At Least Jesus Gets A Week

Published on by D. G. Hart

You don’t even give up politics for Lent?

I’m not feeling politics right now.

We’ve got wars and rumors of wars over a large swath of the world. Pro life people are battling killer legislation in Colorado and corporate raiders are raiding the public treasury everywhere and in every way they can. There are runaway bishops to write about, as well as a stand up bishops who are trying to fight the fight.

We’ve got cowards, brave people and martyrs.

There is no end to the politics I could write about.

But I’m not feeling it.

What I am feeling is a deep, aching hunger for the balm of Gilead, the peace that passes all understanding, the comfort of the everlasting arms.

It’s Holy Week, and I want Jesus. . . .

Politics is one of our pitiful attempts to transcend our fallen state. But, given our fallen state, politics always becomes corrupted by our venalities and cowardices. I’ve written about the cowardly acts of men in high places quite a bit these past two weeks. The truth is, I have more than a passing acquaintance with the weaknesses of princes.

But nothing I have known can touch the combination of cowardice and cold-blooded corruption that led to the final sacrifice of the last Passover Lamb.

We need to bow down before the cross this week. It is, as Scripture says, the Lord’s Passover. It is the door opening on the way out. The cross is the price of our sins. It is the Lord’s ultimate Passover by which we are saved from the absolute and final death that we deserve.

If you become a confesssional Protestant and you get Jesus fifty-two weeks a year.

21 thoughts on “At Least Jesus Gets A Week”

  2. I’m so hardcore that I’m giving up Lent for Lent. It’s tough when you are denying denial and such.

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  6. How do you conclude, from the fact that there’s 1 week set aside for special meditation on the work of Christ, that they (and we) don’t “get Jesus” at all on the other 51? That makes no sense.

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  8. Alexander, the ethos is 24/7/365 refrain from kulturkampf. But since the Communion Season is the Presbyterian version of the Lenten Season, I can see how this resonates with you.

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  10. Mr. Smith, I don’t invest in the magistrate, so I don’t need a break for Jesus. I could use a break from grading. But then there is vocation.

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  12. Excerpt from a vent about lent

    And Lent?  Oh man. I have that in the BAG, people.  My heart would quickly whisper: Look at what YOU’VE done.  You gave it up.  You’ve inched your way a little closer to holy. I absolutely would cave to pride and talk about it.  To me, it’s simply flirting with the inevitable.  It’s like telling my 6 year old not to touch the play-doh on the counter left open and out.  Ha! Maybe somehow I would refrain from talking about it.  Ok.  But, that doesn’t change the inner workings of my heart.  Which isn’t any better than all of my catholic family posting “Be back in 40” with a crucifix as their new facebook profile picture.    God goes beyond our FB profile and everything we present to people.  Hebrews 4:12…two edged sword, dividing me right down to the core and discerning my thoughts and intentions of my heart.

     “Well, you’re not practicing spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer enough and this is a great opportunity.”  Um, no thanks.  You are correct.  I am not.  I need to “work” on this.  Truly.  But, not in the context of “everyone else is doing it.”  And wow!  It does seem like everyone now!  I looked up my home SOUTHERN BAPTIST church and guess what…they are talking about Lent.  REALLY?  It’s so hard not to think of it as yet another attempt to “bring the cool factor into the church.  Everybody’s doing it.”  Did all ya’ll not take the D.A.R.E. don’t do drugs program??  Come on.  This is peer pressure!

    And here’s where I may be upsetting to the more theologically-minded, but it really isn’t first and foremost about a principle for me.  Or a confession.  It’s about me thinking this is contrary to the GOSPEL. 

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  13. His point is that the things of this world- even lawful things- will always disappoint because they are corrupt and fallen and that it is ultimately only Jesus who can satisfy. What’s wrong with that?

    Zrim- have you ever experienced a communion season?

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  15. Alexander, no, but that doesn’t keep the Scottish Highlands off my short list for future travels. But instead of a medieval season, I’m with the host in favoring a weekly communion:

    http://www.opc.org/OS/html/V6/4l.html

    ps nothing at all wrong with that, but why not foster that ethic 24/7/365?

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  16. Zrim-

    Actually, I think you’ll find it developed in the “early modern” period (whatever that means). I agree totally about maintaining that attitude all the year around, but I also think we should acknowledge the right attitude when we see it.

    In parts of Scotland one can celebrate the Lord’s Supper almost on a weekly basis- by travelling to neighbouring churches- for a good chunk of the year. Communion seasons have been and continue to be times of blessing. Stepping away from the world for a time and spending one’s time in the means of grace private and public, in fellowship, without distraction can be very rewarding spiritually. And I think you’ll find plenty of Biblical examples of such seasonal activities.

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  17. Alexander, not to begrudge right attitudes or anything, but it’s like when Francis promotes humility yet hangs onto the office of Pope. Left hands taking away what right ones give and all like that there.

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  19. Alexander, the point is that the humility seems feigned. Why the extra dose of humility once a year? Does it mean the year long humility is insufficient?

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  21. I nominate Tom and Terry to respond to Frogskins, maybe in less than 1500 words, if they are able to curtail their musings to so short a post.

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