Relevance

The convergence of the Holy Week lectionary texts from Jeremiah and a friend's morning meditation call forth an unusual topic for Lent - influence, or perhaps more correctly, relevance. There is a sense among many Christians that the place of religion in society is changing for the worse, that in matters of importance, the views of the church are no longer a force for change.

It's not that the church is out of the news. From abuse by priests to book burnings to political movements to ministry bankruptcies, there is plenty of high profile talk about churches. And there is seemingly no end to discussion of such topics as gay marriage and abortion. And there can be no denying that Christianity-based aid organizations are among the most effective in efficiency, speed of response and global reach. So, on the one hand, it seems the world pays most attention to those aspects of religious practice that are on the fringe, while many central tenets are being effectively carried out.

What, then, is causing this feeling that Christianity is on the decline? Part of it certainly relates to the falling number of churches and reduced church attendance. Some of it can be traced to increasing diversity and creeping political correctness. Perhaps fanatical religious terrorism is giving faithfulness a bad name. Or maybe the rise of technology is pushing out older support structures in society. Blame has been laid on everything from separation of church and state movements to lower enrollment in seminaries to Western views on individual responsibility to post-modern relativism (whatever that really means).

Regardless of the source, it seems that fascination with the state of religious institutions misses several critical points. First, though Christians view the church as Jesus' hands and feet, still at work within the world, the structure of the institution was of no concern to Jesus. He worked both within and outside the synagogues of His day and almost nothing of His teachings addresses individual churches. Second, 'the church', discussed as if it was a single, monolithic body, is in reality a divergent group of organizations that often are at odds with each other. Even within single denominations, it can be a struggle to hold the faithful together under one creed. Third, formal participation in a church is an incomplete measure of faith, at best. Especially in light of ongoing revelations and inept management of abuse allegations, there are many who refuse to practice in standard ways. There are many additional factors, but perhaps the strongest is that God has never been limited to acting through the church. He can and does minister to His people through individuals, even through the unchurched.

So what are good Christians to do? Foremost, they must remember that Jesus did not come to create an earthly institution. He came to rescue individual souls, now as then, and everything He was and is starts and stops there. In light of this, Christians should be exhorted to apply their efforts individually, to their own piety and to the needs of specific neighbors. Under this model, the highest calling for the organized church is to nurture believers in their spiritual growth and to provide opportunities for the building of relationships. At their core, these are the goals of traditional Lenten practices - new practices should be similarly motivated. Once grounded in a vibrant faith and in relation to others, especially those oppressed or in need, Christians will find they are relevant in all the ways God desires.

May God strengthen you through your Lenten observances, that you might be a shining example of faithfulness to Him.