- Memories trump Mission - The rowboat is an interesting metaphor for Christian faithfulness. In order to move forward efficiently, the rower must be in a posture of looking back. I love the balance in this. But what happens if the rower stops rowing and becomes content gazing back from where he has come? His mission or destination is not only halted but devalued in comparison to those places already navigated. When our memories paralyze us from God's future mission, we jettison the Great Commission and turn nostalgia into an idol.
- Malcontent trumps Mutation - Some Christians have a penchant for proclaiming all that is wrong in the world. They get an "A" in frustration and disgruntledness. But, sadly, they have lost a sense of co-laboring with God to be change-agents in this world. They no longer believe or chant confidently with the Psalmist that "we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Churches full of these kind of parishioners find themselves retreating weekly into their safe silos while the rest of the world goes to Hell!
- Meander trumps Mandate - It is one thing to meander through a project due to an unclear mandate. It is an entirely different matter to meander in defiance of a mandate. In this case meandering is an expression of disobedience. Tragically, a church can possess good orthodoxy and yet exist in a constant state of disobedience due to meandering. Here are a few qualifying statements to this point:
- Mandate is not necessarily connected to pace. Both a sprinter and a marathon runner are compelled by winning. However, they engage their particular race with different speeds.
- Mandate does not mean action without thought. The Bible has much instruction regarding wisdom.
- Meandering is chronologically neutral. Both the young and old can be found guilty.
- The "new idea" does not necessarily reflect a mandate attitude, and the "old idea" does not necessarily reflect a meandering attitude. New is not always better.
- Maintenance trumps Multiplication - Jesus is clear in Acts 1:8 when he says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be by witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Pentecost brings power for the multiplication of the Gospel to the entire world. When the ethos of a church shifts from multiplication through the power of the Spirit to maintenance mode, a slow and painful death begins. A church that multiplies has no interest in being a time capsule.
- Mourning trumps Magnificat - The Magnificat was birthed out of a state of confusion. Mary had received the overwhelming news from Gabriel that she was "with child" followed by Elizabeth's prophetic proclamation over her. It is in this context that Mary sings, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." Much of the radical changes in our culture over the last three decades has occurred during my "coming of age" years. While I have viewed most of it through the youthful lens of excitement, I admit to moments of personal confusion and lament triggered by cultural chaos. If I have experienced this, I cannot imagine how it must feel to folks who have lived many more decades than I. However, in this hour of cultural confusion the Church, with multi-generational unity, must stand together as Mary did proclaiming and glorifying the Lord. Let's allow morbidity of thought to give way to a marveling heart of worship even in the midst of uncertainty and lamentation. May we declare to our cities, "Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty - he is the King of glory."
Ex nihilo,
R.J. Rhoden
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