22 August 2006

Today we continue with more on the seventh mark of the church (suffering) in "The Cross in Our Context" by Douglas John Hall.

This seventh mark of the church, surely, is one that ought to exercise a good deal of critical guidance today as the churches struggle to overcome their internal conflicts and their penchant for excessive concern over their own institutional survival. Surely the only survival in which the church as Christ's body can be interested ultimately is the survival of God's groaning creation. The whole ethic of justice, peace, and integrity of creation,...is not a mere addendum to Christian faith and life but stands at the center of our identity as communities of Christ's discipleship.

Hall's remarks today remind me of how much time and energy congregation spend on themselves. That is not to say that this time is not used well. What I have noticed so much lately is that issues like justice and peace and what I would call the well-being of all of creation do not come very much to the center of our life together. It also makes me think that this would be one of the reasons that this seventh mark of the church is little to be found among us. When our concern looks outward or inward so that we care for the well-being of those in great need - those put down or run over - those whose lives are given little care because the funds for appropriate care are not shared with them...then we will find that few will like our focus or our concerns. We might even lose members or be told that we need to focus on our own...much like an exclusive club. When we as an institution have eyes only for ourselves, we will be that club that simply works to make itself a stable and prosperous group with little willingness to stand with and alongside those with whom few are willing to stand. How much of our life together is as a light to the world and how much of it is as a light to ourselves? Then again, we do need to shed some light on ourselves as part of the preparation to serve out in the world. We often don't make this last step.

Connection: Some people do not like the idea that church folk get involved in politics. And yet, it is often in that arena of our public life that we can help to move resources and care out to those who really do not make it on the radar of our church communities. Therefore, I would think we really need to talk about "how" we will be involved in politics and how that is a part of that mark which we rarely see around us.

Come, O Healing Lord, and as we venture out into this world following your way to the cross, be our source of comfort and healing and well-being that in this new day we may again walk with those in need and become a present source of your loving kindness for all. Amen.