Category: Faith

<religious content>

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes Hosanna cry;
O Savior meek, pursue Thy road
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die!
O Christ! Thy triumph now begin
Over captive death and conquered sin.

“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” (words by H.H. Milman, 1820)

Today is Palm Sunday, a strange day in the Christian calendar. Matthew 21:1-11 tells the story of how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and people welcomed him like a king, shouting “Hosanna” and pulling down branches from the palm trees to lay beneath the donkey’s feet. It seems incredible that some of these same people would be screaming for his blood within a few days. Even if you’re not someone who believes or is even familiar with the Christian message, this is a powerful reminder of the duality of humankind. We’re capable of incredible good, and also of unspeakable evil. The hymn I’ve quoted above moves me, just for the solemnity and determination hinted at in the line “In lowly pomp ride on to die.”
</religious content>

Thanks for your indulgence.

This past week I marked a quiet anniversary. Twenty years ago, in the library of my high school, praying with someone I hardly knew, I chose to become a Christian. Perhaps some of you had a similar youthful experience. And when the blazing clarity of your experience faded, maybe you slipped back into the crowd, smiling to yourself about your “idealism” and “passion” and getting on with your life without faith. Though the way has been incredibly difficult, I’m still on the same journey I began twenty years ago. Some comedy, some tragedy, some loyalty, some betrayal, some light, some darkness. Some success. And many many failures. I’m still a Christian. Not necessarily a more “virtuous” person than I was then, but I hope in some ways a humbler, wiser, and more loving one.

From a prayer in church this morning: “Lord, give joy to those who are afraid.” I liked that. That’s my prayer, too. Not just to have fear taken away, but to receive joy in its place.

Brooke and I have been looking for a church. We’ve been attending one for almost a year, but still don’t know very many people and aren’t sure we’ll stay. This is a big deal for us, as we’re getting married next year. I’m a Christian, though I suppose a pretty unusual one. Brooke is still checking out Christianity. We both have some issues with the evangelical subculture, though that’s what I’m most familiar with. In general, meeting people in your mid-thirties is difficult, and it’s made even more so when you’re looking for a spiritual connection as well. I joked to Brooke that it would be better if we could get some t-shirts made up that we could wear to each new church, just giving people a heads up as to where we’re at. Then they could decide if they wanted to get to know us or not. So, here’s what mine would look like, and here’s Brooke’s. What do you think?

I got my first piece of church spam today. The “CyberChurchOnline” wants me to join their virtual congregation. Proudly proclaiming, “As Jesus did 2000 years ago, we’re here to break religious tradition,” they try to woo me with their appeal to my laziness and my misanthropy and self-righteousness (“We’re tired of the double standards and hypocrisy we see in traditional churches across the country. We’re tired of the backbiting and judgmental attitude that is so prevalent in the church today. We’re not here to judge each other but serve each other!”). That’s great. So if I can be a hypocrite by attending church on Sunday, I’ll be less of a hypocrite hiding behind an online persona. We all know what “chat” programs have done for people’s sense of honesty, don’t we? I’m sorry. As much as I love online communities, they will never replace real face to face relationships. Especially a relationship with God. Your thoughts?