Growing up in the sixties one of my television heroes was Mr. Spock, of Star Trek Fame. Spock rocked my world – a world filled with cowboy shoot-em-up shows (Rawhide, Gunsmoke, etc…) and war shows (Combat! 12 O’clock High, etc…). The Vulcan’s rational detachment and lack of ego seemed to usher in a new era and gave me something different to think about. Of course on the show Spock’s passionless behavior was always juxtaposed against the fiery demeanor and “shoot first, ask questions later” ways of Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy's considerate ways. Spock was dispassionate, Kirk was passionate, and Dr. McCoy rounded out the trinity by being compassionate.
These three are engaging examples of that somewhat mysterious word, ‘passion.’ Passion has multiple meanings and is defined as: a) strong feelings or emotions; b) something that is desired intensely as in, "His passion for fame destroyed him;" c) mania: an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action as in, “It was a crime of passion;” d) feelings of strong sexual desire; and e) the suffering of Jesus at the Crucifixion. Wow, talk about a wide variety of meaning!
Our English word ‘passion’ comes from the Greek word pathos, which, like the English word, has more than one meaning. It can mean something that happens to you that is either good or bad, but it usually means something bad; something that happens to make you suffer. It can also be something that you suffer for, such as a passionate desire. Pathos is where our English word pathology comes from, which is the study of disease; what went wrong. It’s also where we get our word pathetic, which means pitiful. Pathos in literature and art is what arouses feelings of pity or sorrow. Any way you turn it, the word is associated with feelings.
The question remains though; is passion a good thing, or a bad thing? Passion causes us to do stupid things, but it also beckons us onward and upward to our greatest achievements. Perhaps that’s why passion has remained “front and center” in matters of faith. In Christianity there was the Passion of Christ, which was a good thing, then along came the monastic fathers, who urged believers to check their passions, then came the religious awakening in the 18th century where Christians once again proved that passion has its place in Christianity. In Buddhism passion is what leads you astray and is a problem to be overcome through renunciation.
Personally, I believe passion has its place in Christianity and is almost always a good thing. Yes, we need to logically think through our doctrine and beliefs, but eventually a leap of faith is called for – a passionate leap to breathe life into our stale dogmas. Something that causes the heart to beat faster, tears to flow, and a lump to form in the throat. Something you can feel.
To return to my opening words about the Star Trek trinity; perhaps what we need most today is an amalgam of the three: The cool calculating Spock, the heat-bringing zest of Kirk, and the kind and caring doctor, McCoy. Each needs the other to be whole; each is less without the other. So are we; the same could be said for our faith.
I’ve always felt it takes a combination all three of these to make a good sermon too. Hopefully you’ll experience that this week when I preach. If not – if my ears get a little pointy, or if my finger itches to pull the trigger, or if I get too mushy, give me a sign, will you? Meanwhile, live long and prosper.
These three are engaging examples of that somewhat mysterious word, ‘passion.’ Passion has multiple meanings and is defined as: a) strong feelings or emotions; b) something that is desired intensely as in, "His passion for fame destroyed him;" c) mania: an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action as in, “It was a crime of passion;” d) feelings of strong sexual desire; and e) the suffering of Jesus at the Crucifixion. Wow, talk about a wide variety of meaning!
Our English word ‘passion’ comes from the Greek word pathos, which, like the English word, has more than one meaning. It can mean something that happens to you that is either good or bad, but it usually means something bad; something that happens to make you suffer. It can also be something that you suffer for, such as a passionate desire. Pathos is where our English word pathology comes from, which is the study of disease; what went wrong. It’s also where we get our word pathetic, which means pitiful. Pathos in literature and art is what arouses feelings of pity or sorrow. Any way you turn it, the word is associated with feelings.
The question remains though; is passion a good thing, or a bad thing? Passion causes us to do stupid things, but it also beckons us onward and upward to our greatest achievements. Perhaps that’s why passion has remained “front and center” in matters of faith. In Christianity there was the Passion of Christ, which was a good thing, then along came the monastic fathers, who urged believers to check their passions, then came the religious awakening in the 18th century where Christians once again proved that passion has its place in Christianity. In Buddhism passion is what leads you astray and is a problem to be overcome through renunciation.
Personally, I believe passion has its place in Christianity and is almost always a good thing. Yes, we need to logically think through our doctrine and beliefs, but eventually a leap of faith is called for – a passionate leap to breathe life into our stale dogmas. Something that causes the heart to beat faster, tears to flow, and a lump to form in the throat. Something you can feel.
To return to my opening words about the Star Trek trinity; perhaps what we need most today is an amalgam of the three: The cool calculating Spock, the heat-bringing zest of Kirk, and the kind and caring doctor, McCoy. Each needs the other to be whole; each is less without the other. So are we; the same could be said for our faith.
I’ve always felt it takes a combination all three of these to make a good sermon too. Hopefully you’ll experience that this week when I preach. If not – if my ears get a little pointy, or if my finger itches to pull the trigger, or if I get too mushy, give me a sign, will you? Meanwhile, live long and prosper.
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