"God's household ... is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." - 1st Timothy 3:15Anglican headlines were recently made by a visiting priest serving the Eucharist1 to an attender's dog.
The news article reads:
After the action became public last week, Rea apologized during her Sunday sermon to anyone who may have been hurt or embarrassed by her actions. She explained the initial gesture as a way of welcoming a stranger.What troubles me is not the event but the explanation with its underlying perspective of both leaders and laity concerning the purpose of the church.
[The dog's owner], who had never been in the church before, thought the action was “very innocent.”
"And the joy and happiness on the face of one old lady in the front row made it all worthwhile," he told the Toronto Star. 2
When church services are viewed as mere social events to be as inclusive as possible and a smile being the determining factor of what is worthwhile, we have lost something important - a Christ centered focus that make our corporate gatherings worthwhile.
Maybe that's the real reason church attendance is declining.
-fritz
1 - Eucharist: A church ritual believed by most Christians to represent, either symbolically or actually, the members' partaking in the life of Christ.
2 - California Catholic Daily, July 31, 2010
WOW. That is actually appalling to me. I guess after a brief stint in a tradition (Lutheran) with closed communion, I really started to think of the meaning of the Lord's Supper and who should be gathered there. In the end, I like the open table better, but, open as in, to all BELIEVERS. The idea that an ordained minister would belittle a sacrament in that way is really upsetting.
ReplyDelete