Meditating on Proper 16: God's Church is Local

 

Proper 16

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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There is an old political maxim made popular by Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill years ago during the Reagan Administration: “All politics is local.” The point is that while national and international affairs may get the lion’s share of press and coverage, voters tend to vote for people they know and trust; those who get the job done filling in potholes, bringing new jobs and industry to their “base,” improving public safety, building better schools, and so forth.

As we gather to pray, we are reminded, first of, that we are part of God’s Church. “Grant, O merciful God, that your Church …” It’s almost as if we have to slam on the brakes for a moment as we come to realize, perhaps for the first time, that the “Church” is God’s, and not ours. That’s fingernails on chalkboard talk, that is!

As with politics, church, for most of us, is also local – maybe mostly (if not entirely) local. Yes, what’s happening globally and nationally on the church scene may be important. But most of us don’t come to church or go to church to find grand wizards in their long flowing capes, tall pointy hats, and walking sticks (which often seem more fitted for fighting off Balrogs than for gathering sheep). Most of us don’t go where we can bask in the thunder of a thousand pipes bellowing forth in majestic hymns written for grand choirs whilst played from massive organs in grand cathedrals. Most of us don’t experience billowing clouds of incense rising up to heaven above, creating ecclesiastical fogbanks between nave, chancel, and sanctuary. 

No, our churches are small, quaint chapels that provide us with a sheltered harbor, granting us respite from the storms that assail us day in and day out in life. We go to church and join our fellow locals as we and they “come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 856). God may hold Title, but for many of us, the churches we attend are MY church. For us, God’s Church is local. 

Bishops and archbishops may have their place(s). There may be cardinal parishes here and there with powerful rectors and clerical entourages, vergers, cathedral choirs and stern-faced musical directors. But for the rest of us, the Church is that neighborhood gem we and our forebears have been attending for one or two centuries, one that never seems to outgrow its place or space, and which seems to understand the phrase “give for the spread of the kingdom of God” to mostly mean “keeping the lights on and paying for a supply priest to come in every now and then” (while praying the furnace works or the roof holds together for yet another winter).

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, except that it isn’t quite what Jesus envisioned when he commissioned his disciples to go into all the world, baptizing the nations, and teaching them all that he commanded (Matthew 28:18ff). Jesus prayed that we would all be one just as he and the Father are One (John 17:21). I don’t think Jesus prayed that the Church would become monolithic or an organization of like-minded goose-stepping automatons. I think for Jesus, the Church is very much local. More local than your local congregation for, you see, you and I ARE the church.

I think we spend far too much time trying to sell the church to a world that’s not interested in buying. We craft and develop mission and vision statements in the hopes we might find that one combination that will produce a Eureka moment for all those who walk or drive by throughout the week. It’s as if we think our task is to sell the church, or sell our religion, or sell our faith, or sell our savior or our God. But that’s not our job, is it? 

In our prayer today, we are reminded that we are gathered together by God, whose church we are. God is the actor, the One who gathers. We come together because the Spirit has blown our various boats and vessels into this particular harbor at this particular time; God has formed us into a task force designed by the Almighty to carry out a specific mission: “show(ing) forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name …”

We must remember we do not exercise “power” the way the world shows power. God’s power is demonstrated through sacrifice and service, love and compassion, taking up our cross, no matter what the cost, and carrying it to the grave and beyond.

The question we must ask ourselves is not “What is the Church doing about this or that?” but rather, “What am I doing about this or that?” Am I taking care of our local potholes (spiritual, or otherwise)? Is education better or worse because of what I’m doing? Am I helping my neighbor to exercise their ministries in their industries? Is this a safe place for people to gather for worship, study, and fellowship? Have I looked to God for my sailing orders? 

God’s church is universal, but God’s Church is local, too. Come, Lord Jesus. Gather us, unite us, and strengthen us for service! Amen.