And it’s not like the church hasn’t faced a crisis before—there have been several, in fact, in different times and different places. The narrative that “we’ve always been Christian” is not only not true; it obscures the reality that more than once, society has stopped listening, and that somehow God has gotten their attention again.
Which is the other thing: as Christians, we don’t believe God is remote, ignoring us until some theoretical ending of the story. We believe that God acts, in our lives, and in our histories. Sometimes we don’t see it, and truly sometimes we wish God would act decisively in such-and-such a situation. But that aspect of mystery—of not knowing exactly what God is doing or why—does not mean God is not doing anything.
So maybe the model isn’t wrong. Maybe we need to consider other factors. Like the general lack of trust in institutions right now, or the way our society likes to indulge in cynicism, a move that keeps pushing away the things that might be good, in case they fail us later. Maybe we need simply to be a non-anxious place of welcome, and keep doing the things that we know God asks of us: gather, worship, pray, study, give to the world. Maybe that’s our best witness.
After all, as I found in one of the articles I read this week, “'In the end, a market-driven religion gives rise to a market-driven approach to truth, and this development ultimately eviscerated conservative Christianity in the US and left it the possession of hypocrites and hucksters.’” We already know we have something good—we don’t have to sell it. We simply have to share it. And we also pray, knowing that God loves the church.
I’ll close with another quote from another article [both are from the most recent issue of Christian Century, if you’re curious]:
“Maybe the answer isn’t a new thing, but a new way, one that invites us to mine deep into our tradition and beyond to find the faithful way forward—what’s called Sankofa in West African religious practice.
“Maybe we’ll actually listen to Jesus and stop worrying, as worrying causes institutions to do careless things instead of faithful things.
“Maybe that’s what will guide us—faithfulness—and we’ll have to listen beyond what the corporate world has for us to actually be the church.
“Imagine that.”
I’ll see you in church—
Becky
Prayer
Holy God, your care for your people, for your church, has lasted literally millennia. When we get twisted into all kinds of anxiety on our behalf and yours, remind us of whose we are. We are a people who already know your gifts. We are a people to whom you constantly show love. We are redeemed, and we are beloved.
When we are inclined to assume that it’s all up to us, help us to remember who’s in charge, and who manages things better than we do, or even than we can. Help us to take a breath, knowing that you give us life, that you give us the church, that you gave us our community.
We in the church are so blessed to be part of a community of love, both yours and each other’s. Help us to share that love with the world, not out of anxiety, but out of warmth and hospitality. Teach us to take our next steps not in anxiety, but in love. Help us to trust in you, who loves the world better and more truly than any human being can. Amen.