I've been thinking a lot over the last number of weeks about the two biggest obstacles that the small church has to face -- guilt and grief. The power of memory is important. Recalling the past and celebrating how God has been at work in our lives and in our church is valuable. It is necessary to rejoice in what God has done in us and through us and for us. The past gives our present meaning. It defines who we are and why we are. We do well when we "remember the days of old" (Deut. 32:7).
The problem is that memory, a sense of history, can also torment us. Churches can often look back into their history and remember times when things were "good". Our kids were coming to church with us. We had big Vacation Bible Schools. We had a great choir. We had lots of musicians. We had a great pastor. The pews were full. The list can go on and on. Those days were "good", and they are gone, and somehow we feel grief. We are sorry that they gone. We want "now-a-days" to be like the "good-ol'-days". We want to have that again. We miss it. And so we grieve at our loss. We mourn at what was and is no more. That grief is an obstacle to the small church. It keeps us looking back with sorrow and mourning at what used to be, instead of with joy and celebration at what God has done.
Guilt is another obstacle to the small church. While grief keeps us looking back with sorrow and mourning, guilt keeps us looking back with a sense that it is our fault that the "good-ol'-days" are gone. It is our fault that our kids don't come to church. It is our fault that we don't have enough musicians. It is our fault that our pastor left. It is our fault that our choir is no more. We don't have the past, because we wrecked it. We are somehow inadequate and so things went bad. We are not spiritual enough, and so God stopped blessing us. We are not wise enough, and so things unraveled. We don't work hard enough, and so things fell apart. That is guilt, and it is an obstacle to small church.
Grief and guilt are two obstacles that can keep us in the past. While memory, a sense of history, is vital and important in the church. Grief and guilt keep us stuck there. Our history--as individuals and as a church--is what identifies us in God and his plan for us. It gives us meaning and purpose. It tells us who we are and how God deals with us and how he promise to continue to deal with us. It is a source of celebration and joy in what has been, and of hope and promise for what is and is to come. History moves us forward in God's good plan for us. Grief and guilt get us stuck.
Blessings, David
Pastor Dave, I have been reading your blog regularly from far away and admiring how well you, and Heather have been able to articulate your role as pastor. Todays comments brought tears to my eyes. I see how deep your committment is to lead your congregation and how your sabbatical is ultimately your gift to them.
ReplyDeleteI know a very little bit about your church and I have seen the pictures of those days gone by. May I remind you that the immigrant nature of your congregation is not insignificant. These strong-willed, determined and brave people left their own homes and churches many years ago for new lives. They shouldn't be surprised that they have raised children who have the same characterisitcs and have been able to move away and make good lives for themselves elsewhere. Perhaps the issue is not who is missing, but how far the branches have reached and how healthy they are. The branches of the Bethel family tree may "reach over the fence" and be worshiping with another denomination but they are branches of Bethel none-the-less. That is to be rejoiced.
Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. I would welcome it very much if you would identify yourself to me. I'd love to know who you are. Send me an email, if you would (pastor@bethel-church.ca).
Blessings, David
David, this was another good posting.
ReplyDelete