As I said in the last post, Dan Kimball's book, They Like Jesus but Not the Church has triggered a ton of thoughts in my head. This is part one of a set of posts in response.
The first grand perception that Dan Kimball says non believers have about the church today is that it is an organized religion with a political agenda.
I have to admit, I am a pastor (albeit a young one) and many times I find even myself inadvertently confusing what Christ meant by the word Church. It isn't that I don't know the answer or that I have never understood what he meant, but the church has helped to create aself-defeating lie of perception that the buildings, the organizations, the campuses and the styles are the church. As a result, we have exchanged method for the mission, advertising our "excellent, unique" brand of corporate successes as the real main event. Of course, I am generalizing, but to be honest, the Church has become quite general.
Because of this simple (yet so many times unrealized) statement we have made to an unbelieving world, many people have seen the church as nothing more than an organization looking to increase its numbers and political power. This perception has resulted in three prevailing reasons that the world sees the church as an organized religion (as stated by Dan in his book):
- I can relate to God without all of the unnatural structure the organized church would impose on me
- The church is about hierarchy, power, and control with a political agenda, and
- The church is made of leaders who function like CEOs and desire power and control
I recount these three statements from Dan's book because I truly feel they are accurate. I would even go as far to state that they are not just perceptions outside of the church today, but inside it as well. How many churches do you know or know of that are engaged in some sort of power struggle? How many churches operate under some sort of dictatorship? How many structures that we have in our churches have become "sacred cows" not because of their biblical dependency, but because of their loyal followers who are happy as long as things don't change? Even people inside the church today see these things. And if we can see these things, how many people on the outside take notice? My guess is that many do--only we wouldn't hear about it because they don't set foot in our churches.
As for a political agenda, it doesn't take a whole lot of investigation to see where this idea comes from. In fact, just this week I came across one of these "Christian voter guides" in the blogosphere. *grunt* Those things irk me. I'll tell you why. Personally, I don't like to publicize my political leanings, however, for the sake of background, I'll tell you I'm a fiscal and social conservative. There was a time when I was a rabid-republican, however, I have come to realize that, for the most part, no party has it right. I do like to know where candidates stand on issues. Only problem is, these 'guides' are no more than a right-wing attempt to focus on issues that have been classified as "Christian" topics, only to leave out topics that Christ Himself would consider extremely important. This latest guide I found didn't even include any of the Democratic candidates at all--as far as this group was concerned, it wasn't even worth a read. With a Presidential election right around the corner, we'll soon get the obligatory "if you're a Christian, you'll vote for (insert candidate here)." You may even hear the all-powerful "If Jesus were here today, He would cast his ballot in favor of (insert candidate here)."Please make no mistake--I do believe the world delights in making us look like a political puppet. The news channels will cover it, the papers will put it on the front page, the magazines will make it a feature, and the bloggers will eat it up. And to be honest, wouldn't you? The problem is, when one prominent voice in the church says something, to someone outside of the establishment, the entire Church says something. Yes, you and I become rabid republicans or democrats, throwing the name of Christ around for political gain--purely because some ambitious, greedy, manipulative candidate (with the ok of some pastor somewhere, I might add) gets up in a pulpit and claims each pew-sitter as his (or her) own. Guilty by association.
A little history lesson: back in 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote this letter to the Danbury Baptist Association:
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
Translation: the government will leave you alone and will not inject its own preferences on your worship. You can worship God without fear of politicians coming in and trying to manipulate you or influence your freedoms as Americans.
Fast forward to today. We have spent years trying to, in our own way, reverse the great blessing of that declaration 105 years ago. We bring in politicians to garner support. Whole denominations endorse candidates. Church leaders call for a uniform vote from their churchgoers. As we break down the barriers of Church & State, we are not gaining a victory. We are actually taking away the very thing that provides us with the great freedom we have to worship--and we're keeping many, many people away from experiencing that freedom, because they believe we are on a mission... and that it is more about us than it is about Jesus.As I sit here right now, I am hearing excerpts from a CNN documentary series beginning tonight called "God's Warriors." On Thursday night, the focus will be on the church and how it is attempting to influence the politics of our nation. I don't normally say this about such shows, but if you get a chance, watch it. It starts at 9. In fact, I'd challenge you to watch it with someone who does not attend church--then ask them what they thought. You may be surprised to hear what they say. Sure, the media capitalizes on the opportunity to put down the followers of Jesus, but we sure do make it easy for them.
The question remains: do we ever address political issues in our gatherings? I say absolutely! I don't think we should live in fear of any topic. However, it should not be the focus of a month long series, an isogetical sermon, or a tirade about the evildoers who hold different political beliefs than you do.
Just this past weekend I had a conversation with someone who had just attended a church service for the first time in a long time. This young lady was SO excited to go that morning. I asked her how church was, and she told me she was extremely disappointed. When I asked why, she proceeded to tell me that the entire message dealt with a political hot topic that seemed like a soap box rather than an authentic look at the living Word of God. Now, this is just one person's interpretation of what happened, but I'm sure that it wasn't completely isolated.When we run into people on the street... when we (sometimes amazingly) see them in the seats at service... when we have an opportunity to engage someone about the truths of Scripture...
Do we show them Jesus?
Do we have the same agenda as our Father in Heaven?
or are we trying to win them to our organization? our political party line? our candidate?
People have this inherent ability to see right through to our motivations. They may not be able to put their finger on it, but sometimes things just "don't seem right."
I'm praying right now that I remember what the church is--what the church was meant to do... and that my agenda is to share nothing more than "Christ and Him crucified"... even if they sit on the opposite side of the aisle.
