On the way back from the airport, Ginna and I were talking about past churches and the feelings they bring up when thinking about them - I can't bring myself to name specific churches as I feel like I'm judging a good thing - exactly what I'm trying to write about. Anyhow, I was reading a newsletter put out by Ransomed Heart Ministries in which he (John Eldredge) talks about "judging" being a necessary and good thing - albeit difficult. Here's a link to the November newsletter.
When I think about past churches, I think the thing I react to most is the idea of solid black and white. While it's comfortable to be able to put "God" in a box, I don't like that kind of god - nor can I relate well to that such a god. If God is so black and white, why does my life seem full of gray?
2 comments:
I'll name a church for you ;)
Thanks for the newsletter. I think this is right on. We can judge, and should... with discernment and soul searching. We have to guard against just seeing the Gospel as we want to see it instead of how God wants us to see it.
Yeah John had some really good points in that newsletter, and I think more and more church-goers are afraid to "judge" their church and the leaders that may or may not be leading them into the kingdom.
I was recently at a family meal at which the husband and wife at the head of the table had a dispute over "judging" the church. The husband began to share how concerned he was about the teaching of his church leaders. He felt that the teaching pastors of his church preached more about the history, success, and vision of their church (and founding fathers) than they actually preached about the kingdom of God. The husband explained something like, "I have never been to a church where the focus was so heavily placed on a figure head and individual history, and not on Jesus. It's not right!" The awkward moment came when the wife silenced her husband and said, "You need to stop complaining and be content. The founding pastor was a very good man and he did a lot for the church, that is why we talk about him. If you were a good Christian, you would just be obey and be thankful." (None of you know the people from this story and they are not local to H-burg... so don't worry about judging them.) ;-)
My point is... this scene totally terrified me. If men (or women) lead the church and are never questioned, never held accountable, and are never brought back to the basic gospel message...what will happen?
So either we try to make decisions about what is right and wrong or we fall prey to 50 million dollar lawsuits... or toilsome essays on "open theism".
But even then... making decisions in black & white, right & wrong... we forget about the gray, the suffering, the mystery, the awe.
What the newsletter left out is how to make sound judgments without severing or breaking relationships. If we love one another, and focus on kingdom work... we should have better chance at remaining united as a body. Right? I dunno... 50 million or $1?
Really good thoughts Don & Andy, and I really enjoyed the Eldridge newsletter.
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