Clearing the Temple, part 2

So, in what ways do we tend to put our own agenda for church (that is, the weekly gathering) ahead of God’s?

First, let’s look at what God’s agenda is.  Without pulling out a commentary or a concordance, I think it’s safe to say that church is about remembering and celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection, encouraging one another and making disciples.  Probably I’ve missed a few things, but that will do for now.

Notice that these are not so much things we get as things we do.  No one receives encouragement until someone is willing to give it.  A passive, what-are-you-going-to-do-for-me attitude to church doesn’t advance God’s agenda.  This attitude overburdens the ones who are willing to encourage and disciple, and ends up discouraging them — actually standing in the way of one of God’s purposes for church. 

May God forgive me for all the times I have showed up in church with that attitude. 

Just imagine what would happen if all of us who are Christ’s disciples were to approach church “services” as if we were there to serve as much as to be served.  What a celebration it would be!  

Clearing the Temple

The text for consideration at church this weekend was John’s account of Jesus clearing the Temple.  As part of the discussion, the pastor asked us what the modern equivalent might be — that is, if Jesus showed up in the flesh in our churches today, what business being transacted there might he disapprove of?

It really is difficult to answer questions like that without time to reflect, especially if there are a whole bunch of people around you don’t want to look silly in front of.  So, I didn’t say anything then.  But I’ve been thinking about it.

It seems to me that what happened at the Temple in Jesus’ day is something that happens to people in every age.  At first, everyone had to bring their own sacrifices to the Temple.  Then, some enterprising man saw how inconvenient this was and decided to provide a service to the community by selling sacrificial animals somewhere near the Temple.  And this was OK.  Then other enterprising individuals said to themselves, “Hey, I could do that too!”  And they did.  And suddenly there was competition, a need for each seller to have a competitive edge in order to stay in the sacrificial animal business.  So, they set up shop a little closer to the Temple.  And a little closer still to the Temple.  And pretty soon, they were in the Temple courts.  They were just trying to serve their customers better.  And since their business was Temple-related, they could even say they were just trying to serve God better. 

But they had forgotten something.

God had designated the Temple courts as a sacred place, a place of prayer for the nations.  How were the nations supposed to pray when their space was full of tables and their ears full of the sounds of commerce?

Little by little, the merchants had allowed their own agenda to displace God’s agenda.

Part of what it means for Jesus to be Lord is that His agenda is not to be displaced by anything.  And it is His right and prerogative to get out a whip and turn over some tables if that’s what it takes to bring His agenda back to the forefront.  Fortunately for us, He usually uses gentler methods.

So, that brings me back to the original question:  in what ways do we allow our own agenda to displace God’s agenda for the church? 

Let me think about that some more.

On Liturgical Tradition

It seems that most of the Wheatland Mission community has little experience — or little positive experience — with liturgical church traditions.  My own experience is different.  I grew up Lutheran, so I’m very familiar with liturgy.  And I find the liturgical traditions comforting in the same way any tradition is comforting.  Tradition provides a sense of continuity — that what we are doing now is just what our grandparents did — and it makes us feel closer to them and more secure in our place in the world.  Most of us experience this at Christmas:  the familiar foods, the tree, the carols, the presents — it may be stressful to prepare for, but we look forward to it nonetheless. 

Some people are concerned, though, that our Christmas traditions have overshadowed Christ — and that concern is reasonable.  The usual solution, however, is to dump the old traditions in favor of new ones that point more clearly to Christ.  Many churches have become similarly concerned that the liturgy is an empty formality, and they have sought to eliminate it.  Of course, what they have really done is replace it with a different sort of tradition which is in danger of falling victim to the same emptiness.

The problem is not with the liturgy; it is with our hearts.

My own experience with the liturgy is that it sets me free to focus on God and on my relationship with Him.  I know what the words are, and I am familiar with the tunes — so I don’t have to worry about what my lips are doing.  Instead, I can focus on what my heart is doing.  When I repeat the familiar confession of sins, I can be thinking about specifically how I have sinned during the past week and be sincerely repentant.  When I sing the offertory I can be thinking about how God has blessed me specifically during the past week and be sincerely grateful as I sing.

It is only when this work — and it is work — is not done that liturgy becomes an empty formality.  I applaud Wheatland for taking a fresh look at the liturgical tradition, and hope that it will bless them as much as it has blessed me.

Genesis

About a month ago, my wife and I started attending a church called “Wheatland Mission.”  It’s different than any church I’ve been to before, and I’ve been to some.  It’s smaller, more informal, more intimate.  Actually, it reminds me of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group I was involved with in college, except that the members are mostly 10-20 years older. 

One unusual aspect of this church is its Internet presence:  the pastor posts a synopsis of the sermon each week and encourages people to “continue the conversation” by posting comments.  And many of the members have their own blogs which are linked to the church’s blog.  It’s a great way to promote community and avoid the usual anonymity of church membership.  So, I’ve been reading these blogs when I can, and have even contributed a few comments. 

Finally I decided to jump in and start my own blog.  It’s a little scary — I mean, the whole world can see this thing.  Not that I expect more than a handful of people to actually read it, but just knowing that they could…yikes!  I’m not sure yet what sort of things I’ll post.  Some commentary on my spiritual journey, probably.  Maybe a pet peeve or two.  Recommendations on solving the world’s problems, no doubt.  And whatever else I think of along the way.

Let the adventure begin!

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this blog to the glory of God.  May He help me not to use it for my own glory.