From the Editor
April 1, 1997
Does it bother you, as it bothers me, when people criticize the church?
To take one example, how many times have you heard, "The church is the only
army in the world that shoots its wounded"?
That's nonsense. Most congregations I know care for people through disease,
divorce, and sexual sin. And even if the accusation is partly true, is the
church the only army to shoot its wounded? People who say that must have
no contact with business "restructurings," family feuds, lawsuits, and coaches
of losing sports teams. In every arena of life people shoot the wounded.
The church stands out as one place that doesn't do it as often.
Sometimes people lob shots at individual congregations-usually a megachurch
or a church in town of a different theology. Theological differences are
worth discussing, but let's have the courage to express our position face
to face or in a signed letter, not behind another pastor's back.
Once I was studying Ephesians 5, which compares the relationship between
a husband and wife to the relationship between Christ and the church. Paul's
metaphor struck me: the church is a bride with feelings, and she has a devoted,
powerful, and watchful husband. I wrote in my journal, "May I always speak
reverently and tenderly of her."
I've sometimes slipped with unkind words about churches. But I'm trying to
imitate Jonathan Edwards, America's greatest theologian, who made this
resolution: Whenever he heard of another person's sins, he immediately examined
himself, repented of similar sins in his life, and prayed for the person.
What if, when we heard people criticize a church, we repented of similar
ways we have fallen short?
Some people can't help but see areas for correction, because they ...
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