Context

• An article on ‘shared goals’ is a great resource for churches—or other organisations—facing factionalism.
• In her Christmas speech, Queen Elizabeth addressed the divisiveness of society.
• Archbishop Welby and other Anglican primates have been seeking a way past the issues surrounding human sexuality.
• If we can act as one race, can we hope for one church?

 

Reflection

The developed countries of Western Europe and North America have been experiencing immense cultural change over the last two decades as the world sees population shifts unknown in recent history. In the two countries where I have spent most of my life (UK and USA) there has been much public debate about ‘multiculturalism’ and its impact on those societies. However, for those of us who claim to be followers of Christ, this shouldn’t be anything new or shocking. Yet, it is. Cultural shifts within Christianity have led to division after division: between Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity; within the many denominations proceeding from the Protestant Reformation; and within the many denominations themselves.

We claim to follow Mr Jesus, who has clearly told us that we are to be ‘in the world but not of it’ (John 15.19; 17.14f.) and that we are part of a kingdom ‘not of this world’ (John 18.36). This puts us at cross-ⴕ-purposes with every society and culture in the world! But isn’t that the point of the CROSS—and the resurrection? Everything Christ said and did, died for and rose again, was to put us in closer contact with God – God’s love and purposes for us. Our lives as Christians should be defined by the cross and the power of the gospel it represents. It is we who have sought to tame it, to put our spin on it and bring it thereby under our ostensible control. We choose Corinth over Christ.

And while we are busy disagreeing with one another, what is happening? The church becomes increasingly irrelevant. This has been our work of emptying the cross of its power—the very thing the apostle Paul encountered in first century Corinth. So, we can ask along with Paul: ‘Has Christ been divided?’ If we say ‘No’, then what have we been achieving with our endless squabbles about everything from chairs vs. pews to contemporary/traditional music and beyond? The cross should remind us of Christ’s prayer for his followers: ‘That they may be one.’

What might our church lives be like if, like Paul, we let the cross cast its shadow over all we say and do?

 

Prayer

Gracious and loving God, you have created us, and you continue to sustain us, without any help from ourselves! You have loved us to the point of dying on a cross for us and rising again – all for our benefit. You have taught us and shown us what your love looks like; and yet we continue to misunderstand. All we need do is see your image in the faces of those we meet.

And yet we tell ourselves, ‘It must be more difficult than that! There must be a trick to it! There must be some hidden knowledge we lack.’ And so we construct our theologies and doctrines, all meant to explain how your love works and how we might draw near you. We then find ourselves arguing our theories with one another, feeling aggrieved when others disagree with us. And so we establish another church or denomination in your name. All the while we forget about you and concern ourselves with our thoughts and theories.

Dear Lord, your patience exceeds our imagination! How you long to be with us, to hear our voices and listen to our concerns. How you long to speak to us. But we have bottled you up – like a genie – only daring let you into our lives on Sundays.

Loving Creator, forgive us our pettiness. Let the full power of your cross overshadow our needs to be right, to be in control of your message and to choose who is worthy of your love. Help us to ‘shut up’ and know that you are God—that we might indeed listen for and hear your voice. Free us to be your people; to worship you in truth and in love; and to share your love and good news with all whom we meet. These things we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

 

Questions

• A number of denominations recite the Nicene Creed each Sunday and/or before communion. Can we say we understand each part of that creed, such as: ‘Begotten not made, of one being with the Father’? If not, what does it mean to us?
• For Anglicans, what does Article 14, ‘Works of Supererogation’, mean? Would you reject a fellow church member over it? Oh, and can you name at least 20 of the 39 Articles? (Just kidding – but have a go!) Do they in any way guide your spiritual life?
• Predestination is accepted by both Reformed and Anglican Churches. Do you and I accept it as a fact? How much does it matter? And are we willing to fall out over it?

 

All-age activity

Name the aspects of Christianity that keep you believing. What are the things that draw you to church (or vice versa!) What would we like to hear or see more of in our church? What would make for less division? Be brave enough to speak these aloud.

 

Young people

There are so many ways and places for young people to fall out with each other—school, bus stop, playing fields and cyberspace. Come up with a list of all the things over which you and your peers have fallen out. Form a line against a wall in a largish room and have someone read out all the things which cause young people to break into factions. For each one you have experienced, take one step forward. After 7 or 8 steps, stop to see where you are in relation to the others. How does that feel? What do you think about being divided by so many things? Are any of them worth it?

 

The Rev Dr Jack Lawson is the Mission Implementation Coordinator for the United Methodist Church in central North Carolina. He also lectures in Hebrew Bible and is a free-lance author. He is the author of the novel Doing Time which is based on his years as a chaplain in a Southern US women’s prison.

 

 

KEY:  icon indicates ways to connect faith with everyday life

Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by ROOTS for Churches Ltd.

PostScript is also available via Twitter and facebook.

ROOTS publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines. FIND OUT MORE.