Living in the "Not-So-Quite-Right" Church

Many of us are members of churches wherein at times we feel uncomfortable for one reason or another. Perhaps it's as small an item as the choice of hymns that don't seem to fit our needs. For some it may be that the Liturgy seems too traditional; others may believe their Sunday worship lacks any real memory of the church's historical identity. For others the infiltration of "entertainment worship" is disconcerting. Maybe you feel that the pastor doesn't get out and visit folks as he should (or you think he should). Worse yet, according to your lights, something is askew with the theology of your pastor, your denomination, your church. Whatever the reason, you squirm in your pew. You think about going elsewhere. If so, listen closely to what William J. Abraham in "Staying the Course: On Unity, Division and Renewal in The United Methodist Church" (Ancient and Postmodern Christianity: Paleo-Orthodoxy in the 21st Century, ed. Kenneth Tanner and Christopher Hall: InterVarity, 2002) suggests:

We need to beware [of] a naive utopianism in our thinking about the church. Even with complete success in the work of renewal, the church will be a fragile and mixed vessel. Jesus warned us that even the kingdom will have wheat and tares which can only be sorted out at the end of the age. Hence we should be prepared to live with all sorts of difficulties, setbacks, strategic retreats and challenges. If any are discouraged, I urge them to read the writings of the fourth-century leaders. Athanasius complained that when the Arians took over his church in Alexandria, folks were frolicking naked in the baptismal fonts. Yet Athanasius stayed the course, organized the faithful in exile, suffered banishment at least five times and eventually won the day for the gospel and the faith.

What Abraham says is not only thoughtful counsel for Methodists, but for any Christian who is unhappy in the pew. If you find yourself unhappy, discouraged, and down-spirited with what you see happening liturgically, theologically, or "whatever" in your church or your parish, bring your concerns before God in prayer, ever-so-quietly consider the merits of your concerns, talk gently and honestly with whomever you disagree, and work fervantly toward the renewal you desire. Above all, in everything let us all allow the love and centrality of Christ rule (and perhaps over-rule) our thoughts, manner of living, and actions.