“Every town has its ups and downs

Sometimes “ups” out number the “downs”

…Not in Nottingham”

                                -Roger Miller as the voice of Alain a’ Dale

I love working in the church on rainy days.  I love praying in the nave and hearing the sound of raindrops on the room.  Sometimes it makes me think of Friar Tuck.

Disney’s 1973 “Robin Hood” was one of my favorite childhood movies.  I was always impressed by the scene in the middle of the story when the Friar Tuck is arrested by the Sherriff of Nottingham, who trick the friar into a false charge of treason to the crown. But before the shackles are put on him, the church is empty save for the Friar, the organist and his wife. Prince John’s reign on terror has gutted the pews.  The organ is softly playing and it is raining.

The friar laments the “poor box” is empty. The organist’s wife goes into her room and comes back with their last farthing. When the friar objects, she says “We were saving it for a rainy day.”  He laughs, “well it’s raining now!”

Lightning strikes, the profile of the sheriff is seen on the threshold of the open door.  He saunters in and empties the poor box of its modest offering, in aid of “Poor Prince John,” saying that taxes had gone up.

Friar Tuck becomes indignant, outraged.  He argues with the Sherriff, then at one critical moment, throws up his arms, body checks the surprised Sherriff, screaming at the top of his lungs: “GET OUT OF MY CHURCH!!!”

Something in that yell sent shivers through by being as an 8 year old when I first saw it.  I’ve seen the film more than a dozen times over the course of my whole life, it still moves me, often causing my eyes to tear up. It is brave. It steels the soul to drive corruption from body of Christ. It is the sound of good not taking it from evil any longer and tell it to depart.

In our day, the heated culture wars and political divides have pitted Christians against one another in ways I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. Either there have been fallings out among individuals in congregations – or different branches and denominations of the church distrust or decry other church bodies that are on opposing ends of the political spectrum.  So many leaders, both on the left and on the right, act as if political affiliation is a divine mandate. Those on the extremes go so far as to endorse candidates and party platforms, while attention to the common Gospel for the ordinary majority goes largely unnoticed.

While “acting justly” is a biblical command, we must never forget that “Jesus is Lord, not Caesar.” The false idol of weaponizing our faith for political ends is an evil that hurts the body of Christ.  It must be removed from our churches.  We must hold fast to what is true and as far as possible show the world a witness of humility and cooperation. As a parish priest,  I have labored hard, in quiet, yet faithful ways to keep the peace within my cure of souls; promoting common sense and common good. Neither activist nor fascist will I be. Yet, the last 8 years have taken its toll. The need for vigilance from invasion is continuous. “How long, O Lord, how long?” When the spirit of division tires to call my people away from their high calling in Jesus, I must, in my being shout at it, “GET OUT OF MY CHURCH!”