"From Breaking Chains to Breaking Bread": A Brief Summary

Over the last 5 years I have been an incredible spiritual journey that have deeply affected me emotionally, mentally, and theologically. It began, as such things usually do, quite unexpectedly-like an echo of an echo that knocked on the door of my heart. It was the slight itch at the back of mind. It was the deafening silence that screamed out in a whisper a single word: change. The growing uneasiness that told me "something is wrong" began in the final months of high school, but soon intensified in college.

For the majority of my life, I participated in churches of Pentecostal/charismatic tradition. In high school I became a leader in the youth ministry that I regularly attended and led small groups, taught at retreats, and prayed for other students at altar calls. I actually did this through the entirety of my college years, driving back and forth between Chattanooga and Dayton twice (sometimes trice) a week for 4 years.

I was a tongue talker and I was a "chain breaker"; I always had a bottle of anoitin' oil on hand and I was ready to go to war against "the principalities and powers of darkness." I have been present at two exorcisms, and I have prayed for dozens of people-yelling and screaming "freedom" at them as if my very action of speaking would cause the Spirit to charge into them and chase away all darkness and fix all that was broken instantly right then and there.

I've calmed down quite a bit since my graduation. I have begun participating in a local Anglican church and have found myself quite at home in the theological circles of the traditional and sacramental. This came out my experiences with reformed and traditional Christians that I met at my school, travels to Italy and Jordan where Orthodoxy and Catholicism are both very present in there prospective countries. Through my independent study, personal interactions, and in being forced to engage with various theological paradigms and beliefs due to friends who were also searching, I soon found myself in love with/drawn to this form of Church governmental structure and worship style.

In the end, I found that I could not be Catholic because of my lack of ability to justify belief in the Papal Authority. I loved participating in the Episcopal Church, but I found their theology far too liberal (and the presiding Bishop is a certifiable heretic). In the end, I have found myself in the Anglican circle and plan to be here for the rest of my foreseeable future.

Despite my change in church traditions and my way of viewing the purpose of the church, I still have a great love for those within my previous tradition and I see a lot of beauty among them and their worship. I realize that I now disagree with a lot of the philosophies and methods that they hold to, but I do not think that these differences should prevent us from being unity and from working towards the same goal: showing Christ to the World.

I still have my bottle of anoitin' oil that I carry with me everywhere I go. I still pray in tongues form time to time when I am alone in prayer, and my current tradition leads me to believe even more strongly that words that are spoken have an influence on the world around me. But now I come to church to meet Christ in my participating in Eucharist and in the deep and meaningful worship structure of liturgical worship. I am confident that Christ has led me to this and I am grateful for all that Christ has done in me through this tradition.

And so I leave you with these words: "Life is short and there is but little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So be quick to love, and make haste to be kind. In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Peace be with you,

Stephen

Liquid Holiness

For many generations, Christians have promoted (and made use of) a liquid substance primarily known as anointing oil! I myself keep a bottle of the stuff in my satchel. The question is whether or not there are biblical basis for it's use and, if so, when is it to be used? does it accomplish anything by being used.

I am writing on this topic after a friend of mine contacted me and requested that I share my thoughts on the topic matter and immediately I felt the inspiration to write on the subject matter. My friend asked me about my thoughts on the use of anointing oil and whether or not I thought is was abused, specifically by the charismatic/Pentecostal brethren.

My answer, however, cannot be made without first looking at scripture. In the Bible we see various instances where oil was used for anointing: generals to lead reformation, men to be priests, and a little boy to be a king. In the books and letters of the new covenant we see where people we anointed because they were sick.

The use of anointing oil has been upheld by Christian tradition for centuries. The Roman Catholic Church still supports it use in some of its rites, such as the final rites (which is perceived to be sacramental in nature). The RCC also uses Holy Water (which protestants, in a strange twist of irony, have labeled heretical). Pentecostal traditions have managed to mass produce the liquid substance and find themselves anointing. not only the sick or those being placed in a position of authority, but also the windows, chairs, walls, and doors.

What is the purpose of oil? What good does it do? Is it deeply symbolic, merely another strange action of a bizarre group of people lost in traditions while trying to honor a power and unfathomable God, or is there something deeply spiritual and effective about the use of oil? I'm not going to even pretend that I have the answer...because I don't. As much as I love God and as much as I have read books and had classes on scripture...more and more I realize that I may know more than most, I know nothing compared to all there is to know about Christ and His universe.

So, we have something that has vague use in the Bible, but is in fact used by the the early Church and carried forth by church tradition. It is powerful reminder and physical, tangible substance that draws our attention to the unseen and intangible. Regardless of it having power, it is a powerful tool for worship and prayer, as well as faith strengthening. Just like the incense that fills the naive and the bells that sound in rafters of ancient cathedrals, so does the oil bring us into focus upon our Creator and make us aware of His ever present Presence that covers us, fills us, and leaves a mark upon us.

I think the ultimate question is...does the your use of anointing oil or theology concerning anointing oil take away your worship, praise, faith, or reliance in God? Many pray to "Padre Pio" instead of praying to Christ, and many call on Mary and rely on her to speak on their behalf. Christ is center, Christ is focus, and if you find the anointing oil is a great symbolic reminder of the presence of Christ and helps strengthen your faith...then by all means use it! If you believe that there is a deep, spiritual essence to holy oil by which God causes change and/or acts upon the use of...then great! Point is that a) God gets glory and He is recognized as the life source and b) we are pushed to living a life style the reflects the beauty of the Gospel.