We have lost our way

Benjamin F. Plybon

As I write these first words I realize my words will surely anger many Christians.  But I feel these are dire times for Christianity and most of the people sitting in church pews each Sunday are unaware of that fact. We are an endangered species in the USA.  Far too many good people are abandoning our churches.  Many simply ignore churches and religion as of no consequence.  Our Christian leaders have failed miserably.

There are others who could write a similar evaluation of the state of Christianity, some better qualified than I, but they have chosen not to do so. I have waited for someone to write this sad truth.  I take no pleasure in angering other Christians, including many of my friends, and I assure the reader I have no intention condemning Christians or Christianity in this commentary.  The thesis of this writing is that Christianity, as known today, is far short of what it was meant to be, should be and could be.  During the 1968 election campaign Robert Kennedy said,

“Some look at the world around us today and ask why, but I look around the world to day and see it as it could be and ask, Why not?”

Borrowing that thought we might equally well apply it to the churches today and say,

“Some observers look around at the church as it is today and ask why?  I look at the church as it could be and ask, Why not?”              

            Jesus must be very sad and disappointed as he observes from heaven, Christians and their religious activities: worship services that are powerless as worship services, so many sermons and Sunday school lessons that distort the gospel and mislead the members of congregations because of ignorance of the truth.  Real Christianity is a beautiful, powerful thing, containing much wisdom given to his followers by Jesus.  Christianity today is not. Christianity is not ugly today, but it is just a bland, powerless thing; not beautiful and certainly not regarded by the world as a fountain of wisdom.  Most people looking at Christians and their churches see neither beauty nor wisdom.

In the verses, John 4:13-14, we read,

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,  but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

If you are looking for water to quench your thirst at the local church you had better hope there is one of those metal water fountains in the hallway. 

            Many believe today the Christian church is a failing, and disappearing, piece of our culture worldwide; that does seem to be true of the culture in the USA, in Great Britain and most of Europe.  But there is evidence of strength and growth in Africa, South America and parts of Asia. God forbid that all Christian churches in Western nations decide to close their doors. Membership is declining, churches are failing as human enterprises, and closing by the dozens every day; the quality of pastors is declining.  I see no new Billy Grahams, Dwight Moodys or John Wesleys on the horizon.  Where is the next Martin Luther? Certainly not in our midst.

            As Christians we are falsely represented in the media by the string of TV evangelists and the politicians promoting their brand of religion as Christian when it is not.  The public observes these people and shake their heads thinking, “If that’s a Christian count me out. That’s not for me.” We are ridiculed by the non Christians surrounding us, the butt of the humor of comedians, and discounted by intellectuals.              Many simply ignore us, believing the Christian church is irrelevant today. So many politicians, claiming to be Christians, have become viewed as the worst of those Christian “hypocrites.”  How often are Christian church-goers described as hypocrites?  Too many outsiders believe most people inside the local church are just that.  But, our Christian churches are not filled with hypocrites or uninformed souls. I know that.

            Much of our trouble is bad PR, as the truth about Christians is distorted by the media.  But we do have serious problems within.  We are not all hypocrites but too many are.  It is easy to claim our PR problems are due to those mean, stupid atheists, but we, the Christians, are most of the problem.  As a well known comic strip character put it, “We have met the enemy and the enemy is us.”  It is time to admit our share of the blame.

            I love the church and my Christian friends, so I do not enjoy writing these words.  Most sad to me is the fact that I have reason to believe these words are true .  I am not theorizing about today’s Christians and their churches.  I write these words after more than 35 years living as a Christian, attending churches, attending Sunday school classes and sometimes teaching classes.  I have spent many years living amidst Christians; observing Christians of various sizes, shapes and ages in a variety of locations.  I am the spouse of a retired Methodist Clergywoman, who served as pastor of several different churches, over a thirty year period, before retirement. My wife was a very good pastor, better than most I’ve known, respected by most church members and colleagues, and I am sure she is equally disappointed in the state of our Christian churches today.

            I became a Christian in the fall of 1975, at the age of 45, after many years firmly resisting efforts by well meaning Christians hoping to convert me, from pagan to a Christian.  I was amazed to discover after more study of the Bible, particularly the Gospels, and those beautiful stories about Jesus, I had misunderstood Christianity and the Christians I had met over the years.  Belief in the resurrection of Jesus and the sermon on the mount sounds like foolishness to most non Christians.  That is why they are non Christians.  After learning the truth, I realized the view of Christianity I had formed in my mind was false, and should be rejected by any thinking person.  Many non Christians make that same mistake. Viewed from outside the church doors, Christianity can easily be misunderstood.  Speakers that represent Christians often present to their hearers a mixture of truth and errors; difficult to separate by the uninformed, as I once was.  The truths are beautiful and inspiring.  The errors usually are not.

            I had rejected a view of Christianity, their Bible, God and Jesus, that was not the real Christianity that grew out of the teaching of Jesus, Peter and Paul.  I needed help from Christian friends who did know the truth about their faith and could explain to me. When I was fortunate to discover the truth about Jesus, the Gospel and the Christianity of those first followers, I realized my rejection as an error.  I know now, Jesus was an amazing man, the Gospel is good news, Peter and Paul were not foolish men trying to trick people into following a false savior. 

            The Gospel preached by Paul and Peter was more than just words.  The Holy Spirit gave these men the words and they preached those words with power. You do not hear such sermons today when listening to the TV evangelists.  I have heard some great sermons preached in pulpits of local churches on a Sunday morning, but these are rare.  Much of their presentation of the Gospel is a pretense of deep faith, following a script, acted out by actors with no believable talent for acting.  Get another day job, reverend.  Those listeners are thirsty people searching, and wondering, where is that living water?  I want to drink and thirst no more.

            Many people, including church members and denomination leaders, know these words I am writing, are true .  For various reasons they do not feel comfortable writing or speaking out about this plain and blunt truth.  The experts on churches, aware of the problem, write books and articles presenting the solution as changes in programs or administration structure to operate more efficiently.  Emphasis is placed on finance or church attendance at worship services.  But the solution cannot be found there.  The problem is within us and any solution requires change within each one of us.  Where is the Holy Spirit within that Jesus, Peter and Paul promised to every believer?  We have a missing person problem. 

            Other observers of the current state of our churches have written mild forms of commentary, pulling their punches, leaving a lukewarm ineffective message.  I can tell it like it is with nothing to fear but the wrath of God;  the wrath I would certainly deserve if I did not speak out.  Jesus told us, “The truth shall make you free.”  Even Christians do not realize how true those words are; because they do not feel free.  Where is this mysterious freedom?  Along with the missing Holy Spirit.  Have we been quenching the Spirit within us?

            At least one writer in the past, son of a pastor, and Christian of a sort, did make a hard, stern attack on Christian churches and their leaders in a book first published in 1942.  There was much truth in his words but he went overboard in his criticism. I believe there were some serious errors in his view of Jesus and the church of his day; errors clear to any informed Christian.  So his commentary probably had of no effect on Christians or the churches.  It just helped him sell books. 

            In 1955, long before I became a Christian, during the time when I still resisted Christian invitations to their churches, I picked up a copy of this book called, GENERATION OF VIPERS, written by Philip Wylie.  In 1955, I loved the book and still have a copy on my bookshelf.  The book was first published in 1942 and had gone through several editions.  It was a very popular book and probably sold millions of copies.  At the time of my reading in 1955 I loved the book and it became one of my favorites.  I was an agnostic at that time, not an atheist.  As a young college student I lapped up his harsh criticism of our politicians, economy and businesses, educational system, including universities, all of our mom and pie American way on life. 

            He did not leave religion out.  He included one chapter that began with a claim that Christianity, as intended by the Man on the Cross, had not been taught in Christian churches for 2000 years.  Knowing very little about Christianity, churches or church members I read the book as if it were gospel truth.  I know today, much of his harsh criticism of churches and church members is true for some, but he presented an inaccurate view of Jesus, Christianity, church members, and religion in general.  To him Jesus was just an unusually insightful psychologist, not the Son of God; just a good man. Wrong, Philip. Jesus was much more than that.  Wylie was a good writer and his work was very interesting for a young man indifferent to churches and their religion, but misleading. 

            I know better as an old man who has lived and worked among Christians many years.  On the positive note I will say many of those Christians I have known since 1975 were for real, great people who knew what they believed.  Not hypocrites or feeble-minded believers. Others, unfortunately had no clear idea what Christianity was really about.  Many believe and practice false versions of Christianity, very damaging to the image of Christians in the world out there. But they sit in our churches today and lend some credence to Wylie’s 1942 commentary on Christians and their churches.  It is true , unfortunately, some of the meanest, most unpleasant, uninformed people I have ever met were attending church regularly and waving their copy of the Bible at everyone, advertising, “look at me and my Holy Book.”  As Mark Twain put it, there are people in our churches who have enough religion to hate people but not enough to love their neighbors. These people attend church for a variety of reasons. Not very Holy.  But fortunately, most Christians are good kind people at least trying to follow Jesus. 

            In 1978, my wife began a career as pastor of  Methodist churches.  We had been serious Christians for the previous three years, after I “got religion” as we say down in West Virginia.  I attended church every Sunday and loved it.  Bonnie had attended church regularly for all of her life, but now she was moving on to a higher level of spiritual growth.  When she felt drawn to become a pastor of a church, a servant of God, others confirmed her call and encouraged her to go to seminary and become ordained.  There were obstacles to overcome, but my wife did go to seminary, and in 1979 she was invited by Methodists to become a Methodist Minister.  So she did, and we lived happily ever after. Well, not like totally, as the valley girls say, but it was good. “God has been good”, as Methodists often say.

            I found this new life to be very exciting and satisfying.  At that time, I was a university professor, tenured faculty member at a good university, so I remained in my position, but I became active in her churches.  After the first year, as Bonnie served a small Methodist church, some disillusion began to creep in.  We came into this new life with a high view of church life and Christianity.  I still have a very high view of Christianity and the Christian way of life, as presented by those first followers of Jesus, but the Christianity we see in the churches today is very different from that of Peter and Paul.  Christians today bear little resemblance to those first century Christians.

            Soon after those first few years in her new life, Bonnie found the job of pastoring a church can be very difficult and stressful.  There were many problems.  At that time, women as pastors of churches were still a new feature of Methodism. Many church members incorrectly interpreted some of the verses in Paul’s Epistles as forbidding women as pastors.  Knowledgeable students of the Bible know that is not true .  Far too many church members did not treat kindly Lady pastors, such as Bonnie, in those days.  Church going people can be very unkind, demanding creatures, showing very little Christian love.  One Amy Grant song, popular in the eighties, is about that situation.  It’s called, “What About the Love?”  Good question for all Christians.  On one occasion church leaders criticized Bonnie for “preaching about love too much.”  But that is central to the Christian Gospel.  So we wondered.  Didn’t Jesus give a new commandment, people?

            John 15:12  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

            I became concerned about Bonnie’s health, physically and emotionally.  I know now why many new pastors quit soon because they find they cannot stand up under the stress.  Some churches are identified by pastors as “Pastor killer churches.”  You don’t want to be appointed to that one by the Bishop.  Sad but true .  More than once, my wife was crucified on a cross constructed from hate and ignorance. But with God’s help she survived.  She was “crucified” by modern Pharisees who did not realize what they were doing.  She put into practice the message she preached.  She forgave her persecutors and continued to love them.  She was not the only pastor with such experiences.  There have been many and that is no secret.  Bishops and District Superintendents are well aware of this sad fact about their churches. I believe all churches identified by the pastors as “killer churches” should be disowned as Christian and closed.  Strange as it may seem, many such churches continue their “Killing ways” , tormenting and persecuting young pastors, year after year.

            I am aware these words may seem overly negative and critical for some readers, but I believe the Christian Church is in big trouble.  Christian churches can be redeemed by God, working with the concerned Christians in our churches.  Just as in the case of alcoholics, we must first confess our sins and turn back to God. 

            Some think the cure is found in restructuring church institutions and changing procedures, administrative changes. I do not agree. That is the way with corporations and other institutions in the world, but not the Church.  The church is not a business, corporation or an educational institution.  Our purpose is to preserve the message of the gospel given to the world by Jesus and passed on by his followers.  Even Medieval Monks knew that.  Next, that message needs to be communicated to the people of the world as faithfully and effectively as we can.  We have not done that.  On the pages of our Bibles we find the Gospel preserved.  The preachers today pick and chose scriptures to prepare Sunday messages, often omitting vital pieces of that gospel message.  The visible result is failure as a church. 

            I do not claim to have a cure of all the problems of Churches and their Christian message.  But two vital pieces of the solution of the problem can be given.  One key piece is no secret, but underestimated, or ignored by many.  Before ascending, returning to his Father in heaven, when Jesus left his followers, he gave them a message.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

                                                                                                                        Acts 1:8

First, Christians are meant to be witnesses.  We have not done that well for decades, maybe centuries.  For two reasons.  Most Christians have nothing to witness to.  They have been taught Christianity with meaningless words and no power in the message.  There is no empowering experience to motivate and energize. The witnessing required by Christians requires the power of the Spirit.  Jesus is ready to give that today to those who ask and do not reject this free gift.  Jesus said, his followers would receive power to witness.  Not just then but forever.  That power is available to every Christian and every church congregation today.  Where did it go?  Where is it today?  Such power is rarely visible in individual Christians or congregations today.  Only a few pastors have experienced the power Jesus offers. Why not?  The answer to that question is no secret.  It is ignored.

            At the last supper, Jesus said something very important, but rarely mentioned in churches today.  We need to remember and believe.  Read the words in Mark 14:24.  Similar words are found in Matthew and Luke.

 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.

At this point Jesus announced he was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31

 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant

               with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”

Since the coming of Jesus, and his death and resurrection, his followers live by a new covenant.  Not living by law, as required by the old covenant, represented by the Law of Moses.  This was the message given to the Galatians by Paul.

            Christians do not live by a set of rules to memorize.  We are meant to be guided and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus, living within every Christian believer.  This is a major part of the message Paul gave to The Galatians.  In other writings he also preached we are ministers of a new covenant.  But not today, it seems.  Most Christians today are still living under the old covenant.  This was precisely the problem with Christianity as understood and practiced by those first century Galatians.  All Christians today need to read and study the Epistle to Galatians.  Our Pastors need to remember and preach this message, just as Paul did. With the new covenant came Pentecost, and the power of the Holy Spirit came, empowering Christians to live faithfully under the new covenant.

            New covenant Christians become a new creation; familiar words to those who have read Paul’s letters.  Christians are intended to be a new kind of person.  It is apparent that message is not understood by Christians today because it has not been preached and explained by preachers.  Maybe they also don’t understand?  The result of ignoring these simple facts, so clearly presented in the New Testament scriptures, is a body of Christians, powerless, and certainly not new creations, as preached by Paul.  This is true of both lay and clergy to the highest level.  We have become people struggling to obey the Law of Moses, or some set of human made rules, slaves to a code of conduct, and are viewed by the rest of the world as strange, unpleasant, unattractive people.  Where is our freedom and joy?  Religious efforts like Moral Majority, purely old covenant thinking, replaced when Jesus died on a cross, is laughed at by the rest of the world.  Those first Christians were fascinating to others who watched them.  They were admired, not spit upon.  I fear we have lost our way.  

            But there is hope.  We need only to pray for the guidance and help that can only come from above.  With God, all things are possible; without God all is lost.  We need only ask for forgiveness for our failure to be faithful followers of Jesus, truly new creations, filled with that spirit that produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness.  As spirit filled new creations, we can be put back on track and become the Christian church we were expected to be.

            Every Christian needs to look around at their own church and their life. We must begin with an honest look at today’s church and then adopt changes as God leads us.  The NASA engineers would say we need a “course correction”,  just like a probe aimed at Mars on a course that will lead them into the Sun, and a fiery death, if no correction is made.  What do we see around us in our churches every day?  We must be realistic about our Christian church life.  We must think while we listen to God and then we must act. We need to pray for help from above.  We can never be the people we need to be, or the church God desires, without guidance from the Father in heaven.  We have lost our way like lost sheep but the Shepherd will point the way.