State of the Church: Down but not Out

4 November 2018

2 Corinthians 10:1-6; Revelation 1:1-3, 3:7-13

Yet another United Methodist congregation has petitioned its Annual Conference to separate and become independent.  Christ United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach SC, one of the largest of the SC UM churches, reasoned that with all the give and take of this constant and nauseating battle which can never be won, they do not want to feel compelled to choose between being perceived as condemning persons or condoning behavior. 

Like several other UM congregations choosing this course of action – some successfully, some not so much – Christ UM expressed their desire to pursue what they believe they are charged to pursue; making disciples who are equipped to make disciples.  These congregations have been convinced that staying connected leaves them with no option but to choose “sides”.

Many Arkansas United Methodists also believe we are being forced into a false choice, being made to feel we must take sides before we can get down to doing the business of the Church; seeing faithfully to the Great Commission to “make disciples” as commanded by our Shepherd before His Ascension. 

This seemingly never-ending battle makes me think of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address in which he described the state of a broken and hopelessly divided nation as “both [sides] reading the same Bible and both [sides] praying to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other … the prayers of both could not be answered.  That of neither has been answered fully.  The Almighty has His own purposes”.

Whatever we may think about this mass distraction that has already decimated other denominations – and countless souls! – and has put the integrity of the Church at risk, we do know the Almighty’s purpose in the existence of the Holy Church: to share the Gospel of The Lord and to make disciples, equipping those disciples to make disciples themselves, and looking after one another in mutual accountability.  Before we can seriously consider this Divine Purpose, however, we must know this: only a disciple can make disciples. 

Had there been any less to consider, Jesus would have certainly made this known.  Had our Lord’s commission been expressed as “get saved and go to church when you can”, we could say we have fulfilled our calling and would not have to face this constant scourge upon the Church; the whole Church, not only United Methodist.  And that’s what it is, just as President Lincoln stated about the nature of the Civil War: a scourge, the war itself as a means of punishment intended to adversely impact both “sides”. 

“A house divided against itself cannot stand”, our Lord has taught us.  By this we must surely know if we are being forced to choose “sides” among ourselves, it can surely be said this scourge is perhaps the greatest temptation and test – and judgment - we have faced.  How we deal with it will determine whether we can move beyond it and become once more what we have been called to be – or whether we will be bogged down in this world, fighting this world’s battles on this world’s terms, and choosing sides among the brethren.

It is reasonable to believe the Church in Philadelphia faced similar challenges and temptations, but it also seems apparent that whatever those challenges were, they found a way to overcome, rise above their own strength, and lean into The Lord and His Promise where the Real Strength is found.  “Because you have kept My word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (Rev 3:10).

If we were to embrace The Lord’s assurance to them in our own time, perhaps we can see they resisted the idea of making what can only be described as a false choice but, instead, simply stood with The Lord in His Word and remained true to their calling as a Body.  And because they seem to have resisted the temptation to make worldly choices but stood with The Lord, they will not have to be tested again.  They had shown what they are made of.

They have been sealed in their faith not because they said a magic prayer or were simply baptized.  They were sealed in their faith because they knew, as Paul advised the Corinthians, that though “we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have Divine Power to destroy strongholds … destroying every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor 10:3-5).

Their test was done.  They were deemed worthy.  Our test is not quite done, however.  Notice The Lord encourages them to “hold fast to what you have so no one may seize your crown” (vs 11).  This is every indication about how easily faith can be challenged and loyalties tested; for “the crown” is at stake … and is still at risk if we do not “hold fast” with what “little power” may remain. 

Yet The Lord has assured the loyal Church that even if we may believe we have “little power” and are at risk of being overrun, He is standing with The Faithful Church to the point that there will come a time when our “enemies” – in whatever form they may take – will one day come to know their failures.  They will come to know that just as they believed they were gaining strength and momentum for their “cause” – whatever “cause” that may be – they misjudged the extent of their strength.  They may have convinced themselves their cause was right, but they will one day know their cause was their own and not The Lord’s.

Teaching The Word and making disciples of Christ – these are the tasks of The Holy Church.  Anything less than this renders the Church little more than a community clubhouse to be used and abused – and then abandoned once it is used up.  When this is allowed to take place as we fall victim to this false narrative and become active participants, The Crown of Glory will fade.

The Faithful Church is never at risk when its sole focus and purpose is found in following our Lord in His Word.  And though we may seem to be losing ground when we refuse to “fight”, the Greater Truth is that Fight has become mighty in Christ – when we let Him take the lead.  The Faithful Church – by the world’s standards and measures – may only appear to be on the losing end of the battle and may even appear to be down for the count.  Yet the Crown remains because faith is the measure of strength found only in The Lord.

We must not fall for the lies.  We do not have to choose “sides”, but we must always stand with and follow Christ as The Eternal Word, the “same yesterday, today, and forever”.  Amen.