What a healing church might look like
- Rev. David L. Decker
- Oct 17, 2007
It is no secret that the church often behaves in ways
that hurt people.
Such behavior results from the fact that the church is
made up of flawed individuals. Sometimes
we try to pretend that is not the case, and when we do, the pain we inflict is
even more destructive. As a minister, I
try to remember that the way in which my church and I share our faith can
either hurt or heal people.
Ruminating
on that recently, I tried to imagine what a congregation that was a healing
entity would look like.
I
begin by imagining a congregation that has give up the pretense that it has all
the answers. The answers to life’s deep
questions lie with the God we worship.
The task of a congregation is not to proclaim answers it does not have,
but to journey together toward the God to whom we trust when we cannot know the
answers.
I
imagine, as well, a congregation that builds bridges rather than walls. Such a congregation would see mission and
ministry as its reason for existence. It
would envision people as the object of God’s love and would find ways of
incarnating that love.
I
imagine a congregation that holds the person of Christ at its center and seeks
to be like him. This would mean
centering attention on Jesus Christ, not on doctrines and dogma. It would mean interpreting the Bible through
the eyes of Christ.
I
envision, as well, a congregation that sees the Lord’s Table as a place where
Christ welcomes all people. This
congregation would not say to the world, “Get your act together and then come
and see us.” It would say, “Join us as
we all attempt to get our act together with Christ’s help.”
Finally,
I envision a church that would not see people of other faith traditions as
enemies, but as fellow travelers on a pilgrim journey through this fragile
world. It would understand that hatred
is never an option.
I
know, of course, that such a congregation would stumble along the way because
it is made up of humans. When it
stumbled, however, it would be humble, and when it was successful it would
never be arrogant.
That
is the church of which I dream.
The Rev. David L. Decker is
pastor of East Mesa Christian Church,
Previously printed in the
East Valley Tribune, copyright 2007.
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