A Time to Dance?

Rapture erupted this weekend over the long-awaited announcement of a Hollywood couple’s wedding engagement – a couple whom I would rather not dignify by naming, much less suggest I want anything to do with the general ogle. Many celebrate their heroism in waiting to marry until “everyone has the right.” But as they clap, I grieve. True, while “there is a time to mourn,” there is also “a time to dance.” I, for one, don’t relish being a killjoy, scowling at the merry. But how can I cheer when the angels mourn? They mourn over the tragedy of the obvious. They watch a nation of reckless prodigals slurring a toast in their self-destructive orgy. Cheering the pretentious vows of those who have only cheapened and made them redundant. (Really now, did their strike involve any conjugal self-denial?) Fawning over them because they are so insanely popular and yessing their every utterance because, of course, gorgeousness equals wisdom.

True rejoicing will begin when the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner that repents. When they see the party over, a groggy prodigal waking up, coming to his senses, and heading home to the Father. And if there is rapture over one sinner that repents, think of the volume for a nation of them.

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Originally posted at reformedparish.com.

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Michael Ives

Michael Ives is a Presbyterian minister serving a congregation in Rhode Island. He graduated from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div.) in 2005 and is presently doing postgraduate research on the parish model of urban missions in the thought of Thomas Chalmers, 19th century Scottish minister and social reformer. In addition to his passion for all things Chalmers, he is very interested in the pastoral theory and practice of the Reformed tradition, with special interest in catechisms and catechetical practice. He enjoys blogging about these topics here. Michael has the distinct honor of being happily married to the most beautiful woman in the world and has been blessed with a son and three daughters.