SD-38: When is the Church a functioning part of Empire?
In the many visits to places in Italy, it was obvious that we have been given great works of art - remarkable - stunning - majestic - bewildering. My jaw dropped again and again as I walked into churches or museums. All of what I was viewing was the life work of gifted people who were able to show us the way the very vision and perception of humanity changes in time. The art is a commentary of the way culture and people change and begin to interpret life - its worth - its goal - its meaning. Having said that, I was always wrestling with what were the costs. I don't merely mean that in a financial way. There were lives - the lives of the common people - that were used for the creation of these places. Yes, there were the great artists. Yes, there were the great benefactors who brought in the artist. Yes, there was the masses who were used to help make this all happen.
I have always scratched my head over the power of the Church in the midst of the growing Empire. The Church not only became the power who offered a stamp of approval over the work of the Empire, it also became the face of Empire. A simple example. The villa in which we stayed in Tuscany was on the property of a Duke and Princess (side note: the Princess taught us how to make biscotti). The family has been a part of the royalty since one of their ancestors was 'crowned' Pope. The villa in which we stayed was one of many that dotted 'their land' and supplied housing for the 'share croppers' who worked the land for the owners. In a land and time when a few had much and most had little, Church and Empire were indistinguishably joined together as the few at the top. The vision of the followers of Jesus being the ones who upheld the lowly and offered themselves for the welfare of the forgotten and left out somehow vanished. Instead, the Church found its home in the pocket of the established rulers - who could give you much if you entered into the games and ways of Empire.
Connection: Am I being too cynical? I would prefer to say that I need to be reminded of just how easy it is to move - just a bit - and find a home in the camp of the Empire (I use that term loosely - as many don't like to hear that term today). What then is our life as followers of Jesus to be in a world that longs for the Empire to direct our days and our deeds? Again, in the Dispatch today, Penn (from Penn and Teller) wrote an editorial that took the term Christian to task. What I heard (he is an atheist) is that the word has become a meaningless word. It has become nothing more than something tagged onto your name so that you can wave it around in order to be elected. Ah - the Empire Religion, again.
Blessed are you, Maker of all that is and all that will be. Continue to surprise us with your grace that enables us to step back from all the gains we can make in the world and hold onto the life of love that you offer to all your Beloved. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment