One of the greatest disappointments in my life as a pastor has been the experience of being both a Roman Catholic Priest and a Lutheran Pastor, in two (2) different denominations who, in many — but not all — respects, defined themselves and even held themselves together largely negatively.
Who we are not, what we are against, and what we do not do, is still the daily approach. On one level we defined ourselves by theology codes — or “purity” codes — in order to separate ourselves from the other “crippled and flawed” theologies and the “impure” people who were presumably unworthy. Even individual churches constructed a culture over the generations that did the same. We luxuriate in what makes us different, and so we often resort to expressing distorted truths and evaluations about each other. Exaggerating statements about “the other side” long ago became the norm. And we dragged these differences into our worship styles and liturgical theologies and choices so that we could point out the differences between “us” and “them”. What we are for, or in support of, and what we love has become liturgically institutionalized. May I witness to the truth that is very hard to sustain!
Now historically this is not at all unusual as most reformations and revolutions need someone else to be wrong much more than the need to discover a higher level of consciousness. Refining and maturing gets lost in the scuffle created by the absolute requirement to conform, follow the line, and be very quiet and careful about questioning or introducing change.
As someone who loves both denominations — and still do — I see that this has become one of the core problems in our churches for centuries.
Sadly those who have stepped away from the shackles of the denomination have been infected with the same hubris and oppositional push-back. The same endless progressive-conservative pendulum continues to swing, and spiritual movement forward remains so elusive.
Will there ever be a religion or church that emerges with the hope of inclusiveness that is not against this or that? Will men and women, for example, be treated with the same love and respect? Evil and sin do need to be identified and exposed because not everything is fine or good or from God, no matter how much passion and personality is involved. Such a hopeful emergence must have a prophetic voice and identity. Without a prophetic presence that holds up a mirror from God for all of us to look into and examine ourselves truthfully, we will be doomed to repeat our errors.
Jesus never seemed to start with sin but with human suffering. This is a good place for us to begin, too, in order to reemerge with the hope of an inclusive presence in the lives of people who want — and need — a church that welcomes everyone and loves everyone because we are all suffering.
And may we all, for God’s sake, speak and behave as people who welcome everyone in love with the beat of drums that care about — YOU!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” Romans 12:15-18.
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” Romans 15:7.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” John 13:34.
“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” Luke 14:13-14.
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