This post is a result of two "coincidences": I recently read the end of Hebrews, and Brain Games last night was about why humans are superstitious. First, note this passage. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood. Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. -- Hebrews 13:8-14 In addition to being profound on so many levels, the author of Hebrews has something very pointed to say to all of us who have brought in superstitions into our religions. Holy Trips to Holy Relics at Holy Sites One of my favorite resources is Adolf Harnack's History of Dogma. Yes, he has an ax to grind, but his insights are still mostly brilliant. In particular to this blog post, he traced how the Constantinian church assimilated a number of pagan practices in order to assimilate the pagans who practiced them. Over time, those practices became Roman Catholic tradition. For our purposes, the emphasis is on holy relics and holy sites. {Important aside: the word "holy" properly means "set apart"; in this context, however, "holy" seems to mean nothing more than "connected with a person who is connected with God." Note the difference.} First, to be safe, some definitions specific to the context of the mythos surrounding the holy grail. The word "holy" properly means "set apart"; in this context, however, "holy" seems to mean nothing more than "connected with a person who is connected with God." A "relic" is a physical remain of a holy person, an object touched by said holy person, or a place where that person did something important. Relics are housed in "reliquaries" and the physical site where they are kept is considered holy as well. The journey one takes to visit one of these holy sites to see a relic is called a "pilgrimage." All relics are assumed to have miraculous powers by virtue of their connection with said holy person who, according to Roman Catholic theology, could give us access to the grace and power of God. In other words, a relic is a conduit to God, much like a sacrament. All good? Anyway, let's be generous and say that the basis for their/our fascination with relics comes from the New Testament. In Matthew 9:20-22, we read the story of a woman who touched the hem of Jesus' cloak and was healed of her bleeding (even though Jesus said that her faith, not His garment, made her well). In Acts 5:16, it is said that people lined the streets with the sick and lame hoping that Peter's shadow would fall on them (the assumption is that they were healed, although the text doesn't actually say that). The idea is, for example, that if Jesus' garment still existed today, it would still have the power to heal, even though Jesus no longer wears it. The power resides in the object itself (where we get the idea of residual). What are some examples of relics? One that you should still know today is the Shroud of Turin, supposedly the burial cloth of Jesus, kept in a church in Turin/Torino. Another is Mary's Belt, handwoven from camel hair and given to Thomas just before she ascended into heaven. John the Baptist's head, Peter's chains, pieces of the One True Cross, bones of the apostles, garments of the apostles and Mary (and even Jesus' foreskin *cough*) have all been venerated in different places. If a church or monastery housed such a relic, people would come see it/touch it to experience its power. Obviously, people valued relics differently; a relic associated with Jesus would be held in higher esteem than one associated with, say, Barnabas. The explosion of relics in medieval Catholicism is the result of two main factors, theological and social. Theologically, a doctrine we often call the "veneration of saints" or the "treasury of merit" came into full force. As people began to ask how the Church had the resources to give forgiveness of sin (remember that we're working with a balance-of-justice mentality here; every wrong must be counterbalanced by an equal right; this is where the doctrine of purgatory ultimately emerges), church leaders decided that the former saints, who had more good things than bad things built up in their lives, had given living people access to their excess merit ("supererogatory works"). That merit was mostly mediated by official acts of the Church in things like indulgences and absolutions, but it also spilled out through their relics. In that way, you can see the upswing of relics as much a product of basic supply and demand. Culturally, I think we can point to the growth of feudalism as the main culprit. As Rome fell, the most powerful families distributed themselves (eventually) across Europe and became lords of their own "manors." The whole system is by nature decentralized, but it seeks centralization. In other words, feudal lords constantly sought an advantage over their neighbors / rivals. The primary advantage was military, attracting and supplying strong fighting men. That required food which required farmers or money. Both of those required people. Lords were always looking for ways to bring more people onto their land. One of those ways was through the local church and the access it was said to bring to God. Putting a relic in your church made it even more attractive. There was great prestige in having a great relic in your land. It brought pilgrims which brought resources and also notoriety. If you didn't have as great a relic as your rival, you could (a) steal it (which happened quite often), or (b) "discover" a greater one. Wholly Fascinating Holy Trips to the Holy Land Relics are still a big deal in Roman Catholicism, and there are many out there. Honestly, many relics are priceless antiquities, but let's leave that aside for the moment. There is still a place for powerful items in Roman Catholicism. That's why there are so many websites devoted to "visions of Jesus" or the Virgin Mary and why people take pilgrimages to the latest such discovery. Protestants hear of these things and scoff, *but* we have our own quasi-pilgrimages to confess. Because this is supposed to be a short blog entry, I just want to focus on one: trips to the holy land, Israel. Tourism is a huge industry in Israel and vital to their economy. The Israeli government relentlessly promotes trips to Israel, especially to Protestants in America. For example, such a partnership exists with the Georgia Baptist Convention this year (well, 2015). I have no problem with travel to historic biblical sites. From those who have taken such trips, I have heard stories of how such trips make the Bible "come alive" and give an appreciation for distances, geography, meteorology, and culture. That's fine. Good, even. (Although I am wary of "being baptized" in the Jordan and feeling like it "meant something.") I'm talking about the feelings of blessing associated with such trips, as if the holy land is actually holier than other places. That, I believe, is the Protestant equivalent of a pilgrimage to visit a relic. I realize that that's a weak argument, especially since I do see value in visiting Israel. The real clincher to my argument is Indiana Jones. Or more appropriately, the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. I'll gladly admit that these are two of my favorite movies, and I actively cheer for God to wipe out Adolf Hitler. And the Arthurian legends about the Holy Grail are fascinating (unfortunate British parodies aside). But here's where I'm going with this: in a lot of discussions I've had over the years, most of us have said something to the effect of "I wonder what would happen if I found (take your pick: The Ark, The Grail, whatever)." And we've all wondered. And we sure hope that the "bad guys" don't find either one because we hate to think what might happen. I'm being serious. This really might not sound like a big deal, but if you've ever had a twinge of "I wonder" with respect to the ark, that's the same thing as relic veneration. That's the belief that the power of God somehow resides in an object. Protestants might not have quite as many relics as Catholics, but some of us still have them. The Holy Grail of Holy Grails (Actually, the Holy Grail of holy grails is probably the Ark of the Covenant, but I digress.) You see, there's a difference between appreciation and veneration. I hope that no one who reads this is so anti-Catholic or anti-Christian to reject the historic or cultural value of all items called relics. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, St. Peter's Basilica, The Hagia Sophia, they all have significant value. They are some of the most important buildings in Western (and Eastern) history, and the items they house are extremely important. Priceless in many ways. Let's set aside the fact that many of these items are hoaxes; even some of the hoaxes are still of incalculable historic importance. But they are important in the same way as the Crown Jewels, or the Masamune, or King Tut's Sarcophagus, or the Mona Lisa. They are a part of our human history. Nothing more. Nothing more. Now, let's get back to the passage I introduced at the top of the post. The author of Hebrews has gone to great lengths to establish that everything about Jesus and His new covenant is superior to the old covenant of Judaism; the Temple Jesus serves in was not made by hands but is eternal. Jesus put an end to the old system of sacrifices; *He* was the one taken "outside the camp." Therefore we should have no problem going outside the camp to suffer with Him and to carry on His mission. Being in the camp or outside the camp doesn't matter any more. Having access to the Temple or not having access to the Temple doesn't matter any more. Worshiping at the Altar or not worshiping at the Altar doesn't matter any more. Why? It's no longer about these earthly things. We are citizens of a much greater, enduring, eternal city. Do you see where I'm going with this? If the "Holy Grail" exists (and that's another entry for another time), it is spiritually irrelevant. It would have no more miraculous power than any other cup. If the Ark of the Covenant could be found, it would have no more face-melting powers than any other box. Jesus Christ doesn't serve in a Temple made by hands.
1 Comment
I. Lucia
11/16/2015 06:26:25 am
Amen, bro, amen. Your argument, while sensitive towards various faith traditions, pulls no punches in labelling the frank apostasy of superstition. Jesus' teaching, example, and sacrifice which availeth us, don't need to be cluttered with, "rabbits' feet"---good luck charms and sensational debris. Not if we believe his words: "It is finished" and understand them to mean "It is complete."
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