by Ray McGovern
The ‘institutional church’ is the last thing Jesus had in mind. WE are the church. And there is not a scintilla of evidence that he thought his presence in history would prevent us from worshiping with his Jewish brothers and sisters. So when we say we are the church, we ought to include all. All who trace their origins to the way God revealed God’s self to Abraham…and not exclusively to Abraham.
So, okay. How often have you heard it already? “We are the church.” But what does that mean for those who continue to struggle in churches, synagogues, mosques where the vast majority do not get the Justice message of Yahweh, Jesus of Nazareth and the Prophet? What does it all mean for those of us who have expended an unconscionable amount of energy trying to work for reform and Justice from within the institutional church?
Some, I am sure, are called to continue to work from within. But for those to whom the “unconscionable” adjective applies, well, let’s grow up. Let’s figure out more effective ways to get back to what Yahweh, Jesus and the Prophet intended. Basically, it’s a no-brainer: Truth, Justice and (only then) Peace.
And we need to find ways to do it together.
So, more meetings? Not large ones; small groups will do it: discern what might be an unconscionable waste of energy and what has some prospect of becoming a witness that might, just might, be…well, a witness.
Henri Nouwen wrote: “If we decide to wait until we cover all our bases, nothing exciting is going to happen.”
Who wants to do something exciting? In my view, if we “get” it–the gospel message–then WE are the one’s we’ve been waiting for.
We have learned from experienced to start small. Let each small group discover its call and then DO that call. God knows where such a thing might lead!
Ray McGovern is a former CIA analyst who writes and speaks through the mission called Tell the Word/Speaking Truth to Power.
