09.20.2007

TROUBLES IN PARADISE

I'm a pastor. Haven't always been, and didn't always intend to be. But I am now, and have been for a little over twenty years. And I am where I am now, doing what I'm doing, because of a call from God that I sensed in my early 30's. Unlike some pastors, I had the advantage of serving in the pew long before I ever stood behind a pulpit. I served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and small group leader in my local church. From that perspective I saw "church" as would the average lay person. And never was I so painfully aware of my own shortcomings than in matters of theology and religion. I looked to my pastor to help guide me in discovering and following God's Will for my life and for our church. He had training I'd never had, and I appreciated that asset he brought to the table.

Over the past years, looking at the church from the other side of the pulpit, I've been amazed at the change that's taken place. Maybe it's just a result of my change in position- maybe it's always been that way from the perspective of the pastor. Or perhaps it's a change in our culture which has carried over into the church. Regardless of its cause, however, the church is none the better for it.

It's like "church" has become just one more organization to which people belong- and the same standards by which they measure everything else are used to measure the church. What's in it for me? What's the greatest benefit for the lowest cost? How can I derive the greatest pleasure?

For some reason it seems that a large part of the Church has forgotten that it's not about us. Fact is, it never has been. It's always been about the One who called us... and the focus of the call was to become like Him. And as I read the Bible, that identity is built largely around qualities of self-surrender, humility and sacrifice. The longer I live and the more I see, the more I'm convinced that most problems in the church are caused by people seeking to please themselves instead of seeking to emulate their Savior. And recently it's become so bad that it's made me wonder if there's any hope for the Church.

Then I remember that it's not about us. It never was. It's all about Him. And He will never fail. Your church beginning to crumble? Chances are its strayed too far from the One who promised to uphold it. Arguments and gossip running rampant? Sounds like there's too much focus on the words of men instead of on the Word of God. Don't give up on the Church. The body of the "called out ones" will survive, but it may need to be transformed.