Symbols, Colours and Objects - Two of the things we do

I've had a couple of interesting questions regarding symbols and objects. The first relates to candles on the altar (table) and what they signify because when they asked whether the candles signified anything they were told they were there because 'Jesus is the light of the world'.

Now I'm probably going to get into some heavy weather with some out there but as far as I know (and that's probably little) the reason we have candles (two or more) on the table (altar) is down to the fact that without them it's pretty difficult to read the service when it's dark! Basically candles were lit for purely practical reasons BUT of course it doesn't take long before someone adds some spiritual or other context to the blesséd things and they become part of something they were never intended to be.

I recall a lecture on liturgy, worship and the things we do in our services where someone read out something about the candle being a trinity where the candle, the wick and the flame represented God, the believer and the Holy Spirit. In the same lecture we were told how, with regard to the epistle and Gospel sides of the table (altar) - which (looking at the congregation) is apparently left and right respectively - the candle was lit on the Gospel side first (that's reversed for the person lighting because they do it from the front!). To make it more interesting, if you were into multiple candles you'd light them left then right and then repeat for as many pairs of candles you had (extinguishing them in the reverse order).

The only candle that represents the light of Christ remains the Paschal candle.

The second 'interesting' question relates to adding water to the wine when we celebrate the Eucharist (Communion). When asked the person asking me was told that it's all about symbolism as it speaks of the blood and water that flowed from Jesus' side when He was pierced by the spear.

Sadly I think this might be one of the great sounding explanations that fall just a little short of the reality and yet has made it into law! I know I was told that when I first realised the bloke up the front was watering down the red stuff - wasn't him fiddling the books or making the wine go further after all - there was this cool sounding spiritual explanation.

Truth is that it was the Greek custom for water and other stuff to be added to the wine and Israel having been part of Hellenistic and then Roman culture had been exposed to such practices and also made them theirs. It was what they did. BUT one of the reasons I was given (accompanied by a defence of the Eucharist by one of the Early Christian Fathers+) stated that it wasn't some licentious booze up (my words) but something else and that this could be demonstrated by the fact that the wine was watered down. Another explanation I had came from an RC friend who spoke of bread, wine and water forming a trinity and then went on (at length) to explain how it brought God, man and Church into a oneness - have to say I wasn't convinced and so find myself going along with the contemporary practice of the time and the 'not boozing' scenarios. But I'm happy to have someone who knows lead me further forward.

So there we are  - two questions and two (as brief as I can be) answers - a ten minute splurge - hopefully something sound and of worth here.

Pax

Symbols, Colours and Objects - Visual Worship

It seems to me that one of the biggest areas where Church is found to be lacking lies in symbols.

When I first started training I found much of what we did in my training church (not to be confused with the church where I did my 'Title' post - AKA Curacy) had no meaning because of my Charismatic/Evangelical background. I was bemused by some of the stuff, confused by other bits and totally at a loss with anything that was left!

The thing is that following on from my Paschal candle piece I have been engaged in conversation regarding much of the stuff we do in our services and the reasons we do it and this has got me thinking. So whilst I am still reading atonement stuff in the background as part of my quest to understand PSA and all that sort of thing I think I'm going to try (and possibly magnificently fail) to explain the why, what and wherefore of the Anglican liturgy and the things we do in our services.

What better place to start can there be than the rite of initiation (and, as this has brought me a number of questions, others seem to think so too):

Baptism and the current Common Worship (CW) service  (which I think works if the clergy are engaged, willing and able to deliver it in a didactic/apologetic manner) is full of magnificent symbolism in the three main elements which we :

Chrism - Baptism - Light of Christ*

Chrism: For as long as we've been around ('we' being initially being Jews, for we surely were a sect of Judaism) people have been anointing, and anointed, with Olive Oil. The primary reason for this is that it represents the Holy Spirit and so the symbolism is that we are invoking the Holy Spirit to come and fill the person being baptised (oooh, does that make it an epiclesis?). Olive oil also have healing properties and so there are other historic positives to be considered here too.

When we anoint the candidate we make the sign of the cross. The reason for this is that this is our trade mark. Were we McDonald's we'd be making the sign of the Golden Arches instead! So, with the words, "Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of his cross," we chrismate the candidate and, with the words:

"May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness, restore in you the image of his glory, and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ. Amen;" 

we enact the exorcism bit (with no need to do anything else or embellish the proceedings with our own particular foolishness) - Job's a Good'un and the Holy Spirit has been invoked and fills every nook and cranny of their innermost being - Hallelujah or what?

Baptism: We do this because this is what Jesus did! He was baptised and so, emulating Him, we too come to baptism - but it's much more than just the 'wet witness' that many (especially those who think they have the 'only' baptism) deliver under the label 'baptism'! It's a great place to continue the continuity with being Jewish and explain ritual washing (ever seen the bathhouses in the Amsterdam synagogue?) too.

I have to say that those who tell me the CW is out of touch and unwieldy are wrong because I find that it connects, and makes connections, between (and with) the Bible  and those who come to the service - the paucity lies perhaps with the person doing the service rather than the liturgy (but hey, I could be wrong, often am :-)  ). Let's take a moment to look at the 'prayer over the water' and the opportunities it gives us - remembering that as there's no sermon we need to work out what we are going to teach in other ways (my observations/comments are in italics here):

We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Now what is there difficult here? It makes sense as a standalone comment ;-)

Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Great place to mention the Holy Spirit 'brooding' and God speaking!

Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
Yeah - it's the Exodus and all that great stuff about setting God's people free from captivity - Egyptians, sin, the field is wide open!

In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
Yeehah - doing what Jesus did - anointing - Holy Spirit - resurrection and new life (who wrote this stuff, it's full of opportunities for us?). 

We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
Get in there - where there's total immersion 'buried' is obvious and where not, we speak of this as symbolism and can again  bring in the 'Jewishness' of it all too.(added later: because the line from OT to NT and the connections we can make, inform and excite. = or they should)

By it we share in his resurrection.
Indeed, for if we have been buried with Him so too will we rise with Him! Hallelujah!!!

Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
New birth through the waters of baptism, not even the naughty rebaptisers will be able to rail against the theology here!

Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son, we baptise into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Cherry on the cake time - go into all the world and all that stuff (Matt 28) makes it complete and gets us ready to do the splashing.

Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, they may be cleansed from sin and born again. Get that water ready and find me a candidate.

Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Got a candle ready, going to need one for the next bit!

If we take the time the symbolism and full meaning of what we are doing is there for all to see - all it takes is someone to do the explaining (and if we can't should we be doing the service?)

Light of Christ - This is where we light the candle (from our Paschal candle) and celebrate the candidate having passed from darkness into light. The symbolism is simple and extremely obvious and so completes the whole service nicely. I've done this in the Paschal candle piece and so won't repeat it again. 

The service is topped off by the wearing of a nice white stole (if you're unsure why, see here +) and Bob's your uncle and Jesus is means by which reconciliation come to us! Nothing too difficult here and the richness of the symbols is obvious and amazing!

Hope this helps those who have asked me regarding the service - next time we'll look at the colours and seasons (again) because I've had almost eighteen requests to do so (and I'm happy to revisit it for me because I'm a bit dim at time) - and that concludes my 20 minute moment of mayhem :-)

Pax





* Some talk (extensively) of the exorcism as part of the baptism and whilst this is something that is present the way they refer to it and the associations they make are usually more bounded by ignorance than theological or practical theological that anything efficacious.

+Colours - the official line is this:
"White is the colour for the festal periods from Christmas Day to the Presentation and from Easter Day to the Eve of Pentecost, for Trinity Sunday, for Festivals of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary, for All Saints' Day, and for the Festivals of those saints not venerated as martyrs, for the Feast of Dedication of a church, at Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday and in thanksgiving for Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. It is used for Marriages, and is suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination. It may be used in preference to purple or black for Funerals, and should be used at the Funeral of a child. Where a church has two sets of white, one may be kept for great Festivals indicated as 'gold or white'. "

The Preface
"Baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives, the first step in response to God’s love. For all involved, particularly the candidates but also parents, godparents and sponsors, it is a joyful moment when we rejoice in what God has done for us in Christ, making serious promises and declaring the faith. The wider community of the local church and friends welcome the new Christian, promising support and prayer for the future. Hearing and doing these things provides an opportunity to remember our own baptism and reflect on the progress made on that journey, which is now to be shared with this new member of the Church. The service paints many vivid pictures of what happens on the Christian way. There is the sign of the cross, the badge of faith in the Christian journey, which reminds us of Christ’s death for us. Our ‘drowning’ in the water of baptism, where we believe we die to sin and are raised to new life, unites us to Christ’s dying and rising, a picture that can be brought home vividly by the way the baptism is administered.Water is also a sign of new life, as we are born again by water and the Spirit. This reminds us of Jesus’ baptism. And as a sign of that new life, there may be a lighted candle, a picture of the light of Christ conquering the darkness of evil. Everyone who is baptised walks in that light for the rest of their lives. As you pray for the candidates, picture them with yourself and the whole Church throughout the ages, journeying into the fullness of God’s love."

Baptism and motor Vehicle Maintenance

I had a great comment some time back where someone pointed out that the names of the blog entries pointed towards 'something a bit worrying with my sense of humour!' All I can say is that whilst it's not 'humour' (and this suggests that there might be more wrong with them than me) there is indeed much to be worried about regarding mine. Still, here we go with a five minute splurge:

I have noticed that there are two models regarding baptism that read more like automotive journals than Bible stuff  in that for many (almost twenty-five) years I have kept a mantra which spoke of 'Putting the Rubber on the Road' as the formulaic reminder of the Christian life. The focus is on the acronym RBBR (Rubber):
Repent
Believe
Be Baptised
Receive the Holy Spirit

Now that's all pretty straightforward and works well if applied to those to whom it applies. The problem is that I have met a fair few to whom it obviously didn't apply when they hit the water.

The bigger problem is that even when it did, those who were baptised never actually became disciples and so what efficacy was there in the fact they were baptised and considered themselves to be 'Christian' in name but were obviously unregenerate - As a Pentecostal I became aware of many who had raised their hand, said the sinner's prayer and were never seen again; they'd been and gone and assumed they were now 'Christian'.

Last week I met someone who had been baptised in a local church and, seeing the ring of confidence around my neck, quickly informed me of how they were 'Christian'. I asked where they went and upon being told mentioned the name of the pastor there. They shifted from foot to foot and said, "I haven't been there for a while,' and the conversation ended as the rushed away! A bit later I found the 'while' was a couple of years and that they'd been baptised there and then drifted away.

Discipleship, commitment and retention (move the order to fit your preferred emphasis) are surely part of the whole picture and the reality is that those who think baptism is some silver bullet need to check that it's not merely the means of gaining and proclaiming (or parading) scalps.

I struggle with the way infant baptism works for we can find ourselves with people looking for anything but a proclamation of faith and an intention to bring the babe to disciple status - and having provided it we leave the child to grow up with the mistaken belief that they are 'Christian'. The reality is that we have made them members of the Church and then failed to complete the journey. Sadly though, I find this in both forms of baptism regardless of the wet witness brigade or the baptise my baby bunch.

The other automotive parallel comes in the components of baptism:

Oil
Water
Lights

Three of the things that you need to check every morning as you 'first parade' your vehicle (yes' I know there are tyres too!) and these lead us away from some of the previous thinking into the sacramental side of baptism.

But that's for another day - countdown timer has just buzzed and it's time to get down and sacramental with the Eucharist.

have a great day: Be blessed and be a blessing

Baptism of Jesus, the Christ

Man on the radio talking about baptism
Bishop on the telephone
Chap in the studio
All wanting a baptism that works
Words need to be right or it doesn't work
Well that's what they say

Elsewhere
Two thousand years ago
Two thousand  miles away
There are two men standing in a river
No worry about words
Or Accessibility
Or Indices of Multiple Deprivation
Or Cultural attitudes

Just the call to 'Come'
Come and repent
Come and renounce evil
Turn away from our sins
Choose God not the Devil

But that was then and so today
Here and now
They are
Words that are rejected
And in their rejection there's rejoicing
But not from God

But back to the river

It's not about the words used
It's about the Word made flesh
It's not about the christening gown
Nor the cake the Grandmother's made
Nor the party that's waiting
Nor being popular with those outside the door

It is so simple really:
It's all about repentance - turning from sin
(Never been popular)

It's all about belief
(Not that popular - nothing new here either!)

It's all about submission
(Can we say that?)

It's all about obedience
(Which is good if others obeying I guess)

About joining
Joining in - signing up - being part
(Discipleship comes later)

Receiving the Holy Spirit
(Equipped, enables, released to be who we were made to be)

Baptism of Jesus
The beginning of a ministry
The acceptance of a calling to be, do, think and act
To live with, and for, and through God, with love

Beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus

Beginning of end for John the Baptist

The Sixth Day of Christmas - Creation

'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth' - the beginning of the 'beginning' narrative and the start of great assurance or general unease. Literal or figurative days? Young earth or old earth? Creation is the source of all that is, including controversy!

People speak of the seven days of creation, but of course, as accentuated by the six days of Christmas, there are but six - day seven being the day off after the labours!

This is not the place to discuss young or old earths and the like - for here the focus is what each day results in bringing about.

Day One
In the beginning there was nothing and then came a voice with it the first uttered words, 'Let there be light!' - and, of course being God, the light was good! So God separated the light from the darkness and there it is: Day one - light and darkness. Day and night.
















Day Two
In short water and sky make their entry. Science books tell me it's all about vapour, condensation and all that stuff!















Day Three
Dry ground appears and as we all know - have a bit of ground and stuff soon appears - creation is where this starts! So we have dry ground, with vegetation, and where it's not dry there are seas. Friends call this 'Tectonic day'!
















Day Four
Things are settling down and there are now visible in the sky the sun by day and the moon by night - and stars and seasons too I assume  for position, and appearance, of stars ( like Winter's Orion) bring us seasons (not just climatic you know).
















Day Five
Getting good (I'm bird watcher and fisherman) as we get out first, 'Be fruitful and multiply,' for sea creatures and birds.

















Day Six
What's left? Oh yeah, animals - and with them the pinnacle of creation, Human beings.


















So that, in a nutshell, is creation - is it any wonder that the next day was a day off?

Light - Dark
Water -Sky
Ground - Green stuff
Sun, Moon and Stars
Birds and Fish
Animals and People

Literal days or otherwise - friends (and books - what are merely written friends) tell me the order is right and the division logical and scientific - and that's a bit of a winner, isn't it ;-)

My gift to you today? The wonderful 'Days of Creation' by Burne-Jones (can be seen in the windows of St Editha's, St George's Chapel, and the brief summary of the Genesis account.

Atheists and the brain of a Goldfish

I have to be honest and say that the image below made me smile when I saw it:

Always good to see the ball bounce back over the net isn't it?

Especially when it makes you smile :-)

Happy Friday guys

Trinity Sunday

A day when heresies and errors abound as we find modal, adopt, tritheistic and many other entertaining sermons and illustrations on offer. And what will yours be?
Here's a quick (and light) guide for those consumers tomorrow:

Arianism: Arius, a 4th century priest in Alexandria, held the view that Jesus, being 'created' was therefore inferior to the Father and not eternal. Jesus just isn't God!

Corrective: Creator not created! 'Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.' (John 1.3) Equal (and co-eternal) with the Father, 'I and the Father are one.’ (John 10.30), ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’(John 8.58).

Adoptionism
A 5th century error that Jesus was a normal bloke who was merely 'adopted' through His baptism or as some teach by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jesus was a 'normal' man until he became pentecostal - I've heard it!). His ministry was an example of Spiritual Gifts!

Corrective: The eternal Jesus: ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’(John 8.58). Jesus, the creator - always was, is and will be: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.' (John 1.1-3). Eternal: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’(Revelation 1.8)


Modalism: Here we have a god who can be but one part of the Trinity at any given time. Creator God - Saviour Jesus and Enabling Holy Spirit. God takes upon Himself the role needed and switches between the three as the needs demand.

Corrective: Take a look at Jesus' baptism: Jesus is being dunked, the Spirit is making an appearance and the Father has the talking part: 'As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3. 16-17)


Tritheism: Here we have all three members of the Trinity making an appearance because they are three separate and individual gods with three characters and desires, actions and roles. All three are but ONE God.

Corrective: ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.' (John 17. 20-22)


Polytheism: A belief in 'many gods' - an extension of the three god (tritheistic) thinking into many gods of which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are but three.

Corrective: There is only one God, ‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no saviour. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed - I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he.(Isaiah 43.10-13)

So tomorrow, when someone tells you about:
Clover and how God is green with three parts  = Tritheism
or how God is water, ice and steam= Modalism
or like and egg - shell, white and yolk = Tritheism;
God is like a woman who is Mother, Sister and Wife (or Husband, Brother and Son) = Modalism;
God is like a 3-in-one shampoo (cleans, conditions and mends split ends!) = Modalism and/or Tritheism

If we really want to communicate the Trinity - the best bet is to teach that which the Council of Nicea (the FIRST Ecumenical Council - 352AD) taught, and it goes like this:

God is of 'one substance'  person with three distinct persons Of course we can get more into this and head for Nicea (325AD) and get to grips with the 'substance' (ousia) and we find that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one ousios (homo ousious), not similar (homoi ousious), not different (hetero ousios). One substance, three distinct and separate wills - all in accord.

Equal, co-eternal, engaged (fully) in creation, eternal: Three and yet one (and that's where all of the analogies fall and lead us into the error). This little drawing below is often useful here:

And if you need more help - let's call up the services of St Patrick to help us clear things up a little:

We need to stop trying to explain things and start teaching them!