Hand me that whip!

Cleansing the Temple by El Greco

Don't we all just want to be the one with the whip in hands, driving out God's enemies, who just happen to be our enemies? God does share our list, no?

The story of Jesus cleansing the Temple presents us with powerful and appealing imagery. The drama sparks and crackles with tension. Every conflict Jesus has had with authorities throughout his life hovers in the background now. We know those in power are just waiting for that one egregious slip that will yield the troublemaker up to their righteous judgment.

He, meanwhile, does some judging of his own, striking at the heart of national piety and calling into question all our systems of approaching (and managing) God. Listeners to the Gospel cannot help identifying with Jesus, yearning to cheer as he purifies God's house, driving all manner of evildoers from the Temple.

[Cue the Mikado.]

Don't we all have a little list? Those we consider to be the stumblingblocks to legitimate desires for holiness? Those who pollute holy places? Those who set up barriers to God? Those who pervert the Gospel? Those who get it all wrong and, in turn, lead others astray? Those who set up stumblingblocks? Those who come as angels of light but are, instead, agents of the enemy of souls? The wicked. The sinners. The ungodly. Those we could so easily and happily do without?

Unfortunately, no matter how appealing the tale of temple cleansing may be, Jesus had this other story--you know, the one about tares and wheat. Well, darnel. Anyway....

It seems we are to leave weed-pulling and whip-wielding and all that other righteous discernment stuff to God.

And just what part of "leave it to God" is unclear?

Precisely.

So, while fulminators fulminate and all manner of weeping, wailing, hand-wringing, gnashing of teeth, shouts, and enough anxiety to make the Theotokos break out into a flop sweat swirls about us...

How about we take a deep breath

And

Just

Let

Go

Whether the Anglican Communion survives is surely more a matter of the Holy Spirit's gracious persistence and our cooperation, in the long run, with said Spirit, than it is of any individuals or groups having their way.

Put.

Down.

That.

Whip.

Right.

Now.

[And, by the way, if you find your voice rising in decibels, it is definitely time to STFU.]

I don't care which end of which spectrum you are on, or where you are in the middle. Jesus is perfectly capable of whipping our sinful asses and I suggest we leave it to him.

Just saying.
--the BB