Friday, December 29, 2006

Issue #2

December 11, 2006

Yesterday during worship, as I was preparing to receive the holy meal, I found myself singing a song whose melody moved and warmed me but whose words left me cold and confused. I suspect, for many, the Agnus Dei is a favorite part of the liturgy. Sung as we move forward to receive the bread and wine, it evokes a deep and profound alignment with two thousand years of tradition. And yet it also proclaims a bizarre understanding of the death of Jesus, embracing images of sacrificial appeasement that have no place in the theology of many who are committed to following the life and teachings of Jesus.

So what is the Progressive Christian to do when confronted with the kinds of incongruities that infuse so much of our liturgies and hymns causing such internal theological turbulence?

This common quandary is often confronted with the less than helpful suggestion that we not pay attention to the actual words of a particularly disconcerting hymn. Although my religious tradition is infamous for doctrinal battles over the placement of commas let alone the choice of words, such a request seems more than slightly incongruent, even downright dishonest.

Believing what we sing and singing what we believe is an integral part of living an authentic life. A religious practice enmeshed in duplicity and pretense can never provide a foundation for true spiritual growth.

The eminent Lutheran theologian, Joseph Sittler, once told me that his growing blindness was not as debilitating as one might think. Indeed, he suggested, there were even some benefits to his lack of sight. No more must he know all the words of any hymn, he told me. Now he simply sang the alphabetical “ABCs” to whatever melody was being sung. His strategy wasn’t based on a conflicted theology…at least he didn’t say so…but the technique is one the Progressive Christian might employ when encountering problematic lyrics in worship.

Far more fulfilling, it seems to me, is to find language and symbols that best portray our progressive faith. Here in Advent, many congregations include the pre-Christmas chestnut “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” in their worship services. Such a choice is sure to please the traditionalists among the crowds but stop for a moment and ponder on the actual lyrics. I love the image of Christ as Emmanuel, that is, “God with us” …but what follows is a decidedly different understanding of the work of Jesus than mine… “and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appears.”

The Biblical images employed here date back to the pre-Christian prophets who yearned for a revitalized commitment to the God of Abraham. Nevertheless it is the atonement theme that is predominant for Christians. A ransom must be paid in order to free us from our enslavement to sin. Fair enough, if you buy into that kind of sadistic thinking, but isn’t it time we divorced ourselves from proclaiming the sad state (pun intended) of Israel? Symbols and metaphors must constantly be reappraised as to their effectiveness.

To equate the ancient situation of the Israelites in captivity in Babylon with the orthodox Christian understanding of an existential bondage to sin may work in seminary classrooms but rarely in sanctuaries. In a world where any newspaper contains daily accounts of atrocities in Israeli-held Palestinian communities, bemoaning Israel’s fate seems very strange indeed. (Yes, I fully understand the mutuality of the violence in Palestine but why must we Christians constantly appear, through our liturgy and hymns, to support only one side?)

One of the challenges of Progressive Christianity is to create new hymns and liturgies that are both beautiful and, even more importantly, authentic to the life and teachings of Jesus. This is happening. There is a growing number of congregations, pastors, musicians and theologians who are developing precisely such products. Occasionally, such authenticity even sneaks into traditional congregations. Take note of the following Advent hymn I encountered not too long ago on a Progressive Christian website (www.progressivechristianwitness.org). Such work is very encouraging.

Dreamers, Awake This Holy Day
Tune: Dove of Peace ("I Come with Joy")
Words: © Bill LeMosy, 2005Texts: Psalm 126:1; Isaiah 61:1 ff.

Dreamers, awake this holy day,
Your hope comes as the dew.
A Spirit comes upon you now
To move you forth anew,
To move you forth anew.

So, face the Advent wilderness
Wherein you now are born.
The gracious One empowers you
As people of the morn,
As people of the morn.

The hungry ones shall walk with you
As sisters, brothers true.
The homeless too, the tired and lame,
Shall find God’s love in you,
Shall find God’s love in you.

Be not dismayed if you should fall,
For Christ the Lord does lead.
You still shall travel by his grace
And captives shall be freed,
And captives shall be freed.

Now, hold the dream within your soul
And with your feet do pray.
The Christ who comes now brings you home
Here in our present day,
Here in our present day.

The words for "Dreamers, Awake This Holy Day" are by William B. LeMosy, Copyright (c) 2006. Permission is granted for one-time use. For further permission, please contact him at lemosy6975@msn.com .

I appreciate your receiving this weekly column. If you enjoyed it, please encourage others to subscribe. (It’s free!)

No comments: