The Episcopal Church claims to be a church for people who think, but putting that ideal into practice is tougher than it looks. At last week’s presentation here at Trinity, Bishop Mathes told a story about attending a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” with a church member who expected the story to be about Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Two Biblical Josephs, yes, but separated by centuries and lots of pages).
We’re not the only ones who aren’t passing this test. Jay Leno regularly does comic bits with people failing to name one of the 10 Commandments or 12 apostles. Blame for Christian ignorance has been placed all around, from Sunday Schools that don’t teach to church members who don’t care. But at the Preaching Conference last week at Luther Seminary, I heard another possibility:
People don’t understand what’s going on in church simply because they don’t expect to understand what’s going on in church. Theological language, biblical images, old-fashioned hymns—we don’t google any of it when we get home because we go to church with an expectation that we’re not going to understand it anyway, so why try?
So, naturally, I ask you, is it true? Do you expect an incomprehensible experience each Sunday? If so, you’re not totally off base. After all, a totally comprehensible God can hardly be called God, so, as St. Augustine discovered back in the 5th Century, try as you might you will never exhaust the mystery of the Trinity. I might add, however, that this insight didn’t stop Augustine from writing volumes of theology about the Trinity, aiming to grow in faith through the journey of understanding, so maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to quit trying.
But it’s harder for us than for Augustine. We also have a problem of history–we live in a world of completely different realities—profits instead of prophets, cars, not chariots, fossil fuels instead of olive oil–you could name lots more, no doubt. So when all these Biblical images wash over us in church, dozens in a given service, maybe we do just let them all go. After all, how many questions can you ask?
Maybe we could ask a few, though. Here’s my first few: Do we go to church with an expectation of incomprehension? What are your favorite incomprehensible church words? I’ve thought of a few: Lamb of God, holy, sacrifice, passover, amen, alleluia…. I’m sure there are others. What ones? We’re a thinking church, let’s start thinking!
I leave you with a last (Latin) word from St. Augustine: “Credo ut intelligam.” Google that, and share your incomprehensible church words!
5 Responses
Shame…I can't name an apostle….is that the same as a disciple? Of course I had to google the answer right away since I don't want to be caught on Jay Leno looking like an idiot. I do expect to be confused when I go to church because I lack a basic knowledge of the bible. It's hard to make connections when you don't have a basic framework to work from. Is it my job to have this prerequisite homework done before I go to church?
I do expect to be confused, but I also expect that I usually have a good grasp on it by the time I leave.
I think “righteousness” needs explaining. I think I know what it means, but it has too many connotations of smugness and superiority. It is a good and useful word, and it is a good goal to be righteous, but I think it is misunderstood.
What happened to my post?
I posted yesterday, oh well here we go again.
I said that I expect to find some things incomprehensible. The fact that there are incomprehensible concepts actually brings me a great deal of peace. In my daily life lots of people expect me to find simple answers for very complex issues. It brings me peace when faced with the incomprehensible concepts related to the understanding of GOD and my faith because it keeps my mind, body and soul open to thinking in new ways. My “understandings” are in a continuous state of flux. They change as my relationship to GOD changes. I thank GOD everyday for the concepts of Faith and Hope as well as the gift of Reason. These make the incomprehensible exciting rather than frustrating.
This is a great topic! I think that the “mystery” of what we do and hear at church is a wonderful part of our experience. I am always amazed at how I feel when I have more information, however. Our experience can move to a different level, both intellectually and spiritually. Yes, we must do some homework, explore connections, listen to others experiences, and maybe deepen our faith.