Church-The New Exodus? Part II
This just continues to plague me. I ran across a post today entitled “I still don’t get church”. The questions and concerns that Ruth posted in this blog seemed sincere and heartfelt. Many of the comments seemed trite, however. When one has been hurt by the church, or one feels like an outsider, there aren’t easy answers. Grief takes time to heal. Trust takes time to build or re-build. What are we, the church, doing that is hurting so many people? How do we stop this? Maybe if we quit using words like “the elect” or “saints” to describe our selves, we won’t look down so much on others. I don’t know. I think we need to seriously reconsider our paradigms.
The phrase “Be in the world, but not of it” comes to mind. When we say this, what do we think it means? Do we think it means “Bless their hearts, look at those sinners, but let’s make sure we don’t get too close, because they might contaminate us”? Have we gotten so consumed with our pursuit of a personal “holiness”, that we have mistaken that for the true Gospel?
A quote from gotquestions.org:
What believers *should* do is to be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life–to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity; a daily commitment. We can enjoy the things of the world, but we are not to immerse ourselves in the world.
So, that’s it? Enjoy the pleasures of the world, but make sure we don’t act like “those people”? Who exactly are “those people”?
Maybe “those people” … are us.
Stained Glass Masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
By: Casting Crowns
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