Wednesday, July 25, 2001
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Wednesday, July 25, 2001 |
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How about a piece of humble pie? By REV JOHN HATCHER It seems today that the church serves as a platform to distinguish the haves from the have-nots, contrary to its intentional moorings. Read on. First, within the gathered congregation, we are called to acknowledge the differences between the faithful and the unfaithful. Usually by selected criteria, believers are divided into two camps: the ones who show up all the time, pay their tithe and the ones who show up irregularly and hardly pay a tithe. Some have faithfulness and some don't. Most of us know in which camp we have been placed. Second, there's the divide between the spiritual and the carnal. The spiritual are moving toward Christ-likeness in behavior and spirit. The carnal act like little children tending toward division and schism. The Apostle Paul lifts up this distinction which gives it great validity; however, too many embrace the "spiritual" characterization as a put down to the carnal ones: "Thank God I am not like those carnal Christians." Third, the "charismatic gifts" further divide the church into those who have the gift of tongues and those who do not have the gift of tongues. Of course, I believe all gifts of the Holy Spirit are still operative today, as they were 2000 years ago. But, this distinction facilitates pride among some believers: "I have been baptized in the Spirit and have the gift of tongues." Regardless of the reality of such, it often engenders two classes of church folks: those who have gone on to an upper level of spirituality and those who are still on the floor of faith. Fourth, the concept of prosperity provides a rather recent fork in the road to Christian maturity. Now, many pulpits pontificate that if you, literally, do not have, your faith is weak and wanting. On the other hand, if you are driving a Mercedes, living in a $300,000 house, and are wearing the right labels, indeed you are growing in your relationship with God. Indeed, you are moving on up! So, believers are gathering into camps. Churches are becoming known for what kind of camp claptrap they communicate. We are beginning to define the parameters with whom we have fellowship by virtue of those who believe within our camp. This is anathema to the Christian faith. I want to refer to Dr. Karl Barth, respected theologian and Bible scholar of the 20th century. He said, "Genuine fellowship is grounded upon a negative: it is grounded upon what men lack. Precisely when we recognize that we are sinners do we perceive that we are brothers." Barth indicated in the same writing that there exists no positive possession of humankind that can be used to bring us together. All possessions tend toward division with the worldwide Body of Christ: it divides the haves from the have-nots. Some questions: what is common to all people? That we are sinners by nature and choice. The fact that we are all sinners provides the most common and inclusive "have" of all people everywhere. It unites a believer living in a mud hut in the middle of Africa with a fat rich cat of the Christian kind living in Buckhead. That we are sinners unites a tongue-speaking Charismatic with a backslidden Baptist. Remember the Biblical scene as Jesus saw two men at prayer: one was a pride-filled Pharisee who prayed, ""God, I thank you I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." The tax collector would not even lift his eyes as he prayed, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner." Jesus said that the tax collector went to his house justified and not the Pharisee, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:10-14). How about a piece of humble pie? I think many of us need to have some!
The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville. |
