A Formal Division or Separation

Why has the lower case ‘c’ catholic church, the universal church as we know it, failed to actually do what we are called to do?

Folks that are in our faith tradition know that we have a book that outlines our history, starting from the beginning, the literal beginning, through the visions of the end times, whenever the second coming will happen. We have the ability to see how history repeats itself over and over again and yet we enjoy being part of the problem. Yes, I said we ENJOY being part of the problem. Someone is reading this and is getting offended. I’m not sorry about that. I have to say and use the word enjoy. If we didn’t enjoy it, we would be disgusted by it and would work to be part of the change, not part of the consistency. History repeating itself is because mankind has refused to really learn and to attempt to do things differently. It falls into the definition of Einstein's parable of quantum insanity: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

The Holy Bible, the inspired Word of God, is for us to study, to learn from, and to live out. Here is the problem: Mankind has misused the privilege of having these texts to learn from. Throughout history we see how mankind has decided that ego, power, authority has always taken over how we “practice” our faith tradition. When creation came to be, there were not all of these rules in place by God with how we were supposed to worship Him. The rules that later came into being were man made, the same man made rules that still plague us today.

Man made doctrine has caused a formal division or separation before the word was even used. Our tradition stems from Judaic roots. The Old Testament is all about our Judaic ancestors! That’s right people, everyone’s a little bit Jewish. We go from creation of mankind and mankind’s first sin to exodus from Eden to weird practices that are not pleasing to God to 316 Judaic law to the coming of the Messiah and shrinking to 2 laws (love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor to the Jesus movement in Judaism to the formation of “the church” to Catholicism to Protestantism to 47,000+ denominations.

The division among believers in our faith tradition comes down to man’s interpretation of God’s wants on earth. Here is the problem with that: We are creations of God, made in his image, to do his will on earth. We are called by God to live our life according to the teachings of Jesus the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, God incarnate. We are not actually God! Just because we have the ability to read the inspired Word of God doesn’t mean we can play God in our actions and reactions within the world.

How many times have you seen, heard, read about different churches that have chosen to split and form a new sect within a denomination due to one singular issue? It is still happening today! The United Methodist Church is facing a split over the topic of the LGBTQ+ community. There has been a new split within the Church of the Brethren around this area because of man’s response to one specific topic. Sometimes it isn’t just one thing, it is multiple small problems that come to a head and explode. This is a problem! When we, the universal church, allow for man made rules, understandings and practices run how we practice our faith, we already have put God on a back burner. It is because of man’s interpretations to topics, practices, rules of rituals, etc., that have caused us to go from being united like our ancestors in the Jesus movement to having so many different sub-groups within the universal church.

Dr. Chris Crain wrote an article about church conflict. Within the article he listed points of conflict:

Pride: People often behave with self-centeredness, ego, and pride. When you feel that life is about you, you take things personally.

Spiritual and Emotional Immaturity: Maturity helps a person understand that differences in perspective broaden understanding. Mature people learn to disagree without being distressed. Mature people are self-aware and seek to improve their weaknesses. Immature individuals have not learned to avoid disputes over a person’s personality or style.

Change and Inflexibility: In reality, change is the norm. When policies or priorities change in the church, misunderstandings and stresses are likely to occur. When pastors and church leaders make strategic decisions, an effective process of communicating these new directives and norms is crucial.

Abuses of Power: Power is the influence a person has on his or her environment, relationships, or self. Shifts in power may create gains or losses. Power is the ability and means to get things done. Conflict expert Dudley Weeks wrote, “People choose how they use power and whether they allow it to be corrupt. We can use power negatively or positively. The severely damaging seesaw power approach creates the illusion that you are more powerful when you make the other party less powerful.”

Church Politics: Factions in the church may intentionally or unintentionally engage in political maneuvering and posturing that leads to conflict.

The problem really goes well beyond these on-point thoughts. I have been struggling as a Pastor, Spiritual Caregiver, Disciple, Wife, Mentor, Friend, etc., to figure out why I have been unhappy with my spiritual state. Don’t get me wrong, I love my church, I love my job and my calling, I love what I do. Just because I love what I do, I love the folks I serve, and I love the calling I have doesn’t mean that something may not be working or may not be effective.

I have had an issue for years with the universal church because I have watched the toxicity that is the “organized church” become more and more noticeable and problematic as I have grown older and have studied scripture more and more. The universal church has become primarily a church for churched people only. Yes, there are some churches that really do work to be a church for the unchurched: they are the exception, not the norm. Churches are so focused on the people already inside of their walls they do not have the want, desire, willingness, or drive to actually do what we are called to do.

I stated before that we are called to be disciples of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus did not work within awful and false teachings that were in place by the religious leaders of the time. Jesus was a rebel, going against the common rules, practices, teachings of the temple and its leaders. Jesus went to those that were labeled by the temple leaders and Jewish Religious Police and unclean. He cared for those that were the outcast, that didn’t know the Word of God, who may never have been exposed to who God truly was. He sat and dined with the sinners and the tax collectors after healing a man on the Sabbath in the house of a Prominent Pharisee. He knew he was being watched by the Pharisees and Sadducees of the time. He knew it was against their regulations to “work” on the Sabbath. He knew it was against Judaic tradition to eat with the people he chose to eat with. He didn’t care. He was doing the work of God, not the work of man who thinks they are God on earth. His ministry was not spent name-calling, demonstrating distaste for different groups, alienating people not like him. His ministry was spent loving people for who they were and where they were as he guided them towards where God wanted them to be.

We all need to wake up and think about what we are doing on this earth. We need to take a look with our own denominations and ask why we feel so threatened by other denominations to the point we do not work together anymore. Why is it that our man made cliques have made it so we are not only divided, we are okay and happy with this being so? I’m tired and I know I am not the only one. I am tired of fighting what feels like a losing battle because mankind can’t get over themselves. I’m tired of reading how Christians are all hypocrites and that’s because in the big picture it is true!

I am reading a book and so much of what I have been battling on a personal level has been validated in many ways with this book. I am not a reader, it isn’t a hobby I enjoy. I want to end this blog with a few thoughts from this book. I challenge you to read these and ask yourself if they apply to you as an individual, if they apply to your local church, and what can we do about it?

From the book “Deep and Wide: creating churches unchurched people want to attend” Author: Andy Stanley

“(Town you reside in) doesn’t need another church. (town of residence) needs a different kind of church. (town of residence) needs a church where church people are comfortable bringing their unchurched friends, family members, and neighbors. A church where unbelievers can come and hear the life-changing truth that God cares for them, and that Jesus Christ died for their sin. We need to create a church unchurched people would love to attend.”

“Churches designed for saved people are full of hypocrites. You pretty much have to be a hypocrite to participate.”

“Churches shouldn’t do anything that makes it unnecessarily difficult for people who are turning to God.”

“God’s love is a “regardless” kind of love.”