BEFORE THROWING DOWN A CHALLENGE which ought to be prayerfully considered by every diocesan and parish leadership team on the planet, please note: In spite of my great imperfection, for all our lives we’ve been leading faith movements. We’ve experienced the power of the Holy Spirit transform lives. We rely upon partnership. We encourage you to support your parish and diocese financially because, however broken, they comprise something fundamentally established by Jesus Christ for our Salvation. That said:
AN ELDERLY FRIEND RECENTLY SHARED at the onset of a stewardship appeal: "The only time anyone in the church has ever reached out to me... with multiple calls... even wanting to meet with me... was for my money." In spite of well-known burdens, challenges, and even trauma he has faced throughout the years.
I'm sharing this because I'd bet the bank it's the experience of 95% of church-goers. Almost everywhere. A "church" whose most prominent, best, strategic, sustained, "evangelical" efforts are devoted far more to converting people's money than converting hearts. Their self-identity and mission proclaimed in slick marketing. Posters. Bulletin announcements. Handouts. Homilies. Engagement of leaders. Going through parish lists. Regular progress reports. Resources spent. Particularly painful following a season where total attention was given to that which might harm the body versus that which "can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)
Tell me I'm wrong. If so, praise Jesus for your church.
ONE QUESTION: If true, though the church doors are now open again, are they? If this is "church" to my friend and so many faithful church participants, what can be hoped for by the emaciated multitude who have left the church? Or never stepped inside?
If people are to believe the church is Jesus Christ present to us here on earth, the Answer to the deepest aspirations and longings of every human soul, if this is the norm... how do we not understand an epic exodus? And every form of strife? Particularly notable among a multitude of church-goers. Those who profess Him.
What's going to mark the change? Do we even care?
SATAN'S WORK IS VEILED IN DARKNESS.
"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." (Luke 8:17)
Too many of us are like that little child covering his eyes thinking no one can see him. Can we have the courage to see ourselves illuminated by Heavenly Light? If such illumination reveals how we really are now, and in that final eternity-determining moment, why do we work so hard to minimize, undermine, and avoid it?
Ralph Martin is a faith-filled scholar and sage of our times, constantly pointing out that the path is very narrow. (Matthew 7:13-14) The threat of hell, particularly for professed believers, is not inconsequential.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF ROOFS ARE FIXED, pews adjusted, parking lots updated, organs repaired, schools endowed... if intentional, joyful, contagious evangelization and discipleship is not happening. Such is a field of dry bones. (Ez. 37) Dead. Powerless. To the world, rightly, a joke.
THE FINGER POINTS TO US ALL. The measure of every Christian success is the cross: The vertical beam of ever deepening encounter with Jesus Christ holds up the horizontal beam of multiplication.
IF WE ARE NOT AUTHENTICALLY, joyfully evangelizing all whom God has entrusted to us... if at the end of this week no one has experienced Jesus Christ personally, directly through us, inviting them to ever-deeper encounter with Him... if that is not our number one priority and driving passion at the heart of everything we do, it's quite likely we ourselves have not been evangelized.
I'D LOVE TO ASK EVERY BISHOP & PASTOR: What is the ultimate measure of success? What's the plan? How different are things really going to be a year from now as a result of commitment today? How can I help get us there?
CONSIDER: AN ASPIRING QUARTERBACK looks to the example of someone like Tom Brady. An aspiring violinist, Joshua Bell. Where does an aspiring Christian (every person who's ever existed) find example of the love of Jesus Christ being contagiously lived and spread? How many are now in church as a result of pastors, pastoral teams, and parishioners going door to door, going through lists of those MIA, welcoming them into their homes, creating welcome-level opportunities of encounter in the parish, accompanying them on the journey? Drawing them to the Source and Summit of Holy Mass?
And I accept that such questions turn to me. And us.
IF THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, NOTHING IS HAPPENING. In fact, worse: It's inoculating the faithful against becoming true, all-in disciples of Jesus Christ, and it's inoculating a spiritually emaciated world from the only means of healing, restoration, fullness... keeping them from the beating Heart of God poured out through His Holy Church!
LORD JESUS CHRIST, may we recognize our ultimate appointing and anointing in You! Holy Spirit, inhabit my inmost heart! My mind. My body. My soul. My memory. My imagination. We understanding. My will. Completely consume and possess me! For Your Kingdom!
