I don't really have time to write right now, but today was an exciting day at Wheaton Bible. Pastor Bugh did an awesome job at explaining the new mission statement of Wheaton Bible, but even more, he talked about what the Gospel looks like in action. If you're reading this, I recommend getting the Podcast from today (August 26) and listening. He also called people out on our inaction and constant pursuit of comfort that's been a problem in the church for a really long time.
One of my favorite things he said (which was actually something Chris Mitchell - Director of the Wade Center at Wheaton - said in a conversation with Pastor Bugh) was something along the lines of "As Christians, we seem to confuse the American Dream with God's plans and desires for our lives." They're not the same thing. In fact they're very different. It's just crazy, because I pasted a very similar quote to my Facebook wall last night. I guess God does "crazy" things like that.
The reason I titled this "Imagine a Church" was because "Imagine" is the sermon series, but also because part of the drama during the service, which takes place in the future, included a testimony of a man who was impacted by the work that the church had done for his school. Talking about this work that would not have been accomplished without the help of WBC, he said "Imagine a church doing that." The statement wasn't meant to be ironic, but it really was, because the question should be "Imagine a Church not doing that." We don't really have to imagine it, because our reality is a church that usually is doing nothing, since so many of us that make up the Church (myself included) sit back and settle for boredom and comfort instead of doing what Jesus has clearly called us to do.
I could probably go on for a really long time, but that's all for now. I have to go. But I was really happy to be a part of Wheaton Bible today and blessed to hear Pastor Bugh's sermon. Again, I recommend giving it a listen.
I'm frustrated.
At the same time I'm excited.
There are a lot of reasons for both, but my reason for writing today is my frustration with the cynicism of some of my friends, my generation and even myself from time to time. And I'm particularly singling out Christians here.
I don't know what it is about college-aged people, but for some reason, we enjoy being extremely cynical. I know that cynicism has regularly been a part of the college experience, but it seems particularly intense these days, perhaps because of the culture shift that is currently going on in this country. College students and twenty-somethings love to complain about everything that we possibly can, from our parents or friends, to our churches.
Actually, I think I do understand why this cynicism comes so easily. We leave our parents' homes and church youth groups, go off to our new "unsheltered" college life (that most of our parents or grandparents pay for), get a little bit of higher education under our belts and suddenly we feel like we're in a position to criticize anything and everything that we find fault with. In almost every case, the first thing that comes into the cross hairs is the church that we grew up in. Oftentimes, we begin to criticize Godly leaders that we know very little about, yet who served us for most of our childhood. Let me point out that not all of the criticism is undue and if problems do exist, then they certainly should not be glossed over, but our usual criticism is not constructive in any way. Another way of saying it is that we love to criticize and tear down, but we will not lift a finger to build up or make changes to the problems that exist. What's worse is that instead of doing something about it, we often try to bring others in line with our jaded (yet actionless) point of view.
Here's an elementary, yet a clear example of what's wrong. If your leg was bleeding, your brain would tell your hands that they probably should do something about it, like wash out the cut and take care of it until it was restored to the way it's supposed to be. That's how my body works, which why it's so odd to me that - with all that we young people hear and talk about the Body of Christ (the Church) - when we see a problem or an issue with the church, we'd rather either sleep in on Sunday or switch to a different church that we're less familiar with and whose problems we're less familiar with. It's almost like leaving your wife, because you know her really well and you know all of her flaws really well and the new girl at your office is really fun and pretty. You might eventually learn that she too has some flaws and issues of her own.
On top of being cynical, a lot of us are incredibly self-absorbed and lazy. A lot of humans are this way, but as followers of Christ, I'm ashamed at how focused on ourselves a lot of people my age (myself included) can be from time to time. Oftentimes, we’re “too busy” to serve or the problem is “too big.” So, instead of identifying a problem in the church and humbly seeking to help correct the issue, we sit back and throw stones, because we're passive and not at all interested in work that's going to take long, be hard, and not have very much earthly reward. We want to make really BIG differences, as quickly as possible (and if we’re honest, we wouldn’t mind a little recognition for our “sacrifice”). While this does seem logical, we need to remember what Jesus did for us and realize that instead of complaining and doing nothing (like most people almost always do), we should be doing something to help fix issues within the church, even if our action comes with no recognition.
In addition, instead of shopping for the church that “meets our needs” – when we’re really just looking for a church that simply isn’t the old one – maybe we should stick it out and try to help sort out the issues that we have with our church body. While it seems cliché, too many young people are consumers, fundamentally misunderstanding what it means to be an active part of a church body. As a result, as soon as we have a problem with our current church body, it’s not long before we move on, because we have no connection with or love for our church body. Ultimately, when we do this, we prove that we’re more committed to ourselves than we are to Christ and the bride that he gave himself for.
The thing is, churches are led by and made up of people who have the same problem that we young people have… sin. As a result, these people have flaws and even make some mistakes from time to time. But as long as these leaders are preaching the Gospel and seeking to live like Jesus, we should afford them a little grace when we come across stylistic differences or even occasional mistakes that are made. If you don’t like the way the pastor speaks, the music, or the way the room is decorated, etc., you either need to constructively do something about it, or suck it up. Don’t complain. Instead, humbly act.
No matter where you go to church, you’re never going to agree completely with everyone who’s a part of that particular church body, and you probably won’t agree with every aspect of how a service is organized. However, as long as they’re preaching that Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6), then you might need to put your actionless cynicism to rest.
Like I said at the beginning, I am excited. For one, I'm excited because it's not us who builds the church, but Jesus who builds the church, his bride. And I'm excited because Jesus is in control now and he will always be in control and each day I’m learning this more and more. I'm also excited that the Gospel transforms sinful, cynical, self-absorbed, lazy people into hopeful, Christ-absorbed, active people who want to see his kingdom built up. I’ve seen God work in me (though there is so very much more to do), and I really want to see him continue transform the church and bring glory to himself.
See, it’s all about Jesus. We say it and we sing it a lot, but some of us cynical young people need to stop sitting around and complaining, and instead live like we believe it really is about him. We can't earn our way to the Father, but a little bit of service might show that we appreciate all that he has done for us. Your old church might be a good place to start.
