Why Church?

Matthew 4:12-23

I spend almost every day of my life contemplating the decline of the mainline churches in the United States and thinking about how we might turn around this trend.  This decline is really nothing new.  The downward trend began in the mid-1960s.   In the face of this ongoing decline, many congregations act more like religious social clubs for the like-minded than centers for the proclamation of the Gospel.   Often, congregations pine for times gone by, are gripped by a paralyzing fear of the future and become combative about protecting the few crumbs that are left.   This behavior deeply saddens me, and I am pretty sure it doesn’t make God smile.

Many have written, pontificated and mused upon the reasons for this decline.  Many others have published articles and books with formulas and programs and adaptive approaches for changing the direction of the decline.  I have read many of them.  I’ve written a few words on the subject myself.   Sure, a few churches flourish, thrive and grow…  but their methods don’t seem to translate easily.  Often, their leaders motivate through a personal charisma that is hard to duplicate. 

I have said, more than once, that if the solution to the decline of the church was simple, someone would have figured it out a long time ago.   But, maybe the truth is simpler than we think.

In Matthew 4, Jesus invites Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him to “fish for people.”  He invites them to join him in casting the net of God’s love and grace far and wide.  But this fishing for people is not just about gathering people into church buildings.  It’s not about putting “butts in the pews” and “bucks in the offering plates.”   (If that’s our goal, is it any wonder why people don’t come?)

NO.

Fishing for people is about continuing the work and ministry of Jesus.  And what is that work?  The last line of this week’s lesson sums it up:  “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.”  (4:21).

That’s it.  That’s what “The Church” is supposed to be about:

1.  Proclaiming the Reign of God.

2.  Bringing healing and wholeness to all people.

Both are incendiary.  Both mean engaging the “powers and principalities” of the world (Ephesians 6:12).  Both mean working for reconciliation in the midst of a world filled with divisiveness, brokenness, prejudice, bigotry and hate. (2 Corinthians 5:18)  Both mean casting the net of God’s love so wide that it truly encompasses everyone – yes, even those the world says we should hate, shun or reject.  Even those who might make us feel uncomfortable and yes, even those who might change us.

Perhaps if we stopped bickering over all the stupid, little things that divide us and started concentrating on  Jesus’ work of proclaiming the Reign of God (and living as if God truly did reign in our lives and in our world) and being forces for reconciliation and healing in the world…  people would be drawn to join us.   I am convinced that they would.

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading.

Lost in Translation

John 1:29-42

On a visit to the small Mayan village of El Bongo in Guatemala I learned an important lesson in translation.  Most of the people in that community only spoke Quiche, their Mayan language.  A few knew Spanish.  None of them knew English.  I, on the other hand, only spoke English.  I didn’t know much Spanish and not a word of Quiche.  The community was concerned about rebuilding their church, which had been severely damaged by an earthquake.  Not wanting to make promises I couldn’t keep, I told them that we “might” be able to help rebuild the church.  When I visited again the next summer, the people were upset because we hadn’t kept our promises.  I discovered, much to my chagrin,  that there is no word for “might” in Quiche.  When my words were translated from English to Spanish to Quiche, the “might” disappeared.  I understood why they were upset!

I have always found it interesting that John felt it important to translate “Rabbi,” “Messiah,” and “Cephas” for the readers of his Gospel.  Written in Greek for Greek readers, he knew they would not understand the Hebrew/Aramaic terms, to say nothing of their deeper meanings for the Jewish people.   I find it even more interesting that these translation notes are found in a passage that is primarily about the proclamation of the Gospel and inviting others to “come and see” who this “Jesus” (which translated means, “God Saves”) is for them and for the world.  The Gospel writer wanted to make sure that nothing was lost in translation.

Translation is important.  I think it is especially important in a culture where, increasingly, people (even people within the church!) don’t know the basic stories of the scriptures.  Translation is absolutely necessary in a culture where, increasingly, theological concepts and ideas familiar to those within the Christian community make about as much sense as “might” meant to the people of El Bongo.

A few years ago, I was visiting a congregation in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, and during the “Question and Response” time following worship, a man asked me to state the core message of Lutheran Christianity.  “Lutherans insist on the radical, free gift of Grace that is ours through Jesus Christ.”  I said.  

“’Grace is a church word.”  The man responded.  “How would you say that in English?”   He was looking for a translation.

I thought about it for a moment.  “I think I would say, ‘God loves you.  Period.’”

He smiled.  “Now that, I understand!”

Yes, God loves you.  Period.  Just as you are.  Right here.  Right now.   I believe that with all my heart.  But what does that mean?  (Another good Lutheran question.)   With Jesus, I would say, “come and see.”   (Which, translated, means, “it will take more than your whole lifetime to figure it out.”)

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading! 

What's In A Name?

Luke 2:15-21

A few days ago, I stopped to pick up some groceries at a local store.  When the checker saw the name on my card she smiled broadly and said, “grrrr-ling-house...  Is that right?”  

I smiled and nodded.  “Yes.”

“I like trying to say long names.”  She explained.  “Yours is pronounced just like it’s spelled!” 

“It is.”  I confirmed as I picked up my bags.

As a child, I hated my name.  I took a lot of very unkind teasing about it.   Some of the bullying I experienced was directly related to it.  Now, as an adult, I have come to appreciate the uniqueness of my name.   It stands out.  People remember it.  But, even more, it says something about who I am and where I come from.  It is connected to the place my German, immigrant ancestors came from.   It connects me to a culture, a family tradition, and a way of being in the world.

Names are important.  In the ancient world, they were even more important.  The naming ceremony for Jesus we hear about in this week’s reading was no small matter.  Circumcision connected males to the covenant community of God’s People.  The giving of a name said something significant about who a child was or would be.

The name “Jesus” or “Joshua” means “The Lord saves”.    That name, along with the names “Immanuel” (“God with us”) and “Christ”  (“anointed” or “chosen one”) sum up the mission and ministry of the child born in the manger to Mary and Joseph. 

The salvation Jesus brings to the world is more than just the promise of eternal life (though it is that).  Jesus came to bring healing, wholeness and reconciliation to a world broken by death, injustice, violence and evil.   Jesus came to reconcile both the world to God, and people to one another.   His whole ministry, from the first day he came out in Galilee proclaiming the Reign of God to the day he emerged alive from the tomb, embodied the saving love of God.  Jesus saves us --  that is, frees us from our brokenness, heals us and makes us whole --  so that we can join him in this holy work.

Those of us who name ourselves, “Christians”  (“Christ followers”) are called to participate in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation in the world.   As the old Sunday School song says,  “Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love!”   More than ever, the world around us needs Christians to live up to our highest ideals and values as followers in the Way of Jesus.   More than ever, the world needs us to live reflecting the compassion, kindness, forgiveness and mercy of our Lord.  More than ever, we need to be compelled by the love of God, which is a love big enough to include all people. 

As we begin a new year, we have our work cut out for us!    But, the promise of the Christ Child is that God is with us, and that God promises to be with us, both now and to the end of our days.

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading!  May God bless you in 2017!