Definition as Lenten practice is partly about how we have been defined by God. It is partly how we define ourselves in relation to God. And, perhaps, it is how others define us.
I was defined by a colleague today. "Every time you speak, I hear the love you have for Christ's church." That made me happy. I can only begin to tell you how tired I am of hearing all the "bad news" about Christ's church. The church is not a problem. We face some problems, usually of our own making. But when do humans not face problems?
We are defined by God as God's beloved people. We are charged to witness to God's desire to gather all things to God. We are invited to be part of that process of reconciliation and transformation and as we participate, we are, in fact, reconciled and transformed. So why do we let the word "problem" define us? Why have we accepted an opinion that the church is dying?
We have work to do. No question. We, like all other people in all times and places, must figure out how to witness to our fundamental truths in this time and place. We need to use language and images people can understand. We need to teach the traditional language that reveals timeless truths about who God is and how God acts in the world.
But part of my Lenten journey is the proclamation that church is NOT a problem to be solved. Church, the community life of a gathered people of faith, is a gift to be celebrated. The gift of community brings together the resources we need to face the challenges of witness in our here and now. Community has always been God's call and gift.
Humans hunger for authentic, transformational community. We are a people who can offer that to the world. Thanks be to God.
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