Creating something new is always exciting. There is always that "honeymoon period" where everything seems awesome and it seems like nothing could go wrong.
I was speaking with a student the other day who was talking about attending another church and it reminded me of my experiences hoping between church families as a teen. The adjustment from a traditional, liturgical church to a contemporary church was huge. It seemed like everything I disliked about my older church experiences was totally gone. This church was, dare I say, close to perfection! I was accustomed to churches with old, revered family names, untouchable traditions, and a congregational attitude that could be best summarized in the word "meh". This new church experience was exciting; it didn't carry any of the baggage of the old church. No "established families" who ran everything behind the scenes, none of the traditional church politics, and no teeth-pulling to get people to participate. What could possibly go wrong?!
As you guessed, the months and years progressed and eventually I found out that this new church had its own issues. There were still "favored" individuals who got their way, the addition of more service opportunities seemed to create a caste-system where some Christians were "more holy" than others, and the concerning trend began popping up of people who seemed to be more interested in proving to you how "Jesus-y" they were rather than actually living a life of humility and love.
I guess what I'm saying is that everything, no matter how awesome it is at the beginning, will have its troubles and trials.
Cynically, I think about this when I see the scene of joyful praise at the temple dedication.
Then the Israelites [...] celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. [...] They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the book of Moses. (Ezra 6:16,18)
I read this and wonder if those celebrating ever knew what the Temple would turn into in the centuries to follow. Did they think everything would be perfect? Could they ever imagine that one day a prophet of God would tell them that it would be better if they shut the doors of the Temple forever because they had strayed so far from God's will (ref: Malachi 1) Verse 18 is particularly interesting to me. At the risk of pontificating on things not written, I'm guessing at some point in time there were Israelites who disagreed with the Priests and Levites. I wonder if in those moments of anger and frustration, they remembered the joy with which they appointed these individuals in the first place?
When I first started speaking more forwardly with Pastor Frank and Pastor Doug about the idea of a church plant, I caught myself diving into the seductive trance of imagination: imagine a church dedicated to ministry and mission and willing to eschew any "tradition" which gets in the way of spreading Christ's love! We all began talking about how wonderful it would be to be unencumbered by committees and politics as if nothing like that could ever happen at this new church.
It's a tempting thought, but is it a guarantee?
In Philippians 4, we read...
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable - if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy - dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)
As I read these words, I am reminded that though future troubles are bounds to attack this or any other good and Godly endeavor, Christ gives us the ability to guard our hearts through a pursuit of those things that bring him honor and glory. When those inevitable trials or disagreements come, we will meet them with truth, our conduct will remain honorable. We will focus on what is just rather than what is convenient and what is pure rather than what seems profitable. Finally, we will treat each other in a way that is to be commended through the demonstration of an uncommon love that can come from nowhere but above. This should be our challenge and this should be our call.
Guard your hearts, dear brothers and sisters, because a time is coming when the adversary will put our calling to the test. When that day comes, will the public know us by our love?
DAILY PRAYER A Prayer for Protection of our Hearts
Lord, we know that a time will come when we disagree with one another or with others we are called to serve. When those times go, convict us of any haughtiness or pride we might be feeling so that we can meet those disagreements with grace and love. Give us the patience to deal with one other's faults as well as we celebrate our strengths. Compared to the patience and understand you show us on a daily basis, how we can claim to speak your name and not show a fraction of the same to those in our lives? We are so often too weak, but in you we find strength and refuge. Illuminate our path as we negotiate our next steps during times of celebration and times of trial so that our lives, and our church journey, would remain a testament to those inside and outside the walls of any home or building.
All glory and victory goes to you, and you alone. Amen.
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