“Isn’t the Church Guilty of Oppression and Violence?”
The Case for Faith Series
Matthew 21:1-11 / Matthew 7:13-21
(quotes taken from the NKJV unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ Palm/Passion Sunday ~ March 20, 2005
Theme: The Church has made mistakes. We are imperfect.
The narrow gate of God’s mercy and grace is needed by all.
Introduction – Confession is Good for the Soul!
The Church has sinned…
The Crusades – Starting in 1095, the Church called for the annihilation of the Muslim World through any means necessary.
The Inquisition – Starting in 1163, the Church was called to develop a campaign of terror to root out heretics, those creating false doctrine from the church –what followed lacked any resemblance of due process with secret trials and foregone verdicts
The Salem Witch Trials ~ Starting in the late 1600’s, nineteen people were hung because of their so-called tie to witchcraft, the Church gave sanction to those events.
Exploitation by Missionaries ~ In the beginnings of missionary ministry, often what started as a mission from God, became a mission for the state. Countries were robbed of their human and natural resources for the great colonial powers. Missionaries opened the door.
Anit-Semitism ~ The Church in Germany stood by and even endorsed Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust. It wasn’t until after the war that the truth came out and the Church shamed for their involvement or lack of involvement.
And, we can see other sins of the church in this past century: racism, sexism...and the list good go on and on…. Functioning, sometimes at the behest of, and almost always starting with no response from the Christian church.
There is no doubt, we have sinned.
There is also no doubt, however, that if it weren’t for Christianity some of these events would have never ended. Throughout history, we see time and time again one person standing up and saying this is not right, and the church eventually changing its ways once they realize it too.
Ex. African Methodist Episcopal Church – broke away from the Methodist Church due to issues of racism. Today, there has been recognition of that sin, a request for forgiveness, and in time, we pray for reconciliation.
For the most part…
The Church has recognized it’s sin, and it is asking for forgiveness…
And whether its found in the words of Pope John Paul II or in our current Book of Discipline, it is evident that the church is moving toward reconciliation not away from it.
We are owning up to what we’ve done and are taking responsibility for it.
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"For the occasions past and present, when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or omission…may the Lord grant us forgiveness." – Pope John Paul II
“We acknowledge the United Methodist Church’s profound regret for the massive suffering and the tragic effect slavery and the transatlantic slave trade had on millions of black men, women and children.” – 2004 United Methodist Book of Discipline
“We affirm with Scripture the common humanity of male and female, both having equal worth in the eyes of God. We reject the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to another, that one gender must strive against another, and that members of one gender may receive love, power and esteem only at the expense of another…” – 2004 United Methodist Book of Discipline
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I - One excuse among many: The difference between “authentic” and “cultural” Christianity.
And while many excuses are offered for our continuous ability to put ourselves into these sinful situations, the reality is that we are imperfect.
Illus. Some time ago, I wrote in article in the Marcellus News about Wakelee being an imperfect church. In the article I wrote that we are an imperfect church, filled with imperfect people, often finding ourselves doing imperfect things, as we worship, learn from, and praise our perfect Savior.
The amount of flack I caught for that article was amazing. But was even more amazing to me, were the people that complained.
You see, I believe there is a definite difference between “authentic” Christianity, having that personal relationship with Jesus Christ and “cultural” Christianity, which simply says I believe, but I’m not going to let it affect who I am.
It’s interesting to note that even Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21
The complaints…they came from people I believe to be “cultural” Christians. And their comments were along the line of, “How can you say that the church is imperfect? How can you readily admit that we do imperfect things? Doesn’t that bring nothing but shame upon Christianity?”
Over Christian history, when we have allowed the “culture” instead of the “narrow gate” of God’s mercy and grace, to determine our course. Then we’ve fallen prey to sin and imperfection.
But when the Church is authentic, when it preaches, teaches, and lives out the motto that God’s mercy and grace is needed by all, and that narrow gate leads to only one perfect Savior, then we create positive change in the culture around us.
Do you need another example of “cultural” Christianity? It’s interesting to note that likely, the crowd shouting “Hosanna” on Sunday was the same crowd shouting “Crucify Him” on Friday.
The Christian Church needs to be authentic over cultural.
II – Would the world be better off without the Church?
But what we happen if we didn’t have the church at the church at all. Paul told the church
at Ephesus, speaking of Jesus, that, “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” – Ephesians 1:22-23
The Church, the very body of Christ, has a vital purpose in this society.
When the church stands in that appointment, we change the world for the better. But when the church turns away from that appointment, we change the world for the worse.
Mark Noll, noted theologian and author once wrote…
“Over the long course of Christian history, the most depressing thing—because it is repeated so often—has been how tragically far short of Christian ideals we ordinary Christians so regularly fall.
Over the long course of Christian history, the most remarkable thing—because it is such a miracle of grace—is how often believers have acted against the pride of life to honor Christ.
Of all such “signs of contradiction,” the most completely Christlike have been those occasions when believers who are strong—because of wealth, education, political power, superior culture, or favored location—have reached out to the despised, the forsaken, the abandoned, the lost, the insignificant, or the powerless.”
[Mark Noll, quoted in The Case for Faith (Strobel) p. 220.]
The church has always been at its worst when it focuses on self and not on God.
The church has always been at its best when it focuses on God and His will over self.
Conclusion –
Has the Church has made mistakes? Most definitely. We are imperfect. We have fallen short.
Is there a remedy? Most definitely. The narrow gate of God’s mercy and grace is available for all to enter.
And isn’t that the reason why Jesus entered Jerusalem in the first place?
Not to gain fame or power, Jesus came not to show the world what He could do. He didn’t claim the earthly kingdom as his own. In fact, it wasn’t about his ego at all.
And, although the Church, often with the most upright intentions, continues to sin and seek forgiveness from that sin, it should not draw away from Jesus’ purpose for the Jerusalem journey.
Jesus came to Jerusalem to die for sinners…to provide a way of mercy and grace, that had yet to be created.
He came to show us a more perfect way. When he died and rose again, he had the reconciliation of each one of us on his mind!
Indeed, the church has much to learn, and there is much reconciliation that still needs to be done, but we can still look to the author and finisher of our faith for answers, proclaiming as the crowd did then,
“Blessed is He...Blessed is He...Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matt. 21:9
Will you join me in prayer…
Closing prayer…
Dear Heavenly and Gracious Father,
We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church, and we have not done your will.
We have broken you law, and rebelled against your love.
We have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
We have focused too much on ourselves, and not enough on you.
Forgive us…
For we know that you sent your Son to die for us while we were yet sinners.
In fact, He died for us, long before we ever deserved such mercy.
If nothing else, that proves your love toward us.
For your forgiveness, we give you thanks.
From this time forth help us to be the Church you would have us to be.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord…Amen.
Closing Song - #546 – The Church is One Foundation (tune of #545)
Benediction –
As we leave this place, go forth in the peace of God.
And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the communion of the Holy Spirit,
Be with you all, so that until we meet again,
We will be held in the palm of God’s hand. Amen.
