Church gets caught between differing philosophies
Scripture reading: Matthew 28:16-20. Text: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27. As we are looking back and evaluating the major events of the year we just left behind, what do we see? The media comes to our help by mentioning what has been noteworthy during 2007 from the viewpoint of religion. How seriously shall we take the observations of writers, reporters, critics, elected officials and the scientists?
We should neither ignore them as they were totally wrong, nor take them as seriously as they were completely right. The truth is in between, however, who is the judge, where is the dividing line and how can we offer the most without compromising the least?
Our text is a good example. On one hand, the faithful are expected to be helpers and protectors of the orphans and widows, and this cannot be done without being involved in the world; and on the other hand, they should keep themselves away from the bad influence of the society.
Jesus’ prayer comes to our mind as a solution as he had prayed to the Father in behalf of his disciples: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:15-18.
HOW CAN WE OBEY GOD, PLEASE OUR MEMBERS, HELP THE POOR AND SUPPORT THE RIGHT CAUSES WITHOUT SACRIFICING ONE FOR THE SAKE OF THE OTHER?
Two weeks ago, as we closed the year of 2007, it was mentioned that we should propagate, protect and strengthen the faith, preach God’s word, be witness to the saving power of Christ, practice and maintain friendship, help the poor and be positive influence in the world to make it more pleasant and less hostile.
Please, you be the judge (and substantiate your position) if the churches (organized religion) should try to help to solve the problems we face? For instance, global warming, undocumented aliens, pollution of the environment, protecting the endangered species, fighting crime like the illegal use of forbidden substances, fighting social injustices, energy crisis (fuel shortage), work for fair distribution of wealth, eradicate immorality and promote peace.
This year we are going to elect our leaders. What are at stakes? Does it matter who will lead our nation? (United States is still an influential force in the world.)
We know that the church should not get involved in politics, however, when it is so important who our leaders will be, should the church totally ignore the election? If we are expected to do nothing else but provide the right information, what could be criteria, who will be a better leader?
Please keep in mind that the churches are often criticized, as you can read in the papers and see on the TV.
The younger generation blames us, saying we do not care about the world, we isolate ourselves, become only spiritual, thus in the eyes of the people we become irrelevant, for the teenagers we became meaningless, much is said and little is done, life goes ahead and we stay behind. In the sermons people hear only religious phrases and not practical viewpoints that would be helpful in daily life.
The older generation attacks us from the opposite side: the churches lost their spirituality; we try to do the social workers’ job, for us the Bible is not the word of God anymore, we gave up tradition and precious legacy for the sake of modern trend, for the clergy it is more important to be popular than to remain faithful. We please people and do not praise God. Financial is preferred to the spiritual.
If these contradicting judgments would be only theories they would be easier to solve, however, today whoever is not satisfied feels he/she is entitled to quit and withhold his/her financial support, thus weakening the church.
Is not the decreasing church membership a national phenomenon? Can there be peace between the liberals and the conservatives?
What is sad; the “modern” and the “traditional” mutually blame the church that it went out too far in the opposite, that is, in the wrong direction.
The churches will always fight an uphill battle, and Apostle James should have the last word: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.