The Train Won't Stop Going

It appears that a few Episcopal bishops are visiting Canterbury. The speculation is that this meeting is to discuss the "two track" model of Anglicanism, which seems to have been the preferred compromise of Canterbury for the last few years.

My response is, so what? If The Episcopal Church is to be relegated to the category of second class citizens, so be it. And, if these bishops think it is so darn important for them to sign some covenant, then let them sign it.

We've been talking about "making a sacrifice" for the sake of the Gospel for quite awhile now. In the past, it was a small group within the Church that was being asked to make that sacrifice. Now we are faced with the possibility that we all will have to participate in such a sacrifice. Not such a bad thing, it seems to me.

However, if this is a ploy by the ACNA, CANA, etc. folks to get some kind of official recognition, then it matters to me, a little bit. Those who lie and steal in an attempt to gain personal power for themselves need to be held accountable.

On the other hand, do I want to be part of a Communion that would officially recognize such scoundrels? I don't think so.

In the end, it's all an academic exercize anyway. As much as my Anglo-Catholic trained intellect hates to admit it, the reality is that in this post modern world, hierarchies are usually more of a bane than a blessing. Truth is known through relationships, and those relationships grow out of local communities. Those from on high who desire to "lord their authority" over such communities are quickly becoming irrelevant.

So, let those who desire to assign our train to this track or the other get on with it. Such bureaucratic decisions are not likely to cause us to stop proclaiming the radically inclusive love of God, made known to us through Jesus Christ, regardless of who is made nervous by this liberating message.

All this talk about tracks brought to mind one of my favorite tunes:


Here's the lyrics of that last verse, in case you missed it:

He hears the silence howling
Catches angels as they fall.
And the all-time winner
Has got him by the balls.
He picks up Gideon's Bible
Open at page one
God stole the handle and
The train won't stop going
No way to slow down.

The train won't stop going. No way to slow down. Canterbury and those bishops he is entertaining this week might as well just get used to it.

Now, please feel free to critique my rather shallow comments about this latest development in the Anglican saga. But, I will consider any criticism of Jethro Tull to be blasphemous. You have been warned.

J.