Marriage

So, the Supremes have ruled. The word "marriage" no longer means what it used to. People of the same sex can now "marry." I am not surprised at this ruling. Disappointed, but not surprised. And it will not stop with this ruling. There will be further expansions and re-definitions of the word "marriage" in the future. Count on it.

So here's my question: now that the state has taken the word "marriage" and made it something it never was before, what is our response? We can cry and pout, but that never does any good. We can insist our our own definition of marriage, as opposed to the state definition, but I think that too will not do any good. Perhaps we need to separate the church's definition of marriage from the state's - to make a consistent verbal distinction between civil secular marriage and biblical marriage, so that it is always front and center that something is amiss.

Will faithful pastors be able to stay in the marriage business? Probably not. It will be different in different states. In New York (where I was previously), anyone "ordained" could perform a wedding and sign a marriage license. And they didn't really check - they just took your word for it. In Virginia, you have to prove that you are ordained, submit your credentials, a letter from your ecclesiastical supervisor, and then take an oath at the court that you will not do anything against the state's law. Currently, the state has not said that clergy have to marry anyone, but I can see the day coming. And once it does, I will be out.

What I would like also to see is a yearly march like the March for Life. There was one this year, a March for Marriage (or something similarly worded), but I didn't know about it until after the fact. I will look for it next year, and I hope they publicize it more and more and make it as big an event. I do not think we should capitulate to this redefinition, but make it an issue.

Another sad day for the truth.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Grandpa Peasant with his tomato garden.

The man who taught me what it is to be a man of God, to love family, nature, and not take things for granted. He took care of me for many years; now we get to care for him.

Thanks Dad.

And thanks Father for giving me such a father.

Regression into Paganism

St. Augustine asked what pagans did when they did not succeed at resisting vices (or even try to). Very simply, they attributed them to God! And so they made a god for lust, Venus, a god for violence, Mars, and so on, feeling themselves justified in practicing these vices. The same thing is happening today with regard to Christ, and it is one of the most disturbing signs of regression into paganism. There is no weakness or obsession in modern culture that is not somehow attributed to Jesus in a way that makes people feel justified in cultivating it.

~ Raniero Cantalamessa 

in Remember Jesus Christ: Responding to the Challenges of Faith in Our Time, 14

I'm Back!

Hi all. (Or maybe it's both of you!) Been of the blogging air for a couple of weeks - not traveling, just busy and hunkering down a little bit. I'll try to get caught up on some things . . .

First of all, marked 20 years of marriage with my bride a couple of weeks ago. Had a very nice day out. Went to a museum-estate in DC in the afternoon, followed by a nice seafood dinner near the White House, and then a stroll around as the sun set, including seeing a new memorial, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. As memorials go, I thought it was a very good one. If you're in DC, make sure you go and see it.

It was a nice day for I don't think we've had that much time by ourselves, just the two of us, for a very long time! We did take a selfie . . .

I know, it's not very good - I haven't had much practice with selfies. We wanted to get the Capitol Dome in the background, so I succeeded in that at least!

Another Good Quote

Dr. Gifford Grobien has a good article in the latest Concordia Theological Quarterly entitled "The Christian Voice in the Civil Realm." Worth a read. He talks about a people formed by the church or formed by the state. Here is a good quote to whet your appetite:

The end or purpose of the church militant is to be a people in this world gathered around Word and Sacrament, forgiven of sin, reconciled to God, and sanctified for good works.  . . .  When the church recalls that she is to confess and act faithfully, and not ultimately to bring political change, she will be ready not only for marginalization but for martyrdom. 

Martyrdom signals the impotence, not of the church, but of the state. Whatever it may threaten, in the end, the state can only kill the body. Yet, it cannot even take away the body. The martyred Christian still has his body for the resurrection; he still has life in Christ. Martyrdom reveals the people of the church to be formed differently from the state, in direct opposition to the claim that only the state can form people. Martyrs reveal the empty violence of the state and the people of the eternal kingdom.

~ CTQ 78:3-4, p. 129 (emphases mine)

Good Luther Quote

"[The world] does not want evil, but cannot cope with good."

For Mother's Day

Mother's Day is greatly emphasized in our world today, but it is not a day of joy for everyone. I have become more and more aware that importing civil holidays into the church can cause great pain to some. Mother's Day and motherhood is a complex thing. Consider the following:

+To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you.

+To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you.

+To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you.

+To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you.

+To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.

+To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you.

+To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you.

+To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we both lament and hope with you.

+To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you.

+To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we pray with you for healing.

+To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst.

+To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you.

+And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you.

This Mother’s Day, we walk with all of you. Together rejoicing in the joys of this life, sorrowing in the trials, trusting in the mercy of Christ, and hoping in the resurrection to come upon His return.

(Note: I did not write this, but do not remember where I got it from. Please forgive the lack of attribution.)