Dapper Darryl Dash’s post is worth reading today if for no other reason than to see a tight collection of quotes about the Church. The one from Augustine makes me nervous. But, its worth thinking about.
I often talk to people who have low views of the church. Some of the most common:
- the consumer view – the church just isn’t meeting my needs
- the voluntary association view – I’ll participate in the church as I would a club, as often as I can given my existing commitments
- the critical view – I have no time for the church
- the anti-establishment view – the church isn’t organic enough and therefore I will bail out until it gets its act together . . .
Lewis also spoke of how the church confronted his own pride:
I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit. (God in the Dock)
If you want something stronger than Lewis, then these words from John Calvin should do it: “The abandonment of the church is always fatal.” (Institutes)
We need a rich theology of the church. We need to remember what she will one day be – a church of splendor, without any spot or wrinkle or blemish (Ephesians 5:27). We need to challenge consumer views, and we need to challenge critiques from the outside. Humble critiques from the inside are much better.
Maybe Augustine got the tension right: “The church is a whore, but she’s my mother.”
Read the whole thing here.
Some good thoughts, great quotes, and nice links. Thanks.
Hi Chris,
This is a good piece and many of the thoughts expressed here are worth considering. However, I respectfully submit that it is a little one-sided. The ideas and quotes expressed here exclude the possibility that a “low view” of the church could have its origin in a church experience that is out of step with what the Bible teaches. We know that churches like this exist because Jesus rebukes them in Revelation. Moreover, I think the notion of a church not just being a building but a body of believers kind of gets lost here.
Not trying to be a trouble maker…just a critical thinker. : )
Christina – – We here at a “Brick in the Valley” encourage critical interaction, even from Brooklyn Bloggers.
I agree with you. These things always need balanced.
Though, isn’t the implication of Augustine’s quote, which still makes me flinch, that even though we may have a low church experience, the church is still the bride of Christ.
I also agree — we can’t get side-tracked with the idea of a building. We believers are the bricks in the building.
Pet your dog for me. Smack your husband in the arm on my behalf.
Good thoughts. I agree that the church isn’t a building. I actually didn’t define what I mean by church – can’t do everything in one post! 😉
Thanks for the link, Chris.
P.S. Augustine’s quote makes me a little uncomfortable as well.