‘Glitter Ash Wednesday’ is a terrible idea

Last updated on: February 15, 2017 at 5:15 pm by Jacob Lupfer

‘Glitter Ash Wednesday’ is a terrible idea 2017-02-15T17:15:41-04:00 Jacob Lupfer

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Via Religion News Service:

(RNS) Lighten up, Ash Wednesday.

A New York-based advocacy group called Parity is asking Christians who favor LGBT equality — “queer positive Christians,” in their parlance — to show their support by wearing “glitter ash” on their foreheads to mark Ash Wednesday (March 1).

I don’t necessarily doubt the advocacy group’s good intentions, but this is a bad idea on many levels.

For one thing, it issue-izes a community/demographic subset, not to mention a solemn holy day. LGBT Christians always tell me they are not an issue — they are people. I think Glitter Ash Wednesday undermines their aims by making them into an issue again. On probably the least liturgically appropriate day of the Christian year to issue-ize anything.

Beyond that, makeup grade purple glitter, even if mixed with traditional ashes, is not an appropriate visible sign of penitence and self-denial.

While there are a few Protestant denominations in which clergy and laypeople are almost unanimously “queer-positive,” there remains significant pockets of dissent even in the few open-and-affirming denominations that exist. Parity, the activist group, “The plan is to have glitter ashes available in churches for the asking. Regular ashes will also be available.” This is going to cause lots of unnecessary and divisive problems.

Sure, some churches that offer red wine for Communion also have grape juice available for people who, for a number of reasons, prefer it for themselves or their children. I don’t think having two lines down the sanctuary aisle — one for ashes and one for ashes mixed with makeup grade purple glitter — is a division churches should flaunt, encourage, or deal with on Ash Wednesday.

Instead of every parishioner lamenting his own sins before walking out into the world in a spirit of penitence and self-denial, church members will be noticing who has glitter on their foreheads and who does not. This is not helpful or appropriate.

Finally, American Protestantism is already divided — visibly and profoundly — over whether same-sex relationships can be holy or are by definition vile sins against God. The last thing we need is fanning the flames of division on Ash Wednesday of all days.

During the imposition of ashes, the last thing we need is a visible, physical, and psychological reminder of the church’s greatest conflict of our time.

It is a moment for unity and repentance for all Christians, gay and straight.

“Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return.”

“Remember your baptism and be thankful.”

That is enough. No makeup grade purple glitter, please.

Previous Post

February 15, 2017

What's next for Capitol & Cathedral, Jacob Lupfer's religion and politics blog

Next Post

February 17, 2017 Don't financially ruin a Washington florist for being anti-gay

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #Faith2016 Christian right Christianity Debates Democratic Convention Donald Trump GOP nominating contest Inauguration Media News roundup Personal Polls Religious freedom Republican Convention Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz