Let's Be Honest...

There is a movement of sorts taking place in my generation.  We could call it the Cut the Crap campaign.  Or the We're Not Stupid initiative.  Or the Who Do You Think You're Kidding drive.  Whatever you want to call it, the idea is the same: we want blatant honesty.

We want transparency from our leaders, whether political, corporate or ecumenical.  We want people to give it to us straight, even if they think it will hurt us, disappoint us, or make our opinions of them plummet.  We want honesty no matter the cost.

There are people out there who would rather stick their heads in the sand than drag ugly situations into the light.  Like toddlers playing hide and seek, these people think closing their eyes makes problems disappear.  They spend their time trying to ignore hardships and fail to grow through their challenges.

There are other people out there who would rather paint a pretty picture than admit they don't have it all together.  They know they don't have it all together, but their pride keeps them from letting the rest of us know they don't have it all together.  They spend their time trying to hide difficulties and fail to heal from their pain.

Then there is a third group of people.  They admit they have problems.  They share those problems with others.  Their honesty begets honesty, and they find their friends start sharing about their problems.  They learn from one another.  They see God work in each others lives.  They become encouraged that He really does care.  They worship the Lord who delivers them from hardship together.  And they share His hope with others who have dared to admit that they are struggling.

These people grow. 

And something amazing happens...the hope and love of Jesus Christ spread like wild fire. 

I can't help but think that is what Church was always meant to be.  People hurting together, inviting honesty, speaking truth from the Scriptures while they are hurting together, not pretending that life doesn't hurt, praying for one another, seeing God answer those prayers, rejoicing together, praising God for who He is and what He has done in their lives, and sharing that testimony with others.  As near as I can tell, this description incorporates Bible study, prayer, worship and evangelism.

And it does it while being honest. 

How can we make our churches more like this?

I think it starts with me and you getting real with those around us.   That's risky, for sure, but the potential for richness of community with others and deeper intimacy in our relationships with God are worth that risk. 

We are the Church.  If we want the Church to be more transparent, let's be honest.

When Church is Messy

In the past four months, two men on senior staff at my church have resigned.  By all accounts, these men love the Lord, His Word, and His Church with their whole beings.  Yet, on separate occasions, each man stood before the congregation and announced his decision to step down, but neither man said why.  Both times the congregation was left to draw its own conclusions.  And people rarely conclude anything positive in these situations. In fact, most of us assume the worst and lack the discipline to not contribute to the various conspiracy theories that are circulating. 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I respond to these kinds of sudden, mysterious changes in leadership at my church with anger, bitterness, and skepticism.  I don't like tangible proof that forces me to acknowledge that the Church is messy.  My church.  Your church.  The Church universal.  I like to operate as if the Church can and should be perfect and blameless.  I hold the Church to a higher standard.  If a problem arises, mature Christians ought to solve them lovingly each and every time.  It doesn't matter what the issue is, if the people love the Lord and are submitted to Him, my heart says there should never be division. 

The problem with that perspective, though, is it fails to take into account that Christians are just as fallen as everybody else.  We are just as prone to giving in to our sinful tendencies as the rest of the world.  We don't always see the truth; we don't always act lovingly; we don't always choose to obey the Lord in every situation.  We rebel.  We choose self over Christ.  We dig our heels in when we think we are right, no matter the cost.  We also often misunderstand the Scriptures and unintentionally misinterpret the Lord's will.  Our imperfect thinking and our naturally unruly hearts result in pain and strife more often than Christians want to admit.

It is no wonder, then, that the Church is messy.  As much as I want the Church to be perfect, it never will be this side of Heaven.  So what are we to do with that?  I am thinking we have to find a way to live that shows an unbelieving world that, despite our screw ups, we still have something they desperately need.

We have to highlight the fact that when Church is messy, it's not because the God of that Church slacked off or made a mistake or isn't as good/powerful as the people of the Church claim.  Church is messy because it is full of broken people.  Just like the world.  The world is messy because it is full of broken people.  When churches fight, divide, collapse, or otherwise stumble, they are illustrating in bright, bold colors how desperately they need a savior!  After all, if the Church, full of God's people, can't get it right, for crying out loud, who can?

The answer is no one.  The Bible says, "There is no one who is righteous...All have turned away, and they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good" (Romans 3:10-12).  But, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly [read: all of us!]...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," reconciling us to Himself, saving us from the mess we insist on creating (Romans 5:6-8).  

It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong in my church's situation.  What matters is that we remember this truth: WE NEED THE LORD!  We are fully incapable of "doing church well" without Him.  He is our source of truth, peace, and power.  Without Him, all our works are rubbish (Philippians 3:8-9). If we want to overcome our sinful selves, we need, "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Philippians 3:20).

He can do more than I can imagine....  I am imagining a Church that isn't messy.  He can do more...  He can make a Church that is clean (Revelation 21:1-4).

Milestones: Lexi's First Bible Verse

We were driving home from church a couple of months ago, and I was asking Lexi what she did in her class. We talked about the songs they sang, the kids she played with, and the snack she ate. Then I asked her what Bible story they read. She said, "God. Is. Love. First John. Four. Eight!" Elian and I were both shocked that our 2 year old had memorized a Bible verse. He cut his eyes at me and said, "Look that up!" Sure enough, she was right. My mommy heart was filled with joy.