Where is the Church?

Seems like a valid and perhaps a little too obvious of a question.  Of course the (C)hurch is present.  If that's true, then why do I feel so unsettled that this is not true of at least the American (C)hurch?

What is to follow comes from a long, festering burden that I believe the (C)hurch must hear.  I define (C)hurch as followers of Jesus.  (C)hurch is not a building but a universal body of humans who say their lives belong to Jesus and live everyday with Jesus as the navigator of their journeys.  I believe God desires the (C)hurch to be people of influence, changing broken things, systems and most of all people through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because of my line of work (seems a little unfair to call what I love to do "work") I hear a lot of stories.  Most of these stories carry some sort of dissatisfaction with one or all of the following:  job, spouse, family, kids, life purpose and ... no shocker here ... their dissatisfaction, hurt, frustration, or lack of involvement  with either their local church institution or the greater (C)hurch as a whole.

Let me begin by saying I love God's (C)hurch.  I am a member.  He designed the (C)hurch as an avenue for lives, cities, and nations to be transformed under the authority of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ, as head over the (C)hurch leads His body to be life changers and life givers.  He used twelve to start a movement of His (C)hurch to change the entire world based on His example of showing how much He loved the world.  The (C)hurch was designed to set free captives and move mountains.

So let me also say that I believe the (C)hurch is being transformed from the inside.  I don't believe the condition of the American (C)hurch is healthy but I also don't believe it is hopeless.  I fear there is a loud wake up call being issued to the (C)hurch and many of the members are not listening.  (Ouch.  Insert crying emoji.)

Judging from history, there were great moments that transformed cultures either for good or for their detriment.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that 2020 is a time that will be written about in our history books but also be told to generations as a time the world stood still.  Global pandemics do not go away silently.  Stories will be told for milenia.

But where are the stories of the (C)hurch?  

What will be the story of the (C)hurch?  

Again, I am mostly referring to the American (C)hurch.  Will we be trail blazers that came in and brought peace, brought reconciliation, brought clarity, brought unconditional love to the marginalized?  Or will we be marked by huddling in our houses, watching sermons online and podcasts in our cars, posting endless mute posts on social media, worrying about the outcome of the next election, complaining about online schooling, masks, police, protestors, and caring for our small band of Christian friends while ignoring an opportunity to literally change the world?

Psalm 68:5: God is Father to the fatherless and protector of widows in His holy habitation.  At His core, He is Father and Protector to the two segments of society that are the most vulnerable.  So if, at His core, God is Father and Protector, shouldn't the (C)hurch be doing the work of the Father?  How is the church being a father to the fatherless and a protector of widows literally and figuratively?  

There are lots of people in the (C)hurch with biological fathers who are fatherless.  Most of the stories I hear stem from a root issue of a father wound.  Their Dad's were present, provided, were good citizens, many were members of churches, but many did not provide the basic characteristics of what a father should pass on to his children.  Because of this lack, they are adults navigating life without a good compass.  Fathers anchor you.  What happens to those unanchored?  Again, in my life's work, I see very good examples of those who have been washed ashore or fighting not to drown because of living anchorless lives.  

What if the (C)hurch became a father to the fatherless?  What would that look like?  Glad you asked!

A father loves. 

A good father loves his children unconditionally.  A good father lets his kids know that they are loved and accepted and belong to a family in which he is the head.  A good father waits for a child who has lost his way.  A good father mourns over the loss of relationship with adult children.  

What if the (C)hurch loved like a father?  Could we dare love unconditionally not only other members of the (C)hurch but also the ones who are looking from the outside in?  Could we dare to love those who don't look like members of a local church, those who don't believe the same things, accept the same things, condone the same things?  Could we love humanity and not be afraid that their morals would be caught like a rabies by other members but rather the opposite would occur?  That our, (C)hurch love, would be so unconditional that those who don't believe in God would be assaulted by the love of the Creator ... because we loved others so well.  Could we be the ones to let humanity know they are loved and accepted and are welcomed into a family?  Could we be like the father who waits for a child who has lost his way, waiting for them to come back?  Could we be like a father who loves and desires our love to transform their heart.  We’d be less interested in behavior modification but rather most interested in true heart restoration!

I'm sure that most fatherless children of all ages are waiting for that kind of a father.  I'm sure God would use those within the body of the (C)hurch who caught a glimpse of this kind of father love toward those who don't know the Father in a radical way.

(C)hurch, let's love like our Father.

 A father protects.

Fathers are protectors of the home.  They protect those around them.  They carry the burden and responsibility to protect their children.  What if the (C)hurch became the primary beacon of protection for the unborn, foster care, the marginalized, the mentally poor, the financially poor, victims of abuse, and most every kind of situation in which we've allowed state and federal governments to dictate the kind of protection these segments of society receive.

A father disciplines.

Often the word "discipline" gets confused with punishment.  Punishment is a result of negative reinforcement for an unwanted behavior.  However, discipline is training or teaching a desired behaviour, outcome, or perspective.  

You don't have to look far in the Bible to find examples of father's disciplining (teaching) children.  In fact, the Bible says that God disciplines (teaches) those He loves.  That makes total sense.  If you love me, you want the best for me.

What if the (C)hurch became good fathers by teaching the members how to study the Bible for themselves.  What if a biblical literacy revival came sweeping down the pews and aisles of local churches and the (C)hurch began to know and apply biblical principles for life transformation?

What would biblical literacy look like?  The (C)hurch would not need to run to life group leaders, discussion groups, lead pastors or children's workers to get informed about what the Bible has to say about life issues.  When biblical discrepancies trickle into sermons, podcasts, blogs and newsletters, each member of the (C)hurch would know and not be swayed into thinking feel good messages and positive thinking would no longer be  a cure for what spiritually ails them.

If the (C)hurch became passionate about teaching it's members to read, study and apply the Bible, social reforms would shift, spiritual apathy would decrease, serving our communities would be the norm, houses of prayer would rise up in neighborhoods, replies to public forums would be based on Truth and not opinion, and in short we'd have a ghastly mess!  A mess of spiritual awakening that would stem from God's people knowing God's word, applying His principles, and loving from a place of biblical foundation and not one-a-week spiritual injections that run dry by the next week's Sunday service.

A father is generous with his time.

What if the (C)hurch stopped.  Stopped what?  Stopping having so many committee meetings, systems to be jumped through to get an event on a calendar, programs, buildings, business models, media savvy gadgets, and just spent time giving away their time generously!  I know, I know.  We live in a busy, fast-paced society.  You have to have a schedule to maintain good stewardship over your life and there aren't enough hours in a day to get the things done you need to accomplish.

Yet ... when I look at the life of Jesus as he lived on the planet, He made time for those in which He was sent to the planet:  people.

What if the(C)hurch took time to get outside the church building and started interrupting people's hopeless lives with hope filled conversations, activities, initiatives, and prayer offerings that made our mission look more like Jesus' mission?  What if the (C)hurch was so involved in communities that Sunday services were simply gatherings to celebrate what God had done through His people during the week and (C)hurch member worshipped alongside community member because the church member had aligned themselves with Jesus' mission to love people?  What if (C)hurch didn't need bells and whistles of buildings and smoke machines and wooden walls as backdrops for Instagram photo opps but rather met in parking lots or community parks that welcomed everyone because we weren't bound by time schedules but decided time was the one commodity we could not afford to waste on a Sunday morning?

What if the (C)hurch helped members reach out to neighbors, supplied hotdogs for hungry children just because, brought breakfast to police, sat in a protest rally rooms to hear the hearts of the burdened without judging or took the time to have (C)hurch in their homes on a Tuesday night because their neighbor works a graveyard shift and his time is limited?  

A father comforts.

What is the (C)hurch didn't care about why tears fell on a humans face but was just there to wipe them away?  In the midst of a global pandemic, what if the (C)hurch said we don't need anymore building renovations or unattended services?  Instead, we, the (C)hurch took our resources of money and people and distributed them among the hurting?  What if communities didn't need to come to a church building but knew (C)hurch members who were putting words into action and praying in the Walmart parking lot for hours because that's where the hurting live?  

A father leads.

This needs no further text.  (C)hurch, let's imitate our Father and lead our communities.

The time is ripe for the American (C)hurch to BE the (C)hurch.  If we look to fellow members in restricted countries, we could learn a lot.  Most do not meet in trendy buildings, have flashy services, are able to enroll in classes on a high tech app, or battle decisions about which life group best fits them.  Most meet huddled into small spaces feeling utterly compelled to gather and pray and worship the One who is all they need.  Many have sacrificed much, even the loss of loved ones, to utter silent prayers and read from tattered pages of parts of a Bible and count it the greatest and most sacred act of worship.

The time is ripe for the American (C)hurch to BE the (C)hurch.  Political, moral and societal changes are shifting the landscape.  There will not be a return to normal in America.  There must be an appeal of the (C)hurch to radically do things differently because lives are literally at stake.  No longer can we be satisfied by hands raised in comfortable auditoriums fueled by the good feelings of being around those we love and who “get” us.  It’s time to move. (C)hurch comes in like a wrecking ball and advocates for those who need it most.  (C)hurch listens for where God’s heart is breaking and then brings in spiritual wound care to bring healing.  (C)hurch brings high powered LED flashlights into the darkest of places to bring hope.  (C)hurch makes a difference.

It would seem pointless and a little hypocritical of me to leave this post without offering an opportunity for the (C)hurch to respond.  I’m calling for a prayer movement to begin.  Every week, at a designated time, I'm asking for others to join me in praying for a great movement of the (C)hurch.  And then, out of what God instructs, we obey.

I began by saying I love God's (C)hurch.  I am a member.  He designed the (C)hurch as an avenue for lives, cities, and nations to be transformed under the authority of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ, as head over the (C)hurch leads His body to be life changers and life givers.  He used twelve to start a movement of His (C)hurch to change the entire world based on His example of showing how much He loved the world. He can use us, now! Are you in?  (C)hurch, do you dare to be present!  It’s our time to thrive!  (C)hurch, let’s move!