I am reading Todd Hunter’s short book entitled, The Accidental Anglican about his journey from Jesus People to Anglicanism. I am particularly interested because both of us started out in the same place. In the first part of the book he lends a quote from James Lloyd Breck, Anglican leader from the 1800’s. It is important to me because I run into so many “Jesus yes, the church is superfluous (that is a positive spin on their view of the church)" people.
Here's the quote:
“It is base cowardice to run away from the church because she is not what she ought to be, and thereby leave her to those who care naught for her claims.”
It kind of reminds me of Augustine’s line about the church: “She a whore, but she’s my mother.” Always a tension, but for me, I can’t shake the wonder of the people of God attempting, even though haltingly, to live out the Jesus life.
What do you think of Breck's challenging words?
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I like your comments Robb. They have more resonances than you realise. Still may I ask the question – should not part of our mission field be those who in their broken-heartedness walked away from their dreams. Should we not seek to heal the dreamers that they may dream once more?
Thanks for commenting everyone. I appreciate it. Mark, I totally empathize with your comments. Cowardice may be a bit too strong. Not only that, anyone who has been in the church for long is going to take some lumps. What is that line about “The church shooting it’s wounded?” I certainly have taken my share of ill-treatment. To say I have a bittersweet relationship with the church would be a colossal understatement.
That being said, the wounded and fed-up are ontologically the church as well…still. You can’t not be in if you are a believer. You may choose not to participate, but you there is no opt-out. (I Corinthians 12)
The funny thing is, Breck also wrote, “I have had enough of governing. A young man should never be permitted to exercise rule…I care not for being…the head. I have had enough of that for a lifetime.” Sounds like he got frustrated or injured some as well.
The bottom line for me is, regardless of my duress or wounding or frustration or desire, just like I cannot leave my wife when things get rough, I don’t think I get to leave the “Bride” just because she becomes “whorey.” (I think I just made up a word)
I love this by Derek Webb –
I’ve often wondered if the whole “liking Jesus but not the church” thing doesn’t come from a lack of prophetic leadership, and many times those who leave having a call to be prophetic but innately knowing how tough it will be. In that sense, I think it can be cowardice.
But maybe what’s most important is that if we walk away because of the church’s flaws, we miss the ways that we are being complicit in the process. I’ve experienced a lot of misguided but correct criticism ignored because it sounds like somebody is stirring up trouble, but I wonder if maybe it’s a lack of training in how the prophetic operates. I wonder how much the whole “have it your way” mentality we’ve created of church feeds into this, and I wonder how much we need to push back against individualism.
Back to Breck’s statement, I’ll point out one thing, in that sometimes people view a number of us church planters as having given up on church because we’re doing something new, and to that, I’d respond with a very strong insistence that it’s because I believe in what the whole church can be, that I put in the hours and hours for a church plant. Because I believe if we can show there’s better ways of doing things, then maybe those entrenched might be able to see it and have a chance too.
Powerful stuff. Not to resolved before Rev. 19 comes to pass but struggle on we must, just like with sin itself.
I am reminded of a blog a friend of mine put together. He simply asked for those how had previously been in full time ministry but who had to walk away to post a picture of themselves and leave their stories. They replied in their thousands, most heartbroken and picking up the pieces of their lives. Many also replied had not been in ministry but who bore many a wound from their experience of Church. I know this is not quite on your question. However maybe ‘are they cowards’ is the wrong starting point? Especially if our ministry is that of reconciliation. If the church were a harbinger of grace and love; a prophetic demonstration of his presence they wouldn’t need cajoled.