I Grieve Over the City, the World, and…the Church

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!