The Burr in the Burgh

Last evening I rewatched "The Patriot." What an awesome movie! I'd forgotten how much I liked it. Of course, the R rating is for the violence. Frankly I'm more grossed out by that Fear Factor rubbish and those CSI shows. (Now tell us what you really think). I watched the character of Mel Gibson talking about sin and forgiveness and praying in a church with different eyes after seeing last year's "The Passion of the Christ."

I have often noted that while 3rd world churches are on the ascendancy, many European and North American churches are drifting into irrelevance. Philip Jenkins wrote a very informative book on the subject: The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity.

Today I noticed that Charles Colson reflected on how the Anglican churches in Africa are finding their voice. Numerically they far outnumber the Anglicans in the Northern Hemisphere. And they are typically more biblically sound. The whole brouhaha over the U.S. Episcopal Church consecrating an openly homosexual man as a bishop has given the third world Christians an opportunity to make a true confession of faith.

I thought the Nigerian Anglican bishop's comment was interesting: "Unity of doctrine must precede unity of worship (communion)."

Every once in a while, someone will express to me the concern that maybe people can catch colds or other infections from drinking out of the common communion cup at church. And every time I tell them, "sure it's possible, but very unlikely." Since today is Maundy Thursday, the day on which our Lord instituted the Sacrament of the Altar, I figured this was a good time to address the matter. So let's say it again. You are much more likely to get sick touching the pews, the hymnals, or the altar railing where the kids were clamoring just before you. You are much much more likely to catch a cold from shaking my hand after the service when you are number 42 in line. But don't take my word for it. In 1998, the American Journal for Infection Control reported that the consensus of the Center for Disease Control is that the risk exists but is so small that it is undetectable. Furthermore, a study has shown that people who receive the chalice every day are at no greater risk of sickness than people who never go to church.

I'm not exactly opposed to individual glasses, but I do think of them, in most cases, as an unnecessary bother (in terms of distribution and cleanup). Of course, the vessels used to hold the body and blood of Christ are not the point. I guess I just see it as an unnecessary break in tradition that eliminates the symbolism of unity the common cup illustrates.