Sound like light.

Romans & Ephesians in Lent 4

Image by cadop from Pixabay

RCL 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

The Replacement Theory says that white people are being replaced by non-white people through migration, demographic growth and a drop in the white birth rate. The theory is unscientific and racist but some people believe it. It motivated the protesters in Charlottesville, a number of mass murderers,¹ and it is a favored talking point of conservative media personalities.

The Church has its own version. Replacement Theology or supersessionism is the belief that Christianity has superseded Judaism. It says Christians, not Jews, have become God’s covenanted people. Over the centuries, Replacement Theology has motivated persecutions, pogroms and genocide.²

In Ephesians, Paul argued against Replacement Theology. He said that non-Jewish (Gentile) believers share in the covenant and “live in God’s favor . . . [by] standing on the shoulders of Israel.”³

In his Letter to the Romans Paul had hoped that there would be enough “peace” between the city’s believing communities (Gentile & Jew, rich & poor) for them to at least work together.⁴ In Ephesians, he wanted more. He wanted Gentile and Jewish believers to live in genuine unity and newness of life. “Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Like most of Paul’s letters, Ephesians includes specific behavioral advice. Some of it is timeless. (“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Ephesians 4:25.) Some of it is culture-bound and liable to do more harm than good. (“Wives, be subject to your husbands.” Ephesians 5:22.) One of the timeless bits is this:

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up…” (Ephesians 4:29)

Whether it is the anti-Jewish language which, especially in Holy Week, endangers Jews and diminishes Christian liturgy and scripture,⁵ or the racist lies which endanger people of color and immigrants and diminishes our national life, we know that words matter. With a prayer to the Holy Spirit, may we choose words which befit our calling to be light.⁶

Peace.

1. Buffalo NY 2022, Christchurch NZ 2019, El Paso TX 2019.

2. If you’re unsure about whether supersessionism is a thing and/or a problem, treat yourself to a free, easy-to-listen-to podcast which gives a good overview of its New Testament roots, here.

3. Weedman, Gary Edward (2006) “Reading Ephesians from the New Perspective on Paul,” Leaven, Vol.14:2 Article 7 at 84. The article is freely available online here.

4. Paul hoped they would work together to raise funds for the mission trip he wanted to make to Spain.

5. While I believe that Holy Scripture is inspired, I also believe that inspiration comes to us via a humanity that struggles to get it right, and sometimes gets it wrong or not right enough. BCP 853-54. Surely the Holy Spirit can help us to make it better. Also, for anyone wondering about Ephesians 2:15 [“He (sic) has abolished the law…”] see Weedman’s article at 90-91.)

6. General Convention of the Episcopal Church has approved alternate Good Friday liturgical texts which remove anti-Jewish language and inferences. They have been approved for use by dozens of Episcopal dioceses. (I believe the Diocese of Texas led the way.) There are also alternative liturgies for Palm Sunday focusing on the entry into Jerusalem and omitting the reading of the Passion. (A long overdue change from a purely liturgical perspective.) A Pastoral Letter from Bp. Julia Whitworth (Diocese of Massachusetts) addressing Palm Sunday, Good Friday and a number of Holy Week concerns (and relevant links) can be found here.