When I typed in my title I noticed an unintentional pun. "Matter" has a conotation of being important, which is why I use the word. However, sacraments are also "matter" (or more technically, "stuff") which convey "spirit." As I learned some weeks ago reflecting on ontology and the word 'transubstantiation' it is difficult to convey foreign concepts to folks. I fear the word sacrament is another word of that type.
An email I got today illustrates why I think, however, that this is important. A young mother said she had been pondering what I preached about (healing ministry and gifts of the Holy Spirit). Her insight was that our world does not entertain much room for spiritual gifts. She asked, how can we embrace such beliefs in a world which leans toward materialism, science and rationalism. And how do we raise our children to see it as well?
I wrote her back that my mind was running along similar tracks this morning. As I made my lunch and prepared my breakfast this morning I was sort of mulling over why sacraments matter. Fundamentally, I think they provide the answer to the question, "Where is this God of yours?" A sacramental worldview provides a reasonable and rational explanation for believing in God's activity in the world, yet affirming human freedom. Here is why.
The sole focus on "Word" imagines a world where God speaks to His people. Certainly the Bible is an example of that. As popularly understood, God dictates His message through His human choice (a prophet or a writer) and we then encase it in the binding of a local book manufacturer. The finished product, a Bible, is then the infallible source of God's communication. Want God's input? You can read it all right here. However, in such a view, God is not necessarily active here and now. In fact, aside from the Holy Spirit enlightening the Bible-Reader, God is free to disengage entirely. The written message can stand in for God (as an ambassador) and this is why we see (in extreme cases) the Bible treated as divine. Assorted issues of interpretation aside, this is not a bad view of things. Certainly, the prophet was a voice of God's message and clearly the Bible is "The Word of the Lord!" (thanks be to GOD). However, such a limited understanding also feeds into (and flow out of) some current societal tendencies. It emphasizes the rational at the expense of other aspects of human life. Words are only as useful as the interpretation and if nothing else is clear, this is crystal clear, human beings have an unlimited and unfettered capacity to twist anything and interpret everything as they see fit. [case in point, the nightly news politcal talking heads who demonstrate this regularly] Words make for great treatises and are fodder for wonderful (and garbage) theology. Words are vital and important. But humans are more than word factories...
Sacraments open the venue for that "more" to be addressed. As I mentioned last post, sacraments are all around us. The Roman church (unlike the Orthodox east) has a charism for legal matters and organization. The upside is that cleans up the messiness. There is great blessing in parameters and clarity. However, there can also be a tendency to 'over-define' and impose clarity where mystery prevails. The Seven Sacraments is arguably a case in point. By separating out these seven (and implying no others) the Church conveys the idea that God concept is locked in a box. There is no reason to doubt that God can and does act consistently. However, the human mind likes answers and we can overestimate what that consistency looks like. On the other hand, limiting to Two is simply buying into the same premise. That is the blind spot of Reformers. They embrace the same limitations even as they critique the Roman church. So we end up with only Two (and ignore healing and, arguably, some form of Confession/Reconciliation, both of which have roots in Jesus) but do not address the wider question, what is a sacrament?
So my brief stab at it.....God is invisible. Some seem to think that that is sufficient reason to not believe in God. If God is real, they contend (rather viciously on occassion!) then God should be seen among us. BUT, what is the assumption about that activity? And what is the assumption about all activity? Therein lies the key and therein lies the answer.
Humans are seen, we are concrete stuff. However, our inner life is not observable. Motivations, for example, can be discerned, but never touched or seen. Ideas are not tangible, even if they produce tangible results. Feelings cannot be held and painted (even if I might feel blue, or have a yellow streak or be red-hot). The influence a person exerts while absent has been documented (win one for the Gipper) even a person who is dead (I felt grandpa was in the room with me). As much as materialism seems to cover all the bases, in reality we acknowledge it doesn't by our normal use of language.
It is possible for concrete things to have a deeper aspect. My wedding ring is hugely significant to me. It is a reminder of my new identity. It is a sign because marriage is sacramental. When I misplace it I am aggitated because it is not just a ring, it is the ring. This is precariously close to my past discussion, which I do not want to repeat. But graduation exercises are real. Once you are done with it you are no longer in school. You are done and the procession and conferal of degree is an outward sign of that reality. Life is full of all manner of things. Signing a contract, burning a mortgage, awarding with a plaque and a standing ovation the life time of service, all these things are concrete signs which convey a reality.
That is the real world. A world where things matter because they have an openness to a deeper meaning and reality. And it is that real world in which God exists and acts. Hiddenly, yes, but really acts. Now God is not limited by signs and He certainly can communicate His presence as He sees fit. But the Christian critics of a sacramental worldview need to argue with humility. Remember, if we loudly advocate that God can do as He wants and God does not need sacraments to work, then by the same logic God can speak as He wants and God can communicate how He wants and God need not be limited to The Book. Just saying.....
So sacraments are official church signs in and through which we are assured that God is present. We do not need to 'feel it' or 'understand it.' We just show up and trust. Just like we do not need to feel and understand every word of the Bible. Just like we do not feel and understand everything else in life.
What kind of world is it? Think long and hard and ask yourself: in this kind of world how would one expect God to be active?
I found it significant that what you remember most about the professor from the previous post had to do with his voice (not the words, but the voice itself) and that your experience centered around a meal, perhaps one of the most sacramental activities we engage in. Sacraments matter!
ReplyDelete