Law and repentance

[Fr Gregory]

Given our recent discussions, I though the following extract from the blog of Fr Tobias Haller BSG was relevant. Fr James has been Vicar of Saint James Episcopal Church in Fordham, NY, a vibrant multicultural urban congregation, since 1999, and is a somewhat controversial Episcopalian theologian. His blog is “In a Godward Direction”: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://jintoku.blogspot.com/">http://jintoku.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->

“What kind of church are we to be? Shall it be the “O.K. Club” or “St Saviour’s Hospital”? The church of those who are at ease in Zion, or those who dwell in the exile of Babylon? Will it be the church of the Pharisee or the Publican? Of those who bind burdens, or those who liberate? The church of Caiaphas, secure in his skill, or of Cephas, who knew his failings? The church of Paul at his worst, or Paul at his best? Will it be the church of those who close the door on others, or of those who are trying to get in? Will it be the church of those for whom the Decalogue, the Summary of the Law, and the Golden Rule are not enough, or of those who know how hard it is to follow even these high standards? Will it be the church of those who are prepared to cast stones, and were condemned by their own consciences, or those whom they accuse, and whom Jesus refuses to condemn? Will it be the church of those who sit in judgment, or of those who love much, and minister to Jesus by washing his feet with their tears?

I pray our church will be a wing of St Saviour’s Hospital. There are no outpatients there, and everyone who arrives is a terminal case: they die to self, in order to rise to life everlasting. For the church is not a society of nice people who obey the rules. The church is the Body of Christ. There is no salvation in the Law. None. The Law did not and will not save us. Jesus did and will.”

Fr Gregory