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Once upon a time, there was Cursillo. It started as a Roman Catholic movement, and that was good. As more protestants attended the Cursillo, and the differences between the Catholics and the Protestants started to become an issue, it became clear that a Protestant version of the Cursillo needed to be created. And so Tres Dias was born. We are not rivals! We are sisters.
One of the great things about Tres Dias is that it is InterDenominational. That means that all Christian Denominations are welcomed to participate. It also means that non-Denominational and independent churches are welcomed. One big happy Christ-filled family, right? Well...
As siblings in real life have their different opinions and perspectives, so do the different sibling churches in Christ's family. Whether we are talking about Holy Communion or Holy Living we will have differences that can get our blood boiling. So how do we all get along?
Jesus said, "All will know you are my disciples by the love you show to one another" (yeah, I paraphrased it.) Our attitude towards each other is the key. We need to Celebrate those things we have in common, and Respect those which are different.
When you attend a Tres Dias event, you are asked to have three attitudes:
Idealism: an attitude that great things are possible.
Dedication: A spirit of openness to God and what He is asking of us, and a willingness to participate in the happenings of the Weekend.
Charity: A willingness to accept each other as we are, to have concern for each other, to listen and try to understand each other even though our opinions, attitudes and beliefs may be different. (Anybody remember this from the Thursday night Rector talk?)
This attitude of love (charity) is the key to getting along in Tres Dias. It is how we can celebrate what we have in common, and show respect those things which are different.
What's in common? How about the creed we proclaim at the Closing of each weekend? That's the starting point. (I believe it's the Apostles' Creed, but the Nicene Creed works just as well.)
How do we respect the differences? Hm...that's harder, especially since we are each convinced that we are RIGHT. But as Dr. Phil says, "You can either be right, or you can be happy." I vote for happy!
Stop the trash talk
Whether you are "just kidding" or totally serious in your criticism, you risk offending a precious brother or sister when you don't show respect for other perspectives. Please feel free to share your opinion, but try to do so in a way that doesn't force it onto anyone. And try not to make fun of or belittle someone else's opinion. If you are on the receiving end of such insensitive behavior please don't get offended. Just understand that they need to grow up too.
So let's stop all the Lutheran jokes, the Baptist riddles, the Catholic bashing, and the Pentecostal mocking. Be sensitive to others, but thick-skinned when it comes to hearing comments about your own group. Have a sense of humor!
Let Your Love Show
If you are not from a liturgical church, follow the written liturgy anyway without griping. If you prefer wine and wafers for Communion, eat the pita and juice without complaining. If you don't believe in (whatever, fill in the blank with your favorite pet peeve), and you hear someone say they do, why not just ignore it? If you have to respond, please choose a reaction of love, not of righteousness. After all, you are not here to correct them, you are here to love them. Their church can take care of correcting error in its ranks. Just show love and tolerance, and pray for them. The Holy Spirit is at work in their lives, and yours too. Let Him do His work. (Who made you Holy Spirit Jr.?)
Remember the Rainbow
From the Rector/Rectrix's book on Thursday night: "De Colores indicates the variety of colors and shades of belief which exist within our ecumenical Tres Dias movement. We celebrate what we have in common, and we respect those things which are different. God's total plan embraces many shades of beliefs. We are united by our common bond: that Jesus Christ is Lord." So remember the rainbow. One color does not a rainbow make. What if the red decided not to participate because the orange clashed with it? Or the purple was offended because it was called violet? Or the indigo felt slighted because it is ofttimes left out? How absurd! The Apostle Paul likened the Church to Christ's Body. The Body is one, but made up of many parts. The eye and the ear can't go to war, and the hand can't compete with the foot. That's equally absurd!
So we too need to embrace our Catholic sibs, our Baptist sibs, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, Quaker...you don't really expect me to name them all, do you? Embrace those who are active in Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, Vida Nueva, or whatever. They are our brothers and sisters, co-laborers in Christ's kingdom, not our competition. Tres Dias should be the place where all of Christ's Body can come together and play nice. Let's do our part to make it so.
Whew! Was that can of worms squiggly enough for ya? All comments are welcome...just be respectful, please.
