This is a follow-up to my last post about feeling alienated in the North American Church.
So I’ve been speaking with quite a few of you out there. Some have responded directly to the blog in the comments (always appreciated), while others have communicated with me face to face and online elsewhere. There seems to be a growing number of people out there, in the early-to-mid 20s, that seem to have a growing dissatisfaction with Church at large. I, in my limited wisdom and knowledge, do not know if this is transcendent amongst all twenty-somethings for all time, within the Church, or if this is a new(er) phenomenon. If it is something that happens to everyone, everyone over the age of 30 give us some sage wisdom; but if it is something beyond that, I think we all need to listen to everyone around us for some clues.
Before I write anything further, many of you will come forward and say that my education is what’s to blame for this, and to an extent, it is. I can’t unlearn the evils (re: realities) of literary and historical-cultural biblical criticism, nor can I ignore the same realities and implicaitons of what bodily resurrection and homousion really mean either. More importantly though, I’m bringing this up because my problems are being felt by people outside of my educational circles as well. So I’m going to write what I think are the most important things not to do in this time of disillusionment:
Don’t start a new church.
The Lord has enough buildings and institutions consecrated to him. Adding another with a new faith statement and a new, hip congregation will not make you feel better. It is better to work within the places we know and the places that have kept the Church for us to inherit. It is harder, to be sure, but for now, in North America, let’s start in the places we are.
Don’t stop going to church.
This is probably the worst idea of all. To cut yourself off from other believers is to tie your own spiritual noose. Read a book like Life Together, by WWII martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer to understand what I’m getting at on this one. We are made to be in communion with other believers. Don’t ever forget that. Even if everyone at your church is a moron, try to love them and look for their genuine love – if the spirit is in them, then you will see the love.
Don’t feel overly righteous about your own convictions.
Like I said at the top, we don’t even know if we are right about the problems going on. We could just need a slap to the side of the head and a suck it up to realize we are being whiny wimps. Humility is the number one thing to strive for in this time. (Trust me, this is hard – probably what I struggle with most, being so knowledgeable and wise and all.)
Don’t stop questioning.
We shouldn’t just shut up, however. If you see something that is wrong, pursue and learn and critique. Get some answers. Challenge the authority. You might even be able to effect some change.
Don’t stop listening.
Despite our own unease, our Church fathers and mothers still have a lot of good to teach us, so don’t close your ears and eyes to it all around you, while you wait to be vindicated. Listen to what people are saying, and maybe you’ll find you aren’t the only one after all.
Don’t stop loving.
Finally, I urge you to never, ever, stop loving your Christian brothers and sisters. We’re all saved and we’re all going to be with Jesus eventually. If you get into a big argument with someone, it’s only because both of you care about how God wants his church today. Keep loving others to keep God the focus of this transition.
I might be talking more about this later, but until then, remember these intermediary priniciples.
WK
This entry was written by , posted on January 5, 2009 at 1:54 am, filed under Christianity, Church and tagged Church, Disillusionment, Evangelicalism, North America. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
Ok I am going to throw out a legitimate opinion, for once, here.
I think you are right. I also think that this is common generationally. It is the energy of youth that tends to push the wisdom of age to new things and it is the wisdom of age that reigns in the energy of you to find the beauty of the old.
Its the extremes that are hurting the church. The college student that breaks from the traditional church in effort to build church “the way it is supposed to be” that cuts the body of believers.
And its the 50-something that ignores the future leadership of the church that leads to the death of a congregation.
Two simple examples (of which there are many) but both hurt the body of Christ and the work of the Kingdom. I think both cases are perpetuating the problem.
You are not alone my friend (but you already figured that out, hence your newest post, I just haven’t been on the internet since I left before Christmas so I am catching up).
Good suggestions. May I take the liberty to add something as well? Don’t just gather with people that agree with you. The Church ought to be made up of a bunch of people that disagree about things. If you’re just hanging around people that agree with everything you say and give you kudos then maybe you ought to expand your circle of friends.