Just a few months ago, I discovered a minor flaw in the driver’s door of my Chevy pickup truck. When first viewed, it was just a minor spot. Some persons may even look now and say that it is yet minor, for there have been other trucks of the same vintage that are seen in far worse condition. But this truck is mine, and with my automotive skills I know better.
You see, I know that the rust must be completely removed and competent repairs made. To leave the condition uncorrected is to give ground for further malady, until the vehicle is deemed unserviceable. Thus I have scheduled body repair. The truck goes to the shop this coming Wednesday morning.
At the shop the litany is predictable. The body man will give the task his due. Like any good Christian tradesman, he will grind away paint, cut away the dirt and rust, and clean until there is nothing remaining to infect his restoration job. Then he will baptize the surfaces with a protective coating and build anew using wise training methods, proper tools, and quality coatings of repair products. Knowing his methodology I find that I am confident in his work. He promises to do a great job, and will also inspect the vehicle for further hotspots so to prevent occurrences elsewhere.
My thoughts about these future repair procedures, however, have now reminded how similar steps are needed in repairing decay in the church. You see, the church has its own decay progressively eating away at its body. The recent turmoil within my own Lutheran denomination speaks of how contamination by a progressive, poorly devised theological coating has slicked its way into the foundations of the church, thus eating at its firmness in ecclesial matters.
The body man furtively works to grind away rust injury. Therefore it behooves us in the church to also root out deviations from scriptural purity and condemn these to the trash heap of apostasy. Using the time-proven traditions of God’s law and gospel, we must first identify and grindingly remove the cruddy build of corruption. But know, however… like the working agenda of my body shop friend, this first step is intrusive and sparks will fly. They always do. But good works occur through both conflict and consensus. Faithful workers are thus called to do this fiery task, yet the workers are few. At present I remain very judgmental concerning members of several local Christian ministerium groups which thus far have failed to apply known biblically-grounded standards, and thus remain mute in public forum or pulpit about the issues of fidelity to such things as the proper naming of God, and the bubbling forth of garishly painted non-celibate homosexual clergy. My disappointment in their lack of clarity and reluctance to do the work they are called to perform, reminds me of persons who ignore automotive rust, or would repair a car’s rust spot with an aftermarket hand spray can of matching color paint. Their hiding in plain sight will not last. At present I consider which rust pick tool in my theological box to use for excising the local rot. Possibly these organizations are so much in disrepair that they should be scrapped. I shudder to recall that one ministerium works in the organization of community VBS (Vacation Bible School) programs. As St. Paul says… Me Genoito!
Indeed, the church must hear the Word in both law which condemns and cleans to the core, and then willing workers must administer plenteous applications of the gospel which justifies through Christ alone. Within this repair shall then be a catalyst of the Spirit that binds the materials together to offend the satanic, decaying powers from our church environment. Only in this way can the church be restored to its proper role, pointing beyond itself like the paint reflection on my repaired truck. I remind... in service we are called to reflect Christ! We can only do so with a secure foundation in scripture that both guides our growth and protects the baptized. We can then be found like a trusty truck preserved for long mileage, equipped to carry the Word into the future with the sparkle and shine of the One who was and is the Light of the world.
You see, I know that the rust must be completely removed and competent repairs made. To leave the condition uncorrected is to give ground for further malady, until the vehicle is deemed unserviceable. Thus I have scheduled body repair. The truck goes to the shop this coming Wednesday morning.
At the shop the litany is predictable. The body man will give the task his due. Like any good Christian tradesman, he will grind away paint, cut away the dirt and rust, and clean until there is nothing remaining to infect his restoration job. Then he will baptize the surfaces with a protective coating and build anew using wise training methods, proper tools, and quality coatings of repair products. Knowing his methodology I find that I am confident in his work. He promises to do a great job, and will also inspect the vehicle for further hotspots so to prevent occurrences elsewhere.
My thoughts about these future repair procedures, however, have now reminded how similar steps are needed in repairing decay in the church. You see, the church has its own decay progressively eating away at its body. The recent turmoil within my own Lutheran denomination speaks of how contamination by a progressive, poorly devised theological coating has slicked its way into the foundations of the church, thus eating at its firmness in ecclesial matters.
The body man furtively works to grind away rust injury. Therefore it behooves us in the church to also root out deviations from scriptural purity and condemn these to the trash heap of apostasy. Using the time-proven traditions of God’s law and gospel, we must first identify and grindingly remove the cruddy build of corruption. But know, however… like the working agenda of my body shop friend, this first step is intrusive and sparks will fly. They always do. But good works occur through both conflict and consensus. Faithful workers are thus called to do this fiery task, yet the workers are few. At present I remain very judgmental concerning members of several local Christian ministerium groups which thus far have failed to apply known biblically-grounded standards, and thus remain mute in public forum or pulpit about the issues of fidelity to such things as the proper naming of God, and the bubbling forth of garishly painted non-celibate homosexual clergy. My disappointment in their lack of clarity and reluctance to do the work they are called to perform, reminds me of persons who ignore automotive rust, or would repair a car’s rust spot with an aftermarket hand spray can of matching color paint. Their hiding in plain sight will not last. At present I consider which rust pick tool in my theological box to use for excising the local rot. Possibly these organizations are so much in disrepair that they should be scrapped. I shudder to recall that one ministerium works in the organization of community VBS (Vacation Bible School) programs. As St. Paul says… Me Genoito!
Indeed, the church must hear the Word in both law which condemns and cleans to the core, and then willing workers must administer plenteous applications of the gospel which justifies through Christ alone. Within this repair shall then be a catalyst of the Spirit that binds the materials together to offend the satanic, decaying powers from our church environment. Only in this way can the church be restored to its proper role, pointing beyond itself like the paint reflection on my repaired truck. I remind... in service we are called to reflect Christ! We can only do so with a secure foundation in scripture that both guides our growth and protects the baptized. We can then be found like a trusty truck preserved for long mileage, equipped to carry the Word into the future with the sparkle and shine of the One who was and is the Light of the world.
0 comments:
Post a Comment