Bob's Blog

Yes, I DO have days when I don’t like my job!  There are times when the church frustrates the heck out of me – days when I think that the only thing that will ever change it, is its death!  But fortunately, those days are few and far between.  Most of the time, I love the Church . . . And today was definitely one of those days.  Worship at GA always does that for me.  It’s one of the few times when our denominational leaders don’t just SAY they want worship diversity, but they live it out.  Yes, we’re still stuck with prayers of confession rooted in old ways of understanding sin and forgiveness, and prayer is too often just talking to a God who we believe is all about responding to our pleas and requests, but most of the time, our denomination does worship well.  

Cynthia Bolbach, the outgoing Moderator, who’s been battling cancer since she was installed two years ago, was wheeled to the pulpit; and upon reading the story of the people cutting a hole in the roof of a home where Jesus was speaking, all in an attempt to allow a needy man to see Jesus, she reminded us that that was the goal of the church.  Our challenge, charge, and great joy, was and is to bring people into the presence of the Christ.  And during the closing hymn, as hundreds sang “God Bless your Church with Strength,” commissioners and advisory delegates were led to the meeting hall to consider how the PCS(USA) might best do that.  It was a moving experience, and I am humbled by all that lies ahead.  

So now, I just seek to be faithful.  I attempt to pursue that which my walk demands . . . that which our world so desperately needs . . . 

Faithfulness . . . It calls us to take risks . . . It demands from us strength 

                    . . . It yearns for our courage . . . It is bathed in God’s justice 

                     . . . It longs for our love . . . It is grounded in grace

                    . . . It should never be feared . . . It must not be delayed 

As I prepare for the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I am once again amazed by all the ‘political’ issues that we will be dealing with.  Divestment in companies doing business in Israel and thus indirectly participating in the mistreatment of the Palestineans . . . statements on healthcare and conversations about the ‘occupy’ movement . . . and of course, the on-going, ever-present, century(?)-long debate about same-sex marriage: they are all topics and issues that will come before us over the next week.

These are things that everyone is talking about, right?  But are they really issues for the church?  I was surprised yesterday that two of my pastor-FB friends had made  public statements against “Obamacare.”  I found the bluntness of their comments to be extremely offensive, and couldn’t help but wonder if all the members of their congregations felt the same way.  You see, of course the Church should have thoughts on the authority of Scripture, various ways of understanding atonement, and how it might better be about the task of making disciples in the 21st century.  But when it comes to political issues . . . well, don’t we have to draw the line there?

I guess I find myself saying . . . maybe!

Surely the Church, and leaders in the Church, need to acknowledge over and over again that people of like minds and strong faith can and will disagree on important issues.  God is God and we are not!  And anything and everything we have to say about God is merely commentary.  One of the best ways for pastors and other church leaders to acknowedge this is by being careful, humble, and modest in their public proclamation.  Further, any comments that ARE made should be done so in ways that encourage civil and respectful diologue, refusing to mimic the harsh and demonizing conversations that have become so common in so many other places today.

However having said that, real faith will impact everything about our lives . . . including our politics.  That means that sometime the line between faith and politics is much lighter than we would like, IF in fact it even exists at all!  You see, what I believe about God DOES impact my decisions about companies that I want to support.  It DOES influence my position on laws that seek ‘liberty and justice for all.’  And yes, it most certainly DOES guide and direct my thoughts about marriage, family, and sexuality.

But yesterday, as hundreds of us gathered in hotels around Pittsburgh, all our differences seemed unimportant.  We picked up our luggage at the airport, boarded busses for our hotels, registered at the convention site, and greeted everyone we met with warm smiles and enthusiastic greetings.  Does that have to end today . . . when elections are had and votes begin to be taken?  I hope not.  THAT line doesn’t HAVE to be drawn.  And if it does, let’s not only avoid crossing it.  Let’s do everything we can, to erase it.