A visiting minister I knew in Miami was offended by the Christus Rex (Christ the King) cross on the wall of the church I served. “What would Martin Luther say about that,” he asked accusingly. I replied, “Oh, he probably would have been surprised it wasn’t a crucifix.” The reverend gentleman was dumbstruck. While Martin Luther was in hiding at the Wartburg Castle, word reached him that images and altars were being destroyed. He returned to Wittenberg and preached eight sermons defending a number of practices including the mass, private confession and images. Ever since, most Lutherans have continued to use art in their churches.

Art can be a helpful aid to prayer. A few months ago Annie wrote about the art of praying. https://joyocala.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/the-art-of-praying/ Take a look again at her blog. I don’t have any artistic ability, but I do appreciate religious art, especially icons, and find it helpful in prayer. Icons (images) are almost essential to Orthodox prayer. The images of Christ, Mary, and the saints fill the screen across the front of an Orthodox church. They are almost treated like a sermon of sorts. An icon is said to be “written” not “painted,” and one “reads” an icon rather than “looks” at one. The icons are regarded as windows so that the worship can glimpse of heaven. Almost every Orthodox household has a icon. It serves to remind a believer that he or she is never alone, but part of the great cloud of witness that have gone before us in the faith.

You might find using a cross or image helpful as a visual focal point during prayer.  Read Hebrews 12:1-2, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1-2&version=NRSV