Dear Church...
A letter to the Church of Jesus Christ in the South Bay
Sunday, 18 September 2022
Dear Church of Jesus Christ in the South Bay,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have never seen the Christian movement in our region, more vulnerable than I do at this moment. Significant pastoral transitions have been announced or may be soon. These are opportunities for honor or dishonor which is destiny seed—portending a cycle if not a century of harvesting of honor or dishonor. These are also opportunities for earnest seeking, intercession, leaning in towards one another, and faith. Or they are opportunities for personal agenda, manipulation, anxiety, and scattering.
If you drew a circumference line—a 15-mile-drive-circle from right here—the three largest, most influential congregations have all experienced internal leadership crisis. One closed and the other two have been profoundly damaged. One of them and the beloved people of that great congregation are reeling again this weekend. Whenever this happens, some portion stays, some shuffle on to other places, and many quietly drift away from the Christian community, not so much because they apostatizing. No, they are wondering if their spiritual life could be more intact apart from the church than in the church. The potential faith wreckage and loss in the next generation is the unmeasured damage and untold story of these acutely painful seasons (Matthew 18.6).
This is no time for gloating, and certainly no time for finger-pointing or sheep-poaching. We are not better. We all have been through seasons of frailty and failure. No, it is time to weep and mourn and repent.
We must repent the vapidity of our discipleship and vacuous character in both priest and people (Hosea 4.9).
We must repent from being consumers or purveyors of religious products or experiences.
We must repent of being more discipled by CNN or FOX than by the Scriptures that point to the Lamb who has begun his reign (Revelation 5.6)
We must repent of our fixation and following of celebrity leaders instead of cruciform servants of the Gospel.
We leaders must repent of our praylessness, platform-building, and power-moves.
Dear Church, so much for which to repent. We have grown in times of persecution and even martyrdom. But our own commitment to comfort, and celebrity, and consumer preference is killing us. No, the Church won’t die—Jesus promised to build his Church and Hell’s gates would not prevail against her (Matthew 16.18). But the actual Church—the Christian movement in particular places in real regions have atrophied in attendance, and worse, in affection for the Bridegroom, Jesus. This has led us to powerlessness—love grown cold—candlestick removed.
Take note, this is not being done to us by others. There is no outside villain—no easy target for our blame. We are doing this to ourself. We have become known for finger-pointing instead of raising holy hands (1 Timothy 2.8).
Enough.
This is more than a matter of our survival.
This is a matter of the credibility of Jesus’ Church in this region.
Why would they listen to us if all we offer is more power grabs, more brutality, more conflict, more blame, more posturing, more performance?
And in it all, the message of the cross of Jesus Christ is co-opted and covered, invisibly buried under the methods of Pharaoh’s tricks, Baal’s lies, Babylon’s pride, Barabbas’ sword, Pilate’s calculations, Herod’s decadence, Caesar’s, the Dragon’s, and the Beast’s way. This is not the way of the cross. This is not the way of the Lamb. This is not the way of Jesus.
Enough.
If we live by the sword, we will die by the sword (Matthew 26.52). As Jesus told Peter, he tells us his Church to put away the fleshly sword, for the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God (Ephesians 6.17).
We need the Word to reveal the depth of our sickness.
We need the Word to reveal the healing balm and presence of our Great Physician, Jesus.
Not just a once-upon-a-time Gospel, but that eternal word that for us now and here.
Not just in those poor churches with those poor pastors, but in this poor church with this poor pastor.
Are we aware of our neediness?
Are we aware of our desperation?
Today, I’m calling for three days of prayer and fasting. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Psalm 67 will provide the theme for these days. The Geneva Bible’s introduction to this Psalm of blessing starts “A prayer of the Church to obtain the favor of God and to be lightened with his countenance.” I’d like us to pray for God’s favor for three specific matters during these three days. Like most of our problems, it is fitting that they all begin with “I”.
Independence: That God would exorcise our independent and competitive spirit and fill us fresh with the Spirit of unity displayed by growing bonds of affection between us. That we would be more than churches in the South Bay, but we would be the Church of Jesus Christ in the South Bay.
Impotence: That God would replace our spiritual impotence with power from on high. That we would no longer look to ourselves or the experts for solutions to our malaise, but we would call on the Spirit who gives life and renewal to the Church.
Identity: That God would remind us that our core identity runs deeper than denominational or non-denominational label, deeper than partisan affiliation, deeper than ethnicity or socio-economic category. We are Christ’s Church. We belong not to ourselves, but to the One who made us and gave his life for us.
During these days, you can pray on your own, or join us here in the Trinity Sanctuary from 6-7 AM on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Beloved Church in the South Bay, Jesus is covenantally committed to us—we are his bride. He wants our attention.
It is time to turn to Him.
On your own or together, will you join me in some way?
May the peace of the Good Shepherd of the sheep guard us—lead us—provide for us, his one flock
Psalm 67 (The Geneva Bible)
1 A prayer of the Church to obtain the favor of God and to be lightened with his countenance. 2 To the end that his way and judgment may be known throughout the earth. 3 And finally is declared the kingdom of God, which should be universally erected at the coming of Christ.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalm or song.
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine among us. (Selah.)
2 That they may know thy way upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.
4 Let the people be glad and rejoice: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our God shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Praying
Blessings to you and all who listen...and act.
Our relationship with Him is most critical. When that is healthy, our "family relationships" fall into place.
I will pray for this specific request. I will seek Him and follow His directions. I am grateful for the "voices of the other shepherds" that share wisdom.
"Lord God, today, more than ever, we need your Love, Discernment, Peace and Strength. In Jesus' name, Amen".