In the course of Christian
history many unwise customs, practices, and traditions have been set aside,
some centuries ago (others recently) by particular churches of the greater
Church. Among them were: left-handed men could not be ordained, because
left-handedness was believed to be a sign of the devil; women were perceived as
defective males; women were excluded from service on vestries, as acolytes,
layreaders, chalice bearers, and in ordained capacities; divorced persons could
not be married by clergy; women were expected to wear hats (and gloves) in
church; worship was conducted in languages not understood by worshipers; the
Bible was available only in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; other than abstinence,
all forms of family planning were rejected; scientific discoveries had to
conform to Church doctrine or be rejected; charging any interest on a
loan was a mortal sin deserving eternal punishment; non-Christians and
dissenters were imprisoned or executed; every word in the Bible was to be
interpreted literally; celebrations of Christmas were prohibited; and clergy
could not marry. Some of these continue today in various Christian churches.
Because many people care
deeply about each of these conventions, degrees of turmoil accompanied each
change. Yet, the Church continues to evolve as God's covenant people,
sometimes cranky and intransigent, often loving and courageous.
N.B. In any contemporary
period, Christians need to reexamine carefully their institutional church for
customs, practices, and traditions – no matter how ancient and cherished
– that should join the list of those discarded as unwise (and, even cruel
or ignorant).