St. John Chrysostom: Tradition with It's Successes and Failures

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (NRSV)

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the LORD said to me,

"Do not say, `I am only a boy';

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you,

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me,

"Now I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant."

Luke 21: 12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict."

Blog Reflection

I have a love/hate relationship with St. John Chrysostom. 

I love the contributions Chrysostom made to all of the good theological and spiritual development of the Christian Faith.  Chrysostom made fantastic contributions to the early Church, many of them are celebrated in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition.  We Episcopalians end each morning and evening prayer during the Daily Office with the Prayer of St. Chrysostom.  The words are beautiful and inspiring. 

I do not hate Chrysostom himself.  I hate the contributions he made to the development of the early Churches' position on human sexuality.   Chrysostom believed that all of the sexual passions of human beings are flawed and lead to some kind of spiritual destruction.  Even though Chrysostom in his commentary about the "natural" and "unnatural" use of human sexuality referred to in Romans 1: 26 and 27, he admits that homosexual orientation is natural (See Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality by John Boswell, p.109) and his analysis of Sodom and Gomorrah agrees that it was destroyed for their lack of hospitality (p.98), Chrysostom condemned homosexuality itself as being even worse than fornication between heterosexual people.  You can see some of Chrysostom's writings in John Boswell's book in the appendix on pages 359 - 363.  How unfortunate for Chrysostom and the future of Christian Tradition. 

At the same time, I am also reminded that my beloved St. Benedict adopted many of the ideas of St. John Chrysostom with regard to human sexuality.  Yet, I cherish the Rule of St. Benedict and it's focus on "preferring nothing whatsoever to Christ".  Just as I can love St. Benedict and disagree with his position about "giving into bodily temptations" so to speak, I can also disagree with St. John Chrysostom and still appreciate the good work he did in the early Church.   Each age of the Church has those things that they once believed and accepted as true at one point in time, and the changing of those things with a better understanding that becomes a new light on an old subject.

"Is "tradition" inerrant? Of course not". Writes Bishop Gene Robinson in his book: In the Eye of the Storm: "Like those who authored the various parts of the Bible, those Christians who have come after are not inerrant either.  Their lives are not perfect, nor are their interpretations of scripture, nor are the decisions they made because of those understandings" (p. 56).

In today's Gospel Jesus has brought us back to Advent for a bit.  At the place where this Gospel reading picks up, Jesus has just given his warnings of what will happen at the end of time.  He is warning that his followers will face persecution and even torture for doing what they have been commissioned to do.  Loving the marginalized will almost certainly get us into some kind of trouble. Seeking to change the way things have always been will make people uncomfortable and want to dismiss us and our ideas.  Though our efforts are about giving Jesus Christ a better Name by making the Church more inclusive of LGBT people and other minorities, we will experience rejection and a refusal to cooperate from those who are much too comfortable with things as they have been. 

Again, quoting Bishop Robinson, "If we are not making trouble and making waves, then we'd best check to see if we're preaching the same Gospel that Jesus was preaching. It got him in trouble with the religious powers that be, and if we start doing that, we'll be in trouble too" (p. 83).

In the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures we read the story of God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet.  Jeremiah like many prophets before him, sees himself as inadequate because of his age.  God assures Jeremiah that God will be with him and to not be afraid.  Jeremiah will experience many hardships as he speaks to God's people about how to get back on God's track. 

None of us are completely perfect to be involved in the work of striving for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human person.  That is why our response to that question in our Baptismal Covenant is. "We will, with God's help." (BCP p. 294).  Our own limitations do not prevent us from making a good contribution to the Tradition of the Church if we are willing to do our best.  There is no such thing in God's eye's as too small of a thing done to help establish the reign of God.  We may not write theological treatises that gain us a consecration ceremony and all that garb. But, when we receive God's grace and put forth our own efforts to make the world a more holy place where all God's people are included, we are doing the work of the Gospel.  We are engaged in the Apostolic ministry of radical hospitality, reconciliation and healing.  Those who complain about us and make waves while they do nothing, but spread more false information about LGBT people based on ignorance; those who see a possible path to finding a place for them at the Table of the Lord are very thankful. 

We can commemorate St. John Chrysostom with both appreciation and concern.  We can celebrate the exceptional work he did to inspire thought and hope in the Christian Tradition.  It is also appropriate to look at the misinformation he put forth to create an atmosphere of rejection for LGBT people in the Church, both then and now with disagreement and concern.  We can make us of his good contributions to correct and rewrite his imperfections by reading and hearing the Gospel message of salvation for all people, including LGBT people.  We can read Chrysostom's commentaries and see that the sexual love between people of the same sex is just as natural and holy as it is between heterosexuals.  We should pray: Come Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth, so that there will be a new understanding about seeking justice and peace and respecting the dignity of every human person, including, but not limited to LGBT people.

Continue with the work.


Prayers

O God, you gave your servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching, and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 579).


Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).


Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).