Mike Riddell was guest speaker and had given us the title, so we ran with the concept. At what point does our pursuit of [what we think is] 'holiness' become a sin - because it tramples other values such as love and compassion?
to summarise some of our preliminary thoughts:
holiness comes from closeness to God rather than closeness to God coming from holiness
holiness is about removing barriers between ourselves and God - commandments etc are just guides as to where those barriers and obstacles might be.
holiness as safety - when securing one's own personal standing with God becomes more important than giving his love to others - abstinence from engagement
holy = churchy - 'holiness' as a badge of belonging, defining who's in and who's out
one thing we are trying to home in on is the distinction between things that are conventionally considered unholy, but aren't; and things that are conventionally not considered unholy, but are. for example, farting in church is not unholy, although it may be bad manners; playing wombles records is not unholy, although it may be bad manners; doing the National Lottery may not be bad manners but is unholy.
GRACE ORDER OF SERVICE
THE SIN OF HOLINESS
MIKE to prepare spoof orders of service [see list of words]
MARK to search out Father Ted videos for swearing etc, and the National Lottery
welcome/intro - MIKE
caricatures of holiness - JEN & MIKE
figures of holy and unholy person:
small groups have A3 sheet with holy & unholy figure on -
write on it what each person would do/be/think/wear etc
pin results up on two large versions of figures at front - STEVE
the congregation's list of holy and unholy things
song
interview Mike Riddell - JONNY
Mike Riddell's address
opportunity for questions
song
ritual
getting our hands dirty planting hyacinth or similar bulbs - DAVE
prayer here
some people don't do anything very bad and yet feel unholy/unworthy
- PAUL
song
concluding words
holy:
recognising god for who he is
living in the light of god
prayer
letting god in
repentant heart
things done with a godly attitude
everyone and all creation especially cats even snakes
guitars
wholeness
mother theresa
spirit filled
seeking god
honesty
openness
identifying with christ
daring to be different
selfless
pure
joy
peace
loves god
loving
kind
god in us
wash'n'go spirituality
delirious? t-shirt
the guardian
someone who lives by the biblical law [spirit]
humble
christlikeness
wears a halo
tries to build commitment to the truth
seeking intimacy with god
no dress sense
superspiritual
overpious
middle class
conformity
challenging injustice
being right with god
little spare cash
sandals
inclusive
challenging by lifestyle
makes you feel uncomfortable
punk
gospel
breakbeat
self-sacrifice
bruce cockburn t-shirt
rachel's mum
integrity
unholy:
deceitful
going against god
greed
rock music
satanism
prodigy t-shirt
apathy
legalism
selfish
arrogant
blasphemous
bigot
into self-gain
american
exclusive
sex
rebellion
miniskirt
bow tie
grunge look
metal jacket
open to immorality
chooses own paths for life
finds submission to god difficult
uncaring
disregard for others
nirvana t-shirt
violence
the sun
porn video
hate god
expletives
abuse
pride
sexy
anger
swears
taking the lord's name in vain
disrespect for god
wilfully against god
media baron
brokenness
pot noodles
the pope who bled nine choirboys to death so that he could drink their blood [the first transfusion - he died!]
curly guitar leads
shutting god out
'me' culture
envy
ceremonial killing of chickens
hypocrisy
Father we come to you, as we are, in unholiness, in holiness, as sinners, as children of God.
We are sorry for the times we fail you. For times when we are not holy, that is when we have put barriers between ourselves and you, preventing us from being close to you. Forgive us Lord. Forgive us also when we set a measure or a standard of holiness to aspire to which is not what you require of us. Help us to become closer to you and to remove the obstacles that distance us from you.
Thank you that Jesus shattered the illusions of holiness performed by the Pharisees. You re-interpreted the meaning of holiness and you are our example that we aspire to follow:
Despite being accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, this did not deter you from being engaged with the poor, needy, Roman officials, the sick, tax collectors, children, prostitutes, the rich, rulers, widows. We could think of many types of people that you would be engaged with this day.
Let us not commit the sin of holiness, when we have put barriers between ourselves and the world, that is, abstinence from engagement with the world in which we live. Lord you have called us all to the great commission. Show us by your example how we may be holy and pleasing in your sight, being both close to God and being salt and light to the world.
Amen
by paul wainwright
for spoof order of service - 'dis-grace'
things forbidden in church:
playing cards
drinking alcohol
prawn/pork
fart
belch
spit
wearing a hat
cross-dress
smoke
take drugs
talk
eat
snog
feel someone up
snore
swear
listen to walkman
gamble
smile/laugh
clap
dance
argue
lapdancing
put hands up
heckle/interrupt the preacher
dress provocatively or scantily [not always the same thing!]
take all your clothes off
not wear your Sunday best
read porn mags
if you have nothing to confess, we can provide you with something
you may choose any or all of the following:
rubber goose
fags & booze
lottery ticket