Last time (Jan. 19, 2017) I invited you to join me on a quest, a quest to find “church” for those who are skeptical, cynical, or suspicious of churches, of religious organizations in a broad sense - what I am referring to as the “Groucho Marx” folks. Picking up where we left off then, the working definition of “church” that shapes this quest is “a group of people who come together, who form relationships and connections with those gathered, who share a common hope and desire for a deep life.”
Let me also say – I am curious about a church that is wholly centered on Christ. I am admittedly hesitant about using “Christian” as descriptive of the kind of church I am curious about. Not because I find the word offensive – but because so many others have been deeply wounded by “Christian” churches. This word has been used and abused that there tends to be a variety of knee-jerk reactions to it.
It is not the focus of this quest to rescue current or historical churches from criticism. Healthy criticism is important and church folks need to be open to it. Still, let’s not assume all critiques of churches are valid – for some of them are a bit ludicrous. The purpose of this quest is not to defend or offend specific churches or their actions, beliefs, etc.
There is no perfect church - this quest is not a search for an ideal, not for a utopia. I will necessarily have to deal with the reality of brokenness in all of us.
This quest will be made with baby steps:
• becoming clearer about the meaning of words we use.
• discovering and confessing my own biases and assumptions.
• exploring the stories of those with deep wounds connected to a church.
• hanging out in the places where people gather looking for deeper connections.
• identifying and listening prayerfully to others who are asking similar kinds of questions.
For today, let’s take one baby step. The meaning of words; two words in particular: liberal and conservative.
I sometimes hear these labels used when describing one church or another. I wonder sometimes - What are we really doing when we use these labels? It’s as though we have drawn lines in the sand in order to feel good about whichever label with which we identify.
This causes me to wonder even more - Would Jesus agree with our modern lines-in-the-sand? These are simply ways to separate ourselves from one another.
Jesus’ prayer, right before he was betrayed, arrested and executed, was “that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me” (John 17:23).
If Jesus’ prayer was that we may be one, and if we really want the whole world to know that God sent Jesus into the world, then perhaps we might start questioning the divisions. Maybe it could mean we might talk with each other - not in order to assert one way - but to listen with defenses down. Maybe a church for Groucho would be one open to wrestling with this possibility.
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