I've not been on this blog for a long, long time. But I was trying to figure out where to post this next little entry of mine. I didn't want to bump up against my most recent entry on Bibfeldt's Inquiry...and it seems more like a theological rant...so this is where I'll go.
I was reading the blogs of some folks in our Conference of the United Methodist Church. One of the bloggers is the Wesley scholar for our annual conference. What concerns me is that he is promoting a theology which is perhaps Wesleyan - maybe not - but which I'm concerned about nonetheless.
And here's my concern. I believe that God has transformed the world. The United Methodist mission statement is that we are to make disciples for the transformation of the world. As if we are the ones who are responsible for the transformation of the world. I don't think that is true. I believe the world is transformed - but that we don't live as if that is true.
I was struck again last night at our church when De'Amon brought together three people who never would have met to gather together for mutual encouragement and delight. One of these people recently lost a good IT job that he had held for 18 years after being arrested on felony drug charges (he had attempted suicide and then calld 911 where they discovered some drugs in his home when they were rescuing him). He now has a felony conviction (that will go away if he stays clean for a year). He has several months of sobriety - and he's unemployed. He's doing good work, actually great work around our church while unemployed. One of the people De'Amon invited was another congregant who lives out in the suburbs and works in the IT industry. He thought this fellow could talk the same language as the brother who was struggling - and maybe even find a compadre. He also provided some names to the unemployed fellow of some contacts that might prove useful. The other person was a neighbor. She says her calling is "to mend the broken." She had never met the other two fellows. They talked with one another. She encouraged the unemployed man...and challenged him to enrich his prayer life. And then she laid on hands and prayed for him and them. That abundance was always there. It was not made by any of the folks there. It was not even made by De'Amon. The abundance, the community, the support, the encouragement was there - all the "church" did was point it out and invite people together - based on an abundance that we knew and trusted would be there.
That's our role and responsibility. To "bear witness" by pointing out the abundance - and abundances - that we are so often blind to. Our congregation says that as followers of Jesus Christ we seek, welcome and value all people. I'm pretty sure all those people walked away from each other that night feeling valued.
As we in the Church recognize and see the power and presence of the Good News of God's realm around us - maybe some others will begin to believe and see. Then it will not be that God will transform the world or that we will - it will be that we will recognize and rejoice in the transformation that God has already wrought.
I just wish our big "c" Church would recognize that. We are so busy wringing our hands, that we miss the real and genuine blessings that are here.
Last night was important to me, as the pastor at Broadway. I hope such occasions will multiply. And it looks like to me that they are.
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