October 01, 2020 | Letters from the Lead Pastor by Brandon Lenhart
Sir Douglas Haig said, “The Church of Christ [the Christian Church] is the world’s only social hope and the sole promise of peace.” And, how true this is! The Church is the only hope left for peace within this broken and fallen world in which we live; thus, our mission as the Church is to continue to give witness to the Good News of the saving grace of Jesus Christ so that others may experience the peace that truly passes all understanding.
There are distinctive (as well there should be) between the Church and the world. The influence of the Church should be felt within the culture. However, as history bears witness, God’s people throughout history have often allowed the world to influence the Church in ways that all too often betray our worship of God. The ramifications of this betrayal results in destructive behaviors and actions that ultimately lead to the consequences of the judgment. Plainly put, judgment is God’s withdrawal from His people and society and His allowing them to reap the consequences of their own destructive behaviors.
In a rather lengthy quote, Ellen T. Charry describes the problem that exists between the Church and the culture:
“Our culture is now crazed with the need to be in constant communication, in touch with everyone in our life. The other day I saw two people having lunch together in a restaurant, each on their cell phone talking to someone else. Now that, I suggest, expresses a fear of self, as if our identities would melt away if others were not validating our existence. It suggests dissatisfaction with being where one is or with one’s present company. It exemplifies the frazzled style we are all forced to adopt, with its haunting ‘to do’ lists and never enough time to the point of exhaustion. This culture now indwells us so thoroughly that we think that being overextended is normal. Those in whom God dwells have no such anxieties. The emptiness that the frenetic activity tries to still is not there. There is nowhere better to be than where one is, for God is there too. There is no one better to be with than one’s present company because where two or three are gathered in His name, He shall be in their midst. And the one who bears God’s redeeming power in himself/herself always brings God along, no matter what the gathering” (The Community of the Word, 277).
With this in mind, let’s go and be the Church, and let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Let us hold high the light of Christ as we deny ourselves daily and take up our cross, and finally, let us advance the Kingdom of God for His sake and His glory!
