In order for us to stay “on track” as faithful Christians, I think its important for us to often ask ourselves who we are and why we are here. Judging by recent letters to the editor from Adrian van Draanen and Doug Swanson, its once again time for self-analysis.
Although the contributors did not ask or answer these questions directly, I think their comments about the state of the Church today come from their implicit responses. For instance, van Draanen wonders whether Jesus really cares about what Presbyterians discuss, or if he’s more concerned with their actions. On the other hand, Swanson seems to earnestly believe that God cares that God’s truths are written about. So, on one side, we have a picture of the Church as the metaphorical hands and feet of Christ, chiefly meant to physically carry out the commands of Jesus; while, conversely, we have a belief that the Church is the metaphorical mouth of Christ, primarily designed to share God’s truth.
Over the years I’ve tried to explore both options in hopes of finding out how to do Christianity “properly.” I’ve worked with underprivileged youth, helped out at food banks, chatted with homeless people on the street, donated money, recycled everything I could, minimized my purchases, and even tried to be nice to people I didn’t like. I’ve also often racked my brain over difficult theological questions, trying to “get to the bottom of things” so I could tell people the “truth” and how to “live right” so they would see God. Needless to say, all the effort required to do and to think “right” has burned me out.
The thing about the above understandings of Church is that they don’t fully incorporate our humanness. The tasks of eradicating poverty and discovering ultimate truth sound more fit for machines than persons, and I think that’s why many of us burn out. So what then is the Church?
Actually, perhaps we better ask who is the Church? I believe that the Church is the bride of Christ, and that her great task (or commandment) is to love Jesus with everything she has. Consistent with van Draanen and Swanson’s views, this will very often look like outreach and theology. But in addition, it will also look strange. Being Jesus’ bride means being a group of people who are totally infatuated with their lover. This might mean doing all sorts of foolhardy things for the love of God: speaking up for unpopular truths, inviting losers to parties, and living far below our means. The strangest thing is if we do all of these things out of love, we will not burn out, but actually enjoy ourselves!
So to respond to the letter writers, I would say that if we understand ourselves as primarily Jesus’ bride, then, we will no longer first ask, “What should we be doing better?” or “What should we know more about?” but “What can we do to get as close to our lover as possible?”
