For this reason I still believe in Church. Not because I
trust in church people, but because I trust in the love of God to redeem His
people. The love of God casts out fear, and though there is fear in communal
living, it is a part of who we are in Jesus. Even when we are confronted with
statistics like these: Eighty percent of student leaders at Christian colleges
and Universities will leave the church within five years; Eighty percent of
youth ministers will not last five years in ministry and will move on to other
lines of work. Anecdotes I was told before graduation. Having been both of
these things, I am highly at risk for leaving the church. I’ve had a front row
seat to watch my friends struggle with the corporate entities of church as they
cling to the communal entity that goes beyond denominations. I understand why
people leave, and I know that leaving is not always a sign of an individual’s
failing, but rather a corporate failing. When young people who are excited
about working in and with the church leave there is a serious problem. That
problem has nothing to do with music, programming, or architecture, but is a
problem in the human heart. The very problem Jesus came to heal, save, and
redeem.
Having five years post-University graduation behind my belt,
I’ve beaten my odds. I could write about navigating the murky transitional
water of Church, but I would rather write about three fears that keep the
community of Christ from succeeding as a corporate entity and community of
people: The fear of giving, The fear of sacrifice, and The fear of abandonment.
The Fear of Giving
Too often we think of giving as a meeting a material need:
whether that be clothing, food, or other life necessities. Too often we confuse
giving as money-only giving, assuming we can fix problems with a big enough
dollar sign. There is need for material and monetary giving, but the community
of Jesus is called to give more than it’s stuff, it’s called to give of itself.
When Paul wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth he wrote to them about
this kind giving: first mentioning in what spirit we should give, second how
giving is evidence of our deep relationship with God, and third how this kind
of giving spreads the joy of the LORD:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give
what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to
you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will
abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts
to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to
the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed
and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in
every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is
not only supplying the needs of God’s people, but is also overflowing in many
expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved
yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your
confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with
them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go
out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God
for his indescribable gift!”
Giving is not about numbers, it’s a matter of the heart.
Giving is not just about money or life necessities; it’s about sharing the
grace God has given us, and letting that grace manifest itself in our lives
through action. If giving were only a matter of money those in poverty couldn’t
do it. If giving were only a matter of life necessities, then the disadvantaged
couldn’t do it. But as giving is about working from our hearts, resulting in thanksgiving
to God, all people are able to give. It is this kind of grace-filled giving
that enlarges the harvest of righteousness. It is this kind of richness that
God magnifies and grows, it is this kind of giving that marks a community of
Jesus and enlarges it. God loves generous cheerful givers, and he gives them even
more to give and share as they practice giving, sharing, and praising God.
The Fear of Sacrifice
Just as giving is not about money or life necessities, so
too is sacrifice not about material things. For the sacrifice of God is a
contrite heart and a broken spirit. This doesn’t mean we walk around with eyes
to the ground crying all the time, it means remembering we are all in need of a
savior. Just as Jesus has forgiven us, so too we need to forgive others. This
is particularly hard when we’ve been hurt or mistreated, which is why this is
called sacrifice and not giving. For we give in favorable situations, but we
sacrifice when caught in unfavorable situations and continue to put on a Christ-like
attitude. In his letter to the church at Colossi Paul writes about the nature
of sacrifice:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothes yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these
virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were
called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as
you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Sacrifice is a daily experience, not a one-off moment of
truth. It’s daily taking up the cross of Christ through forgiveness, love, and
patience, maintaining a humble attitude and a gentle spirit. This is hard,
impossible without the love of Jesus in our hearts. Left to our own devices the
peace of Christ does not rule over us, we abandon it for anxiety, fear, and
anger. Yet the love of Jesus calms our fears; the forgiveness of Jesus relieves
our anxiety; and the patience of Jesus works out our anger. We do not need to
carry a burden of sin, guilt, or hatred for what we have done or what has been
done to us. In Jesus’ sacrifice these stains are washed away, and our deepest
darkness made bright.
The Fear of
Abandonment
Our fear of being abandoned by God often comes from the
rejection of churches. Too often we feel like we’ve done something unforgivable
or someone has done something unforgivable to us and so we cannot be reconciled
to God or even a small group of believers. Someone may have done something unmentionable,
splitting apart a once united and healthy body. Long unresolved sin keeps
rearing its ugly head and chasing people away. The community of Jesus is
stronger than these things, when it finds its strength in God. Communities and
corporate entities may struggle, as all people struggle from time to time, but
the outcome of the struggle is certain: God’s love will reign over all.
Jesus taught this to his disciples and to the Jewish
community and corporate entity of his day. His teaching was based on the
preaching of the prophets, that whoever turns from sin and casts themselves on
God’s mercy will be reunited with their Father. They will enter into his grace
and be forgiven their offenses and enjoy relationship with Him again. This is
the message God proclaimed to the Jewish community time and time again. Turn
from sin, be reunited to your Father. Reading the Bible we know time and time
again the Jews failed to turn their hearts to God, and as such found themselves
in horrible situations. Out of these horrible places they remembered God and
turned back to Him. This is why Jesus parable about a Father and his lost son
is pointed and relevant to us as we talk about the church. Like the son, we may
have gone astray, or have watched communities run from living out God’s love. The
son is us, and the son is also the Church. After telling his father he wished
him dead and only wanted the stuff his father had, the son enjoyed himself for
a while and then lost everything. His situation became so desperate he volunteered
himself to feed pigs and was so starving he wanted to eat their spoiling garbage
as food. It was here, in the muck and mire he had his revelation:
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s
hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out
and go back to my father and say to him: Father I have sinned against heaven
and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son: make me like one
of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still
a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he
ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
The son confesses his sin to his father, and starts making
his plea for mercy, but the father cuts him off, “Quick! Bring the best robe
and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the
fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found,”
The parable goes on, but the key point is this: the father
welcomed his son back. Not begrudgingly, not with a know-it-all smirk on his
face, not with a ‘took you long enough’ attitude. He genuinely was excited for
the return on his son and welcomed him with open arms. No reservations. No
judgments. Just restoration. That’s the love of God.
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