An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I just returned home from Ash Wednesday matins at my Lutheran congregation. The children of our day school were also in attendance. We read from Jonah about how the people of Ninevah repented, fasted for 40 days, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. God saw their repentance and how they turned away from evil and showed the city mercy.
During the sermon, our pastor told us that the ashes that are imposed on our foreheads this day are not a mark of piety so much as our mortality. They are a call to repent and, as they are imposed in the shape of a cross, also a hopeful reminder of our salvation.
As I sat there, I was thinking of tonight's debate and what I would do if I were to be asked to do something public on Ash Wednesday, an important Christian day that includes such an ugly, if hopeful, marking on my forehead.
The only thing that ever came close was that the American Enterprise Institute once held its annual formal dinner on Ash Wednesday. I went wearing a ball gown and ashes. It seemed inappropriate but I wasn't sure which part of it was inappropriate.
In any case, I'm curious what you all think. If you were to be asked to do something public on a day when your sinfulness, mortality and faith were on such shocking display, what would you do? Would you wash it off? Would you keep it on? Would you worry about how it comes off?
And while I'm sure that many people are curious whether Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich will show up with ashes, or one or the other, I'm also curious if we'll see any media so arrayed.
At the very least, I wonder if the media thought through whether a debate should be held on this day.
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May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
OK, now I'm really getting off track...but, don't you think they will all take a fresh shower and shave before tonight's debate?
Sep '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I'm trying to stay away from online media during Lent (I send my deep apologies to my followers: all 4 of you) but I'll share this historical and theological thought:
Ash Wednesday for Catholics is not a Holy Day of Obligation and I suppose there's a tension between the public humiliation of "wearing your hair shirt in public on the outside of your garments" and the unseemly vanity of "parading your virtue of humility and repentance before all who can see".
Lent is a time of deepening devotion to our Lord and Savior. Traditionally, this has been done through an increase in fasting, almsgiving and prayer. No matter what any candidate offers tonight, it can be criticized as moral preening and finger wagging, but they may want to call attention to a charity that is desperately in need of alms, particularly ones who are under direct attack by the HHS.
And, it will be amusing to see the reaction of the moderators to the word sin, which today is used in the world at large as a punchline, not an admonition. A reference to Lincoln would be an appropriate jab at the current President.
Feb '12
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Methinks, it's realistic
But let's not thereby condemn, but rather pray, first for the beam in our own eye and then for the splinter in the others' eyes.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I'm not sure you would see a modern day reporter with ashes on their forehead. That's a sign of repentance and self acknowledgement of guilt. The theology of liberalism says there is no guilt, only the bigoted condemnation of lesser intellects.That's why our culture gives us guilt-free sex, pride in single- motherhood, no-fault divorce and stigma-free welfare.
Dec '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
That's a really good point. I imagine that the TV "mask" will mean that no one wears their ashes through tonight's debate. · 42 minutes ago
Perhaps they may be subtle and choose to wear an ash-grey suit?
Jan '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Gus Marvinson: I can see the media attempting to publicly "out pious" the candidates by wearing their ashes.
Man, that was cynical. But I can't bring myself to delete it. · 52 minutes ago
I laughed and 'liked'. Personally, I don't feel the desire to signal my religiosity to anyone else. I may even be judgmental of a candidate for signaling their's so late in the day -- it would probably mean that they had an ash touch-up.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
If you're comfortable wearing a cross pendant, why not a cross on your forehead?
But you're talking to someone who considered getting a cross tattooed on his forehead. If I ever become a rockstar and don't have to worry about employers, I'll probably do it.
God is not just a mist of energy, like the Force in Star Wars. He is a Person... in some greater sense than we are persons. As such, it matters very much whether or not we acknowledge His presence and activity in our lives.
Suppose a friend is walking with you as you wander through a party. You stop to talk to some people who don't like your friend. Do you talk as if your friend isn't there? Or do you try to include that friend in the conversation, if only occasionally?
Our relationship with God is a personal relationship. Don't let yourself be bullied into hiding it, ever.
On a related note, as a young Catholic, I have always longed to see priests in collars and nuns in habits while walking in public. They should be proud of their marriage to the Church and to Christ.
Mar '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Even the risible Biden managed to get this one right:
It certainly would not speak well of Gingrich or Santorum if for some consultant dictated reason they felt compelled to hide their faith.
Aug '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I lived in new Orleans for 20 years and there that little dark-grey smudge on the forehead is as much a badge of resilience as acknowledgement of impending mortality and hope for redemption. Many NOLA residents view the Lenten "sacrifice" of partying as a blessed "King's-X."
Aug '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
He's still risible. Unless the hide their faith quote applies only to politicians and not to Roman Catholic organizations with employees.
Roberto: Even the risible Biden managed to get this one right:
It certainly would not speak well of Gingrich or Santorum if for some consultant dictated reason they felt compelled to hide their faith. · 8 minutes ago
Jan '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Do you repect Muslim women for the visual announcement (Hijab) of their faith? Personally, I do not; but I do think I'm being consistent. For me this goes for the yarmulke, a bindi, or any other really conspicuous identifier of one's faith no matter what that faith might be.
Jan '12
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I genuinely think that Rick Santorum absolutely should wear his ashes at the debate. The media will be apoplectic and as shrill as can be over it. However, I think with "fly over country" voters he will only cement his standing as a genuine and real person.
The people who will never vote for a Christian will not be won over no matter what he does. So, he may as well cement his reputation for actually believing what he says.
This will also give him an outstanding launch pad to accuse the media of intolerance etc etc. Kind of like Newt did to Juan Williams over food stamps.
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
My bet is that Santorum will make sure that the ashes are visible and that Gingrich may do the same. The trick for the media guys will be to attack Santorum's religiosity without seeming to attack his religion. His task will be to expose their hostility to anything other than a nominal Christianity.
Mitt Romney should watch all of this with care. What they are trying to do to Santorum they will later try to do to him.
We are in for a lot of ugliness. The question that will be posed in this election is this: Can one be an outspoken Christian or a serious Mormon and be elected President of the United States?
Nov '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I am curious, as to how a day of repentance in sackcloth and ashes has anything to do with Christianity as taught in the New Testament. To quote the Lord Jesus in the gospels on the subject neglects the context as distinctly a Jewish issue in regard to their rejection of their Messiah.
Christian era repentance is always coupled with baptism as the outward sign of the inward act of repentance and further demonstration of works worth of repentance as an outcome not an input. There are no ashes or sackcloth involved ever mentioned in either Acts or the epistles.
Seems to me that this is perhaps a little mixing of law and grace which is verboten as taught in all of the Pauline epistles. John's too as I reflect. James? Not there either and it is the most Jewish of the New Testament writings.
The law was our school master to bring us up to the Christ. So says Paul.
Just some thoughts...
Jun '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Robert,
I think it's a mistake to equate OT with Law and NT with Gospel. It's also important to not see a disconnect between Judaism and Christianity. As I understand Christianity, Christ is the fulfillment of all that was written in the Law and the Prophets.
Christianity begins as a repentance movement, with John the Baptist preaching repentance. To quote Luther, surely a student of Paul if there ever was one, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said 'Repent,' He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance."
Lent developed as a period of preparation for Pascha (Easter), particularly the preparation of candidates for Baptism. Ashes became the mark of public penance for those who had gravely sinned but were seeking a return to the Church.
By applying that to all her members, the church is saying that we all need to be repentant. As I said above, ashes are adiaphora. If it helps you, great. If not, that's okay too.
Edited on February 22, 2012 at 6:16pmAug '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
The only thing that ever came close was that the American Enterprise Institute once held its annual formal dinner on Ash Wednesday. I went wearing a ball gown and ashes. It seemed inappropriate but I wasn't sure which part of it was inappropriate.
Good golly, Miss Molly. Were you able to eat?
A ball gown and ashes doesn't seem at all inappropriate to me on Ash Wednesday, but attending a formal dinner if you're doing the full fast... that would feel "inappropriate" just because you're so hungry!
Unless you adopt the convention of doing a day's fast from sundown on the evening before to sundown on the evening of, which is what I started to do until a full fast became impossible for me (because of medication that must be taken every day with food).
Nov '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Christopher,
Thanks for your answer. I had to look up adiaphora. :-)
Certainly, Jesus Christ is the Man Who fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law. He came not destroy the law but to complete it. His perfect completion of the law, in Manhood, was His bona fides as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
As to a separation of law and grace, NT from OT, I only point to a complete reading of Hebrews 10.
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
The only thing that ever came close was that the American Enterprise Institute once held its annual formal dinner on Ash Wednesday. I went wearing a ball gown and ashes. It seemed inappropriate but I wasn't sure which part of it was inappropriate.
Good golly, Miss Molly. Were you able to eat?
I went for work. And this was maybe 10 years ago so I can't remember what my dietary plans were then. My pastor has sort of reminded us not to discuss too much whatever spiritual disciplines we're doing during Lent but I imagine that I simply waited until dinner to eat my (non-meat) meal. That's what I usually do, waiting until after Divine Service to eat (on days that are good days to fast).
Aug '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
LowcountryJoe
Do you repect Muslim women for the visual announcement (Hijab) of their faith? Personally, I do not; but I do think I'm being consistent. For me this goes for the yarmulke, a bindi, or any other really conspicuousidentifier of one's faith no matter what that faith might be.
On the other hand, priesthood and nunhood are also occupations. We're not upset when nurses go around in scrubs and mechanics wear jumpsuits, are we?
Moreover, priests and uncloistered nuns are out in the world to minister to those in need, even strangers, so there's something to be said for their occupation being immediately identifiable to everyone.
But then, I don't mind overt displays of faith in the first place, even hijab -- or at least the hijab that I'm most used to seeing, which isn't so severe. Niqabs and burqas are another matter.
Aug '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
My pastor has sort of reminded us not to discuss too much whatever spiritual disciplines we're doing during Lent but...
Yes. That makes sense. It's not something to talk about too much. But I'm nosy. And I think about food a lot :-)