Christendom’s
temple began
its
inevitable disintegration
some
decades ago.
We
didn’t see it coming.
It
had become weakened, its foundations
eroded
by respectability and status.
The
collapse continues, and gains intensity
as
priests are disgraced,
bishops
run for cover,
and
Rome’s response
is to secure itself
behind
barricades of denial.
Ah,
but we are Protestant;
we
are not to blame.
No,
but the scandal of our brethren
is
a reminder of our own shortcomings and lies;
along
with our deluded half-baked attempts
to
create protestant versions
of
the Christendom dream.
Let
it go.
Refuse
to weep or mourn.
It
does not matter.
We
built a grand edifice and pretended
that
some divine uncritical blessing
rested
upon it. It colluded with us,
spending
so many of its years
draping
itself in self-importance;
and
never really understanding
that
discipleship is a humble thing,
with
much giving and serving
and
dying.
Eschew
the role of custodian;
do
not become a curator
of
ancient and best-forgotten relics.
Let
the stones be thrown down
and
the walls crumble!
They
will not be missed.
Spray
what remains with rude slogans..
Claim
your true identity as a disciple,
a
follower of one who died
in
order that the whole of creation
might
become reborn.
Embrace
the birth-pangs;
anticipate
with hope the new thing
that
is surely coming
to
sweep away the remnants of the old.
Let
the sacred memories of Christendom
be
relegated to the history books
and
let them serve as a warning.
©
Ken Rookes 2012
