Church was how believers responded to Jesus after he was no longer with them in physical presence.  I am always struck by the realization that Jesus did not leave behind any instructions for how to organize church.  Even our word church (Gk. ekklesia) just meant a gathering – often a municipal or civil gathering of citizens.  Over the years, the structure and nature of church has changed significantly, but it has remained important to believers.

For those of us involved in church today, one central question is this:  what business are we in when in it comes to church?  The answer depends, of course, on who you ask.  Some will tell you that we are in the business of winning converts to Christianity so more people will be saved (go to heaven when they die.)  And I believe that concern for salvation -- how people relate to God and each other -- is definitely church business, yet I see salvation more as a way of describing the extent to which we participate in God’s nature here and now and less about life after death.  Eternity is a characteristic of God and we are all held within the life of God eternally – in the eternal now.

Some will tell you that we are in the business of showing God’s love by providing charitable aid and support for people on the margins of life.  And I agree that meeting the immediate needs of hurting people can be a vital part of church business, especially as long as we don’t limit ourselves to the “first aid” of ministry.  Others will say that church is a mechanism for changing oppressive social structures making the world a more justice place.  And I agree that we are called to the prophetic ministry of changing unjust policies and structures in society as an expression of divine love.  Still others see church as a sacred tradition to be preserved.  I agree that we are stewards of a tradition, though added layers of belief and practice threaten to make the core of that tradition at times unrecognizable. 

Church is a business, but there is a ton of cultural baggage that comes with seeing church as a commodity to be sold.  Good business practices are important to be sure the institutional church remains as solvent as possible so that it can provide the space for Spirit community to live and thrive.  But church is a gift of the Spirit.  It is a gift that we have the opportunity and obligation to “re-gift” and share.  Finding the proper balance between community and business is not at all an exact science.  It may be more an art.  I usually find I discover where the line between the two is once I’ve crossed it.  We need to keep working at that dynamic balance without forgetting that Jesus invites us all to take up our cross and follow.  Let’s keep praying for grace, humility, and wisdom in that process.

It has been said that the dream of God for creation is summarized in the idea of Shalom – the oneness of humanity with each other and with all of life.  For us to cooperate in the realization of that dream requires that we embrace our own uniqueness and our right to be different.  It requires that we respect diversity and rights of others to be different – including different religious traditions.  And it requires faith – faith that the best way to express the mystery of the reality of God in this world is for us to be the best Jews, the best Christians, the best Muslims, and on and on that we can be – the best people and the best people of faith that we can be.  Perhaps the truest expression of faith is this:  that around, through, in between and because of our differences, God is revealed.  As people of faith, let us commit ourselves to walk in this truth.

Thanks for continuing to bless me as we journey together.
  
Jack Price

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