Last year I team taught a course entitled, “Guiding Principles for the people of God in a postmodern world.” The most FAQ was how to make disciples — people who obey Jesus from a heart of love — among people between the ages of 20-30. Here is how participants expressed their frustration:
“Here is one general frustration I have: A lack of genuine commitment. Not just to spiritual things (church, personal study, etc.) but a lack of commitment in general. Commitment to work, to relationships and family.”
“Frustrations: They have a lack of commitment.”
“Frustrations [from a pastor under age thirty]… HIGHLY CAPABLE…yet low overall commitment… My frustration is in connecting with this group of people. Not just seeing them connecting for a while then disappear then re-appearing…they are a fluid group…which is cool and frustrating!!”
So can the Bride remain uncommitted?
Would that not frustrate the Groom?!
Marriage involves commitment that leads to greater depth of relationship and birth of society. Marriage represents the ultimate unity of spirit and soul, culminating in bodily oneness. From this union children are born.
Oneness requires the security of righteous acceptance, selfless encouragement, fidelity (no competitors) and unconditional love that “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, [and] always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:7). Such security requires commitment.
One’s wedding day represents the ultimate commitment in human life, a decision of total partnership and sharing “for better or worse.” But for postmodernists, commitment and submission have resulted in the worst.
Translation: "You are divorcing dad. Why can't I divorce my brother? I can't stand him either!"
Many young people fear commitment because they have seen vows broken by their parents. Rampant divorce has hindered them from understanding the value of commitment, submission and sacrificial love—necessary ingredients to enter into the deepest of all relationships.
Invariably in the definitions of church that I have seen, some variation of the word “commit” shows up.
“believers who are committed to being a church…”
“committed to the authority of the Word of God…”
I attempted to define the church once (see Sept.8, 06 entry “homework assignment”). And quite frankly, the definition was not bad (as I unabashedly pat myself on the back). Yet, it was singularly unhelpful (as I slap myself on the back of the head) because it was unwieldy and uninspiring to me and incomprehensible to others.
As I reflected on this dilemma, it occurred to me that the apostle Paul described the church as a “she,” as a woman, a bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).
I realized that asking for a definition of the church would be like someone asking, “Paul, could you define your wife for me please?” The question just doesn’t sound right. Now, “Tell me about your wife,” that’s completely different.
You see, woman is the apex of creation—the beauty that reflects and appreciates God’s beauty, the holistic personality, the completion of all that was lacking in Man. Who will deny that women are not more beautiful, more complex and mysterious than men?!
The perfect woman…
And woman, specifically a bride, is what Paul uses to help us understand the complex nature and beauty of the Church. This metaphor challenges both the modernist tendency toward an institutional church and the postmodernist tendency toward an ephemeral church.Jesus’ Church is not a business (contra some modernist views). Though the bride’s beautiful body is highly organized with organic systems, I cannot say that internal medicine has ever been the focal point of my relationship with my wife.
Jesus’ Church is not amorphous (contra some postmodernist views). As any groom will appreciate, the bride’s beautiful body has form!
And for local church to be Church, the postmodern allergy to commitment must be overcome so that the story can have the proper French ending, ils vécurent heureux et eurent beaucoup d'enfants jusqu'à la fin de leurs jours. (And they lived happily ever after and had many children)!
2 comments:
Paul, good post...and very cool blue tux!
Hey Neil, The tux was a very chic grey! It was the orange tie that was oh so very cool ;-)
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