"The people responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus never accused him of being a bore - on the contrary: they thought him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with a yawning ho-hum atmosphere of tedium. We have efficiently trimmed the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him 'meek and mild,' and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies. To those who knew him, however, he in no way suggested a milk and water person; they objected to him as a dangerous firebrand. True, he was tender to the unfortunate, patient with honest inquiries, and humble before Heaven; but he insulted respectable clergymen by calling them hypocrites...he went to parities in disreputable company and was looked upon as a drunkard and a glutton...he assaulted indignant tradesmen and threw them and their belongings out of the temple...he showed no proper deference for wealth or social disposition...and he asked disagreeably searching questions that could not be answered by rule of thumb. He was emphatically not a dull man in his human lifetime."
2 comments:
One of my favorite quotes. This reminds me that I need to send you a set of talks by Dick Foth (or at least the links).
I was just reading some Sayers too.
I was struck by this passage from "Letters to a Diminished Church: Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine."
""" This is the Church’s opportunity, if she chooses to take it. So far as the people’s readiness to listen goes, she has not been in so strong a position for at least two centuries. The rival philosophies of humanism, enlightened self-interest, and mechanical progress have broken down badly; the antagonism of science has proved to be far more apparent than real; and the happy-go-lucky doctrine of laissez-faire is completely discredited. But no good whatever will be done by retreat into personal piety or by mere exhortation to a recall to prayer. The thing that is in danger is the whole structure of society, and it is necessary to persuade thinking men and women of the vital and intimate connection between the structure of society and the theological doctrines of Christianity.
The task is not made easier by the obstinate refusal of a great body of nominal Christians, both lay and clerical, to face the theological question. “Take away theology and give us some nice religion” has been the popular slogan for so long that we are likely to accept it, without inquiring whether religion without theology has any meaning. And however unpopular I may make myself, I shall and will affirm that the reason why the churches are discredited today is not that they are too bigoted about theology, but that they have run away from theology. """"
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