For What?
I've not had the best of weeks. I have a friend that was released from his youth position in South Carolina, with two of the reasons being that he didn't turn in his receipts on time, and his board reports were late twice this year. This just happened last week, on one day, with no warning, not allowing him to say good-bye to the youth group or the youth staff, and he isn't allowed to worship there either. I'm sure there is more to this than that, but he's a good guy, and this is ridiculous.
I have another friend that is going into a meeting Saturday, to try and repair a severed relationship. It's dealing with some misunderstandings, questioning of not only his leadership, but his personal integrity, from those in leadership positions in the church. I'm praying for my friend this week. What is going on?
It's caused me to ask some questions about what the church is doing to itself. These attacks aren't coming from outside the church, they are coming from inside the church. Man, I feel like Rodney King in the 80's, when speaking of racial reconciliation said, "Can't we all just get along?" Well, can't we?
I teach a class of 150 freshman and sophomore students here, called Christian Formation. During one of the sessions, we talk about the church, and the statement of the early Fathers calling it, the "One Holy catholic church". We make a joke about whether that should read "many un-Holy divided churches". We joke, but I'm not. It isn't funny what's happening in the church today, and for what?
We don't argue much about theology, instead we argue about worship styles.
We don't argue much about sacramental rights, instead we argue about color of carpets.
We don't argue much about the wholistic salvation of all humanity, we just want out of here.
We don't argue much about social responsibility, we just aren't.
We don't argue much about . . . .Instead, we spend our energy tearing each other apart. We don't need enemies outside the church, we have enough inside the church to keep us busy, thank you very much.
In the mean time, children die, nations kill, creation groans, people smirk, the church suffers, yada, yada, yada. And for what?
My prayer for the church is that the church will be the church again; whatever that means, right?
I have another friend that is going into a meeting Saturday, to try and repair a severed relationship. It's dealing with some misunderstandings, questioning of not only his leadership, but his personal integrity, from those in leadership positions in the church. I'm praying for my friend this week. What is going on?
It's caused me to ask some questions about what the church is doing to itself. These attacks aren't coming from outside the church, they are coming from inside the church. Man, I feel like Rodney King in the 80's, when speaking of racial reconciliation said, "Can't we all just get along?" Well, can't we?
I teach a class of 150 freshman and sophomore students here, called Christian Formation. During one of the sessions, we talk about the church, and the statement of the early Fathers calling it, the "One Holy catholic church". We make a joke about whether that should read "many un-Holy divided churches". We joke, but I'm not. It isn't funny what's happening in the church today, and for what?
We don't argue much about theology, instead we argue about worship styles.
We don't argue much about sacramental rights, instead we argue about color of carpets.
We don't argue much about the wholistic salvation of all humanity, we just want out of here.
We don't argue much about social responsibility, we just aren't.
We don't argue much about . . . .Instead, we spend our energy tearing each other apart. We don't need enemies outside the church, we have enough inside the church to keep us busy, thank you very much.
In the mean time, children die, nations kill, creation groans, people smirk, the church suffers, yada, yada, yada. And for what?
My prayer for the church is that the church will be the church again; whatever that means, right?
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