When a sacrament is just lunch

Eat some bread and drink some wine during church, and it's a sacrament we call Communion.

Outside church, it's lunch.

During church, we can have all sorts of rules on how to celebrate the sacrament correctly. Does it have to be consecrated by a priest? What kind of bread do we use? Is it actually wine, or is Welch's grape juice acceptable? What about some other brand?

No one complains that Maurice is defiling the sacrament if he goes to the deli and orders the wrong bread, adds some pastrami, or gets apple juice instead of wine.

Same bread, same wine. One's a sacrament, the other isn't.

If the deli owner refused to sell Maurice lunch because he was disrespecting the deli owner's religious beliefs about Communion, no one would take the deli owner seriously.

Just saying.


Copyright © 2018 by David Learn. Used with permission.


Tweet

President Trump, the Religious Right, and my Jesus

My Jesus cares about justice. There is no evidence that Trump or his supporters do.

My Jesus healed the sick. Trump has made cuts to healthcare, while his supporters approved.

My Jesus welcomes refugees. Trump turns them away while his supporters nod their approval.

My Jesus said "Blessed are the poor" and "Woe to the rich," and warned about the dangers of wealth. Trump is a billionaire who passed tax cuts for the wealthy, cut social aid to the poor while his supporters applauded.

My Jesus welcomes people of every tribe, nation and language. Trump wants to build a wall, block entire countries and set strict quotas on immigration. His supporters are all on board with this.

My Jesus warned against people who harm children. Trump's administration tears them from their mothers at the border, loses track of them, and defunds groups that provide prenatal care. From his supporters on the Religious Right? Crickets.

The first-century followers of my Jesus understood something about the holiness of sexual commitment in marriage. Trump brags about grabbing married women "by the pussy" and covers up a string of affairs. The Religious Right "gives him a mulligan." Ralph Reed even says character doesn't matter.

My Jesus talked theology with a Samaritan and commended the faith of a pagan. Trump slanders Islam,and his Religious Right supporters cheer him on.

My Jesus warned us against men like Trump. The Religious Right tells us he's the dream president for Christians.

What's the matter here? Which god do you serve?

‘Cause I’ve got to say, for all the news you make about your faith, it doesn’t look much like my Jesus.


Copyright © 2018 by David Learn. Used with permission.


Tweet