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<\/a>O<\/span>nce upon a time, Episcopalians were, I believe, personified by Thurston Howell the Third<\/a>. Every now and then you\u2019d find the bumbling Anglo-Catholic version, ala Hugh Grant<\/a>, or the warm and homey granddad, ala Bill Cosby<\/a>. As time passed, one began to see firebrands with faces and viewpoints contorted by controversy \u2014 like, say (in a twisted way) Michael Savage<\/a>.<\/p>\nThen, for what it\u2019s worth, came the E.Y.W. \u2014 the Eternal Year of the Woman<\/a>. They were ordained illegally \u2026 and later ratified. This, coupled with Prayer Book revision, split the church and set precedent for future distortions. Boy George became Fr George \u2014 who was later, of course, spotted in a tree \u2026 yes \u2026<\/em> k.i.s.s.i.n.g.<\/p>\n (Not to mention E.I.E.I.O.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Now we come to Oz. Which explains the church hymnody, \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow,\u201d mentioned in yesterday\u2019s post<\/a>.<\/p>\n I am finally starting to get it<\/em><\/strong>. Not like the folks at Get Religion<\/a> would define \u201cget it\u201d \u2026 [After all: \u201cThe Episcopal Church: Where neither politics or religion is spoken.\u201d] \u2026 but, from that venerable site comes this:<\/p>\n There was a time when the Episcopal Church in the United States was known as \u201cthe Republican Party at prayer,\u201d but in the last 30 years it has evolved into the Rainbow Coalition of Christianity.<\/em><\/p>\n There are hip-hop Masses, American Indian rituals to install a new presiding bishop and legions of gay and straight priests who don the rainbow stoles of gay liberation. Its pews are full of Roman Catholics and Christians from other traditions attracted by its aura of radical acceptance.<\/p>\n Now the conservatives who numerically dominate the global Anglican Communion have handed their Episcopal branch in the United States an ultimatum that requires the church to reel in the rainbow if it wants to remain a part of the Communion.<\/p>\n Read <\/em>tmatt\u2019s take<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The Rainbow Coalition of Christianity, viewed through a proper lens, could be a good thing. But when it fails to continually CONVERT<\/strong><\/em> it loses the Christianity part. The Scarecrow still sits in the pew lacking a brain, the Tin Man is missing a heart, and no courage is found in the Lion. Dorothy is still lost. And, forgive me, but God only knows what new ministries might soon be found for Toto if such a bereft coalition continues.<\/p>\n In a very strange way the fault may lie as equally with Billy Graham crusades as with Henry the Eighth<\/a>. (Ya gotta admit Big Harry \u2014 and, especially, Elizabeth<\/a> \u2014 must be rolling in the grave over this news<\/a>.) By that I mean the hymn that helped to shape generations: \u201cJust As I Am<\/a>\u201d \u2014<\/p>\n Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Just a I am; thy love unknown The perversion enters when \u201cjust as I am\u201d becomes \u201cjust fine by me.\u201d I mean, even the devil accepts you \u201cjust as you are.\u201d People struggling with sexual sin (I refuse to break it down to the G and L words) have always been welcomed in the multicolored tapestry of the Church. Yet, like the rest of us sinners, all<\/strong><\/em> are welcomed to continually struggle toward the Kingdom through fidelity. There\u2019s no Fairy Godmothers, Magic Shoes, Flying Monkeys or Talking Trees. But there is forgiveness and salvation available for all<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n Some day I\u2019ll wish upon a star Uh?<\/p>\n No.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can\u2019t just click your heels nor merely dream of a magical land called heaven. But, by God\u2019s grace, you may convert.<\/p>\n The Prodigal when he found himself wallowing in pig slop came to himself<\/strong><\/em> and said: How many of my father\u2019s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, \u201cFather, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And he arose and came to his father.<\/p>\n But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him \u2026<\/strong><\/em> As says our Lord, \u201cRepent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Fall down. Get back up. Fall down. Get back up \u2026<\/p>\n Goodbye yellow brick road.<\/p>\n Hello Reality<\/a>.<\/p>\n And, yes, I know that it\u2019s Episcopalians, not \u201cEpiscopals\u201d \u2026 <\/span><\/em>but<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.<\/em><\/p>\n
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.<\/p>\n
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That\u2019s where you\u2019ll find me <\/em>
Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Luke 15:17b \u2013 20<\/span><\/p>\n