I want to be angry with the church. I really want to go on a Facebook ranting spree and righteously defend the gospel and the reputation of Jesus. I really, really want to instigate arguments on every anti-Muslim, pro-immigration-ban post I see and respond with condescending remarks and the occasional bible verse to accuse people of not being Christ-like and arrogantly prove I’m right. Kind of like a modern-day Peter, except instead of taking a swing at someone’s ear with a sword to defend Jesus I would just leave some serious theological bruises on their ego. But something tells me that’s also not Christ-like. And as much as I want to be angry with the church, I’m just not—at least not right now. God has moved me to compassion for the western church. That’s kind of annoying to me. I’d rather be angry.
The mainstream American church has let down the very people Jesus commissioned us to share hope and salvation with. There is no excuse or justification for that. Christianity in this country has become more about self-preservation and protection than loving God and loving people. We have let fear rule our decisions. Fear of foreigners, fear of losing our security, fear of discomfort, fear of inconvenience, and ultimately fear that God isn’t really who he says he is. I’m sorely disappointed and heartbroken thinking of all the people who have a bitter taste in their mouths because of the American church. There are broken, hurting people everywhere who are desperate for hope and we have shut them out, whether by being okay with physically preventing them from entering or by barreling over them with our whitewashed-tomb Christianity.
But even as I write this, I’m not angry with the church. Not because I don’t think what’s happening in this country isn’t a big deal, but because I know the gospel is more powerful than anything that might threaten Christianity with a bad reputation. I know that those who claim to know Christ but deny him with their deeds are broken and in desperate need of an encounter with Jesus. The division in our country is not new, but it is a reminder of how futile it is to hope in anyone other than Christ. And though some days I wonder how anyone could possibly want to know God when Christians make him look so bad, God reminds me that he looks good by himself because he is good. I am comforted by that and the fact that the message of the gospel is true always, not just when Christians are acting like it’s true.
God has determined to declare his glory and his name to the nations and nothing will stop that. God will keep proclaiming good news to the poor, binding up the broken-hearted, declaring freedom for captives, and turning sinners into saints. The saving grace of Christ is more powerful and full of truth than anything nominal Christians can do to make Christianity unattractive. The unity Christ is bringing to his body of believers is stronger than the division any country could succumb to. Christ is enough to save and his heart for the lost is sufficient to bring them to repentance and adoption as sons and daughters of God. Christ is enough and his message of hope will continue turning wandering and weary feet toward home until he completes the work he started.
