What is the Church? Part 2. . .

In my last post I posed the question, "What is the Church?  What is the role of the Church in this world?"  My inspiration for asking this question is my recent study of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and theologian who was executed by the Nazis for his role in the German resistance during World War II.  For those who are interested in reading the article, here is the link. 

In this post, I want to take the opportunity to attempt to answer this question for myself by studying what the Scriptures say in regards to the Church.  Specifically, I want to look at how the Church is supposed to interact with this world.  This list is in no way meant to be a comprehensive list, it is merely a start to help me find a beginning point for future thoughts or topics.

The Church Serves to Spread the Gospel

I began my search with Jesus's commission to the disciples following the Resurrection. 

Jesus's last recorded act before the ascension is to commission the disciples to spread the Word of God.  "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28: 18-20)."

First and foremost we are given the authority, and in fact commanded, to proclaim Christ to all peoples.  If we cannot do that, we fail in our fundamental responsibility to this world.  

The Church Serves as the Ambassador of Christ   

Studying the book of Acts, one of the themes that jumped out at me is how the early Church's role expanded from merely preaching the Word of God to ministering to the physical needs of its members.  The early chapters of Acts are filled with stories of individuals who donated their belongings to the Church fathers to be distributed to those in need.  Later, this need became so great that the apostles commissioned a group of men to perform various ministries so that the apostles could focus on prayer and evangelism. 

While, I don't think that this role can be considered as the focal purpose of the Church, it is an important function.  What I mean is this, Christians are not called to be righteous do-gooders as many in this day and age believe.  They are called to preach the Word of God. 

That being said, it is often necessary to attend to the spiritual needs of others by taking care of their physical needs as well.  Many of the most well-known stories in the Gospels involve Jesus performing miracles such as feeding the 5,000 and healing numerous people.  Caring for the welfare of others was important to his ministry. 

However, if one looks closely, Jesus's miracles were a means to an end.  Jesus routinely preached the forgiveness of sins first, and healed second.  The healing while extremely important, was the tool he used to proclaim the grace of God.  As Jesus says during the Sermon on the Mount, "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5: 14-16)." 

The reason I make this distinction is because I think it is important to understand why we are called to minister to others.  We don't do so as if we can achieve righteousness on our own.  We do so because God has commanded us to be his ambassadors, to be witnesses through our words and actions.  In this light then it becomes tied to our central role as messengers of the Gospel. 

The Church Serves to Do the Will of God 

Paul calls the Church the "body of Christ."  The Church is meant to be the embodiment of Christ in this world.  Ultimately, Christians are called to obey the will of God in all facets of our lives.  This is not to say that we are called to righteousness or salvation through works.  Rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God continually works in us to sanctify us.  Despite our flaws, His grace is enough to redeem us and use us for his own good purposes.   

Unfortunately, in this day and age, we tend to compartmentalize God.  We give Him a day a week, if that.  To many it is an uncomfortable thought to allow God into other areas of our life, to influence our day-to-day and moment-to-moment decisions. 

But this is not what God has called us to be.  God wants every part of us.  Luke provides a few examples of individuals who wished to follow Jesus as his disciples.  In each case, Jesus used the opportunity to show them areas of their lives in which they held themselves back from making him Lord over all.  One individual asks Jesus to allow him to bury a family member, likely an excuse.  Jesus sees through this and tells him to let the dead bury their own dead.  In another example, an individual wished to follow Jesus.  But Jesus, knowing the man's cares of worldly things told him that foxes have holes to live in but his disciples had no place to lay their heads.  As Jesus states, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9: 23)." 

As Christ demonstrates through the examples above, it is not an easy thing to follow the will of God.  Luckily though, He has provided us with help.  As Jesus states, "But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."  The Holy Spirit works in us to guide us, to nurture us, to sanctify us and equip us to be able to do the will of God.  Paul describes the fruit of the spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5: 25)."

God Uses the Church to Sanctify the World

In several of his epistles, Paul exhorts his listeners to be obedient to the authorities of this world.  As he explains, the authorities are established to punish those who do wrong.  But what is our responsibility when those authorities act unjustly?  During these times, God uses the Church to sanctify this world. 

Numerous examples throughout the Bible demonstrate individuals who were called by God to call this world to account.  Moses confronted the pharoah of Egypt when the Israelites were oppressed.  Nathan chastised David after the murder of Uriah.  Elijah calls King Ahab to account for leading Israel away from the worship of God.  Isaiah and Jeremiah warn the kingdoms of Judah and Israel about coming judgements, particularly speaking against the social injustices propagated by the ruling powers.  Jesus exposes the religious and social failings of the Sadducees and Pharisees.  The apostles told the Sanhedrin that they must follow God rather than men when they are warned not to preach in Christ's name. 

Sometimes we are called to witness and suffer for our beliefs, in accordance with God's will.  "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.  At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Matthew 10: 18-20)." 

As the Church, we must be ready and willing to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to do the will of God, even if we must oppose the authorities of this world. 

Conclusion

The role of the Church in this world is varied.  God calls the Church to spread the Gospel, serve one another, to do the will of God, and to work as a sanctifying force in accordance with God's will. 

As I said earlier, this is by no means meant to be an all inclusive list.   Volumes and volumes of books have been written on this subject.  Nor is this meant to be an evaluation of how successful we are at these roles.  But it gives me a starting point to look at the obligations of myself and the Church when faced with a given situation.  

I welcome the thoughts of others on the subject.  I know that I certainly am not a definitive authority on theology.  But if it raises some thought, then I consider this article a success.   

What is the Church? Part 1. . .

Lately I have been reading a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a hero of mine.  For those of you who may not be familiar with him, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian who joined the resistance against the Nazis during World War II.  After helping to found the Confessing Church in Germany (the Lutheran Church that refused to be tied to the heretical German Christian Church that supported Hitler's policies) he later became an important member of the German Resistance.  In 1943 he was arrested, and was later tied to Operation Valkyrie, the failed coup against Hitler. In the last weeks of the war, Bonhoeffer was executed for his political and religious stand against the Third Reich.  

One of the central questions posed by Bonhoeffer throughout his life was this, "What is the Church?  What is the role of the Church in this world?"  It is a profound question if you think about it. 

Bonhoeffer wrestled with this question for years as the Nazis increasingly consolidated power and initiated ghastly programs to re-engineer society through forced euthanasia, concentration camps, and persecution of minorities. 

Many of his contemporaries felt that the church was merely a body to provide for the spiritual nourishment of its parishioners.  When the Nazis began to initially implement their policies in 1933 to increasingly strip Jews and other minorities of their rights, many religious leaders simply stood by. 

Others found the courage to speak out when they felt that Hitler's consolidation of power was infringing on church matters.  When Hitler attempted to unify the churches in Germany under the German Christian church and forced the churches to expel Jewish converts or pastors of Jewish descent, many pastors cried foul and issued the Barmen Declaration repudiating Nazi policies interfering with the church.  This essentially resulted in a split of the German church.  However, very few pastors openly opposed the direction that the Nazis were taking in regards to Hitler's policies toward Jews and his increasing warmongering.  They felt that the church had no right to interfere with the policies of the state.  They cited Romans 13: 1-5 as justification that they must submit to the government in matters of state. 

Bonhoeffer, by contrast, urged his colleagues to vocally oppose Hitler's policies.  His efforts gained increasing attention from the Gestapo who severely restricted his ability to engage in academia and to preach openly.  

In time, Bonhoeffer, who had connections to members of the German Abwehr (the military intelligence branch), learned inside information about the programs of concentration camps and mass murder the Nazis implemented under cover of war.  Bonhoeffer made the decision to join the German Resistance, passing information to the Allies through his network of ecumenical contacts and assisting Jews and other refugees escape from Nazi Germany.  He was eventually arrested for his activities, later tied to the Valkyrie plot, and executed for treason.

Bonhoeffer's decision to actively join the German Resistance stemmed from his answer to the question, "What is the Church?"  

Bonhoeffer believed that the Church is meant to be the manifestation of Jesus Christ in this world.  To Bonhoeffer, the Church was not meant to be compartmentalized and segregated from the non-religious world.  To him, Jesus is the Lord of all, sovereign over all things.  

He believed that the Church holds a much greater responsibility than to simply serve as a meeting place on Sunday mornings.  As Christians we are obligated to speak out where God leads us to speak out, and to take action when God leads us to action.  This includes serving those in need, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, acting to counter even authorities when their actions are immoral.  Bonhoeffer famously said, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:  God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act."

If we accept this as true, it has enormous implications for Christians.  As this is something I am wrestling with at the moment, I will try to spend the next few devotions studying this idea and the implications that proceed from it.        

  

U.S. Constitution Front and Center

"I, Sean McCoy, do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to do the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.  So help me God." 

This is the oath that I swore on May 27, 2000, when I was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.  Although, I am no longer a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces, I still consider this as my duty and obligation as a proud citizen of the United States. 

The oath of office sworn by members of Congress, the office of the President, and the Supreme Court are all nearly identical to the one I took. 

Last week the 112th Congress read aloud the entire text of the U.S. Constitution.  Additionally, new rules are in the works to require Congress to cite specifically which sections of the Constitution provide authority to pass legislative items. 

I sincerely hope that it is more than just political pageantry.  For too long Congress as well as the other branches of the federal government have ignored, bent, or stretched this sacred document beyond recognition.

Consider some of the following relatively recent items in the news (this list is not meant to be a comprehensive, nor is it a swipe at any particular political party, it is only meant to illustrate a point):

- The Patriot Act passed following the events of 9/11 granted the Federal government the right to monitor internet and phone traffic in order to gather evidence against domestic terrorist groups.  This Act which effectively gives the government a loophole around the Fourth and Fifth Amendments in cases of domestic terrorism has now been expanded to be used against organized crime and in the war on drugs. 

- The Affordable Healthcare Act will force millions of Americans to purchase health insurance from private companies under penalty of fine and imprisonment, effectively forcing individuals to participate in a segment of the economy.  This has been challenged and will be brought before the Supreme Court to determine if the use of the Commerse and Necessary and Proper clauses of the Constitution are in contradiction with the Tenth Amendment.  Additionally, waivers have been granted to three States and over 200 organizations to exempt them from the costs of the legislation, possibly in violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

- Legislation was proposed in 2009 by the President to heavily tax financial institutions for the purpose of recouping bail out money.  These taxes were to be imposed on all of the financial institutions affected regardless of their re-payment status.  Its purpose was to penalize companies for activity that was not illegal, in effect violating the Constitution's prohibition of ex post facto laws.  The proposed law was later defeated in the Senate.

- The District Court in California recently ruled that law enforcement agencies had the right to implant a GPS tracking device on an individual's privately own vehicle that was parked in its driveway for the purposes of gathering criminal evidence without seeking a warrant from a magistrate or judge. 

Examples abound of Constitutional overreach by all branches of government. 

As I said earlier, I truly hope that the 112th Congress is sincere in their commitment to adhere by the principles and letter of the Constitution.  I have my doubts. 

I would urge all citizens to regularly read the Constitution and become familiar with the document which lays the legal framework that we operate under.  We must hold our government accountable to upholding the spirit and letter of the law.  We need to keep abreast of the political issues of the day and make our voices heard through our collective vote, through letters to our representatives, and when necessary suing the government when it violates the rights guaranteed under the Constitution. 

If we fail to hold our government accountable we will soon find (and may be finding now) that we are a nation ruled by men instead of laws. 

Letter to the Editor: What Christmas Means to Me

I wrote this a few weeks ago hoping to get it published in the Arizona Republic in time for Christmas.  No such luck, not that its a surprise.  I wasn't terribly optimistic since it was probably uncomfortably religious-minded for that medium, but it was something I felt needed to be said.  Since it didn't make it there, I figure I will post it here.  Here goes: 

The Christmas tree and lights have been up a few weeks now.  Gifts have been bought and wrapped.  On the radio and TV are songs and movies extolling the “Christmas Spirit.”  All the preparations are made, and yet something seems missing.   

In all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays I rarely hear about Christ. 

Movies talk about “Christmas Spirit”, giving, charity, family time, about it being more blessed to give than to receive.  All of these seem to suggest that Christmas is about what man has done for mankind.  And yet we read the news and are reminded on a daily basis of man’s failings. 

Christmas is not about giving but receiving.  Christmas is about an Almighty God choosing of his own accord to come down in weakness and humility, so that He could one day lay down his life as a ransom for us all.  It is about receiving God’s grace, though we don’t deserve it.  It is about Immanuel, God With Us.

This Christmas it is my prayer that we will remember that.  All of the other elements of the “Christmas Spirit” are man’s reaction to receiving this grace.  Merry Christmas. 

Standing in the Phalanx - Initial Post and Introduction

If you are reading this, thanks.  Seriously, thank you.  It means a lot to me to have the ability to express some of my thoughts to others.

You will have to forgive me.  This is my first Blogging experience.  My thoughts might be somewhat jumbled at first, but I am sure it will develop with time.  I guess what I want to do now is to explain who I am and why I am writing this column.   

I am not a particularly important or compelling person.  I am not a politician, I am not a captain of industry, I am not a famous theologian, I am not a noted philosopher or academic.  Probably the most compelling reason for anyone to want to read this is precisely BECAUSE I am none of those things.  I am just an average man wrestling with life.  I am an unapologetic Christian, a patriotic American, a concerned citizen, a husband and father. 

I grew up in South Florida to a typical American family:  dad, mom, big sister, little brother, and me.  We weren't too poor and we weren't too wealthy either.  Your typical middle-class family.

I was raised as a Lutheran in a relatlively religious household.  My parents fostered an interest in God and the Bible at an early age, and it has stuck ever since.  My thoughts on God and my religion play an important part in my life and will likely be one of the more prominent topics in this column.  It is an important part of who I am and who I want to be.  Not that I am a righteous do-gooder, far from it in fact.  It is just that being a Christian is one of the most important aspects of my world-view. 

I was also raised to love my country.  As a kid growing up when other families were maybe taking vacations to beaches and amusements parks, our family visited battlefields of the American Revolution and Civil War, museums such as the Smithsonian, as well as many of our national parks.  I grew up reading my dad's Book of the Month Club library, which had mostly stories of America's great heroes.  As a young man, I was accepted to and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as a U.S. Army infantry officer for over eight years to include three combat tours overseas.  It is an opportunity that I will be forever thankful for having.  A few years ago I made the decision to leave the military so that I could raise a family.  But having made that decision, I decided I wanted to do something that I felt was important and would continue to serve my country from the civilian side.  I now work in the pharmaceutical industry, serving others in my own way. 

I am a husband and father.  Being a father is one of the most humbling and awesome experiences I have ever had.  I firmly believe that you don't truly know what unconditional love is until you hold your firstborn child in your arms.  You don't truly know what it is to be proud until you watch your children learn and grow.  You don't truly know what fear is until you have a child or spouse and something happens that is completely out of your control.  Its an experience that has changed me, hopefully for the better.  I wouldn't give it up for the world. 

So now that you know who I am I want to explain this column.  You are probably curious about the title of my Blog.  For those of you not familiar with your military history it goes like this.  The phalanx was a military formation used in anctient warfare such as with the Greeks and Romans.  Basically they stood side by side in a line, with deep ranks of men behind each other.  Each man held a sheild that interlocked with the man beside him to protect each other.  The rank in front would face the enemy while the ranks in back would press in upon the ranks in front, exerting an inexorable force that held the whole formation together.  A strong phalanx could stand up to the pressure of an opposing force crashing into its front line, causing them to break like a wave upon a reef. 

Now that you understand the imagery, I will explain why I chose this name.  For some time now I have felt that the values that I hold dear such as love of God, love of country, care for one another are being challenged.  Or to put it another way, these things only stand if we fight for them and imbue these values in our children.  It takes all of us making these things a priority, defending them from competing values or lack thereof, and passing them onto our neighbors and children.  Each person contributing to a greater whole. 

But this doesn't happen if we don't do it consciously.  We have to identify those things that we value, struggle with them, and make up our minds to live by them and pass them on. 

This column is my attempt to express those values, to take a moment every now and then to organize my thoughts, and to hopefully pass my thoughts on to others.  I leave it to you to read it if you wish, digest it, evaluate what I have to say, and make of it what you will.  If nothing else, hopefully it sparks your own thoughts and internal discussion.  Topics of interest to me will likely be:  religion, politics, ethics, philosophy, etc.  If this interests you, welcome!

Once again, if anyone is out there listening, thank you.  If not, well, its still of benefit to me.