What is “the Church”?
The Church is the community of faith that gathers around
God’s Word of grace and love in Jesus Christ, and is sent into God’s world as
ambassadors of that grace and love. Love
of God. Love of Neighbor. That is what defines the Church. Everything else is commentary. Or a distraction.
The way the Church works out and embodies this core identity
and mission is in a constant state of change.
Always has been. Those who claim
that “the church is the one place in our lives that shouldn’t change” don’t
know much church history. This fallacy
of the status quo causes the church to turn inward on itself, become myopic in
its vision, defensive and fearful in its perspective and leads to paralysis,
deterioration, decline and death within the community of faith.
But, history teaches
us that periods of decay lead to times creativity, innovation, and renewal within
the life of the Church. The Holy Spirit is continually drawing us back to who
we are and what we are called to be as disciples of Jesus Christ and sending us
out in new and surprising ways as God’s ambassadors to an ever-changing world. Death and Resurrection always lay at the
heart of who we are as God’s people. It
has to be that way. Otherwise, the
Church of Jesus Christ would have been lost to the dusts of history centuries
ago!
I see signs of resurrection in the life of the Church almost
every day. I see it in a small faith
community wrestling with how to use their biggest asset – their building – to
finance renewed ministry. I see it in a
new, emerging faith community gathering around Word and Sacrament in the back
room of a local restaurant. I see it in
a congregation reaching out to welcome refugees, LGBTQ people, and those who
dwell in the world of social media. I
see it in a congregation converting a barn into a worship space for their
growing community of faith. I see it in
congregations – large and small – faithfully caring for the sick and the hungry
and the naked and the thirsty and the lost and the lonely in their
neighborhoods. I see it in disciples of
Jesus Christ working for racial justice, standing with those protecting God’s
Creation and walking with people who come from different cultures, backgrounds
and languages. And that’s just a
sampling!
At 499, the Reformation is still happening! The Church of Jesus Christ is still rising
from the dead! Despite all the distractions, the Church is still
out there loving God and loving neighbor and living the faith of Jesus Christ.
And that truly is the Grace of God.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment