SUNDAY: Bible Study - 9:00 AM | Worship - 10:00 AM | PM Worship - 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY: Bible Class - 7:00 PM ~ 8110 Signal Hill Road Manassas, Virginia | Office Phone: 703.368.2622

 Tetiquettehe 1860 handbook, Etiquette at Washington, claims that: “every citizen of the United States who visits Washington considers that he has a claim to visit the Chief Magistrate of the Union.” It seems that average citizens did have such access. Etiquette at Washington reports that President James Buchanan “receives visits every day from eleven till one o’clock.” The etiquette for such a visit with the Commander in Chief was fairly strict. The 1860 handbook claims that a visit should never go beyond a handshake and commonplace niceties, and should never extend beyond six minutes – the President being a busy man.*

            Such access seems not so much a feature of the past, but the feature of an alternate universe. But there was no security detail assigned to the President then. Lincoln had not been assassinated yet.  Andrew Johnson would be the first President protected by the Secret Service. Since 2002 the average citizen can’t even expect to take a tour of the White House short of a pass from one’s Senator.

            As to any etiquette the average citizen is expected to observe regarding the President nowadays – that seems to be more a thing of the past than Presidential access. I was raised to respect the presidential office regardless of my opinion of the man occupying it. I have to admit I had a hard time being true to my raising twenty years ago when the Lincoln bedroom was being rented out to campaign donors. But I still believe that one should disagree with a man’s politics as strongly as free speech and good manners allow, but that we all lose when anyone disrespects the office. Sixty seconds on the internet, or listening to talk radio would be enough time for anyone to establish that I seem to be in the minority.

            A startling contrast to the way things were in 1860, and the way things are in 2015 is this familiar passage from Hebrews 4.

Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every respect been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of Grace that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4.14-16 RSV

            All citizens of the kingdom are welcome to the throne of God. We are welcome 24/7/365 from now until time ceases to exist. We are welcome to stay as long as needed. As to etiquette, reverence is the natural attitude to take, but so is confidence – because we are welcomed there. Our interview need not be confined a few niceties – we are there to bare our souls, to open our hearts. We receive more than a handshake. We receive mercy and grace.

            Jesus is the reason we enjoy these blessings of access, and connection. He alone makes them possible. He is our High Priest. During = the 1500 years of Mosaic Judaism, the High Priest alone had access to the Holiest Place in the Tabernacle, then the Temple. He went only once a year into the presence of God as a representative of God’s people. Jesus stands in the presence of the Father to welcome us in –all of us, every hour of every day.

            This state of things is amazing. More amazing is how blasé we are about it – how little we make use of our access.

 *I found this information in the wonderful, and now defunct magazine of the Library of Congress, Civilization: August/September 1996, p.35.

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