One of them wrote this email to me: "You are correct when you say that the church must find its relevancy. I would even say EARN its relevancy. For too long the church has assumed its relevancy, unaware that it lost it about 50 years ago. The church has to make its case, both internally and externally." I kept thinking about his statement. Do I agree? Obviously there will be lots of disagreement with pastors and ministers wanting to keep a guaranteed salary and with seminaries who want to continue turning out students and with convention personnel and denominational personnel who have very few career paths awaiting them. Most external people are too worried about their own financial situation to think much about the relevancy of the church. It's always been there; it will need to be there to marry and bury down the road.
But this picture kept hitting me in the face.
What would my dad want me to do and believe? He was a preacher for years, then the Postmaster of Charleston and he served the people! This he did whatever his position because it was in his blood! Where one serves does not define the kingdom! The kingdom is defined by what we do in this world! Does the church make a difference in today's world? Can churches be used to make people aware that they are God's presence in the world and that is their supreme purpose?
So many questions! So many answers! Can we dare to rest on our laurels and our past? The one thing I know is that people are wrestling with the role of presence and speaking of their quest openly. To me, that is progress! I think Daddy would agree and I think that heaven and its minions would applaud!
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