Church – James Robert Kitson

In Praise of Doing Our Best

Lacking perfect solutions for pretty much anything, most of us do our best. With a new school season upon us, parents, teachers, everyone involved is striving to do what is best, in spite of, in some jurisdictions, politicians who obviously are just doing their best to look out for their own interests. In fact, they don’t give a poop about anything else.

Church leaders I know are doing their best. In most situations I am aware of, churches are going slowly and very carefully in opening their buildings again, even though they are allowed to, with certain conditions. Meanwhile leaders who are not at all familiar with the technology and new approaches are learning new ways. I admire that. They are doing their best.

Speaking of church, in that setting you may have encountered people with pet ideas or projects or worship elements they have an interest in that you recognize right away really do not fit with your organization’s stated mission. They may say, “Well, God can use it.” Yes, God can. But this is what I call a “sun is hot” argument. You know, someone arguing something says, “Would you agree that the sun is hot?” You say, “Uh, sure.” They say, “Well then, you must also agree that …” Silly? Sure. But there are persuasive, influential persons who get away with this kind of argument all the time.

We are to offer our best, not just count on God to make the best of what we do. That is an insult to God, and to people who are really struggling to do their best in very trying circumstances.

This is no time for an “Oh well” attitude, or “I guess this will do” approach to anything. You are doing your best. It’s worth it.

Prescription: Wonder

It’s a wonder. Astronomers have discovered a black hole that has no business being as big as it is, being the type formed by the collapse of a star. There are much larger, supermassive black holes, but they are formed differently.

Scientusts are excited. It even sounds like they delight in the challenge of reassessing models of how things work.

Meanwhile, there are those of us who are supposed to be specialists in awe and wonder as people of faith. What people encounter too often in the faith community, however, is anxiety, and, tragically, turfism and control issues. Church is rightly concerned about management issues and organizational trends of demise. B&B, Blame and Battles, often ensue. Familiar approaches seem only to accelerate the negative trend.

There is hope however, and lots of it. Where is the wonder, shared awe and wonder, at what it is all about? It is ever present.

Start with the wonder of God and Creation, including you and me. Other things (and yes they warrant careful attention) will find their rightful and appropriate place.

Some would find it deliciously ironic that people of God might well re-learn wonder from the realm if science.

1 Corinthians 2:9

Controlling the Narrative

The public impeachment hearings that have been held in Wahington over the past two weeks should be important to take in But are they? The drama going on may simply be between, on the one hand, establishing truth to act on (or not), and, on the other hand, simply engaging in a nasty battle over who controls the narrative. In other words, it’s all about what it’s all about.

It could be argued you’re not missing anything if you haven’t seen any of it. After all, you live it every day.

Do you live your own truth? Decide what that is? Do your best to live it? Or accept the most appealing narrative of the most compelling influencers–personal, political, or commercial?

It is almost Advent in the Christian calendar. You will find (still, at least in some churches) Scrioture employed that focuses on ultimate things, with Jesus talking about his Advent to come (e.g. Mark 13).

Advent celebrates that we have the opportunity to know, now, the one who is yet to come.

There is truth. Truth will win out. Truth matters. That should be obvious, but apparently it is not obvious.

And oh yes, there is an accompanying major Scriptural theme in Advent, drawing on scenes with John the Baptist (e.g. Luke 3). He anticipates Jesus’ own warnings against leaders who are obsessed with their power and status, and with controlling the narrative of their people and their time.

It will not end well for such people in any age.

The Right Questions

I was asked to write something for the annual report of the congregation for which I currently am preaching. Here is what they got

You have power — more than you know. Well, okay, it’s not your own power, but it is yours to use. You need to know this because too many churches are anxious and afraid. And we are urged, commanded, actually, not to be. Afraid, that is.
“What are we going to do to attract and keep people?”
“How do we get people to give?”
“What happened to the young people” (assuming we don’t just redefine “young people” as anyone under seventy)?
These are understandable questions, but they are symptomatic of a church on the defensive. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, how can we be on the defensive?

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). If we believe this, empowered by the Spirit, we find ourselves asking questions concerning our purpose and articulating our vision for fulfilling that purpose. Or if we have stated this, how much is it our focus?

Here are three essential parts of joining with our Lord in overcoming the world:

Accept God’s ethical mandate.
Jesus acted on suffering and injustice in front of him. He clearly expected his disciples to do the same.

Believe in the power with the mandate.
Jesus expressed frustration with the disciples when their fear and hesitancy prevented them exercising his power to free others from the powers that bound them (e.g. Luke 9:4041).

Challenge the status quo.
Christ is removing the veil from our faces (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) to free us and others from “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), experienced in obscene wealth, power and control, with attendant personal ills for those up against powers both external and internal, of anxiety, addiction, and destructive anger.

There is power over all these things, so let us be sure to ask the right questions.

More Reason for One Another

More of us, internationally, are getting some form of dementia earlier. As reported in various media, a study published in the Surgical Neurology International Journal indicates early onset dementia, which used to occur in people in their late 60s, now is found in people in their late 40s. And it’s not simply a matter of better diagnosis; it is suggested the rate of increase must involve environmental factors.

While it would be great if we could just fix those environmental factors, it is a sign we need, all the more, to practise care for one another, and not just leave it to professional caregivers to look after our loved ones. It is remarkable how often the Bible uses the words “one another.” There are dozens of “one another” sayings in the New Testament alone, among them, in the Epistles, “Offer hospitality to one another” (1 Peter 4:9), “Be devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:10), “Keep on loving one another” (Hebrews 13:1), and from Jesus, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

Our interdepency is not, however, just a “fallback” position for when things do not go as we plan. It is how we are meant to live all the time. Some things just remind of this more poignantly than others.

Don’t Miss This Turn

Don’t Miss This Turn: The Importance of Thinking Differently
Summary of message at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, Sunday, December 8, 2013 (Advent 2). Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12.

John the Baptist had one essential message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven (other than in Matthew “Kingdom of God”) is near, or at hand.” To repent meant basically to change your mind, to turn and seek more the mind and point of view of God. A change in behaviour, particularly toward others, would necessarily follow. John’s baptism was a sign of acceptance of such ‘turning.’

Among those who came to John at the River Jordan were the religious leaders. John called them hypocrites because he perceived that, in their treatment of things of faith as matters of possession and position, they were not seeking change, but were investigating a movement that threatened to have power outside of their purview and control. The common people flocked to John because he ignited in them an old prophetic hope: of independence from foreign influence and an era of justice and peace. Their repentance would help prepare them to be part of that.

Today, those of us (already) in the church may be susceptible, like the religious leaders then, of only wanting to be affirmed in our position and traditions. Or we may, like the people back then but in our own way, see a call to faith as a means toward better social conditions, and that is well and good. But John pointed to another, greater than he, who would baptize with his own life-altering power, and usher in a kingdom and reality, of a totslly different and eternal order. Rooted in the Lord, and therefore clearing away obstacles in our life that would let us welcome his new life, new creation really, and risking new ways of living and serving in the self-giving way of Christ, we show we are more and more being “turned” to adopt within us the mind of the Lord. Anything else is subject to judgment.

A question to reflect and work on, that I believe brings these things together: What are you committed to that will succeed only if God will do it? This question
(a) takes into account that the matter must be something that would be in keeping with God’s Kingdom goals,
(b) requires, at the same time, our own diligent work, and,
(c) will draw us closer to the Lord, and will lead us to having more his point of view as we move in to the next opportunity, and ongoing opportunities, to invite him to work in and through us.

Such a challenge is important both for our own discipleship and the life and work of the church.

To Guide Our Decisions

It is the time of year many church decision-making bodies will be meeting to gear up for the fall, or (preferably) to touch base on and confirm what has been worked out previously. Typically decisions are made concerning near-future activities and projects in accordance with a broader or longer-range plan or vision. It is generally considered advisable that all of this be as concrete as possible, and therefore, also, measurable.

Fine and good. But for Christian groups and organizations there is something more fundamental that comes before any of that, according to Paul in Colossians 3, at least the way I read it. And this will affect not only the spirit in which such decisions are made, but may well also affect outcomes. It is the priority of peace among Christians.

In reading verses 13-17 of Colossians 3, I see a progression from making sure there is peace and unity, and then, and only then, is there any talk of action, which is first making sure Christ’s teaching is embedded in all hearts, through mutual sharing and worship, and, for that matter, doing everything, in action or word, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Each part: the emphasis on peace (verse 14), worshipful community (15), and, summarily, doing all in the name of Jesus (verse 17), has thanksgiving as an integral part of it.

In the midst of visioning and action plans and setting measurable goals, we might want to consider peace as fundamental to it all. That’s the way I read it, anyway. Is that too conservative; does it detract from the great commission; does it keep us from being bold? No, the more I think about this, and reflect on some past hard experience, I think, ultimately, it makes for greater possibilities. A people united can do anything.

Union Station

I passed through Toronto’s Union Station last evening. The shot above was taken on Platform 27, with the Lakeshore East train approaching (note I am not on or over the yellow line as I take the photo!).

I suppose because I’m planning to have Christian unity as the them of August messages, I think of various elements of community and culture coming together as I look at this scene now. There are all those rail tracks, where there could be dangerous confusion if someone wasn’t in charge of traffic. There is the CN Tower, representing communication. There are the buildings where business of the nation and world is conducted. There is the city itself, with its great ethnic and spiritual diversity. Not visible in the shot are churches, which tend to be tucked away here and there, and where many people think of going if they want respite from everything else.

Respite from the world is part of what is necessary at times, but is that primarily what the church is for? I think not. Maybe as a church we should be more at the centre of things, where people live all these everyday things represented in the scene above? And we have one to keep us united and on track. May we be closer to him, and allow him to challenge us.