin language.  For instance the new phraseology of the Nicene Creed reflects a greater depth of understanding by stating that Jesus (the Son) is “consubstantial with the Father.”  Which is really what the Council of Nicaea was all about in 325 anyway—the relationship between the Father and Son.  Where once the priest announced that the Son was “of One being {essence} with the Father” they are now understood as “consubstantial” which reflects a deeper ontology than previous terminology—clearly the Father and Son are now to be seen as “homo-ousia” (of the same essence) in the STRICTEST sense of our understanding of this Hellenistic philosophical concept.

This move by the Vatican only shows the depth of the worship and culture wars that are still being played out between the Church and the world.  But this is no introduction of contemporary worship choruses…this is a call for depth amidst a world that is tired of a Christianity that is ankle deep without integrity.  The Vatican is not calling for a return to modernism, as reflected in Vatican II, but a clarion call to embrace a postmodern culture with ancient truth that, by design, was ANYTHING but emotional “fluff.”  As my theology professor would say, “these boys are only interested in playing hardball!”

The Church needs to take these things to heart---they are telling us more about the world that we are living in than any “ghettoized” Christian magazine, book, or seminar.  We are called to live IN THE WORLD (but not of it)---light is really only noticeable if it shines in the darkness…what is the point of using a flashlight in the brightness of day?  We are called to be salt and light (and we do not have a choice) but just where (and how) are we doing that?  As Francis Assisi once quipped, “preach always…use words when necessary.”