Epiphany 6 - Thursday - Seven Questions that Every Church Should Ask Itself - Number 3

Today, I wrestle with the third in a series of seven questions posed by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi in his article “Seven Questions that Every Church Should Ask Itself.” You can read his entire article here: The Seven Questions

The third question: What challenges in the fulfillment of mission does our church face and what can we do to bring about that new thing God wants our church to be?

Nicolosi writes: “There is something subversive, disruptive, playful about this question, because it is asking us to consider what rules and regulations are presently setting boundaries in how we do church. Do these rules and regulations make sense in light of today’s missional challenges? And if not, why do we continue to do them? What if we had the freedom and flexibility to move beyond these rules and regulations and reshape the way we do church? How would that enhance our ability to engage in mission? To put it another way, is our present way of doing church generating the results we want? If not, why not – and what can we do about it?”

Let’s take Nicolosi’s question apart so that the reader might understand where I am heading.

“Fulfillment of mission” – What is the mission of Christ Church Episcopal? What is the mission of any local congregation? What is the mission of the Christian Church universal? If our Lord has anything to do with it (and he should, it’s His Church), the mission is very clear. Jesus said: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28)

We are called as disciples to make more disciples who will follow Jesus.

“To bring about that new thing God wants” – What does God desire for Christ Church? What does God desire for the Diocese of Ohio? What does God desire for the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion or the Church Universal? Have the leaders been still enough to listen to what God is saying? Or are we pushing forward with our own agendas and control issues confident that we know better than God?! Have we humbled ourselves? Turned our lives over to God and are ready to follow wherever God wants our community to go? Until we have engaged those practices and have clearly understood what God desires, we better keep silent.

“What challenges….does our church face.” – I believe there are five serious challenges that presently face Christ Church Episcopal? The first is the present trauma that we are experiencing. This must be dealt with and healed from before we can move forward with any integrity and confidence. Second, a recent study by Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia revealed that 80% of the Protestant churches are dying (Vision: What’s All the Fuss?, CoachingPastors.com). That trend must be reversed. Third, the community of faith must become once again “risk-takers” instead of the ever present example in most churches of “playing it safe”. Fourth, any congregation, if they are going to survive, must commit and be faithful to the tithe. The Fifth challenge is our setting in Hudson, in a culture that finds the institutional church more and more irrelevant to the life of the larger community and individual lives.

While I am confident that there are probably other challenges in front of Christ Church, these five challenges I believe are central. Until, decisions are made in reference to the first challenge, I am going to refrain from making any further comment on that issue.

So, let’s look at the second challenge. A dear friend of mine recently sent me this video of Diana Butler Bass. She puts the current situation that the institutional church finds itself in clear perspective. Take a listen.

I will be honest that I am not a big fan of Bass for she seems to always be selling her latest book. However, she does make some very valid points about what clergy and laity need to be about. We have to reclaim the “sense of mission” that Jesus put forward to his disciples many years ago: make disciples! This was not an option that could be chosen at some future moment in the life of the early Christian community. It was an imperative. It was a command. It was a directive. It was a mandate of the Master. We may ignore this charge of Jesus if we wish, but we cannot evade it.

Walt Henrichsen, the author of Disciples are Made – Not Born wrote: “Our risen Christ left this legacy – the magna charta of the Church. Jesus provided both the model and the method. His life – and death – recast the lives of men and women. Jesus demonstrated that you have not done anything until you have changed the life of another.

“'Follow me,' Jesus urged his disciples. And then that staggering assurance: ‘Lo, I am with you always….’ Somehow we have forgotten that this promise is not carte blanche; Jesus’ promise is linked with a process. We cannot embrace the promise and ignore the process.

“Much of the feverish and frustrating activity of the contemporary church is devoid of relevance and fulfillment. Entertainment, not education, is our program, The laity are disenchanted. They are looking for an involvement with eternal bite. C.S. Lewis said it: ‘All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.’” (Disciples Are Made – not born, Forward)

• Are we too busy to do the most important work in the world?
• Are we afraid of the personal cost to us?
• Is it that we just do not understand discipling well enough to do anything about it?

We can no longer abide in those excuses. There is too much at stake.

The Third Challenge. What would you do for the Church, in the Name of Jesus, if you knew you would not fail?

What strikes me as I read the scriptures of the New Testament is the tremendous risk taking that took place in the lives of the disciples. These men and women had a transforming experience of the risen Lord and they did not stop at anything to get that message to others. When was the last time our parish took a risk for the Gospel?

I have worked with far too many churches in the South and here in Northeast Ohio: the response it always the same: “We can’t do that.” “We would look foolish.” “It’s too radical a change for us.” “How dare you criticize what we are doing?” “What you are suggesting is against our policies.”

Jesus weeps.

For instead of becoming “pioneers” of the faith, we have turned into “settlers” who are more interested in maintenance then in mission. In some churches that I have consulted with there is more passion for the color of the carpet in the sanctuary than there is for the lost soul just outside the big red door. What is wrong with us?

Are you a “settler” or a “pioneer”? Are you more interested in being in “a club” or “a life saving station?”

No more excuses. There is too much at stake.

The Fourth Challenge: Tithing. This is a tremendous test in the current economic times in which we live. But we cannot duck the issue. I have spoken about tithing many times but here is someone who is much more eloquent than I am. Take the time to listen to both of these clips of Dave Ramsey. This is important.

Here is the conclusion of his message:

And for the doubters who do not believe the blessings that come from tithing, listen to this story by David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby.

Finally, the Fifth Challenge. Forty percent of the folks who live in Hudson are unchurched and claim no religious preference (Percept Study). Do you see this fact as a problem or as an opportunity?

Do you care at all?

In the six and a half years that I have had the pleasure of working and living in Hudson, I have met so many folks who claim to be “church alums”. They got fed up with the conflicts in the church, meaningless liturgies, and pointless arguments about issues that have nothing to do with daily living in the 21^st century. They gave up and left in search of meaning else where. Have you ever taken the time to listen to these voices? They have much to tell us about the Church, our message, and our witness.

There is no better message than that of Jesus and his love for every member of the human family. There are so many people in Hudson and its environs who are searching for meaning in their lives; who actually want to explore the spiritual life; and who seek to be in relationship with the Creator of all things.

Our vocation as disciples is to go out and pay attention to the dreams and views of others, seeking understanding, being willing to listen, and ready to offer an invitation to “come and see” and experience the abundant life of Jesus. Unless, every member of Christ Church Episcopal is ready to engage in such an effort, the organization will never make it. We will always struggle and we will never live into the dream of God.

The following ad for a local congregation in Australia is brilliant in that it takes the seekers feelings and questions seriously and offers a simple invitation. This is what I believe Christ Church Episcopal could be and should be in the future. I say this not only for my church, but your church as well.

Wow! “Nobody’s perfect. Beginners are welcome. Sox are optional. But Grace is required. Forgiveness is offered. Hope is alive. And it’s OK to NOT be OK.”

There is a Church that I want to be part of.

Love One Another – Brian

Tomorrow’s Question: What are the barriers to seeing reality that our church needs to move beyond?