I just heard yesterday about a church plant needing to close, 22 months after its founding. It was such sad news. I know the pastor, a man of considerable talent who had poured everything he had into the project.
It also reinforces for me just how very, very difficult the work of the church is, especially as our culture moves more and more into fragmented niches leaving behind any common ethos, particularly an ethos that supports the gathering together for worship as a common good.
Recently, Intelligence Squared from Slate Magazine sponsored a debate over this motion: “The World Would Be Better Off Without Religion.”
The atheists won the debate. Now, they were not debating the existence or non-existence of God. They were debating the value of religion for the larger good.
The anti-religion folks had no trouble listing many of the nasty things done in the name of religion, as well as expounding on some of the very strange things found in the Bible and the propensity for racial and ethnic cleansing that we read about through much of the books of history there.
Those against the motion had no trouble listing the far nastier things done just by evil people, and also speaking of the huge, huge amounts of social good done in the name of religion. But they did not prevail.
Unfortunately, I understand why. Religion is a powerfully divisive force when it offers no room for uncertainty or disagreement. More, worship of God who is essentially partisan and mean and more than willing that most of creation should suffer everlasting torment does lead to some pretty horrific outcomes.
However, worship of God, a God whose nature encompasses justice, love, and mercy, can and should lead to our own actions of justice, love and mercy.
But it so often doesn’t. I had learned that one of the reasons behind the closure of the church plant was some bitter conflict among some of the people involved. There were only a few involved in the conflict, but the impact was huge.
And so, in the name of Jesus–for I’m sure all parties were sure they were speaking in the name of Jesus, the whole notion of justice, love and mercy has been lost.
I remember once, years ago, when I had been the recipient of a particularly hurtful incident, done in the name of Jesus of course, one of my sons asked me, “Mom, how can you stay a Christian after this?”
My answer: “I’m not a Christian because of other Christians or what they do. I am one because I have decided to follow Jesus–no matter what.”
Furthermore, I’m more than sure that there are people out there who have experienced profound hurt from me, all done in the name of Jesus.
The only thing that can hold people together in worship and in church is a mutual commitment to live together as those who constantly practice the discipline of giving forgiveness in the same way we want to receive it–which is freely and generously.
This is our glue. This is our gospel. And without it, we might as well all close.
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