I have a CD by an old Dallas band called "StepChild". One of the songs is called "Middle of the Road". I always liked the song, but never really thought that much about the lyrics. The song is about some random people that the songwriter encounters, who think they know what they are doing, but they really don't, or they are missing a part of what they think is the right thing. One of the lines is "I see a river, and the river is flowing, but it don't know, it don't know, which way its going".
You ever feel like that? Man, I do.
Its amazing to me how sometimes, you DO think you know where you are going, only to discover that you're don't know where the heck you are. Anyone who knows me, knows that is why I don't go anywhere without TomTom.
I remember a few years ago, a diocese of the Episcopal Church did something that everyone is still talking about, and the effects are still fracturing out like a broken glass. They elected an openly homosexual man a bishop.
At the time, I had a very firm position on the whole thing. I was in the "right" lane of the road, going 100mph. Our bishop talked to us once about the importance of being in the "middle of the road" on this issue. I thought he was ridiculous. It was a clear issue. There was no "middle".
Fast forward 4 years... I wouldn't say my theology has taken a "left" turn, but I do think I see a little more clearly things that I did not 4 years ago. Things like the most important thing... loving God and loving our neighbor.
Anyhow, I didn't mean to write all that really... wnat I wanted to share with you was an excellent article I found online at Episcopal Cafe. Here it is:
"Traffic is coming at you both ways if you stand in the middle of the road, or as Episcopalians call it, taking the middle path, the via media. Standing in the middle, whether it be in traffic or two conflicting views can be a risky business, but it is how Episcopalians and most of their Anglican brothers and sisters have chosen to live. In fact much of what is being said about the Episcopal Church, from whatever direction the traffic is flowing can be very misleading. Read the Bible, read our prayer book and speak with a member of our clergy to discover the real facts about who we are and what we believe.
The apostle Paul said to do all things in moderation. That doesn't mean being 'luke-warm.
'We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we believe that fundamentalism, polarization and the secularizing of religion are dangerous for one's spiritual health. We continue to stand for listening to one another, being inclusive, taking our history seriously, taking Scripture seriously, and engaging mystery and paradox.
We adhere to the ancient Creeds of the Church and we believe Holy Scripture is the inspired Word of God containing all things necessary for salvation. We further believe that the Sacraments provide a sure and certain means of God's grace. We accept the checks and balances of a church structure and practice that include the ancient tradition of bishops, priests, deacons and laity. All of this keeps local vestries (boards) and clergy from going off the deep end.
All this being said, as in any denomination, there are many individuals, both leaders and parishioners, who hold a variety of beliefs, but in the Episcopal Church no one individual, no one vestry, no one leader, may dictate or pretend to represent the exclusive Faith of the Church. We recognize along with the apostle Paul that we all see through a glass darkly. But if we can make an effort to take one another seriously and listen to each other as fellow members of The Body of Christ, we might all see a bit more clearly and charitably.
We in the Episcopal Church are willing to risk, that at the end of the day, we might be convicted, of being too compassionate, rather than too judgmental; too inclusive rather than too exclusive; too moderate rather than too extremist. We are willing to take the risk of standing in the via media.
I agree.
You ever feel like that? Man, I do.
Its amazing to me how sometimes, you DO think you know where you are going, only to discover that you're don't know where the heck you are. Anyone who knows me, knows that is why I don't go anywhere without TomTom.
I remember a few years ago, a diocese of the Episcopal Church did something that everyone is still talking about, and the effects are still fracturing out like a broken glass. They elected an openly homosexual man a bishop.
At the time, I had a very firm position on the whole thing. I was in the "right" lane of the road, going 100mph. Our bishop talked to us once about the importance of being in the "middle of the road" on this issue. I thought he was ridiculous. It was a clear issue. There was no "middle".
Fast forward 4 years... I wouldn't say my theology has taken a "left" turn, but I do think I see a little more clearly things that I did not 4 years ago. Things like the most important thing... loving God and loving our neighbor.
Anyhow, I didn't mean to write all that really... wnat I wanted to share with you was an excellent article I found online at Episcopal Cafe. Here it is:
"Traffic is coming at you both ways if you stand in the middle of the road, or as Episcopalians call it, taking the middle path, the via media. Standing in the middle, whether it be in traffic or two conflicting views can be a risky business, but it is how Episcopalians and most of their Anglican brothers and sisters have chosen to live. In fact much of what is being said about the Episcopal Church, from whatever direction the traffic is flowing can be very misleading. Read the Bible, read our prayer book and speak with a member of our clergy to discover the real facts about who we are and what we believe.
The apostle Paul said to do all things in moderation. That doesn't mean being 'luke-warm.
'We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we believe that fundamentalism, polarization and the secularizing of religion are dangerous for one's spiritual health. We continue to stand for listening to one another, being inclusive, taking our history seriously, taking Scripture seriously, and engaging mystery and paradox.
We adhere to the ancient Creeds of the Church and we believe Holy Scripture is the inspired Word of God containing all things necessary for salvation. We further believe that the Sacraments provide a sure and certain means of God's grace. We accept the checks and balances of a church structure and practice that include the ancient tradition of bishops, priests, deacons and laity. All of this keeps local vestries (boards) and clergy from going off the deep end.
All this being said, as in any denomination, there are many individuals, both leaders and parishioners, who hold a variety of beliefs, but in the Episcopal Church no one individual, no one vestry, no one leader, may dictate or pretend to represent the exclusive Faith of the Church. We recognize along with the apostle Paul that we all see through a glass darkly. But if we can make an effort to take one another seriously and listen to each other as fellow members of The Body of Christ, we might all see a bit more clearly and charitably.
We in the Episcopal Church are willing to risk, that at the end of the day, we might be convicted, of being too compassionate, rather than too judgmental; too inclusive rather than too exclusive; too moderate rather than too extremist. We are willing to take the risk of standing in the via media.
I agree.
Comments