What makes me (or you) right? April 17, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Church of the Brethren.trackback
This morning I was reading the April 2006 edition of our denominational magazine, Messenger (http://www.brethren.org/genbd/messenger). The title for this month was entitled, "Being the Church: What does it mean to be together?" For the past few months the denomination has been investigating whether or not the church can find a common ground for respectful conversation – even with those with whom we disagree! My understanding behind this is that our denomination is simply reflecting the polarization of United States society. Regardless of what terms you prefer to use: liberal and conservative, blue state and red state, so on and so forth, one must admit that there are becoming increasingly, sharp divisions and segments within the population. The church as it is composed of members of society is simply reflecting what has already been seen within society. The Church of the Brethren is no exception to this. There are continually splitting factions within our denomination and unless we can come together then we will cease to be. (for better or worse)
So it is especially pertinent to our denomination that we find ways in which we can come together rather than divide, or we at least need to see if we are still able to come together or not. Feeling optimistic that we can still come together regardless of our differences, I opened the magazine for a look. I felt even more encouraged as I saw an advertisement on the inside cover for the cross cultural luncheon at our denomination's annual conference. Then on page one was listed the index of articles written with "Being the church," heading the list on page 8. Things were going well so I flipped to page two and read the publisher's note and on to the next page for "Around the denomination," a page that highlights what has been happening within the church. My good feelings went away quickly as I read what had happned within the Atlantic Southeast district (Florida and Puerto Rico). I learned that the district board at a recent meeting had went "on record" that same-sex marriages will not be be performed or blessed in the district's churches or by its pastors.
How quickly is it that we have moved from all coming to Christ's table to having a guest list for only a selected few – the frozen chosen. It just really burns me up that we (the church) have worked so hard at excluding our sisters and brothers who may be different than we are. Why is that we think that we're so right and that they are so wrong? Or why does there have to be "us" and "them?" Such contradictory and hypocritical statements are being made within our denomination, and we wonder why our members are leaving like rats on a sinking ship? More on this later.
I too share your concern for the COB and our inability to come together. I think that you are essentially correct, we all to well reflect the attitudes and opinions of the culture of the United States, and I am convinced that here in lies the problem. We have been shaped and formed by our culture rather than by the culture of Christ in the Church. As a denomination we have been far to lax in doing the hard work of spiritual formation. We occasionally talk about discipleship and Christian Education, but we do not work toward any sense of what it means to be well formed Spiritually.
I do not think that we alone as a denomination hold this problem. A quick walk though any local Christian book seller will display a great deal of fluff and superficial Christian belief. How many in your church have read the spiritual classics such as the Imitation of Christ? My hunch is that it is much like mine, a few know of the title, but fewer still have actually read it.
How often are we well versed in the political landscape but have people in the pews who do not know the difference between John and 1John? We claim that we have no creed but the New Testament, but for the most part, many of our members have never even read the creed from Matthew to Revelation. If we hope to be the church, we must first know Christ Jesus and the Creed we proclaim to be ours. Then, perhaps we will have a meaningful discussion as the Body of Christ.
I fear that the hand writing may well be on the wall for this group of Anabaptist who at times are more concerned about being Brethren than Christian. As you may well have surmised, this is my rant on the state of affairs in the COB.
blessings,
Kevin