May 8, 2024

I have often used this “blog” to comment on things going on in our world. That is becoming more and more challenging. It was Adolph S. Ochs who coined the phrase, “All the News That’s Fit to Print” in 1897 when he was the owner of the New York Times. And there is a lot of news that is just not fit to print, much less comment about in this weekly column. So, in my desire to edify, encourage and, if need be, exhort, I went on a search for some news that would actually be fit to print. I thought I found something. It gives new meaning to worship wars.

This past Sunday, the eastern orthodox churches (Greek, Romanian, Russian, etc) celebrated Easter. They operate on a slightly different liturgical calendar than the western Christian churches. In Vrontados, Greece (island of Chios) there are two Greek Orthodox churches that have a rather odd tradition. On the Saturday night before Easter, while services are going on in each church, the churches engage in a rocket war. Each side launches hundreds of massive bottle rockets at the other church with the goal of hitting the enemies’ bell tower. I’ve read that this all started during the Ottoman Empire in the 1800’s and that they originally used cannons, so bottle rockets are a little more civilized. For a pyromaniac such as myself, the spectacle is rather fascinating, especially when a sizeable tree near one of the churches catches fire. You can watch a video of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jVSIUhBCYc . Apparently, the local fire department has learned not to wait to be called, but to just be ready.

Now, that’s fit to print, right? Well, as much as I think this is hilarious, I have no idea what these people are thinking and why this is an Easter tradition. The whole thing reminds me of some younger preachers who found a great illustration but are now desperately trying to build a sermon around it. That’s exactly what I am doing, here is my best effort at coming up with some devotional.

This rocket war is pretty funny, but at the same time is really odd. Traditions that have nothing to do with the mission and purpose of the church may be interesting, entertaining and popular, but that does not mean that they are good. All of this is done for Easter. Seriously. This is what the resurrection of Christ is about? Shooting bottle rockets at another church’s bell tower?! The whole scene reminds me of how any church can get off message and mission and must fight to stay on target. The sermons of the last few Sundays have been needed reminders of how people can even read their Bibles and hate Jesus. If it could happen to them…

“Lord please give me genuine self-awareness that I may discern the motives for my actions, even the good ones. And when you show me my heart, show me again the abundant grace that flows for confessed sin.”

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Luke 6:12-16