Normally, I’m not one to jump on other Christians for voicing opinions. I don’t like endless debate that doesn’t get anyone closer to really engaging or living into the Kingdom. I have friends who could debate a Christians “stance” on just about any issue we could think up (and I have other friends who would argue the other side). I find all this arguing and name calling exhausting and I’ve found that pharisees exist on all sides of the church.
With all that being said, I’ve come across some articles the last two weeks that have me really troubled. The articles are written by some big names and they have been pushed by some of larger engines of Christendom. When I finished each article, I was left feeling just kind of blah. Like I hadn’t really been given anything but opinions and factoids. I certainly wasn’t inspired by any of them to do any thing. That’s a problem for me – an article that exposes but doesn’t seem to lead anywhere is pretty much a waste of time.
Several years ago, Don Miller wrote a book that has been a huge help to many followers of Christ. Blue Like Jazz is about a Christian struggling and coming to grips with a faith that he believes but a walk that he’s unsure about living. It was prophetic and candid. It was real and invited many, including me, to realize that faith and the Jesus story is much more than just a list of do’s and don’ts on a wall. Don spoke to a deep place in my soul – there must be more to this Christian life than what I was settling for.
Since Don’s book came out the church has exploded with more authors and seekers. It’s like his words were the permission that many needed to voice deep hurts, concerns and anger that they had experienced within the Church. Since that time, seekers from within the Church have been pouring out from everywhere trying to own and make sense of a faith they want to believe in.
Of course with this kind of response, there were also those voices that reacted brutally toward this new seeking. Some of the voices denounced such an irreverant attitude toward the faith. Others flat out called Don and other seekers heretics. There seemed to be a line that was drawn in the sand that would declare who was right and who was wrong.
Over time this “line in the sand” mentality turned into an all out blitz – each side trying to prove their pursuit of truth. And at the same time this is going on, the Church universal is wondering why so many outside the church think we’re crazy, outdated, out of touch with reality and maybe a little “too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good.” For decades the western church has been struggling and has been a slowly sinking cruise ship. Many within the American Church experience were trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding.
New studies of fruitfulness and vitality became the trend and necessity for each church. For some this rescuing of the church has become their life’s work. I truly appreciate the voices who have and continue to speak to a church and invite her to wake up and realize what we have become. It’s a difficult job to speak that prophetically. But, when is an honest prophetic voice nothing more than a clanging gong in the noise of humanity and the church?
And this brings me back to these 3 articles I’ve been reading. One author speaks to the end of denominations in the Church as they only tell the world of a divided body of Christ. I found it ironic that the author was a self-professing member of a non-denominational church that split off from the church long ago – hmmm. The second article was by a fellow alumni of Bryan College. In her article, Rachel Held Evans, speaks of the reasons that millennial’s are leaving the hypocrisy laden church. “They are tired of churches who are known for what they are against instead of what they are for.” Well, I’m a member of the Methodist Movement and we’ve gotten routinely mocked for not taking stands or drawing that line in the sand. But beyond that, Ms. Evans doesn’t help show any hope for the millennial’s who are sticking with the church.
Then finally I read an article by Bishop Will Willimon. I’ve read a bunch by Wilimon and I’m a fan, but this article was more tirade than anything. He spoke of the failure of small churches and of the Methodist movement that continued to let them sputter on and bring the denomination down. Some of what Wilimon said was spot on, but it was buried under a heavy layer of cynicism and, what sounded like, anger. I lead a small church and in the few months I’ve been here, I’m seeing life bursting all around me. There is vitality here and I’m thrilled to be along with them for the ride.
My biggest issue with all 3 articles is that there is NO HOPE in any of them. Even in the harshest of prophecies that were spoken over the rebellious Hebrews of the Old Testament there was a glimmer of hope, a remnant that will return, a day when the Spirit would be poured out. I wonder if our voices are more pathetic than prophetic. Are they encouraging the church to repent, return and be renewed? Or just telling us how horrible we are and useless we are even to God? Instead of inspiring change, I’m more tired and worried that my ministry and call is worthless – that the Church of Jesus Christ will be gone in just a few short years.
Author Reggie McNeil believes we are living in a time that is very similar to the early days of the Church – where incredible moves of the Spirit lead thousands to Christ with a few short words. Sure the Church of America has some serious issues, but what about the opportunities, what about the possibilities? What if, in an effort to open our eyes, these articles are nothing more than quenching a Spirit of revival hitting?
I believe it’s time for the Church to stop worrying about why we’re not being Vital and start actually being vital. It’s time to realize that the loss many of us feel – that our Church life isn’t valued by secular life any longer – may actually be a gift for us. It’s time to start realizing that the Jesus we say we worship really is capable of incredible life and community change. He came that we might have life. He left us with the mission of being His hands and feet – his very life – to a dying and hurting world. Let’s do it! Let’s be that movement – let’s look to the HOPE and let’s see what the Spirit does in us!
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Yahweh, You give hope through all the ages. Your name is Most Holy.
You animate Your church. In myriad ways You are at work through us.
Supply us again today with Your words and the boldness to speak them.
Forgive us when we get caught up in measuring, redesigning or complaining.
Help us instead to pray together, encourage each other and engage with everyone.
No building can contain You. No institution can define You.
You are more aware, more involved and more energetic than we know. Let us see You poured out.
We hope in You.
Absolutely rock-solid understanding and advice, Jim! Each of us who has a personal relationship with our incredible God has formed that relationship in a way more or less unique to himself. But man has always had difficulty figuring out how, when, where and even “if” that relationship will begin. In our increasingly secular world, which is a world of continuous cradle-to-grave distraction and rationalization, it is no wonder that we have become increasingly secularized. The challenge, an imposing one for us as individuals, is an even more imposing one for the church. But our God goes marching on, with or without the church, and that is the big message that Reggie McNeal brings to us. We, each of us, can make the decision to see and acknowledge the relevance of God in our lives, but it is the church that must understand how, and where, to help people do this. And, indeed, becoming the hands, feet and voice of Jesus in the world, and not separate from it, is good place to begin. That is the challenge….