What is the Church and what is its mission today? Personal Response

My context is one in which the word “church” is not used.  In fact, we witness that Jesus said that the Spirit would be with us, not because of being a member of a specific group, not because we confess specific articles of belief, not because we break bread in a certain way, but because we hold ourselves accountable to the Great Commandment, we strive to witness for justice, and we gather in holy prayer and thanksgiving for the bounty of our lives.

In our time, “the Church” has done a lot of damage in our society.  Whether about abortion, gay rights, women’s dignity, respect for other religions (especially Islam), halting environmental degradation, other important issues, various churches have acted to divide us, to encourage hateful behavior, to allow some to think that they personally will be “saved” while their fellow humans will be condemned to eternal misery.  I cannot agree that Jesus would sanction these actions (regardless of what is alleged as his words about judgment in the Gospels).

I also know that various churches have done much good in our time.  My mother was cared for and included in a lovely way by her Methodist Church until she needed to go into a nursing home.  They went beyond the call of duty for her, for which I will always be grateful.

On balance, however, I believe that Christian churches have not yet lived up to the Christian message.  Thus, I see that they have only one mission: learn to live in peace and in love with others.  Missions other than that – i.e. spreading the Christian message – should not be undertaken until or unless the first is well in hand.  If we cannot love each other at home, what are we doing telling others about it?  

I believe that the church’s mission is to stop using God to hurt others.      [This wording came from Karen Roberts’ talk on her Master’s Thesis, 26 jan 2011.]

As humans, our mission is to actualize, or incarnate, the Spirit on earth as we are so led, praying for guidance of the Spirit, and seeking direction from our collective consciences, scriptures, minds, and hearts.  We must witness to misuse of God’s gifts, recognizing that we are operating from ignorance ourselves.  God help us.