Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Smaller but Better? Don't Count on it.
I say it again: don't count on it.
Celebrants not "slightly hungover" are still giddy and in last night's and this lunch hour's search of St Blog's are saying it: the Church will be better off smaller and more faithful. But that would not be in keeping with tradition.
First, let's acknowledge that the aspiration to faithfulness is good. But we must also admit that pettiness is unseemly for a Christian. After all, tradition tells us that when people are dissatisfied with how things are, they don't start up exclusive country clubs. In the fourth century, those who sought faithfulness went into the desert. There they found purity and like-minded followers. They were critical (dissenting, if you will) in what they saw the problems in Christianity were. But they didn't presume they were the only ones heavenbound.
The Gospel message suggests our mission is to preach the Good News to everyone, not a select few. There is rejoicing over finding lost sheep, not throwing them to the wolves. There is rejoicing over the lost son's return, and the pouting older son is not portrayed very sympathetically by Luke.
If people are dissatisfied with the Church, fine. If they want to criticize various people or notions they dislike, fine. If they wish for a time when some will be cast off the boat and into the deep, that would not quite be in keeping with the Gospel notion of charity.
The Desert Tradition had it right: go where you need to go to find purity and intensity as you wish or need it. Welcome the seekers who come your way. Problem with country clubs as I've experienced them: they don't deal well with seekers.
