The following has been my soapbox lately.
Where is The Church?
(When I say "the Church" with a capital 'C', I refer to the institution of the body of Christ, the group of believers that form the institution Church. I don't mean to talk about one specific congregation, building, or even denomination. I mean, everyone, together, on the whole, the institution.)
I am disappointed with the image that the Church (especially in America) has been portraying to the rest of the world, the non-Christ-following world. All I see is flashy worship bands, fancy coffee, and self-help Christianity. I see people going to church because the feel like they should, because they find some sort of self-fulfillment, or because they think it will solve all of their problems. I hear sermons about how Jesus can save YOU, YOU can go to heaven, and God can make YOU feel better. I see churches trying to cater to certain audiences, asking questions like "how do we get THIS group of people to come to church". I see churches care more about getting people in the door than making sure they feel like they belong once they're there. I see church leaders care more about the number of people in their sanctuaries on Sundays than who those people are. I see colorful graphics, flashy videos, and novel-length bulletins advertising this weeks offerings of "church" things to do. I see preachers take political sides and teach political views in their services. I see the Church conform to pop culture.
I don't see the Church care for people like it should. I don't see the Church rising up and dealing with social justice issues like it should. I don't see unity in the Church. I see disfunctionality and division. I see unending battles of politics. I see misused authority. I see individualism, not community. I see greed and selfishness. I see the Church getting so wrapped up in itself that it has lost the vision and purpose of its existence.
In the book of Acts, we are introduced to a group of 1st century believers. These were the people who were around before, during, and after the crucifixion/resurrection/ascension of Jesus Christ. The first couple chapters of Acts describes what life was like in that early Church. It says the believers "were together and had everything in common" (Acts 2:44). They shared everything, had fellowship together, took care of those in need, and served the Lord together. They were living in true community. They loved God and each other, and that's all that really mattered. Everything they did flowed out of that. People catered themselves (their beliefs, and ways of life) to the Church, not the other way around. I desire to experience that in the Church today. True community centered around the belief in Jesus Christ and following His teaching. But I'm just not seeing it.
According to the Barna Group, only 4% of Americans tithed in 2004. Four percent. Money is always a touchy subject in the Church. Churches don't want to have to beg for money, and people don't want to feel pressured to give money. But only 4%? The tithe is something that is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. It has been around forever (well, almost). The basic idea of the tithe is that you acknowledge that everything that you own belongs to God and thus you give Him the first cut. Back in the days of animal sacrifice and stuff, people were supposed to give up the best of their flocks or herds. Actually, if you read through Leviticus and Deuteronomy, there is a really elaborate system of tithing and sacrifice. Now by "giving" it to God, doesn't mean you burn it or something so that you don't have it anymore, it means that you give it to be used in some manner to further the Kingdom of God. Tithes in the Bible were used to take care of Church/Synagogue leaders, the poor, the widowed, and the orphans. The early Church made sure that everyone had enough of what they needed and that no one was left to suffer. Can you imagine the impact the Church could make today if it really used it's resources for the Glory of God? What if all believers tithed, and the Church used that money to further the Kingdom of God? Think of how many people wouldn't have to go hungry anymore, or how many people could be saved from slavery and human trafficking. What if that money used to buy that fancy schmancy projector had been used to buy groceries for that homeless family down the street?
I recently went to a church service, that quickly turned into a pro-life rally. Words were being used as weapons against President Obama and all who supported the right to choose. The pastor got very riled up and was shouting by the end in a very spirited argument for the rights of unborn children. "Amen"s were popping out in different places in the congregation. And I was sinking lower and lower into the pew. All I could think about was what would happen if they found out I was Liberal and had voted for Obama? I was envisioning being run out of the building and being condemned to a life of paganism. It wasn't a very good feeling. Nor was it a feeling I should have been getting from church. I will never step inside that building ever again, if I can help it. I was also thinking of my non-Christian friends who might at some point in their lives be faced with the decision of getting an abortion, and how they were being accused by this pastor of being potential murderers. That hurt too. Jesus did not preach politics. And neither should the Church. Sure, having opinions is fine, but how is the Church using them to further the Kingdom? Is it more Christ-like to lobby the government and protest abortion clinics or to love women into making the right decision? Jesus didn't condemn, so why should we? Why is the Church spending so much time fighting political battles, when they could be changing the world through love? What would happen if the Church stopped alienating and judging gays, lesbians, and women seeking abortions and started loving and trying to support them? When will the Church stop acting so much like Pharisees and more like Jesus? We say we follow Jesus, so why doesn't it look like we do? When will we stop being so self-involved and start being selfless?
I have been very critical up to this point, but like I said, this has been my soapbox. Now even though the Church has been disappointing, and I have lost faith in its ability to live up to its potential, that's not to say there aren't good things happening. I am extremely honored to have been born into a family of missionaries, people who have served and are serving the Lord all around the world. I have also been honored to have met (and been involved in) a great deal of other church and non-profit ministries around the country. Good things are happening. A lot of very admirable people are doing everything they can to further the Kingdom and share the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Most of these things happen under the radar, out of view of the public eye. But that's kind of how Jesus rolled. Countless times in the Gospels, Jesus tells people not to tell others about the miracles He performed or whatever. So I would like to acknowledge and applaud everything that believers are doing to serve God. But I can't help but question how much is actually being done when I hear about all the suffering that's going on in the world. Is it enough? Is what the Church doing enough? I don't think so. And I can only hope and pray that it will grow out of this self-help-individual-based Christianity phase and into a true-loving-community based Christianity.
When will we stop drawing lines and join together to rock this world for Jesus? The Church has so much potential to impact this sucky-hurting-suffering world in a supernatural way. Are we going to live up to that potential?
weeeellll ...
ReplyDeleteso you say "the institution of the body of christ"...and my big question to you, missy, is was it really meant to be an institution?
(i really like your post by the way, and i like hearing your thoughts a lot. but right now i'm going to hyper focus on this because it made me think)
MY body is pretty messy. and needy. demanding sometimes. high maintenance. but also really useful and beautiful and full of diverse pieces that SOMEHOW have figured out how to work together. its also awkward. and even really unpredictable in moments. but an "institution" is the FARTHEST thing from what my body actually is. i'm not a robot, and neither should the church be. yet, it would seem to me that mandating attendance at a highly coordinated event that takes place in a prescribed location can feel really robotic. and it LOOKS robotic. and i know you would mostly agree with that. the gathering, the building, the corporatized and standardized and mainstreamed event based institution scoffs at skinny dipping and roller coaster rides or a really satisfying fart - all it can manage to do is stand still and chug chug chug chug. i feel like its missing the beauty and spontenaity of BEING the body.
BUT IF I TOLD YOU that i am the part of the body that can't handle that sort of constraint (maybe i'm the hypothalamus), and that i would never again attend that sort of robotic gathering because i don't feel obligated, would you be nervous for me or my salvation?
i'm pretty convinced that the body was never meant to be contorted how it is today. and i'm also pretty convinced that the structures we've erected don't allow for much else - and don't allow for the change you yourself would like to see. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? ha.
lolly love.
i really like how you, oh anonymous one, described the body. and i agree with that whole paragraph, it is "missing the beauty and spontaneity of BEING the body". BUT what if i told you, that even if you don't attend such robotic gatherings, you are still part of the body by participating in some sort of community of others who share your beliefs. community is something created by God that, at its best, glorifies Him through love, which is what He's all about, right? so you really are still a part of the "body", even if it's not acknowledged by the institution. and that's my whole point. the structures that we see today are so far drawn from what they were originally: something that moves, as awkwardly as it does, that engulfs people, that embraces them, and loves them, and changes the world. real community.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point, but I think there is more reason for hope and optimism than you think. There are many places around the world, even in America, where the Church is doing the job you describe (of providing community). It has not been lost completely.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your remark about the Church being unable to live up to its potential, I disagree. Christ promised that he would establish his Church, and that the gates of hell would not overcome it. That is a promise of ultimate victory, coming straight from the mouth of Jesus. I maintain my optimism.
I would also like to offer a thought to your friend, the anonymous hypothalamus. It is possible that the so called "robotic gathering" is not fun for you. But remember that the Apostle Paul exhorts his readers to continue meeting together, dedicate themselves to the public reading of scripture (to teaching and preaching), to pray, to worship with music, to give money toward the care of the poor. This sounds an awful lot like the worship services that are the center of most church communities weekly schedules. There are reasons that for the last 2000 years that the gathering for a time of worship and teaching has been so important.
Yes, it is possible that things we do regularly could come to feel robotic. But we don't stop doing them because of that. I wash my dishes every day, and sometimes I feel like a robot while I am doing it. But it has to be done. I can't just stop doing it because I don't like the way it feels. I don't want to get sick from eating off of dirty plates. In the same way we cannot reject the traditions and liturgies that have fed the body of Christ for so long just because they don't match our personal tastes. By rejecting the "institutionalized church" or whatever you call it, you are guilty of the same attitudes as the people you blame for making the church that way. The difference is that where they are buying into the product, you are choosing to reject it because it doesn't have the features that you want. You are still both treating the body of Christ like a consumer product.
So in conclusion, I don't know whether to be worried about your salvation, but I do worry about your ability to engage constructively with the body of Christ. Keep going to church, even if it is hard. And if you don't like the way they do things, join the leadership and change things.