John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”
Mark 9 v38-41
I was recently in a small seaside town enjoying the beach and the weather. It happened to be Easter Sunday and the annual march of witness was taking place. For the uninitiated a “March of Witness” is a silent procession through a town where Christians follow someone carrying a cross. Here’s my problem - I believe in Christian unity, in as much as when someone is saved they are “in Christ”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5 v17
You can either be “in Christ” or “in Adam”. There are no other categories. Hence, one church. Imagine the dilemma then when I find myself wanting to shout at the silent and sombre procession - HE’S NOT DEAD! JESUS IS ALIVE!
It looked to me like the focus of the whole event was death. The atmosphere was similar to a funeral I attended a few weeks ago. I could not in good conscience join them, not because I doubted their desire to honor Christ or their courage to walk the street following the cross, but because I didn’t want my living, powerful Saviour depicted in that way. I have sat over years in ministers fraternals across the country experiencing similar emotions, trying to decide what we could do together. (Let me just say I’m not of the “spot it and stop it” crowd. I’m really searching for answers here.) I’m left wondering what it really means to be Ecumenical?
03/07/2007 at 10:26 am Permalink
Andy
I’m slightly puzzled by your post especially in the light of your comments on PSA. Surely a rememberance of the death of Jesus on Good Friday is both highly appropriate and an opportunity to unite if practical/possible. Perhaps where the church falls short is by NOT having an equally public and visible celebration of the resurrection two days later. My guess is that all those that march on Good Friday know Jesus isn’t dead but that isn’t the point is it? When we take communion we specifically remember the death of Jesus even though we know Christ is alive. The cross IS a place for mourning, my sin carried by another, the death of the Son of God, it IS tragic, sin is terrible. Of course the resurrection completes the story and turns mourning into dancing as sin and death are conquered and the victory of God exalted.
03/07/2007 at 3:07 pm Permalink
That wasn’t really my question but I understand where you’re coming from. The funeral I attended will be remembered, I’m sure for many years. It will be remembered for the fact that it was the last chance to say goodbye to a husband, father, grandfather and friend. Jesus’ wake was of a rather different order - even the actual events only lasted a few hours. Jesus throughly messed up the mourning process by appearing alive just as they were getting to grips with his death. Remembering his death, until he comes, is full of hope and joy for the Christian. My Appeal is that we demonstrate this to a world who already believe we’re a bunch of dowdy killjoys.
06/08/2007 at 9:19 am Permalink
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