Hard Questions – Difficult Decisions

By John Daugherty

It’s been a year for the books and it seems to be carrying over into this new year. But, as difficult as it may seem to us in this generation, things have been worse at times in the past.

The beginning of this movement of Jesus we now collectively call the “church” was a time of oppression, suffering, sadness and hardship. The region around the Jordan River was under the power of Rome. A legion of soldiers was encamped around Jerusalem in order to quickly put down any thoughts of rebellion or insurrection. The Zealots, at least one, perhaps two of them were among Jesus’ closest companions, and were prepared to give their lives to overthrow the oppressive regime.

In the past century we have witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, yet another horrific time of destruction among the Jews of Europe which was ravaged by a world war; and, yes, the church was divided. In our own country we emerged from Jim Crow oppression and voter suppression in the mid-1960’s and were deeply divided over civil rights as well as the Viet Nam “police action,” which was just another word for “war.” And the church was divided.

Now we find ourselves divided by political ideology, by a deadly pandemic, by unease and frustration, along with isolation and depression. As in all times of stress and unease, churches, families, schools and businesses are feeling the pressure to adapt and change. How do we negotiate such a powder keg of options? What questions need to be asked and discussed – discussed, not argued over? How do we implement decisions which bring unity and a future as opposed to division and more strife?

Perhaps we start with an inventory of what we’ve adapted to and which seems to be working. Churches have learned it is possible to worship without gathering in a building, and we’ve discovered a broader audience; and for some, new revenue sources from that wider audience. New technologies, which some have been reluctant to embrace, yet now we find them growing in confidence and capability in utilizing. Not all meetings need to be in-person – Zoom is the new way of life.

Another way of examining the current situation is by realizing that some of the “programs” and ways of having done things in the past may well have been something that needed to be stopped long before the pandemic challenges. Now we realize we don’t want to re-engage once “normal” returns.

So, what are the new ways of moving forward we need to consider, discuss and choose? How can we BE the church in our communities with authenticity, compassion and love? What is it that unites us in our faith as opposed to what divides us? How can we honor the heritage of our faith, of our church, of our community and move forward into the new day in which we find ourselves? What is holding us back from stepping into the future; what are we afraid of? What is it that will define our calling as a community of faith living in our specific setting? What gifts do we bring to make our community the “blessed community” of Christ? What do we need to learn to be more effective as Christ-followers in meeting the needs of our neighbors? How can we be more effective in worship, in disciple-making, and serving?

Some good questions…how do we have the conversation? Zoom, and similar platforms, have shown to be effective in creating good small-group conversations and even larger group forums for having such conversations and asking such questions. Consensus is more effective than “majority rules.” By talking with one another, listening for understanding not for response, being willing to hear those whose ideas are different, even opposed to our own, committing to relationships of empathy, compassion and love create an atmosphere for having hard conversations and coming to decisions for moving forward.

It is hard! But it is good work. It may well be an outside voice could be helpful in coaching these kinds of conversations and decision making. And, prayer is essential for centering these conversations around God, around His will and purpose for building His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In a time of instant gratification which is focused more on arriving than on the journey, people of faith need to remember we are a journey people…as one writer put it, “we’re just walking each other home.”

Embrace the journey, engage the conversations, envision the next steps for being faithful as Christ-followers in this new age. To God be the glory!