I can't remember a Thanksgiving that I entered into with more satisfaction than this one. I suppose it was a balm for an election stressed soul. Fortunately in our gathering there was no polarized acrimony. That was a blessing. Rather, the ordinary things became spectacular. The togetherness was relished as well as the food. Our bunk house atmosphere of children scattered hither and yon was really fun. And the hikes into the hills with the young were filled with the adventure of place and imagination. Simple things and things that reoccur like holidays can be life-giving.
At the same time I was also awakening to a call to new responsibilities for the Christian community in our time. The church has so become a reflection of the culture around us that we have lost our distinctive voice. And in a polarized time we have abdicated our responsibility to be the sign of unity, the makers of peace. Of course, that will not be easy. But it may be the singularly most important task that we have before us.
F
irst,
we have to articulate, unambiguously, what is and is not the way of Jesus. We need to measure all personal ethics and public policy by that vision and not some watered down cultural values that masquerade as Christian. That is the prophetic part of our voice and without that truth-telling any unity will ring hollow. We must articulate what is and is not acceptable according to Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God.
S
econd
, we must become bridge builders to draw together communities that have been divided, talk with one another rather than debating each other. Conversation speaks with the neighbor and debate talks past the neighbor. If the Christian community cannot serve as that common table for discussion where can there be one?
T
hird
, we must devote ourselves to being harbingers of hope. We live in a time of vast disillusionment, discouragement, fear and uncertainly. This is exactly the moment to let light shine in the darkness. Though the culture around us often dismisses the place and role of communities of the spirit, they are more important than ever before
Now, an intra-Christian conversation; non-believers and other religions may listen in, but I'm not really talking to you. I'm talking to those in the Christian household:
If you are already pursuing the Christian path with all the faith within you, may you be blessed and become a blessing for others.
If, on the other hand, you are viewing worship, prayer, giving, learning and growing, sharing the faith in living ways, and faith-based service as simply optional it may be time to revisit the meaning of your baptism. And if things are feeling rather empty for you right now it could be because you're not putting enough into it. We have a God of grace, to be sure, but we do have to respond in kind.
That's the word to the Christian community. No one is going to believe that any of this matters if it doesn't matter to us. And believe me, they can tell if it does. People are turning away from the Christian faith and the church by the thousands every day. They are not persuaded that it matters. They can't tell the difference between those who call themselves Jesus followers and those who do not. In fact, they are looking at the church and what Christians supposedly value and are self-consciously opting out.
It's Advent. Wake up. The time of playing church is over. Christ is coming and people want to believe that it matters. They are looking to you and me for inspiration. What will we show them?
