I wonder if that could be translated also to Christ’s body, the church, that perhaps
sometimes we are unable to read the body’s signals because we live outside of it,
in a secular world that tells us how to feel, what to wear, how to be, who to connect
with and what is truth, and we miss what Christ’s body is trying to tell us- that peace
and justice and hope are truths that need to be reflected in our understanding of the
gospel, the good news of Christ in all our actions and thoughts. I wonder if we are so
busy living out our secular life that we miss important signals from God who is the one
who holds the body together in and through Christ?

In my ministry as bishop I have often found that certain issues divert the body from dealing with the important aspects of ministry. We often spend a great deal of time and energy on human resource issues like conflict management, financial resource nitpicking, leadership and compensation concerns, business practices, etc. rather than focusing on our vision and mission in order to use the resources WE DO HAVE, to accomplish what matters most to God- the lost, the poor, the marginalized, the hungry, those who have faced injustices. While dealing with the outside issues, the internal signals of “letting our light so shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to God” (Matt. 5:16) does not get the focus it should.

All of which begs the question, “Are we absentee landlords in the work of Christ in the world?” In other words, do others see God’s actions through Christ’s body here on earth through us and our actions?

I’ve been watching a growing movement of young adult ministry in our synod. In a number of places, their involvement has not been in the pews or on Sunday morning. It has been in theological studies of God’s Word for their lives; in serving meals at our Lutheran Urban Ministry; in mentoring youth to be leaders in the church; in working at our local food bank; in taking leadership on councils to help congregations understand “the outside” so that the “inside of the body” can do the work God intended to be done through the body; in teaching Sunday School classes, not to fill a pew but to be developers of the faith.

It takes courage for them to dig deeper within themselves to forge this kind of new path. We need to commend them for challenging us rather than berate them for non attendance. Mission and God’s mission is found inside the body that then reflects God’s heart to the world. It’s a vibrancy that is giving me hope. Hope that the church on earth IS fulfilling God’s mission on earth, that it is present where there is hurt and brokenness, calm and peace.

We need to take time to listen to God’s Word for our lives, discern it in community, and seek. Perhaps we might also let go of the past and our memories of the “heyday” of the church and try to see the possibilities within the present. We might be surprised by what God has in mind.