Holy Week, then Eastertide’s 40 days draw near. Times in which to appreciate the wisdom of God in redemption. But only April 1st to celebrate mankind’s folly. Doesn’t our present age, which stresses equal rights, demand more days to recall foolishness? Not only major follies such as the way in which the ambitions of the various Alliances, together with Kaiser Wilhelm’s militarism, led to the First World War. Or the folly that saw Parliament believing ‘Grocer’ Heath’s assurances that entry to the Common Market involved no loss of national sovereignty, when the evidence indicated that the eventual aim was European Union.
Time needed to remember lesser follies, such as accepting budget airline declarations that fares are only £X (one way, of course) when £2X should be added for ‘extras.’ Or embracing every aspect of modern digital technology ‘to save time,’ and then not using your smartphone’s clock to count the hours spent tweeting and downloading.
The Church isn’t free from folly. As numbers in the pews decline, the seats around the tables of the increasing number of committees grow. Fewer worshippers, fewer priests – but more bishops. Also what greater folly than the virtual abandonment of the BCP and its concise language, derived in considerable measure from the Sarum Missal’s lucid Latinity? Also, how many younger folk, even clergy, know of the 39 Articles and their sound doctrine?
Even FiF and The Society aren’t immune from folly. Compare the energy they’ve expended opposing female ordination (for which some scriptural case, albeit weak, might be made) with the limited vigour used, so far, in opposing homosexual activity, which is totally condemned by Scripture. Or in providing counselling for Christians struggling with a homosexual orientation.
Cue tears not laughter?
Alan Edwards