A Trifle for Tuesday - Epiphany 5 2024

 

Basilique Notre-Dame des Tables (1707) Montpellier, France. 2012

(Photo krb)

Much needs to be written about liturgy. It was one of the attractions to the Anglican Church for me 54 years ago. It gave the church service structure which was often lacking in the church I had grown up with. Back then liturgy was done mostly with respect and dignity. Now, where liturgy is used at all it seems often to be regarded as an incumbrance, something we must do because we have always done it this way. 

Liturgy also sets limits on our thinking. Once liturgical language is put in place it is set in stone. It suddenly becomes Holy Writ, never to change. To think differently is heresy. But does the liturgical language that we have inherited still work in 2024. Just think for example of the first line of the Creed that we repeat Sunday by Sunday.

'I believe in God the Father Almighty'.

Is that the language that we want to use about God as a masculine authority figure?

The Creed serves the purpose of drawing us together as a community at that important point of the service. But if we take the language seriously it leaves us with more questions than answers.

In 1968 the German Liberation Theologian, Dorothee Solle devised her own Creed. It was quite different from any language used previously to express the nature of the trinitarian God. To her God was not male fostering a patriarchal power elite but a God who was not powerful not separate from us and did not operate according to any laws. Of course, she was immediately accused of heresy.

Here is what she said about the Second Person of the trinity.

I believe in Jesus Christ......

Everyday I am afraid that he died for nothing,

because he is buried in our churches,

because we have betrayed his revolution

in obedience to and fear of the authorities.

I believe in Jesus Christ

who is resurrected into our life

so that we shall be free

from prejudice and presumptuousness

from fear and hate

and push his revolution onward...

I believe....

in the possibility of meaningful life

for all humankind.

'Credo' Dorothee Solle quoted in Brian D Mclaren 'Do I Stay Christian' 

Peace, justice and blessings to all.