I have been doing some reflecting over the last few days as we have been enjoying some time off. During the last year I have been exposed to various issues and I have seen more of the local and national churches struggle with lack of connection to the communities and culture in which they find themselves. If I were at this stage to offer a broad generalisation at what I see around me, I would say I see a tale of two errors, both of which have the net result of denying God's transforming power.
The first error I see is that folk look around them and they see all the evidence of good and bad. They see it on the news, they see it in their community and if really honest they see it in their homes too. Yet in the seeing they do not seem to take the next logical step which would be to focus on the good and weed out the bad. Instead they accept what they see as the 'way of things' and develop various strategies for coping with the highs and lows of life. I am not referring to a lack of action which is based on a lack of choice, or a lack of knowledge, I am simply referring to that side of humanity which readily shrugs its shoulders and just gets on with things. The gospel is good news to people in these circumstances once, and only when, they see that there may be an alternative way forward. Until that time any ministry into these circumstances tends to be a listening exercise, and often a lesson in listening to futility. Now listening is an absolutely key starting point in any 'caring' circumstance but I see too much emphasis on listening. Too often the listener fails to bring anything of Gods power and love to these circumstances. Oh, they may claim to bring love in Gods name but are they really? I see it as more like a doctor coming along, drinking tea and eating cake whilst the patient perishes for lack of diagnosis and treatment. I use the word perish deliberately because it is a word the gospel often uses but we seem to have forgotten it.
The second error I see is similar but in many respects sadder than the first. It is an error that many Christians or church going folk make in that they too recognise the work of good and bad in their lives, and the lives of the communities around them. They know that the bad things are driven by a power called sin and they know that Jesus Christ can and does forgive sin when asked. Yet their lives continue much as the others around them, harassed by various issues that they, like the first group, accept as the 'way of things'. They too develop various strategies for coping. They know that sin works in their lives but believe that is the way of it until we get to heaven. What is more, since sin is at work in their lives they believe they have no place to comment on the lives of others, or suggest that we should all be weeding out the bad. This group have had the visit by the doctor, who in turn has made a diagnosis and offered treatment. The patient however has become resigned to the diagnosis, accepts it and gets along with life, but refuses the treatment, because it 'probably won't work anyway'.
I see this as the work of all in ministry today, to make contact effectively with these two groups and teach them the truth, because Jesus said that the truth will set us free. Set us free for what? Well for lots of things but most certainly free to see his transforming power at work in our lives and the lives of those around us.
