On Bitterness with the Church, Part 1
The Church: A Concussion Ward and a Beacon of Hope
One of the main reasons many of my friends don't follow Jesus is that Christians can be really hurtful. Trust me, I know. I've been hurt more by individual Christians and church organizations than by any other group of people. Alone or in groups, I've seen Christians rival hyenas as they strive to grab little bits of power, use harsh words, and scratch for what they would call "survival." I often say that in church-work, I get to see wonderful people at their worst, and terrible people at their best. All of this can easily create faith-stifling cynicism.
Despite all this, I still love Jesus. Against my natural instincts, I still love His church.
If we aren't sometimes frustrated by the church, we aren't being honest. But isn’t that kind of the point? If the church is for sinners and if grace reaches lost people, then we should expect the church to be full of sinful people who are just learning which way "up" is. We should expect it to be more like a ward of people all going through concussion protocol than a well-organized business with crisp mission statements and implementation strategies.
I know the "ward of people going through concussion protocol” is an odd metaphor, but it’s a reality I’m far too familiar with. I often joke that I've had too many concussions, but unfortunately, it’s the truth. And going through them, I’ve learned that the results aren't predictable.
In my first recorded concussion, I remember that I was standing on a diving board at the local pool about to do a flip or something. The next thing I knew, I was being carried down the side of the pool by my Dad. Completely missing from my memory is the part where I fell off the diving board sideways, hit my head on the concrete edge of the pool, bounced into the water with a dented skull, and floated face-down in the water for almost a minute.
In one of my more recent concussions, I was playing rugby with our park-league team against the team from Washington University. I was tackling one of their bigger players a few meters from the try line. As I spun with him to reverse his momentum, my temple crashed into the jaw of a one of my teammates. My vision flickered, and then, for a moment, I thought I was watching Star Wars. Then I thought I was at my parents’ house with my high school friends. Finally, I remembered that I was supposed to be tackling this man, so I finished driving him to the ground. (In case you are wondering, he didn't score, I cleared the ruck, and we held them at the try line.)
I bring this up because that's how we often act in church. At times, we are dazed and clueless and end up doing damage. The man who I collided with was in pain for a few days. (My temple had collided with his jaw, and he couldn’t speak without pain for a week!) Even though I was just bumbling through my own injury and issues, I left a wake of damage behind me, and I'm not off the hook for it. With my friend, a simple apology was enough. When a church or Christian spiritually guts a fellow believer, a quick "sorry" doesn't undo the damage.
When I think about the people who have hurt me, abandoned me, and called me names, I can't just write it off to the fact that they are simply “doing their best.” Some of them are in positions of leadership. Chances are that they will use the same harsh language and poor judgment as they deal with other people. Firm words and clear conversations are needed. We need to do better while also extending grace both to those who are damaged and those doing the damage.
I love the church, but I/we need it to do a better job of being a loving presence in the world. If we can't love people who are pretty much "just like us," how on earth are we going to love the addict, the LGBTQ community, people of color, neighbors from other cultures, and the rest of the world?
Moving Forward: A Call to Healing and Unity in a Divided Nation
As we move forward as a church, I want to address the elephant in the room: the political divisions tearing at our nation, our communities, and even our church. While we may not be experiencing major rifts, these divisions manifest in subtle ways, creating an undercurrent of tension and distrust.
Our call to healing begins within the church. We must be intentional about fostering an environment of grace, forgiveness, and understanding, even when we disagree on political matters. This doesn't mean we shy away from tough conversations, but it does mean we approach them with humility, respect, and a willingness to listen.
We need to remember that our unity in Christ transcends our political differences. That we are all part of the same body, called to love one another as Christ has loved us. This love should be evident in how we interact with each other, regardless of our political affiliations.
By demonstrating unity within the church, we can then extend that healing touch to the world around us. We can be a beacon of hope in a society fractured by political strife. We can model a different way of engaging with those who hold opposing views, a way characterized by respect, empathy, and a commitment to finding common ground.
This is not an easy task, but it is a crucial one. As followers of Christ in a divided nation, we have a responsibility to be agents of healing and reconciliation. Let us commit to being a church that:
Prioritizes relationships over politics: We value our connection as brothers and sisters in Christ above any political affiliation.
Practices active listening: We strive to understand different perspectives, even when we disagree.
Chooses grace over judgment: We extend forgiveness and compassion, recognizing that we all fall short.
Seeks common ground: We focus on shared values and goals, working together for the good of our community.
Let us be a church that demonstrates the power of unity in a divided world. Let us be known for our love, our compassion, and our commitment to healing the wounds of political division.
A Personal Plea for Forgiveness
Before I close, I want to take a moment to acknowledge my own shortcomings. I know that I, too, have contributed to hurt and division at times. If I've been the cause of pain for anyone, through my words or actions, please forgive me. Even though I'm doing my best, it doesn't mean it's okay to hurt others. I need to be on the receiving end of difficult conversations as often as I need to give them. I am committed to learning and growing, and I ask for your grace and patience as we journey together towards healing and unity.
What do you think? How can we, as a church, be a force for healing and unity in our community and beyond?
With You;
Pastor Tim
