Halloween or Bust?

Today is October 30, one day before All Hallows Eve – Halloween - or as many of us know it, Reformation Day.  A day of mixed activities and ideas to say the least. The origins of this day trace back to the Celtic people of Europe and the British Isles. It was their Harvest Festival called ‘sowin.’ But it was only after the evangelization of Ireland and England that customs like pumpkin carving emerged. The idea was that the hollow pumpkin represented purgatory and the candle inside the soul of a loved one needing purifying in order to be ready for heaven. And slowly on more customs and traditions re-emerged  or were added until the day is rather dark. Featuring themes of death, evil, the occult, or mythical monsters. So interestingly, a non-Christian festival becomes Christianized only to become something dark, fearful and the largest commercial holiday of the year in terms of decorations, costumes and chocolate sales.

So, while it is fun to play dress up or have costume parties, the type and kind of costume is rather important. Just as the type and kind of home decoration and participation in this festival is something to think carefully about. I wonder if our Thanksgiving a couple weeks ago would be enough.

Moving on, as I mentioned October 31 is also known as Reformation Day. Not a response to Halloween as such, but surely a response to the spiritual life of the Church. A man named Luther was overcome with concern for the Church of Jesus Christ and over time and conversation he wanted to see change. Luther wanted people to live their faith. He wanted them to take responsibility for the care and upbringing of their children in such a way that they would meet Jesus and respond to his call. Luther wanted the Church to change and to abandon traditions, and policies that made the church spiritually weak.

It was the year 1517 and the time was ripe for revival. The time was right for God to rouse people like Luther, Calvin and others, to have them challenge the way things were and to cast a renewed vision for the Church of Jesus Christ. One of faithfulness, purity and devotion, where disciples of Jesus could mature in the faith. So that groups of the faithful – congregations – would be a witness, in how they care for each other; in how they invite those who do not know Christ into the freedom given by Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A freedom from fear, death and the need to give into temptation. A freedom to truly live to the glory of God, fully alive in Christ, blessed by God to be a blessing in the world.

These men wanted renewal and revival. They did not want a new church or churches. They wanted a renewed church. They took Ephesians 4 seriously. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. And yet because of sin, pride, fear and greed the church divided and it has been dividing ever since.”

Some say if a person engages a sin once – let’s say the sin of lying – then it becomes easier to do it again, and again, and again until finally there is no sense of sin or guilt in that person at all. Paul calls this having a burned conscience. That can’t be good, can it?

And so let’s take a look at what the events of 1517 have brought us.

Moving forward from the time of Jesus there was one church and then two divided east from west about 1000 years ago. Then at the time of the Reformation the west divided into five main branches: The Roman Catholics, The Anglicans, The Lutherans, The Anabaptists and The Reformed Church. Now 500 years after that even it is estimated that there are 1500 different denomination in North America and approximately 38,000 worldwide.

Whatever happened to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”?

In Ponoka there are at least 15 churches and yet when we gather for a community service once per year only a few, a minority officially join.

·         There is no doubt that the Body of Christ is visibly divided.

·         There is no doubt that the pace of division has increased over time.

·         There is no doubt that the very things that should unite us are often the things that divide. And it seems there are two. The Bible and the sacraments.

Too often, the Bible is the battle ground. And while we do read

Titus 3.9-10: “Warn divisive people once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”

This scene has been acted out all too often while the reason for the Spirit’s warning may be overlooked.

Titus 3.8: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.”

Too often the arguments that birth new churches are about side issues and not the main thing.

The Bible is the Word of God because it reveals the Son who is the living word. The issue for all the New Testament authors is that true faith is built on Jesus the Christ, God in flesh, the redeemer and king. That is the central issue, and the test of true faith. Divide over that, yes, but not over the need for circumcision, right behaviour on Sunday or timing or style of baptism or the meaning and method of the Supper.

These are gifts meant to inform, initiate and strengthen faith. But, over the years Christians have thrown words at each other like spears; they have fired arguments like bullets to prove rightness or wrongness creating congregations better known for being judgmental than loving. Places that aren’t safe for their own members.

There is no doubt that some divisions have been about who best knows the mind of God as if to speak for him. And that says Isaiah and Paul is foolish pride.

And, there is no doubt that in spite of the Church’s past God is still making something good out of or in spite of our division. The following are published by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2006).

It is estimated that

·         There are 2,084,509,000[1] people in the world who identify themselves as Christians.

·         There is not one country or region on earth where there are no Believers. Did you know that in Saudi Arabia there are an estimates 1.5 million disciples of Jesus?

·         It is also reported that every year

·         Approximately 83 million Bibles are distributed globally.
On average 171,000 Christians worldwide are martyred for their faith

·         And finally the growth of Christianity is still faster that the growth of the world’s population. So while the church is shrinking in Canada, the United States and Europe, it’s growing powerfully in Asia and Africa. And the churches that have the strongest growth are those who embrace the ministry of the Spirit allowing God to renew and revive. Congregations willing to let go of some traditions so that the Gospel of Jesus is fresh and alive for today.

New wine in new wineskins.

That’s what Jesus was about.

That’s what Luther and Calvin were about.

Are we ready for the next age of the church?

Is the church of Jesus Christ here and across the planet ready for renewal and revival? Clearly in some places it is. But for all those places where we see decline it’s time to ask why.

I have a theory based in the natural world. It goes like this: if a tree is healthy it will grow and bear fruit. If it isn’t, then it will die. And even if it is healthy it will reach its allotted age and then die fulfilled. Trees never stay the same. They grow or die. Do you agree?

And following that theory I believe it’s also true of people, of businesses and congregations. Things that are healthy grow, but are limited by a natural lifespan. Things that are unhealthy and left that way – people, businesses or congregations – die. It can be a slow death and painful. And there is seldom fruit.

So taking the theory to its end, the principle applies to so called ‘spiritual’ things as well as physical ones. Why? Because the two cannot be separated. Looks can be deceiving. Jesus said that inner spiritual health is just as important as outer appearances. Therefore for people, business and congregations to be truly healthy they must have spiritual inward health.

Healthy congregations take care of their spiritual health because those congregations grow, flourish and provide a powerful environment of healing, worship and growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritually healthy congregations bear fruit. Spiritually unhealthy congregations by comparison are unfruitful wither and die.

Grow or die, nothing ever stays the same.

Except for God alone and he is the one we need above all.

The Father provides all we ever need.

Jesus provides the vision for the Church.

The Spirit makes it happen in and among His people.

The Spirit is calling God’s people to, “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” Because “there is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”

So, could it be that for congregations and denominations to be healthy, for denominations to repent and remove the walls of separation, for revival and renewal to come in our time, that the Spirit is calling his people to confess their unity in Christ and to make every effort to pursue it?

Could it be there are ways to encourage each other through the bond of peace?

It seems so.

The first thing to keep in mind may be the simplest. The church is not one because Christians have decided but because Christ has established. The Church is Christ’s idea and Christ calls each member of it. And invites all to respond by loving him and his people, living within the bond of peace together. And that takes maturity.

It takes spiritual maturity to accept that in every congregation sin will happen and yet Jesus allows such things so that we grow in love, not division. By confessing sin to each other. By restoring each other in love.

It takes spiritual maturity to accept that in every congregation there will be those who are passionate for Jesus, indifferent toward Jesus and secretly opposed to Jesus. Jesus said the wheat and the weeds will coexist until the end. Our calling is to live in the world as it is.

It takes spiritual maturity to be quick to listen and slow to anger. Judgment is a Christian’s chief temptation, isn’t it?

It takes spiritual maturity to remain unified in spite of differences in interpretation on non-essential matters.

It takes spiritual maturity to love one another just as they are and to allow the Presence of God to help the less mature see Jesus more clearly so that they may be changed.

It takes spiritual maturity to welcome those who are different and invite them to investigate who Jesus is regardless of the lifestyle they currently have.

And Spiritual maturity comes from the Spirit to those who ask as they go through the trials of life. As they go through the difficulties of learning to serve others. As they experience the pain of the world and the despair of those who do not know how to live well.

Spiritual maturity comes in learning to love ourselves. To accept God’s promise: I love you, there is no greater love that can be demonstrated than to die for one’s friends.

Such maturity can only happen where there is spiritual health and protection from accusation or judgment.

Nurturing maturity happens by providing an environment where infants, children, youth and adults can explore faith in Jesus. Ask questions, reveal doubts, learn from each other and gently correct each other – all the while loving each other, trusting that Jesus is Lord of the church. Not the “Dominie,” (a Dutch word commonly used for minister), not the Elders, or the bishops, or a synod.

Yes, this is a vision, a goal, a stretch. It’s unrealistic on any human level, but it is our future and our present reality, whether we like it or not.

500 years ago God brought revival and renewal to the church. A clear reminder and encouragement that “there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10.16 Today as we sit together and reflect on that, let’s commit, recommit to being a place where faith is formed and love for God , self and others is obvious by what we say and do.

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[1] Africa - 500,000,000; Asia - 277,000,000; Europe - 551,000,000; Americas - 804,000,000; Oceania - 26,000,000; Middle east - 18,000,000