I guess I've come full circle.
Two years ago, I became disenchanted with American christianity and the Church. (By "the Church", I refer to the collective body of Christians around the world; not necessarily to the Roman Catholic Church, but certainly including it.) I began to step "outside of my box" and to investigate what others and "outsiders" were saying about Christianity and the Church. I discovered that many of them really liked Jesus but not the Church. I also discovered that "my christianity" and "their christianity" were not the same as Jesus's Christianity. All of this was shocking and frightening to me, but I also knew that it was necessary and good. I was wrong on so many beliefs that I had cherished for so long that I knew the process of rediscovery would be hard, but in the end, worth it. Now, after two years, I've come full circle, but not back to the same place I started. I find myself embracing beliefs that are not newer or "more progressive". They are actually ancient and rooted and secure. And they are in the Church, not outside of it.
In the book of Proverbs, we are admonished not to "remove the ancient boundary which your fathers have set" (Prov. 22:28, 23:10). Although this verse is speaking of land allotments and properties, there is another point being made: the ancient boundaries are important. They serve and protect us; they clarify what is ours and what is not. Boundaries give us the freedom and security of knowing our place. They protect us from the selfishness within ourselves and within others who would seek to take what isn't legally theirs or ours. But, as many of us know deep in our own hearts and from our own experience, when the boundaries are ignored, whether by us or someone else against us, the consequences are painful, lingering, and potentially devastating. When the boundaries are pushed back or ignored, we set a precedent for our descendants. "What one generation allows in moderation, the next will abuse in excess."
In the obscure book of Jude, he speaks of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (v. 3). "The faith" refers not to a spiritual act of belief, but instead, to a body of teachings that are authoritative and non-negotiable. These teachings are necessary for distinguishing and discerning truth and for proper, healthy growth in all areas of our humanity: spirit, soul, mind, will, and even body. The faith is revealed and taught to us by the Holy Spirit within and through the Church. The Church, corporately and individually, must conform to the faith - not the other way around. The faith is made up of those beliefs that have been believed by all Christians in all places and at all times from the beginning. If a belief wasn't present from the beginning, then it is not part of "the faith once for all delivered to the saints".
But what does all this talk about full circle, ancient boundaries and the faith have to do with anything? Just this: Much of what I hear being discussed nowadays is about what's wrong with the Church. One popular author and speaker said the Church is in trouble. I've even heard some Christians say that if the Church doesn't change, it will die. They talk about being "relevant", "dialogues", "conversations", and being "progressive" - all in reference to specific teachings within Christianity, how to "do church" and to the variety of interpretations and opinions. And that's what has helped to bring me back around.
The ancient boundaries, the faith, the Church, even Christianity itself, isn't the product of opinions, interpretations, preference, relevance, or social and cultural whims and influences. Instead, they are the gifts of God for the people of God. He gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth through the Church, through the ancient boundaries, through the faith. These are not archaic limitations and restrictions - they are the lines which mark the path of Life. They are the proofs for discerning His truth from what pluralism and relativism say is truth. They are the teachings that fulfill our humanity and bring us into the glory that He bestows and desires to give to all. These gifts are not the dictates of a tyrant, but of a loving Father who loves us and is committed to our best interests, based on what He knows, not what we think, prefer, or demand.
Jesus said, "I will build My church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Are there things in the Church that require our repentance and correction? Yes. But these are the result of moving ancient boundaries and disobedience to truths that have been in place from the beginning. They are not the result of poor craftsmanship on the part of the Builder. Jesus has built into His Church everything that is good, godly, healthy, and fulfilling - for us and for the world. If we reject the Church, we do so at our own risk.
I want to close by saying that I know there are folks reading this who have been burned "by the Church". I understand; I have, too - and I'm one of its shepherds. But, in truth, what we have been burned by isn't the Church, the boundaries, the faith, or Christianity. What burned us, what deeply hurt us, is sin - done to us and maybe even by us. And Jesus is grieved by it all - by what sin does to us and to others. And yet, He loves, He heals, He forgives, and He builds. Nonetheless, our safety and our welfare - as a people and as individuals - is within the Church. We live together or we die alone. But, one thing is certain, Jesus is building His Church and we have His promise that the gates of Hell will not prevail. And we can trust Him, the Master Builder, to fix and repair all that needs correcting. He loves us too much not to.
