Focusing on the big stuff
3/23/2016
When I started writing this blog post, it was a reflection about the two kinds of time we live in – chronos and kairos – and the ways that we need to act with an awareness of both.
As I sat down to finalize what I’d written, though, news of the terror attacks in Brussels came across my computer screen. More than 30 lives lost, many more injured. Then, of course, the inevitable angry threats of reprisals and promises of more violence and more death to come.
And the attack in Brussels is only part of a dreadful litany of lives lost: Afghanistan, Yemen, Tunisia, Beirut, Ankara, Paris, Baghdad….
And we’re anticipating the celebration of an empty tomb and a risen Lord on Easter morning.
I’m not sure what to make of the juxtaposition of, on the one hand, a world where violence and vengeance still hold sway while we worship of a crucified and risen Messiah and, on the other hand, church legislation about which hymns should be removed from our songbooks. (Yes, seriously.)
To borrow from Rev. Mike Slaughter – it so often feels like we’re playing church. We major in the minor things. We strain out gnats and swallow camels. It can be amusing sometimes, but it can also be infuriating. Confronted by despairing headlines we get caught up in pettiness.
But I do believe that we are so much more than our worst instincts and our silliest fights.
We’re going to eliminate malaria deaths for Christ’s sake! I hope we have a big party to celebrate on that day, when we announce to the world “This is what we’ve helped to do, and we did it because we believe in Jesus.”
Our church is at its best when we work together for the gigantic, audacious, world-transforming work of the Gospel. We do such amazing work as the people of God, but we get so distracted by pettiness and culture wars.
To be sure, not every piece of legislation that we’ll discuss at General Conference is silly. In fact, my experience has been that most of the really ridiculous stuff gets weeded out by the legislative committees. (General Conference committees who do effective work? Miracles indeed!)
The serious questions that will come before us at General Conference will not be easily resolved. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth staying together just so we can fight again in four years without much forward progress.
When that question rises in my heart, I try to remember that God has big work for us to do: shaping people as disciples of Jesus Christ, saving lives, making a safe place in the church for all of God’s children. We can do this work better as a connected church, even as we disagree about issues both petty and profound.
I pray that we find a way forward as a church together. It won’t be easy or comfortable, but I believe that we are better able to bear witness to the powerful love of God in Christ in this world when we can do so together.
Clay Andrew
PS – If we do decide to spend our time fighting about which songs to remove from our songbooks, I have a list I’ll be happy to submit.
As I sat down to finalize what I’d written, though, news of the terror attacks in Brussels came across my computer screen. More than 30 lives lost, many more injured. Then, of course, the inevitable angry threats of reprisals and promises of more violence and more death to come.
And the attack in Brussels is only part of a dreadful litany of lives lost: Afghanistan, Yemen, Tunisia, Beirut, Ankara, Paris, Baghdad….
While this heart-breaking news is reported we’re making the Holy Week journey to the Upper Room, Caiaphas’ courtyard, Golgotha and a tomb.
I’m not sure what to make of the juxtaposition of, on the one hand, a world where violence and vengeance still hold sway while we worship of a crucified and risen Messiah and, on the other hand, church legislation about which hymns should be removed from our songbooks. (Yes, seriously.)
And we’re anticipating the celebration of an empty tomb and a risen Lord on Easter morning.
I’m not sure what to make of the juxtaposition of, on the one hand, a world where violence and vengeance still hold sway while we worship of a crucified and risen Messiah and, on the other hand, church legislation about which hymns should be removed from our songbooks. (Yes, seriously.)
To borrow from Rev. Mike Slaughter – it so often feels like we’re playing church. We major in the minor things. We strain out gnats and swallow camels. It can be amusing sometimes, but it can also be infuriating. Confronted by despairing headlines we get caught up in pettiness.
But I do believe that we are so much more than our worst instincts and our silliest fights.
We’re going to eliminate malaria deaths for Christ’s sake! I hope we have a big party to celebrate on that day, when we announce to the world “This is what we’ve helped to do, and we did it because we believe in Jesus.”
And when the party is over, but before the confetti has all been cleared away, I hope someone asks, “What’s next?” and I hope someone has a dream even more audacious than ending malaria. Eliminating deaths due to poverty, maybe? Supplying clean drinking water to every person on earth? Making sure there are no more child soldiers?
Our church is at its best when we work together for the gigantic, audacious, world-transforming work of the Gospel. We do such amazing work as the people of God, but we get so distracted by pettiness and culture wars.
Our church is at its best when we work together for the gigantic, audacious, world-transforming work of the Gospel. We do such amazing work as the people of God, but we get so distracted by pettiness and culture wars.
To be sure, not every piece of legislation that we’ll discuss at General Conference is silly. In fact, my experience has been that most of the really ridiculous stuff gets weeded out by the legislative committees. (General Conference committees who do effective work? Miracles indeed!)
The serious questions that will come before us at General Conference will not be easily resolved. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth staying together just so we can fight again in four years without much forward progress.
When that question rises in my heart, I try to remember that God has big work for us to do: shaping people as disciples of Jesus Christ, saving lives, making a safe place in the church for all of God’s children. We can do this work better as a connected church, even as we disagree about issues both petty and profound.
I pray that we find a way forward as a church together. It won’t be easy or comfortable, but I believe that we are better able to bear witness to the powerful love of God in Christ in this world when we can do so together.
Clay Andrew
PS – If we do decide to spend our time fighting about which songs to remove from our songbooks, I have a list I’ll be happy to submit.
Clay Andrew
Clay Andrew is delegate to the 2016 Western Jurisdictional Conference and will be attending General Conference as first reserve delegate. He is the Pastor at Hillsboro United Methodist Church in Hillsboro, Oregon and serves on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.