Prelude to the banquet
A charismatic priest from Little Falls, New York, John Bertolucci, says he regrets bitterly that all Christians "at present cannot practice inter-Communion. I long for that day," he says, "when we can all banquet at the same Lord's table."
While waiting, Father Bertolucci has a suggestion: "Perhaps we could wash each other's feet. I would like to propose liturgical foot-washing ceremonies in which we all share."
His proposal makes a lot of sense. To celebrate inter-communion while still representing the divided body of Christ makes mockery of the ceremony itself. But foot washing seems a good place to start. Out of the contemplation of servanthood might well come the humility that the ordinance encourages. It was arrogance and pride that brought apostasy and division into the church; the recovery of humility would seem a basic step toward that oneness of love that must precede true unity.
Hans Kueng and church rights
Catholic Theologian Hans Kueng, in reply to a Vatican order silencing him because of his opposition to the "truth" of the Catholic faith, says, "I am deeply ashamed of my church."
According to Kueng, the church "has now begun to defend human rights" while it "defames and discredits its own theologians."
The Swiss-born professor of theology at the University of Tuebingen is the author of several books and scholarly papers that question and often reinterpret traditional Roman Catholic doctrine. He spoke in response to a Vatican declaration that denied him the right to teach as a Catholic theologian.
Said Kueng, "I plan to continue as a Catholic theologian, in a Catholic church, to be an advocate for numerous Catholics. And I know that I have behind me countless theologians, pastors, religion teachers, and lay people in our church."
One thing Kueng doesn't have behind him, though, is the Pope, who personally approved the declaration against the theologian. And the Pope, according to an 1870 declaration, is "infallible" when speaking ex cathedra—that is, in an official capacity on faith and morals. It is this doctrine of infallibility, among other things, that Kueng has attacked.
Certainly Kueng could call to his sup port more than adequate Biblical testimony concerning the nature of any human claim to infallibility—on or off the "chair." But it should not be ignored that Kueng promotes other views that many Protestants as well as Catholics would label heretical, including a humanistic reinterpretation of Christ's claims to divinity. And his view on Biblical inerrancy would hardly endear him to evangelical churchmen.
But a church, too, has its rights, and one is to ask its members to operate within a context of approved doctrine. This, Kueng is not doing. A church has another right—to discipline and, ultimately, to disfellowship (excommunicate) members who refuse to do so. Given the traditionalist views of Pope John Paul II, Kueng is well on his way toward this most drastic Roman Catholic disciplinary action.
Somehow, rather than expressing shame of his church, it would seem the honorable thing for Mr. Kueng to do would be to (1) cease his attacks on Roman Catholic doctrine or (2) leave the church voluntarily and unite with an other religious body within which his teachings could be accommodated.
Of Hare Krishnas and truth squads
Next time you're accosted by a Hare Krishna solicitor in Denver's Stapleton International Airport, don't rush to make a contribution. Free entertainment may be on the way!
According to a suit filed by a Denver Hare Krishna temple, a Pentecostal "truth squad" has been harassing and discrediting temple devotees who solicit donations at the airport.
The suit claims that members of the Lovingway United Pentecostal church "dog" the Krishnas by distributing pamphlets that call them "poor brain washed dupes," and that label the solicitation "a lucrative con game." The suit asks that church members be ordered to keep at least ten feet from Hare Krishna solicitors at the airport.
Says Church Pastor Maurice Gordon, "We feel the public has a right to the knowledge the Bible teaches about behavioral traits of these groups." The Hare Krishna sect is a cult, he said, that worships a "heathen god."
Mr. Gordon acknowledged that one church member may have overdone it when he "touched" a Hare Krishna devotee at the airport and began to speak in tongues. "We've agreed not to do that anymore," he said. "We'll behave our selves."
As one who has been annoyed by Hare Krishna solicitors in a multitude of air ports, I like the idea of a truth squad. But I'm quite sure I wouldn't like to be "touched" (likely a euphemism for "grabbed") by someone spouting gibberish in my ear.
The apostle Paul exhorted the Christians in Corinth to speak intelligibly rather than to use an unknown tongue where it could not be interpreted. "If I know not the meaning of the voice," he said, "I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me" (1 Cor. 14:11). "For," he explained, "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" (verse 8).
Given the probability of a "battle" between the contending forces at Stapleton International Airport, Paul's counsel should not be dismissed lightly.
There is another thing that troubles me—the "behavioral traits" of the "truth squad." Is the Denver United Pentecostal church really living up to its name—Lovingway?
Good news
Here's a case where what seems to be bad news may instead be good—after a fashion. A new census report reveals that the number of unmarried couples living together in the United States has more than doubled since 1970.
The report shows 1.1 million U.S. households contain "two unrelated adults of opposite sexes" the report's quaint way of defining cohabitation. Unmarried couples under age 25 increased more than eightfold during 1970-1978. Unmarried households headed by per sons under age 45 increased sixfold. There was no perceptible change in the over-45 age group.
Also since 1970 there has been a 40 percent increase in single-person house holds. Twenty percent of all Americans now live alone.
The good news? With the number of unmarried couples living together climbing rapidly, the number of divorces—you need marriages for that—seems certain to decline. One wonders, however, whether the good news is worth the price.
