Just Another Dirty Forehead

 Drive By Ash Wednesday Blessing

Be sure not to value symbolism over substance.  Ashes on the forehead without repentance in the heart is just a dirty forehead.  "I gave up chocolate for Lent." What, exactly, does that get you?  I see much popular sentiment as an extension of New Year's Resolutions: often a nice idea, with somewhat less nice follow up or commitment. 

Repentance is a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.  It is an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction.  In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  What does He mean here?  Who are the righteous?  Why can't they repent?

The righteous in this context are those who choose symbolism over substance.  They prefer to look righteous on the outside.  They have the Law without the Spirit.

The basic fact about people is that we are sinners! 

Repentance is a "godly sorrow" for sin, specifically and generally, and personally.  This leads to a profound "substantive" reality.  This leads to a fundamental change in a person's relationship to God. 

In the preaching of the New Testament Gospel, we hear John the Baptist say in Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  But in v.8 he also says, "Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance." Don't imagine that there is some other way to become righteous in God's sight, John says, by ethnicity or by culture.  Rather, one has to repent and then prove it. 

You see, the good news of salvation and repentance are inextricably linked.  Jesus preached the same way as John, as in Matthew 4:17 he says, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."  In Jesus' message we realize that repentance and faith are "two sides of the same coin."  Repentance is turning away from sin, faith is turning towards God. 

So this is it: repentance + faith = conversion = salvation. 

If you go to receive the ashes tomorrow (drive-by or otherwise!), be sure to carry the desire for true repentance with you.  That way you can have both the substance and the symbolism, and you'll end up with more than just a dirty forehead!

Ash Wednesday and Lent: A Reality Check

Happy Lent! I hope your Tuesday was as "Phat" as mine!  Those West Market Street UMC sausages were well done, just like I like 'em.

Upon us again is Ash Wednesday,  a perfect occasion to call on folks to take stock of repentance.  Of course, this is a concept in Christianity that requires humility and sobriety, so it may be out of fashion.  Today we are used to regret and guilt, shame and anger & etc.  I wonder sometimes if we can still repent.


Even worse, can a whole group of people, like a church, repent?  Can they set aside the hubris and odd politics that "disables" many of them?  Can they put aside their most preciously held beliefs and preconceived ideas and truly take stock?  None of this is easy, but it is worth it.


Though difficult, I think Ash Wednesday, and Lent, should be at least an annual "reality check" for a congregation.  Are we for real?  Or are we Memorex?  Or are we phonograph?  Or telegraph?  Or smoke signal?


Some good questions a thoughtful congregation (no matter how large or small) may ask are:


1- Are we reaching anyone with the good news, and how are we or why aren't we?
2- Are we holding our elected leaders, clergy, and church staff members accountable for the duties for which they've signed up?  How do we start doing this or do this better?
3- Are we accountable to those who support the church financially? Or do we just spend the tithe and expect more?
4- What steps do we take to present ourselves to God as a spiritual church?  Are we really sanctified?
5- In what ways have we lifted other priorities above unity in Christ?  Are we only protecting those with visibly sensitive feelings?  Or are we finishing the race?

At MSBC, we have to be realistic about what is being talked about for this spring. A lot of effort is going to be needed from everyone as we fulfill the vision for Magnolia Street Baptist Church.  LUBIS is our acronym that helps us think of Loving God, Understanding Jesus, Belonging, Integrity, and Service. But if it is just an acronym, and just memory, then it is like "clanging brass, noisy crashing cymbal."  I hope our crashing symbol is not the cross! "May God forbid!"

If we would put actions to most of our words, then we will have something even more attractive and transcendentally helpful to the community as 2011 progresses!


Ash Wednesday and Lent: a reality check?  Let me know.


Happy b/c of Jesus,
Pastor James