Why are we here? That's a huge, open-ended question that might prompt all sorts of philosophical responses, but basically I just want to scratch the surface of the place of Christians and the church within our society because when I consider some of the things I read and see I think we may have confused our role.
There was a time when the church had a dominant role in society, this resulted in what we term 'Christendom', a culture and society predominantly influenced by the church and Christian values. However, Western nations in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia etc. that were a part of Christendom are now mostly secular societies, post-modern, post-Christian, holding and exploring values and lifestyles that are not generally seen as part of historic Christian orthodoxy. I am completely aware that the Christian faith is both historic and constantly reforming, and consider myself less conservative (certainly not fundamentalist) and more what Roger Olsen terms 'post-conservative' in my theology and practice of my faith. It is beyond question that the way our culture is evolving is certainly away from the type of society that was evident under Christendom.
Given that reality I think that much of the 'noise' coming from churches, pastors and the Christian Right has to do with the loss of influence and power that they are experiencing. Statistics and observation show that in the last thirty years the church has lost the voice we once had, and to many - most? - we are now seen to be irrelevant, anachronistic and intolerant. I don't think that ultimately we can reduce 'relevancy' to being 'cool,' and having the latest technology, hippest music, brightest lights or most success oriented message. Such trappings aren't bad, but they are the mist that daylight burns away. To be relevant, to have a voice in our post-modern secular world means to present a different way of living, a different set of values and different way of being human. And to do so with love, grace, mercy and justice. Kind of like Jesus did....
Whether you are English, Australian, American, Canadian, Iranian, French, South African or whatever, I'm sorry (not really) to inform you that God doesn't have a favoured-nation clause in his dealings with the world. Jesus came to expand the people of God from one nation and ethnicity to all nations and ethnicities. Whatever the laws, values or practices of our various governments, they don't change the way in which Jesus responds to his church. When we misquote, or rather misapply, Prov. 14:34, 'Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,' we miss the point that in this case 'righteousness' isn't a return to pre-1950s values but is better understood in terms of justice. God is reminding his people Israel to act justly and exhibit care and concern towards the marginalised and needy. God isn't interested in making Australia great if it listens to the church more, he is interested in his people shining brightly in a sin ravaged world to witness to the fact that through Jesus it's possible to be different, live different, and experience in part now what will one day be fully known when Christ returns.
For example, I am stunned when pastors, theologians, bible scholars and Christian commentators weigh in on the subject of global warming. I read and hear how this is a lie and Christians shouldn't believe it. Is it? I don't know, I'm not a scientist. I guess it depends on which scientists you listen to, but ultimately it isn't something that scientific illiterates like me should pretend to understand or expound on. There is no doubt that our world is a mess and that as followers of the one who created it all we should be seeking to work for the care of our planet and the people who inhabit it. No wonder Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that the world is groaning! If, as believers in Jesus, we subscribe to an escapist theology where God will rescue his people from this horrible world and then blow it up and start over, then the final chapters of Revelation make no sense, and in losing the devil wins and in winning God actually loses. (For more I'd encourage anyone to read Surprised by Hope by N T Wright for a thoughtful, scholarly and balanced examination of these topics) Rather our theology and praxis should care for a world that God loved enough to send his Son to redeem, a world he will renew and refresh, full of people he seeks to redeem and liberate.
This isn't to subscribe to a triumphalist theology that expects the world to be Christianised in readiness for the Second Coming (latter day post-millennialism). Such a theology doesn't seem to adequately represent the ongoing struggle of the kingdom of God against that of the violence, injustice and greed that characterises our world and requires a drastic re-defining of how Jesus depicts the church and the message of the book of Revelation.
In all of the complexities we face in the 21st century the church is to be seen as representing a different way. The first century was full of people who worshiped various idols; practiced slavery; child abuse in all forms; alternative sexual lifestyles of all varieties; injustice; economic, gender, ethnic and class bias and discrimination; was ravaged by war and hate and violence and crime; in fact, much of what is represented on our televisions, newspapers and magazines - not to mention music videos!! Yet Jesus and Paul and the other authors of the New Testament didn't seek to reform their culture, they formed the church, the ekklesia, the called out ones to image this new kingdom the Messiah had inaugurated and to loving and graciously be the presence of God to their world. A kingdom marked by love, justice, mercy, generosity, equality and welcome.
In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul reminds that seriously messed up church that he hasn't been called to judge those who are outside of the church, he is encouraging the Corinthian believers to image a different way, the way of Jesus. Perhaps if the church spent less time telling other people to live in a way that is consistent with Biblical values, and did so faithfully ourselves, being known by the way we love and care more than the way we hate and judge, then maybe we would be more relevant, have more of a voice, and subversively turn our world upside down in the way the early believers did.
I think that's why we're here.
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul makes an incredible statement, he says, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.' (1 Cor. 15:17-19) The reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is of utmost importance to those who are followers of Jesus. It is the basis of our faith, our hope, and the life that we live.
Often we misrepresent, or, rather, mis-emphasise the resurrection in one of two ways. We either see resurrection as the promise of the future, the guarantee that one day we will experience what Jesus did, that death isn't the end of the story, that we will participate in what Tom Wright brilliantly calls, 'life after life-after-death.' This isn't a misrepresentation of resurrection, or the hope that Jesus' resurrection promises. Indeed Paul infers as much in the above chapter, but it isn't all or even the central point of the meaning of resurrection.
The other great vision of resurrection presented, particularly in the faith tradition I am a part of, is the power of the resurrection. This sees in the resurrection the power of God that is now at work in his people and available to his people. It emphasises the miraculous, interventionist activity of God and seeks to make them available in some way to believers as we negotiate this life. Again, I believe in a God who miraculously engages with his people and enables and empowers us to be effective ambassadors of his kingdom. But in many ways this falls short of recognising the life and world shattering reality represented by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus rose from the dead on that triumphant Sunday morning two thousand years ago (give or take a few) he was visibly evidencing and confirming the fact that the Kingdom of God had indeed come. The age of exile was over, the Age of Messiah was here, and God was reconciled to his people through his obedient servant, his Son, Jesus.
Christian hope is anchored in the present reality of the 'now-and-not-yet' kingdom of God. Proverbs 13:12 reminds us, 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.' The hope of the forgiveness, peace, reconciliation, justice and healing of the fully unveiled and consummated kingdom of God through his Christ is fulfilled in part - bringing life - through the now present experience of that kingdom. The eschatological future is brought into the present because Jesus rose from the dead. The price was paid, the battle was won, redemption is here, and the resurrection is the proof.
Paul's point isn't that hope is future - although it is. His point wasn't that hope is for now - although it is. Paul is dramatically challenging his readers that the presence of God's future reality is seen through his people as they live in the present truth of the kind of world and way of being human that was promised and actualised through the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God.
Jesus lived in a way that displayed what that life looks like, and in the Acts and letters of the New Testament each of the authors is reminding and correcting his readers to remember that their old way of living, the old age, died on the cross with Jesus and now this new and wonderful way of being and living and relating is possible because Jesus' resurrection validates his assertion that the kingdom of God is here and now.
Sounds great, so what? So we have been liberated from the slavery of sin and empowered to live in a way that demonstrates that it is true. You, me, all those who follow Christ and are part of this called out faith community can individually and corporately reject the way our world defines being human and living life and redefine it around Jesus. We can do it because the resurrection declares the kingdom age has begun and the Spirit has been given to help us and incrementally transform us into the image of the one who was God in the flesh. We might be human, but we are forgiven, redeemed, and Spirit filled humans, charged with the mission of expressing the love, grace and justice of God in our world.
The resurrection is my hope and confidence not only that there is something more beyond this life, but that what I do in this life matters. As Paul finishes 1 Cor. 15, 'Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.'
When I was watching television a couple of nights ago a preview for a show (one I don't watch) came on where one woman proudly told her friend the sunglasses she was wearing cost $25,000 (if you know the show, about housewives from a particular part of the US please note I don't watch it, only the previews). It seemed to me a lot of money for a pair of sunglasses, not only that someone would pay that much for them, but also that a retailer and presumably the manufacturer would deem them worth so much.
It's not just sunglasses though is it? On Top Gear (a show I do watch and love) the presenters road test super cars that can cost in excess of a million dollars; or contemporary fashion that values clothes, shoes and accessories in the tens of thousands; or hotel rooms that cost thousands per night; or food or wine or furniture or whatever..... There are a lot of things out there that cost a lot of money.
Jesus cared for the poor; he cares for the seven children every second that die of starvation; he cared enough to die for them and institute a community of people who were to be careless of their own prosperity and generously care for those who cannot care for themselves. Jesus called a group of people, gave them his Spirit, and commissioned them to represent him and his kingdom in this world until the day he returns to finally make all things right.
We, the church, may not wear $25,000 sunnies, but what do we do with the finances we are entrusted with by our Lord? I hear a lot of preaching about how God will make you rich (we use the term 'prosperous' because it doesn't sound so ungodly), and how this prosperity is so you can generously give to God (i.e. the church or ministry preaching to you) and then 'live the dream' (which is to fullfil our Western consumerist dream of 'the one who dies with the most stuff wins') Right now I sound harsh and judgmental, and maybe I am a bit, but I'm really calling for us, the church, to consider the example and mandate given to us by our Lord and re-orient our financial management around the people and causes that were important to Jesus.
I am not opposed to money, or to Christians having and making money. An impoverished community of faith doesn't do anyone any good and becomes part of the problem rather than the answer. I believe strongly in being able to meet the needs of your family friends, an attitude that was close to Paul's heart (see 1 Tim. 5:8) I really believe that Christians should work hard to be able to meet the needs of their family and then have enough left over to generously share with others.
As churches and pastors we have to make sure we are sending the right message. I hear often about 'a spirit of excellence' which means making sure that we give God the best. This is generally reflected in making sure he has the best possible PA system in the church, the best big screens and lights, the best seating and decor, the best 'green room' (dear God, where did that come from? Oh yeah, Hollywood....), and an attractive enough building so that people will see that God makes Christians rich and successful and want to join us.
I don't think God cares about any of that.
Market as we may, spin as we might, promote as we will, the fact remains that the cashed-up glammed-up Western church is becoming irrelevant in our culture. The sound and lights and seats and events that we enjoy have less to do with God and more to do with a feeling of accomplishment and achievement for ourselves. God doesn't need any of that, he can and has extended his kingdom and cared for his lost children without any of the above - and he did a good job of it.
I don't pastor a big church, we don't have lots of money or our own building, or any of the accessories that come with being 'successful.' Maybe it's because I'm not a good leader, I don't have the capacity to do more than I'm doing, or God knows that if I had all those things (like I used to really want to have) it would actually damage me and my congregation because of my pride and arrogance. Maybe, probably, it's a combination of all these things. I don't want to criticise the church of Jesus Christ, I love it, I just have a sneaking suspicion that many of the things we spend our money on are actually our version of $25,000 sunnies.
James is a disturbing book. It reminds us of God's attitude to money and the way we use it. James writes, 'Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit widows and orphans in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.' (Jas. 1:27) Caring for the needy, not the best stuff money can buy, rejecting the values of our culture, is the best way to display the presence and love of God through our communal lives. And those times we create special clubs for the people who give the most to the church, James reminds us that giving preferential treatment to the rich over the poor is not the way of Christ (Jas. 2:1-9 - wouldn't it be great if James just shut up?)
I think we need to give more thought to what we do with the resources we are given. Perhaps we don't need the newest technology or most spectacular event or most impressive buildings. Neither do we need to be among the world's poor and starving. Perhaps what is needed is to give life to this kingdom of love and grace by reaching out generously with the finances we have and seek to meet the needs of the poor and hurting in our world. Thank God for all we do, but how much more is there to do and how many more to care for?
My concern isn't what we have but what we do with what we have. How much of what we do is really for our own benefit. We might pretend that it is all for God, but in our hearts we know the truth. There is a world in a world of hurt, and the ones who have been commissioned to witness to the fact that there is a God who cares and has acted in the person of Jesus are busy becoming prosperous and successful.
I wonder if we are wearing our $25,000 sunnies, and if they are dimming the light of Christ to us and through us. The early church went bananas without the benefit of all that we have, maybe it's time for us to do the same.
