I Grieve
Over the City, the World, and…the Church
Matthew 9:36;
Romans 1:18-32
by Jeff Woolum
July 21, 2015
I find myself
grieving over many things over the last few weeks. This blog post is not to
once again dredge up the Supreme Court decision; although it brought much grief.
It is not a slam against government; although it seems that America has lost
its way. This is not a slam against those who do or do not like the Confederate
flag; although it is part of our nation’s heritage. This blog is not about
issues of race or gender. It is about Christianity and our fundamental
understanding of who we are! It is about whether we grieve over ‘sin’ or have
become callous to it. Do we really want to exchange Biblical definitions of
right and wrong for what pleases the masses…or sometimes just the ‘squeaky
wheels?’
I am grieved!
I have been
thinking a lot about the mind and heart of Jesus as he was going through all
the cities and villages; teaching and healing the people that came His way. I
think that Matthew 9:36 sums up what I believe all Churches and all Christians
should be seeing and feeling:
“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for
them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a
shepherd.”
In Romans 1:18-32,
Paul gives us a very solemn picture of what happens when we ‘suppress the truth
by unrighteousness.’ I very strongly believe that this country was built upon a
foundation of Biblical principles. I have also heard the majority of the
arguments to the contrary. But let me list some quotes from those men:
"The highest glory of the American
Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of
civil government with the principles of Christianity."
"The Declaration of Independence
laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of
Christianity."
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral
and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any
other." John Adams, Second President of the
United States
"The Declaration of Independence
cast off all the shackles of this dependency. The United States of America were
no longer Colonies. They were an independent nation of Christians."
"[T]here was no anarchy. From the
day of the Declaration, the people of the North American union, and of its
constituent States, were associated bodies of civilized men and Christians in a
state of nature, but not of anarchy. They were bound by the laws of God, and by
the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledged as the rules of
their conduct." John Quincy Adams, Sixth President of
the U. S.
"It is when people forget God that
tyrants forge their chains." Patrick Henry
"The practice of morality being
necessary for the wellbeing of society, He [God] has taken care to impress its
precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the
subtleties of our brain. We all agree in the obligation of the moral principles
of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His
discourses." Thomas Jefferson, Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Third
President of the U. S.
Again, I
do not want this to be about politics. I believe that one of the problems that
we struggle with today is the melding of Christianity with Nationalism. We are
following in the footsteps of OT Israel by confusing our American citizenship
with our Christian identity. I just want to make the point about how far we
have walked away from the foundational truth, the Truth of God. And Paul tells
us in Romans 1:18 that suppressing the truth of God will bring His wrath.
But
Government is not the only one at fault. Over the last many years,
denominations and Church groups have ‘suppressed the truth’ in unrighteousness
in order to appease the masses or the ‘squeaky wheels.’ I just read yesterday,
July 20, 2015, where three mainstream denominations have embraced same-sex
marriage as being acceptable with two other denominations being divided on the
issue. Why is this even being discussed in the Church? When did the Word of God
become only one of the sources of truth for the Church?
But, you
may say, I am still standing strong in my faith and my adherence to the Word of
God. Really? What do you watch on TV? As I look at the lineup of primetime TV,
it is almost impossible to find a television program that does not show in a
positive way, one of the following:
-
Same-sex marriage or same-sex romantic
relationships
-
Cohabitation
-
Drunkenness
-
Promiscuity
-
Profanity and off color words and
phrases that were never part of a decent vocabulary
-
Regular display of nudity and sexual
activity on many cable networks
-
And the list could go on, not to mention
the negative portrayal of Christianity
Do we watch these shows and laugh at their jokes and
silliness or do we grieve? They reflect who we are! They reflect the way other
cultures see us!
I also
grieve about the propaganda from so-called Christian writers and experts who
tell us that to expect people to be involved in their Churches more than once
or twice a month is unrealistic. People are just too busy to devote that much
time to the Church. Really? But, we have bought into it as a Church culture.
Many who years earlier served and worshiped at most every gathering now feel
better about themselves because they are trapped in a cultural movement. Have
we really thought about what it might be like if God only showed up in our
lives one or two times a month? Of course, not everyone has embraced this
thinking. Many are as faithful as they ever were…they are likely grieving! The
truth has been suppressed in unrighteousness.
I could go
on with this list of things that grieve me. I just think that I understand a
little bit more of what Jesus saw when He looked at the people. They were
distressed; most knew it but did not know why. They were ‘dispirited’ as they
walked through life. This literally means that they were living their life with
their ‘heads hung low’ due to a degree of hopelessness and a sense that life
was somehow futile. I see this every day in people! They are ‘like sheep
without a shepherd’ and wander aimlessly.
I do not
claim to have a 4 or 5 step method to overcome this problem. I also grieve at
how there seems to be an endless 3 to 5 step program to fix everything in the
Church. When will we realize that the problem is not going to be fixed by ‘business
models?’ The spiritual health of our world has to begin with regaining
spiritual health in our Churches. That will only happen when we surrender
ourselves to God’s plan for making the world new! That plan is Jesus! Let me
suggest a few possible steps:
1.
As Christians, stop listening to the ‘spin’
that culture places on Biblical truth. The spin that certain types of ‘sin’
need to be accepted ‘because they aren’t hurting anyone’ is an example of ‘suppressing
the truth.’ Once again conform YOUR life to God’s standard of truth, His Word. We
spend a lot of time trying to ‘conform others’ when God is best served by our
personal obedience. Let Him open the doors to share your faith.
2.
Exercise compassion! Jesus felt
compassion for the people that He saw living their lives day by day. Let YOUR
life be a picture of compassion. Don’t try to exercise control over others,
have compassion on them. We live in a world where the standard of truth often
changes monthly or less. They are distressed individuals…even if they do not
recognize it themselves. Let the love and compassion of Jesus be CLEARLY seen
in YOU.
3.
Don’t become another talking head
bellyaching about one side or the other. For the Christian, there is only one
side to take; the side of Scripture. If your political or social view does not
fit neatly in advancing the Kingdom of God, toss it aside. It is not what God
placed us here to accomplish. Read and re-read the Gospels; then follow Jesus’
example.
4.
Finally, get excited about your Church.
Pour out your love on those of your Church family. Forget about worship style,
dress, your own favorite drum to beat, policies, by-laws, and all the other
things that have Americanized the Church. We gather to worship Him. We gather
to know Him more and make Him known to others. We gather to encourage, not to
complain or judge one another. We gather to be challenged and led to confess
our sins. The Church is not a members only club, but a place where all are
welcomed in the name of Jesus.
I am still
grieving as I look out into the world. But I also know the end of the story. I
know the One who has risen and will return. I fellowship with His Holy Spirit
and He guides my grieving. I have a loving Father who holds me when I am
distressed and dispirited…and He will hold you also. I have hope for the world,
but the Church has to be an essential part of that hope.
I have
spotted the truth…let’s not suppress it!
