08-09-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 9, 2025
My friend, the Rev. Dr. Kory Wilcoxson (pastor at Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington, KY), is the coauthor of a book entitled, “Thriving Church,” based on a five-year study of 20 diverse churches. The word “thriving” is not necessarily defined by the number of people in worship on Sunday, though for some of the churches, they have strong worship attendance. The book looks at ten attributes of thriving congregations, and one of those attributes is flexibility. Of course, flexibility does not mean rudderless or being wishy-washy when it comes to what is important. When Jesus sent the disciples out on their first mission experience, he shared how there would be moments when the home or community they were visiting would be unreceptive. Jesus did not tell them to dig their heels in or refuse to ponder alternative options. Jesus told them to shake the dust from their sandals and move on. It wasn’t intended to be an insult to those who were unreceptive, but an act of letting go for the purpose of turning in a different direction and being fully open to what new thing might be available. How many of us have turned away from something that was not a good use of our time, and though our bodies might have turned, we never actually let go. And for that reason, we never were able to embrace the next thing. Flexibility, among other things, is the realization that the world is changing all around us, and the Spirit is not going to call us to a ministry that was meaningful and viable in 1983. God’s calling is always relevant to the moment and to the people who are living in that moment. Flexibility within the church is actually faithfulness to a Living God who says to the church, “I need you for a ministry right now.”

I do not always let go of the things that need to be relinquished from my grip, but I pray for you to teach me and encourage me as I desire to be faithful. O God, you are the Eternal Now, and I desire to meet you in this moment, fully available, fully flexible to whatever this moment needs. Amen.