ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 7, 2025
Clement of Alexandria lived in the second and early part of the third century. He became a priest and eventually one of the church’s early theologians. He was one of Origen’s teachers and has always garnered the respect of theologians throughout the centuries. And though I read some of what he wrote during my time in graduate school, I was deeply troubled by his misogynistic ideas. He wrote, “Every woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she is a woman.” I know the culture of the ancient world was different, but for a religion whose founder broke norms and long held bias against women, it is troubling to see how quickly Christianity moved from being an advocate for the marginalized and displaced to being a protector of the very structures that Jesus’ ministry and self-giving love came to dismantle. Clement of Alexandria was part of the early Christian institution, and though institutional structures have their place, protection of the institution can so easily become the mission. And the men in leadership sure liked the power they had, and a little over a century later, when Christianity gained full recognition by the Roman Empire, the clergy were instantly endowed with extraordinary power. I share this as a warning of how power is alluring, especially for a religion that claims love and mercy as the greatest sources of power. In fact, Jesus gave away all worldly definitions of power so that he could do the work God had called him to do. We all have egos, and some of us find our egos enjoying certain recognition that has the benefit of power. Suddenly a bit of power has us wanting a little more, but it is impossible to preach the Gospel of Jesus at the same time one is holding worldly power over others. It sort of undermines the whole message.
I want to be close to you, Jesus, as I know following you requires that I know you and that I am continually drawn close to you through prayer and other spiritual disciplines. As so much of your message has been lost within a church trying to hold the institution together at any cost, I pray for a community seeking to follow you ever-so-closely, with love and mercy as our guide. Amen.
