Dropping Ashes on the Cross

A Zen koan is a story or riddle used to make you think and hopefully enlighten those who meditates on it. One we all know is "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

Whenever a disagreement comes about with regard to faith, orthodoxy (right belief), orthopraxy (right action) or when the charge of heretic is thrown around I often think of another koan. It is Zen Master Seung Sahn's most famous koan . It goes like this -

Sixth Gate: Seung Sahn's Dropping Ashes on the Buddha

A man came into the Zen Center smoking a cigarette, blowing smoke in the Buddha-statue's face and dropping ashes on its lap. The abbot came in, saw the man, and said, "Are you crazy? Why are you dropping ashes on the Buddha?"
The man answered, "Buddha is everything. Why not?"
The abbot couldn't answer and went away.

1. "Buddha is everything." What does that mean?

2. Why did the man drop ashes on the Buddha?

3. If you had been the abbot, how could you have fixed this man's mind?

Commentary: How do you meet the Buddha? Where do you throw away ashes? Its all very clear. Your correct function is always in front of you.

NOTE: There is an important factor in this case that has apparently never been explicitly included in its print versions. Zen Master Seung Sahn has always told his students that the man with the cigarette is also very strong and that he will hit you if he doesn't approve of your response to his actions.

I think this can be transferred to the Christian faith. This is the way I would re-envision it:

A man walks into a church, snuffs his cigar out on the cross, breaks open the poor box, and takes all the money out. The pastor see this and confronts the man. He tells the pastor that this is not a proper church and says he is going to use the money for the good of God. His theft is forgiven so what's the problem? The pastor is speechless. If you are the pastor how do you correct this man's understanding?

If God has forgiven us through Christ then does it matter what we do? Can we go about sinning knowing that all is forgiven? If our sin is for what we believe to be the greater good does that excuse harming others? If we see someone else sinning is it our job to correct them? If so, how do we correct them? Since there are many different ideas as to what constitutes a sin where do we draw the line? Who gets to draw that line? When we feel that someone has crossed that line what is the best way to correct them? Lecture? Physical means? Excommunication? Ignore it? Is it OK to bully and badger someone until they agree with your interpretation?

These questions and this koan have been on my mind as I have been watching an online debate recently.

There is a group of people on Twitter who post comments using the common hashtag #Outlawpreachers. (a hashtag makes it easier sort Tweets when there are multiple people involved in a conversation). The "Outlaw Preachers" are an eclectic bunch of folks that may or may not be ordained, come from many different denominations (or none at all), and for one reason or another consider themselves to be outside of the norm. There is no initiation, there is no "membership." It is a completely open way to share ideas. Anyone who is on Twitter can type "#outlawpreachers" in a tweet and it will show up in the thread. There are often theological debates and for the most part it is done with respect and civility.

Recently though there have been some heated exchanges in large part due to one individual's very strong opinions on homosexuality and his less than subtle way of expressing them. People have tried lots of different ways of engaging him. Some have stopped following the hashtag because they can't stand the discourse any more. Some have tried to reason with him. Some have resorted to fighting back and it has deteriorated to name calling. Nothing seems to have worked thus far.

I happen to be a straight ally of the homosexuals. I do not view it as a sin. I believe in the radical grace of God and its availability to all that seek it. Personally I don't agree with this individual's point of view or his tactics. But he is my brother, as a human being and as a Christian, so I want to love him, find common ground and remain open to his point of view. Frankly, he is making it difficult for anyone who doesn't agree with him to do so.

On both sides of this disagreement each thinks the other has a mistaken understanding of the gospel. I'm sure that both think that the other is dropping ashes on the cross and using the church's "treasure" for the wrong things.

We think he is using scripture and the gospel to condemn and alienate children of God. He thinks we are too liberal with God's atonement and what he perceives as our acceptance of sinful behavior.

Someone is dropping ashes on the cross. How do we respond and stay true to our faith?