Do You See What I See ?

Guest column by Harry F. Wood

I have observed it is challenging to be a contrarian without being cantankerous; to disagree on principles without becoming disagreeable. Often people’s views reflect more a resistance to change then a thoughtful disagreement. Because of that emotions can run high and thoughtful dialogue low. Quickly we can all become testy. This can be especially true when we are seeking to muddle our way through murky waters.

As Christians we are not only grateful but relieved when God clearly sets out scriptural mandates to guide us. Where there is a “thus saith the Lord” the discussion is over and the principle established. But where we must make the leap from Biblical inference to practical application we don’t all always land in the same place. Here the footing can be treacherous and the conflicts severe.

I find myself standing on one of those precarious cliffs! My own spirit compels me to buck the trend. There is this disquiet within that cannot be ignored and because of which I cannot remain silent. I find myself not so much armed with loaded ammunition to fire at a narrow target as much as being drawn to troublesome questions birthed out of basic principles of Christian living.

The Christian Church as I know it has been riding on one long pendulum swing. While my exposure has always been much broader my roots amidst it have been in the soil of what is commonly identified as the Holiness movement. In the early years it seemed to me the goal within this movement was to be spiritual isolationists; not only distantly removed from the “world” but sometimes just plain weird. For some the weirdness appeared to be embraced as a badge of true spirituality.

In the role of ministry leader I was quick to throw off this persuasion. I was quick to tear down barriers; to swing open the doors of the community of faith. We sought to let the gospel out and the sinner in. There was within my thinking an unspoken recognition that in order for sinners to become saints

We sought to let the gospel out and the sinner in.

a connection of grace must occur. Once grace connected from one heart to another transformation through Jesus Christ became possible. It appeared that if we lock grace up, closet it in the church it gradually became musty and tainted, reeking with pride and self-centeredness. Release it, and the wonder of regenerated lives emerged. What a joy it was to see grace set free through the church.

The open door policy in church ministry gradually created what I choose to call the tide affect. When the spiritual life of the church was elevated the tide of the church was high and the outward flow of the grace of God would pour out of the church doors. It would run in the streets of the community until it began to affect the hearts of some with divine transformation. The living water of the Spirit washed across people’s lives and its impact was evident.

Eventually I came to realize the tide moved both ways. For the tide not only moved outward from the church, but also back. The flow of the Spirit would diminish within the church and the rising tide of society would begin back filling into the church. The impact was gradually apparent; the debris of community

For the tide not only moved outward from the church, but also back.

dysfunction and spiritual chaos began to do its own transformation. The impact of the supernatural grace of God was eroded by the persistence of natural attrition. What was meant for good began to have an erosive influence. I do not think this is true in every place, nor happens out of necessity. But it does occur in far too many settings to be ignored.

The impact became visible in many ways. Biblical and historical features of divine transformation were replaced with human accommodation. Biblical authority was eroded and replaced with human judgment, marriage covenants dismissed with little consequence, sexual indiscretions and pornographic addiction became common practices, alternative lifestyles were first tolerated and gradually embraced, lifestyle practices once rejected were now championed.

I have listened to people assuring me that they “have prayed about it” and now they are convinced God has approved their abortion, a divorce or extra-marital relationship, their weakness for pornography, alternative lifestyle, practices of social activities and practices that they once rejected. Culture has stamped its insignia on their lives.

I have listened to people assuring me that they “have prayed about it” and now they are convinced God has approved their abortion, a divorce or extra-marital relationship, their weakness for pornography, alternative lifestyle, practices of social activities and practices that they once rejected.

Gradually we have entered an era once described by John R. W. Stott when he

wrote, “What was once the line of demarcation between the church and the world, and the world and the church, has become the line of integration. You can no longer distinguish where the world ends and the church begins, or vice versa.”

When does the “tipping point” come in the church where we need grace’s transformation rather than being an instrument of it ?

Some seeking to achieve cultural relevance and connection would be quick to applaud our new church status, to declare this a triumph. The place where we have finally moved from isolation to integration; from weird to fashionable! The holy huddle of the past has been swapped for the cultural embrace.

In many places you can feel right at home in the church with little alteration of your non-Christian ways.

There is no question the church is a more comfortable place for many non-believers today. The spirit of welcome, acceptance and life-style identification is inviting. The church now speaks the language, echoes the music, dresses the style and even constructs it buildings all with an outsider in view. In many places you can feel right at home in the church with little alteration of your non-Christian ways. The church in one generation has taken a quantum leap toward those outside its doors.

The question exists, when does the inrushing tide change the very character of the church; transformation can occur in both directions? While the church seeks

to remove barriers by adjusting to the way life is done outside its doors it must avoid letting those it is seeking to redeem from radically altering its ministry agenda. In some cases the guests have transformed the churches living space too make it feel like home to them. We have been so busy fighting “worship wars” or striving to “build” our congregations we have often turned our head from the character erosion.

…the church has become the ultimate group hug.

There is now a tremendous amount of pressure to transform the ministry of the church from convictional and confrontational to affirming and embracing; the church has become the ultimate group hug. Is it possible that the church is in the process of being submerged by the incoming tide of social debris? If that happens will the church lose its transformational impact within society? Are we afraid of saying “no” to an influx of persons we have spoiled by our catering ways?

Can we say no to lessening the authority of scripture; no to alternative lifestyles that the Bible clearly forbids; no to styles of ministry that minimizes teaching of truth and maximizes entertainment; no to lifestyle endorsements that are destructive?

It appears that there is a Biblical precedent for this challenge that may be facing us. While some dismiss the Old Testament I am reminded that these things were written to instruct us. The Old Testament is filled with examples of cultural identification gone awry. God often warned Israel about embracing to closely the culture about them – what was worshipped, creating syncretistic belief systems, compromising family connections, destructive practices. The New Testament extends the warning about even indulging our “rights” to the detriment of others.

we are getting better and better at making church comfortable for the unbeliever but having less and less of a transformational impact on our society

Israel spent so much of its time riding the pendulum one way then another; isolation – identification – decline -- revival; isolation – identification – decline – revival. The cycle is both historic and sometimes tragic.

While the mega-movement has given the church visibility and a great ego boost it has not provided a cultural spiritual renewal.

When does cultural identification go too far; is it possible for the hosting body of the church to lose it own identity in trying to accommodate its guests. Is there a tipping point? If I were God that answer would be easy, but obviously I am not.

While the church celebrates it mega-movement on the one hand we are witnessing the decline and elimination of vast mini-mart ministries on the other. While the mega-movement has given the church visibility and a great ego boost it has not provided a cultural spiritual renewal. Our culture is sliding quickly down a slippery slope.

This is not a small vs. large tension; that is not the issue that concerns me. Rather, it is that we are getting better and better at making church comfortable for the unbeliever but having less and less of a transformational impact on our society. Are we creating a whole new generation of people with enough religious sophistication to bridge the world/church gap but not enough of Christ to experience his holy transformation? According to George Barna’s research, our people are not being renewed by the transforming of their minds.

While the church has pulled society closer in a holy embrace society has pushed us further and further away until we have become marginalized in the moral and spiritual conversations. I believe it is time for us to revisit the foundational principles of what it truly means for the church to be the church in a pagan culture. Cultural identification presumes compatibility. As the people of God do we continue an unholy dance in partnership with a spiritually decadent culture about us; or, do we strive for a stark character contrast that provides a revolutionary, true alternative life to be found in Jesus Christ?

So what do you think?

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By Harry F. Wood

February 6, 2007

Harry Wood is District Superintendent

of the Penn-jersey District

of The Wesleyan church