Hey Church: Holy Crimes

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” ’ - Matthew 3.1-3

Hey Church, go see what we haven't done so great at this week by reading this article.

Last week it was brought to my attention that that blog runs these very week...and I plan on reposting them every week, or at least referring us there (sooner than Thursday, at that!).  I would love if some blogs that got a lot more traffic than mine were to do the same to help with internal accountability.

I'm glad that we're being called to account, and it's not necessarily accountability based on a huge settlement agreement or lots of complaints in the same geographical area.  And even if they aren't Episcopalians or dioceses or Christians, they're people of faith violating other people.  That's not respecting the dignity of every human being, and it affects how we are perceived.

We need to repent.  Those involved in crimes against others need to repent.  But we need to repent on behalf of them, too.  We have failed to be an obedient church.  We have failed to keep our sisters and brothers accountable for their actions.  We have failed to protect the defenseless.  We have let works of darkness happen.  We have not worn the armor of light.  We've been arrogant and in denial.  God, forgive us.

Pray for the accused.  Pray for the victims.  Pray for the Church.  Pray for civil authorities....and it's time to do some acknowledging and bewailing.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.