Making Choices in the Church

There is new jargon in the world of parenting. When our children stray from the path we would hope they follow, we scold them for “making poor choices.”

Not “wrong” choices. “Poor” choices. That’s less judgmental.

Making choices is a big responsibility. It is something we are asked to do regularly in the Church.

  • We can choose to attend worship . . . or not.
  • We can choose to support the work of the Church with our offerings . . . or not.
  • We can choose to help . . . or not.
  • We can choose to stand up for an unpopular cause . . . or not.
  • We can choose to speak out for the oppressed . . . or not.

Children make choices. Parents make choices. Congregations and leaders make choices. Pastors make choices. Bishops make choices.

  • The Church can choose to invest in social change.
  • The Church can choose to be more welcoming.
  • The Church can choose to tolerate differences.
  • The Church can choose to give a voice to those who differ.
  • The Church can choose to resolve conflict.
  • The Church can choose to love, forgive and reconcile.
    Or not.

Sometimes the Church makes good choices. More often we make the choices that are less troublesome and require the least effort.

Sometimes the choices we make are more than poor. They are wrong.

That’s where the Church chooses to fail.

photo credit: Dr Case via photo pin cc (retouched)