08-07-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 7, 2024
Have you been watching the Olympics? Like most Olympic years, I have not caught as much as I would have liked, though replays are available online. There have been some rather embarrassing so-called controversies that have been shown to have not been controversies. Like so often, some folks fanned the flames of outrage only to discover there was a lot of fake smoke without even a spark of truth. But what bothers me even more are all the really wonderful stories that have been eclipsed by those who seemed to have the right PR Firm for their baseless outrage. I raise this because I believe it provides some insight for the church. Many churches, Christian traditions, and denominations have stirred people’s fears with emotional outrage over false claims or what is irrelevant. Suddenly, other Christians who are taking seriously the call to love the neighbor, welcome the stranger, and serve the other are finding themselves distracted. This good work and the many good stories are eclipsed by distracting nonsense. In such moments, at least from the perspective of a person outside of Christianity, the purpose of the church appears to be nothing more than arguing over nonsense. And of course, the infighting is at the expense of the neighbor, stranger, and other who are forgotten. The hope is that our passionate purpose of loving, welcoming, and serving leaves no one thinking that we have anything to do with the nonsense.

Keep me on point, O Spirit of strength and life-giving purpose. When distractions attempt to interrupt, help me double-down on the good work you have called me to do. Amen.