Church can still effect change on important issues of the day
Some years ago, the denomination of which I am a part used these words as the theme for our convention: “The World at its Worst Needs the Church at its Best.”
To be sure, those words of rally and challenge harken back to a time and place when the church was a major factor in the world, and her influence even among those who were unchurched was considerable, and so the idea of the world in need of the church was not farfetched at all.
In the mid- to late 1950s, very close to half of the population of this nation attended church, and in that same period the rate of church attendance grew faster than the population. That was indeed the heyday of the church.
America was a churchgoing nation, a president by the name of Eisenhower both joined the National Presbyterian Church and attended church weekly, and the full sermons of pastors were printed in newspapers on Monday morning.
This was also the time of the blue laws that prohibited sales on Sunday and that restricted or banned most activities on Sunday as well.
The church in those days had a big footprint and cast a long shadow, and so the theme of the convention meeting that year spoke to what was seen as the vital role the church played in the larger society. No matter how bad the world was, if the church was at her best, she could bring about the needed change.
Fast forward to today, and it is quite a different picture.
We are told that church attendance prepandemic was already at an all-time low and that the largest group in any survey regarding religious affiliation identified as “none.”
Events such as 9/11 and other crises always brings a surge in church attendance and, rather than see that as a negative or a trend, I see it as proof that the church still has a role — a place in society — and that if we fill and maximize that role, we can still make a difference and have an impact.
As one who grew up around and in the church and who for more than 40 years has pastored here in Ohio, I believe that there are three areas in which the church can play a part, but we must have the courage to address and confront them. In fact, for some, we must have the courage to admit and acknowledge them.
The first issue or reality that the church must speak to or continue to speak to is the issue of our culture, and in particular the issue of race in our culture.
I suppose that there are two extremes in this conversation on race. There are those who see no issues of race, and those for whom everything is an issue of race. Neither view is acceptable.
To say that we have no progress in race relations is untrue, but to say that race in America is no longer an issue is equally untrue.
The church, in ways that no other institution does, has the authority to speak to this issue.
The Bible tells us that “of one blood God made all the peoples of the earth” and that each of are made “in the image and after the likeness of God.” If the church simply took a biblical stance, we could with authority and integrity speak to the issues of race in our society.
Sad to say, what we have often seen instead — especially during the summer of 2020 — was an attack and assault on the Black Lives Matters movement and, this year, on the idea of critical race theory.
In so many ways and in so many cases, pastors and churches have chosen to look the other way or stick their heads in the sand, hoping perhaps it will just go away. As was the case in the 1960s with the modern civil rights movement, the church has an opportunity, a moment to make a difference and to have an impact.
Another issue that the church must speak to is COVID-19.
We are living in the middle of a pandemic that has led to hundreds of thousands of lives lost. The social and economic impact is being felt in almost every home and life, and yet there are pastors and churches that are anti-vaccine and who refuse to wear a mask.
Once again, the church could lead the way on this simply by being biblical.
The story of the good Samaritan is the story of a person who sacrificed and shared what they had with someone else, for the good and safety of that person. When we are vaccinated or wear a mask, maybe, just maybe, we are being good Samaritans, or maybe even being Christian.
A final area that I believe could be a place where the church can make a difference is climate change.
Say what you will, the past 15 years and indeed the last three weeks have shown us that climate change is real. Our environment is being impacted, and to be a denier about it is to ignore the facts plain and simple.
I know that I have said it before, but the church is uniquely positioned to speak to this.
The biblical account of creation tells us that we are stewards of this world, custodians of creation, and if anyone should speak with passion and clarity about our planet, it ought to be the church.
Here is what I believe: If we can summon the courage and convictions to be the church in these areas and issues, it may be that a world seemingly at its worst could get a church seeking to be her best!
Bishop Timothy Clarke is the senior pastor of First Church of God on the Southeast Side.