Marco says two thumbs up!!!
Posted on 02/15/2017 2:05:34 AM PST by BlessedBeGod
(RNS) Lighten up, Ash Wednesday.
A New York-based advocacy group called Parity is asking Christians who favor LGBT equality — “queer positive Christians,” in their parlance — to show their support by wearing “glitter ash” on their foreheads to mark Ash Wednesday (March 1).
Ash Wednesday kicks off the six-week somber season called Lent that leads to Easter, and is usually marked in churches with the color purple. Traditionally, plain gray ashes, blessed by a minister or priest, are smeared on the foreheads of Christians to symbolize repentance.
“This is a way for queer Christians and queer-positive persons of faith to say ‘We are here,'” said Marian Edmonds-Allen, Parity’s executive director. “It is also a way for other people to be a witness to that and be in solidarity with them.”
Not all Christian denominations welcome openly LGBT people. The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and Metropolitan Community Church all ordain LGBT clergy, and every mainline Protestant and Catholic denomination has some organization that supports openly gay members, though those organizations are not officially sponsored by the denomination.
Edmonds-Allen hopes “Glitter Ash Wednesday” will make support for those groups visible in a way usually reserved for princesses and unicorns.
“For some traditions, it is true” that Christians are not supposed to draw attention to their piety, Edmonds-Allen said. “The ashes go on and the ashes go off — it is a private thing. But glitter ashes are still appropriate. It is a recognition of the reality of queer Christians in the world and the beauty LGBTQ Christians bring to faith.”
Traditionally, Ash Wednesday ashes are made by burning the palm fronds used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday service to re-enact the day Christians believe Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Some churches make their own, while others buy them from church supply companies.
Parity is mixing professional makeup-grade purple glitter with traditional ashes. The organization will send glitter ashes at no cost — though a donation is suggested — to any congregation or individual that requests them.
The plan is to have glitter ashes available in churches for the asking. Regular ashes will also be available.
So far, Parity has had requests for glitter ash from churches in multiple states, including California, Missouri, Massachusetts, Alabama and Georgia. The Metropolitan Community Church has committed to using glitter ashes at all of its churches.
They should go whole hog and rename it “attention whore Wednesday”, since it is all about *them*.
Vanity is the greatest of the deadly sins.
While spreading ashes on one’s forehead is not mentioned anywhere in scripture, so in essence they are not perverting the Word of God.
But, they are slamming their sin in the faces of everyone who doesn’t agree with them by publicly mocking a tradition of your church.
They will never stop until every person not only accepts but champions their perverse life choices.
True, the wearing of ashes is not strictly biblical, but their INTENT is to hijack a religious tradition, making it an attack on Vhristianity.
Sackcloth and ashes as penance is on the Bible
You are correct that it is not in scripture to have ashes put on your forehead, but there are many examples in the scriptures of ashes being used as a sign of repentance. Also, as the priest or deacon are placing the ashes on the foreheads of the congregation, they reference scripture when saying that we are dust and to dust we will return.
Old Testament, not New.
We are told by the Lord to not look the part when fasting, but to wash our faces so that only the Lord knows of our repenting. (Matthew 6:16-18)
quote-If I see somebody with glitter on their forehead on Ash Wednesday I’m telling them that they worship their genitalia rather than God.
Do people know what ‘Wednesday’ means?
That is the Day of Woden/Odin.. Some false god..who gets honor each and every week on the western judeo/christian calendar.. now that is ironic to say the least.
and that isn’t the only false god to get ‘their’ day..
glitter ash on false god woden’s day may be a blessing believers need to see- sort of the way santa and the easter bunny have cheapened two other unscriptural days.
>>Methinks they are missing the point.
Rom 16:17-19
17
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 1NIV
What has happened to the church?
it needs the butts in the pews and the money in the wallets...
Matthew 11:21 - "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
We are told by the Lord to not look the part when fasting, but to wash our faces so that only the Lord knows of our repenting. (Matthew 6:16-18)
Of course. And the faiths that practice the ashes on the foreheads are not required to leave them there all day. I choose not to ... unless I have the day off and have no plans to go anywhere. Then I leave them as a reminder through the day.
That's admirable, and more in line with biblical teaching. But the sodomites are far from this motive. They are wearing their glitter for others to see.
Exactly. Perversion of the Christian faith. It's disgusting. What's next ... mojitos instead of wine?
Catholics: isn’t this a sacrilege? First, the original palms are blessed. Second, the ashes made from burning those palms is a sacramental. Third, the ashes are then newly blessed before distribution. Just wondering...
Maybe they can hang a glittery disco ball in a room for them, so they can have their orgies too. You have to show them how much you support their perversion!
Marco says two thumbs up!!!
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