Can the Church Be Fixed?
Are our church doors truly open?
The Alban Institute’s Roundtable is unusually active this week. The weekly topic laid out all the failings of the mainline church. The resulting dialog was a mild outrage.
“Why are we going over what’s wrong? We know what’s wrong? How can we fix it?” Among the most desperate and honest questions is, “Can it be fixed?”
There is still a disconnect between church leadership and church members which may be at the heart of a general disillusionment with the Church.
Why do people become involved in church?
- Some are born into church-respecting families.
- Some seek answers to life’s problems.
- Some are looking for peace and comfort
- Some are seeking validation or acceptance.
- Some are seeking God.
One way or another, many people find something in the church worth making it part of their lives. Something attracted them. It was probably someone humbly modeling the teachings of Christ.
That opens the door. Then what?
Church always asks more of us. It asks us to learn and to grow. It encourages us to take stands on issues. We are asked to influence others.
And then the rules begin. Rules are prompted by leaders who want order and power. This lessens the potential of the Church.
The laity hit a glass ceiling. Take a stand—but follow us.
Laity have a choice. We choose to become involved when our initial needs are met and we can make a difference. We don’t join churches to take on more financial woes. We don’t join to have more authority figures. We want to feel loved. We want to know God.
Part of the gift of the Reformation — a cause for which many gave their lives — was the empowerment of the laity. Grace is freely given. No middle man is needed. That message is clouded today in a Church where any “stand” is accepted only if it is politically correct.
The Church is at its strongest when it fosters courage by example.
There is an old Sunday School hymn, probably long forgotten by most:
Dare to be brave. Dare to be true.
Fight for the right for the Lord is with you.
He knows your trials, when your heart quails.
Call Him to rescue His grace never fails.
The Church often speaks out of both sides of its mouth. Be brave. Do as we say.
One commenter in the Roundtable discussion wrote an impassioned essay on his frustrations on spreading the Gospel. He concluded with his own battle cry—that he would remain faithful in knowing God.
He is correct. That is the foundation of all that is good and can be better in the Church. It is fundamental. Work at knowing God and the message we send will ring loud and clear. Then we will know when to follow and when to lead. We will be empowered to do both.