St. Patrick
March 17, 2010
I am not an expert in the origins of holidays, but I know enough church history to be able to tell you that the person we honor today as "St. Patrick" is not who people think he is. He is considered the first apostle to Ireland and went there as a Christian missionary in the mid 5th century. I use the term "went" there loosely as he was actually captured as a slave and sold into slavery. His father was a priest (the days before celibacy) and so Patrick grew up in what then would have been known as a Christian family. History tells us that before his capture, young Patrick was not all that religious or spiritual. However, enslavement markedly strengthened his faith (Hmmm?). He eventually escaped Ireland and returned to England only to be called by God to go back and be a missionary to a predominately druid nation.
His first convert was a guy name Dichu who gave Patrick his barn for the first church. Eventually this barn became a monastery and it is the location Patrick died. Patrick was known for his ministry of evangelism and it was accompanied by some notable signs and wonders. One such story is told that all fires in the nation were to be extinguished and then renewed from the "sacred" fire of a druid king. When Patrick's fire was attempted to be extinguished, it refused to go out. It symbolized the dominance of the fire of God. Patrick was also known for banishing all the snakes of Ireland which symbolized the sign of the Pagan priests of that time. He is also credited with using the shamrock, a "three-leaf clover" to teach the precept of the Trinity in response to the Arian heresy that was popular as well.
I tell you all of this to underscore this thought: Why are we (as a society) getting drunk over this Christian Missionary? It's not just foolishness, but nearly borders on the blasphemous. We have turned holidays ("holy days") into times to feed our flesh rather than ponder on the sacrifices that were freely expressed by the people we honor. We just don't get it.
I realize that there is no way any of this will change. In fact, most people would think me nuts for even writing about this. I guess I do it simply to underscore the concept of "drifting". Whether it is our personal lives or our cultures perspective, we have to be vigilant to keep from "drifting" away from God and His precepts. There must always be a Christian witness in the land to remind us of those things that are unchangeable in God.
I wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day, but not for the same reason the rest of the world says it. I trust that you will reflect on your own sacrifices and commitments and refresh them before the Lord today. I know most of the world will be "bellied up to a local bar", but I choose the "new wine" of His Presence. The best part is, the Holy Spirit hangover will forever transform your life!
Planting a Cross
Pastor
I am not an expert in the origins of holidays, but I know enough church history to be able to tell you that the person we honor today as "St. Patrick" is not who people think he is. He is considered the first apostle to Ireland and went there as a Christian missionary in the mid 5th century. I use the term "went" there loosely as he was actually captured as a slave and sold into slavery. His father was a priest (the days before celibacy) and so Patrick grew up in what then would have been known as a Christian family. History tells us that before his capture, young Patrick was not all that religious or spiritual. However, enslavement markedly strengthened his faith (Hmmm?). He eventually escaped Ireland and returned to England only to be called by God to go back and be a missionary to a predominately druid nation.
His first convert was a guy name Dichu who gave Patrick his barn for the first church. Eventually this barn became a monastery and it is the location Patrick died. Patrick was known for his ministry of evangelism and it was accompanied by some notable signs and wonders. One such story is told that all fires in the nation were to be extinguished and then renewed from the "sacred" fire of a druid king. When Patrick's fire was attempted to be extinguished, it refused to go out. It symbolized the dominance of the fire of God. Patrick was also known for banishing all the snakes of Ireland which symbolized the sign of the Pagan priests of that time. He is also credited with using the shamrock, a "three-leaf clover" to teach the precept of the Trinity in response to the Arian heresy that was popular as well.
I tell you all of this to underscore this thought: Why are we (as a society) getting drunk over this Christian Missionary? It's not just foolishness, but nearly borders on the blasphemous. We have turned holidays ("holy days") into times to feed our flesh rather than ponder on the sacrifices that were freely expressed by the people we honor. We just don't get it.
I realize that there is no way any of this will change. In fact, most people would think me nuts for even writing about this. I guess I do it simply to underscore the concept of "drifting". Whether it is our personal lives or our cultures perspective, we have to be vigilant to keep from "drifting" away from God and His precepts. There must always be a Christian witness in the land to remind us of those things that are unchangeable in God.
I wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day, but not for the same reason the rest of the world says it. I trust that you will reflect on your own sacrifices and commitments and refresh them before the Lord today. I know most of the world will be "bellied up to a local bar", but I choose the "new wine" of His Presence. The best part is, the Holy Spirit hangover will forever transform your life!
Planting a Cross
Pastor
