I usually post about music here, but this particular entry is something I’ve been considering for a couple weeks.
I remember when I was younger I often, for some reason, considered the case of Pontius Pilate. I remember reading about him and perceiving him as a helpless, unwitting player in Christ’s death. I saw him as innocent, washing his hands of the blood of Christ, wanting to help but not having the power to stem the relentless tide of the throngs of angry people wishing to put the Savior to death. I remember one time in particular when I was very young, probably eleven or twelve, praying on my knees to ask God not to judge Pilate harshly. It hadn’t entered my heart that I was not the first person to do this over the last couple thousand years. I just felt closely connected to the story, and from what I read I saw him as mostly innocent.
This is one of my favorite hymns.We hardly ever sing it in Sacrament meeting, which is a real shame.I’ve been listening to it all week and it just makes me feel good.Is that “the Spirit”? I don’t know.I just know that it makes me feel calm and peaceful and that’s enough for me right now.
The more I listen to this interview — the more I enjoy and respect Dr. Millet. I have even listened to the extended interview now, which I definitely recommend. And while I have at least a few posts planned where I hope to express what I loved about this interview, as part 2 of this series, I want to highlight something that made me a bit uncomfortable.
Let me begin with my disclaimer — as some of you may have realized, I am struggling (as a member of the LDS church) with the way that church leaders (as of late) appear to be publicly distancing themselves from many of the tenets of the “gospel” that I grew up with. This is complicated by the fact that while I am happy to see many of these changes — I also am simultaneously fearful that as we “assimilate” into mainstream U.S. culture by playing up our commonalities with others — and distancing ourselves from the differences — we will ultimately weaken the church I love, by weakening the core beliefs/theology that once made us strong.
I usually post about music here, but this particular entry is something I’ve been considering for a couple weeks.
