James 3:13-4:12
Today I read a small blurb about Gregorio Labayan Aglipay, A Philipino Catholic Priest who eventually founded the Philippine Independent Church in 1902. And yet another schism was created.
When we pray for Christian unity do we ever consider the causes? If nothing else it is selfishness on a grand scale. I/We want to be in charge, we have the arrogance to think we know the correct interpretation, we are so clearly correct and they are so clearly wrong. As if to drive the point home we (humans, no specific denomination) are willing to condemn others, fight for what we think is ours, wage wars and create inquisitions and Jihads. Even though Jihad is a Muslim term, I think you get the idea.
All of the things that this passage from James speaks of are to be found in the history of the church and I mean that in the most nebulous way. Pick and choose a specific church if you will, some may be more guilty, but we are all guilty of this insult to God in the form of a fractured church. I look at Pope Francis and I really do see hope inspite of his empty proclaimantion "who am I to judge?" His poverty of soul and in real life is a beacon to a church that thrives on the antithesis of poverty. A church where clergy grow rich and live well as princes. Still more insult added to injury when the structure and organization of the church is placed far above the ordinary faithful as if they can be sumarily dispensed with for the good of the church. This is how fracture and schisms occur. Look at everything Jesus would rail against and people see the lack of true faith, wrongly focused actions and outright sinfulness. Selling of indulgences, one schism, then two, then three and more. Worse yet, covering up pedophelia and blaming gays, worse than schism, people turn away from God altogether. As Jesus said, it is better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea.
Drawing near to God is not necessarily drawing near to the established church. The message of Jesus is not born of Canon Law and cover ups. Return to the faith that God loves you so much that he would die for you on the cross (again) and you are on the right track. Know your value as a son or daughter of God and you are on the right track. Whether you are straight, gay, blue, white, gray, black or green, know you are created in love and in His image - then you are on the right track.
Schisms are an unfortunate part of Christianity. Know what human behaviors are at their root and comitt yourself to rightful loving actions and a faith deep in your heart.
When we pray for Christian unity do we ever consider the causes? If nothing else it is selfishness on a grand scale. I/We want to be in charge, we have the arrogance to think we know the correct interpretation, we are so clearly correct and they are so clearly wrong. As if to drive the point home we (humans, no specific denomination) are willing to condemn others, fight for what we think is ours, wage wars and create inquisitions and Jihads. Even though Jihad is a Muslim term, I think you get the idea.
All of the things that this passage from James speaks of are to be found in the history of the church and I mean that in the most nebulous way. Pick and choose a specific church if you will, some may be more guilty, but we are all guilty of this insult to God in the form of a fractured church. I look at Pope Francis and I really do see hope inspite of his empty proclaimantion "who am I to judge?" His poverty of soul and in real life is a beacon to a church that thrives on the antithesis of poverty. A church where clergy grow rich and live well as princes. Still more insult added to injury when the structure and organization of the church is placed far above the ordinary faithful as if they can be sumarily dispensed with for the good of the church. This is how fracture and schisms occur. Look at everything Jesus would rail against and people see the lack of true faith, wrongly focused actions and outright sinfulness. Selling of indulgences, one schism, then two, then three and more. Worse yet, covering up pedophelia and blaming gays, worse than schism, people turn away from God altogether. As Jesus said, it is better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea.
Drawing near to God is not necessarily drawing near to the established church. The message of Jesus is not born of Canon Law and cover ups. Return to the faith that God loves you so much that he would die for you on the cross (again) and you are on the right track. Know your value as a son or daughter of God and you are on the right track. Whether you are straight, gay, blue, white, gray, black or green, know you are created in love and in His image - then you are on the right track.
Schisms are an unfortunate part of Christianity. Know what human behaviors are at their root and comitt yourself to rightful loving actions and a faith deep in your heart.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour?
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