Roles in the Church today vs. Roles in the Church in the past vs. Roles in the Temple
Last night Roy (Wikicrawler) and I were talking over some bad McDonalds cheeseburgers, and we got into the subject of the role of the church. We wondered how deeply it permeates our existence as Christians today, and more importantly, how much should it?
2000 years ago, the temple ruled society. Those who were respected in the temple, were those who were respected in the community. Those who had the authority to teach in the temple, were also those who instructed in life. Jesus first got involved in temple discussions when he was 12 (hey that’s 2000 years ago now, in theory) and we can assume that by the time he was 30 and began his ministry, he already held a fair level of respect in the temple society. That would mean he had for a long time been teaching in the temple, as well as instructing others outside of the temple walls. This is in addition to his work as a carpenter. Jesus was the initial missionary, roaming from place to place, serving, healing and teaching. Even in this time though, our records in the gospels show large gaps (like, months long) where it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Jesus was still doing his usual thing. Jews in that era had their own lives outside the temple, but because temple integrated into most parts of their culture, it really was involved with most parts of their life.
As the church grew in power, from around 400ad to 1950, it was still very much the same. The Church took the place of the temple in society, but the effect was much the same. The church leaders were also respected public figures. The church still set the agenda for most political and social agenda. People had jobs and lives outside of the church, but they were still very linked.
We live in a world now where the church reflects a small part of our large, globally linked community. Some Christians have shed the shackles of this powerless church to immerse themselves in society. Church no longer wields the power or easily affects the rest of our life. You could run into one in a pub and their actions and language wouldn’t necessarily tell you that they were a Christian. You'd have to listen to the content of what they said. Then there's some people that unknowingly scream 'Christian' whenever they enter the room; Conservatively dressed, visibly shocked when they hear a swear word, the kind of people who work for a Christian company, only buy books at Christian bookstores, only listen to Christian music and radiostations, only eat at Christian restaurants, and only hang out with Christian friends. You'd think that would be hard in a society that can be so un-Christian, but they manage it. Some people believe that it isn’t right to take a job if you cant specifically serve within that job. Others believe that their Christianity isn’t part of their work life, working in some business or political positions that have little ethical value at all.
I don't think either extreme is right - in general, I don't think extremes are good at all. Where do you think the best middle ground lays today? What parts of our lives should be thrown open to the world? How much should our Christianity seep into life?
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7 comments:
Exactly what Curious said - be in the world, but not of it. The best way we can witness to people was said by St. Francis of Assisi "Preach the gospel always, use words only when necessary." No-one wants to be bible bashed, the best route is to swarm society, and just be ourselves - Christians living their lives the way Jesus would have us live them.
There seems to be Christians who are in the world, and become of the world. And Christians who are not of the world, because they aren't in the world at all. Today when there is such a stark contrast between the world and the church, its different than its ever been. When jesus preached be in the worl, not of it, it was to a scoiety when the world wasnt all that different to the church. The lesson is the same, but the application is different.
I think that middle ground is hard to define. The line keeps on taking such subtle shifts. I think that's what Luca is getting at. Where do you see that line being? As soon as you go into the world, you are open to it's influence. You can't help but be changed by it.
How far can we go there? How much can we be tainted before it hindes our relationship with God?
I think the importance is to go into the world with God by our side, each day. If we start our day in prayer, and take the time several times a day to recenter ourselves in Jesus Christ, it is certainly going to help.
But it certainly does come into it each day. How should I talk? What conversations should I actually listen to or take part in? For girls, we have to really consider how we dress. What music should I listen to, what books or magazines should I read, What movies and TV shows should I watch?
We need to be able to relate to the people around us, so we need to be involved in things they can understand, we need to be able to speak their language. But we need to stay pure as well. Do we only read books, listen to music that we buy from Koorong? or do we actually settle down and put up with movies with sex and swearing and violence. Do we only socialise in quaitn little cafe's, or do we hang out in pubs and drink beer with the other punchbowl bogans?
You guys both raise good points - it's so easy to let the secular world too far in once we step outside our Church's - i admit there's too many times when I'm the one bringing the secular world into my own life!
We need boundries, but more importantly, we need to know why we have boundries. Ask any kid in a church "can you have sex with your girlfriend?" or "Is it right to lie?", and they'll tell you the good Christian answer straight off the bat. I know year 7's in the church me and Felix go to that can answer, or at least suss out the direction to most christian questions and topics. But you go ahead and ask people why they do what they do, and I things start to skew a lot.
Being a Sunday Christian is the easiest thing in the world to do, i know coz I did it for years, and its something i gotta keep myself in check about and trust me - if i can pull it off, most anyone can.
If we can live in the world, but at the same time practice our beleifs in an un-apologetic manner, we're not only living as Jesus did, but we're providing a convincing and credible front to everyone who sees us. A lot of my non-Christian friends find the most disgusting thing about my faith the way it's been abused by it's 'faithful followers'. We gotta stick to what we say if we're gonna claim faith in Christ.
I struggle with this a lot. I mean, I have no problem going out into the pub, having a beer or two, and relating to anyone. A lot of that comes from my life experience, where I've seen and taken part in far more than I would have liked. While I've never completely trashed my own morals or standards, boy have I come close.
It means that I can easily relate to anyone. So I find myself comfortable doing ministry anywhere 'in the world'. 'Of the world' can be hard to draw the line at. When the conversation turns to girls and relationships, there is only so much that can be shared or endorsed. We need to be careful on the difference between listening to what a friend thinks of someone and engaging in gossip. We need to find the line between accepting and condoning. We need to be clear on our standards, but not force them on to others.
But most importantly we NEED to get ou there, put ourselves in the place of the world where the non-christians gather, and be willing to be there, honestly interested in being their friends.
What started my conversation with Roy was taking Jesus' role in the temple then, and wondering what it would be now. We basically decided he would be the equivalent of an elder. He wasnt a priest - but hew allowed to teach, and respected for it. He was welcome in the homes of a lot of the priests, and fe fulfilled all of his temple duties. he had a hard working, honest career outside of the temple, and he looked after his mother.
So we further wondered, who would be the equivalents today of some of the others we see in the NT. Who are the Priests, and the Pharisees - the people in power, abusing it and addicted to it. Who are the poor, the meek, the prostitutes, the tax collector?
Basically, who should we be going way out of our way to care for, like Jesus did? who should we be confronting and making uncomfortable, like Jesus did?
Shouldnt we be treating everyone with love? I guess we should be gently rebuking those who are living in oppostion to scripture, but in the end the judgement is up to God. The Commandments that Jesus gave us are to love one another, and to love our God. If we live our lives showing that, then we will be leading people to Christ. Until people accept Christ in to their lives, and the authority of The Word, then how can we expect them to hold to our standards?
I like what it says in the DC talk song
"The greatest single cause of atheism in this country is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. Thats what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable"
To me, the basis of it all is we have to be believable as followers of Christ. Not perfect, but always trying to be closer to it. We should be the same in the church as out of it. Recognisiung we arent a great example, but trying out hardest to be it.
Every day we should be learning, studying, and praying to be closer to perfect. People struggle with the church today because they see hypocrites, or they see soemthing unattainable.
The Pharisees of today are those who stayin the church, pretend that they have it all figured and their relationship with God is at its peak, and look down on others with scorn.
We need to show all of God's people that we are no different to them, but for Christ's sake we have a yearning to be more.
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