FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
A SENSE OF THE CHURCH
PRESENTATION #2
JANUARY 16, 1993

SATURDAY EVENING BANQUET

JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR

FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
SCRIPTURE |

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5

MATTHEW 16:13-18
™_..YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK I

WILL BUILD MY CHURCH...”

-MaTTHEW 16:18 (NRSV)

Nts

DO YOU HAVE TO BELONG TO THE CHURCH TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

CHARLES IVES SAID ae eee MUST

a
»

BE A PART OF THE SOUL ALL MADE OF

TUNES." J) I THINK ABOUT THAT ON OCCASION

eee rt

1

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF TUNES PLAYING
AROUND IN MY SUBCONSCIOUS JUST BENEATH
ae ee
THE suneace, |aNo OCCASIONALLY, FREQUENT~-
LY ACTUALLY, ONE COMES TO THE TOP OUT OF
eS SS

NOWHERE, AND I FIND MYSELF LI NING TO
IT, OR HUMMIN rt.\ ONE OF THE TUNES

THAT DOES THAT_FOR ME IS(“THERE'’S A

CHURCH IN THE WrLpwoop.") /DO YOU KNOW

as

ewe "THERE'S A CHURCH IN THE VALLEY BY
THE WILDWOOD,
No LOVELIER PLACE IN THE DALE:
No spoT IS SO DEAR TO MY CHILDHOOD
AS THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH IN THE

VALE." =

THE SECOND VERSE:

"HoW SWEET ON A BRIGHT SABBATH

MORNING

To List’ TO THE CLEAR RINGING BELL
TVs Xess Sd sweetly ore cally
p Crm Ye Ae Clad Ae Vor)’

owe

Wu — Cow — Core i

WIwe- Com 4% Hy Clr mL Walt
~ Bah

— Cm sx -
Nu \acn ie Su Neo ' Dad | CuLaherd

awn \ At Netw hr ~

ITS TONES SO SWEETLY ARE CALLING,
0 COME TO THE CHURCH IN THE VALE."
THE REFRAIN IS THE BEST PART. THE
MEN SING:
"Q COME - COME - COME - COME,"
WHILE THE WOMEN SING:
"CoME TO THE CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD,
COME TO THE CHURCH IN THE DALE. NO
PLACE IS SO DEAR TO MY CHILDHOOD AS THE

LITTLE BROWN CHURCH IN THE VALE."

@PWAVE NEVER SUNG THAT HYMN IN
FAOUGHT AND WE SATD HE THOUGHT WE "OUGHT
GUUERUNEECORS. «It's IN THAT

PLACE ALL MADE OF TUNES, I THINK, BE-
one” enc
= ATHER—bOVE ‘
CAUSE MY EATHER—b D IT \ Heasane IT A

LOT. E MAY EVEN N TO ME.
(0) H E HAVE SUNG IT M

OrreM
HAVE BBN WOND
=ker I E WONDER@¥P WHY HE LOVED

oo

THAT HYMN so.\ ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE

IS THAT HE NEVER "TITTLE BROWN

—_— } nea

CHURCH IN A VALE.‘\} I KNEW_HIS CHURCHES

ee

AND THEY cee cama BROWN CHURCHES .

Cn

AND THEY WERENT fT TFEE-BROWN CHURCHES.
THEY WERE THE FLETH Avenue METHOD-
Ist CHURCH \\ wor FrrtTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
am ee |
C1rrTy. \ Turs Is FIFTH AVENUE IN ALTOONA,
en ences
PENNSYLVANIA, ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS FROM
a eS
WHAT WAS. IN HIS CHILDHOOD, THE LARGEST

a

RAILROAD FREIGHT YARD IN THE wort | \THE

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD'’S STAGING AREA FOR

ALL FREIGHT GOING WEST OVER THE ALLEGHE-

NIES, WHICH IS TO SAY IT WAS DIRTY,
——

TOWNS ARE NOT OFTEN PRETTY. \ THE EXTERI-

ala Gee ey

OR WAS BLACK, \THE STONE ENCRUSTED WITH
— Mem...

DECADES OF THE SOOT AND ASH WHICH FELL

CONSTANTLY ON THE roun. \ INSIDE, IT WAS

NOT WHAT ONE WOULD CALL BREATHTAKING OR

SS

BEAUTIFUL.| IT WAS TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY

le ee

METHODIST, PRETTY DULL, PRETTY SENTIMEN-

——o

TALS AND LIKE THE REST OF THE CITY,

prety. | Late - tha A eejunnd Ԥ te ied -
——— en

So, WHY DID HE LOVE THAT HYMN?

en a

4

WHAT_THAT HYMN IS ABOUT I THINK - THAT

NOSTALGIC, SENTIMENTAL IMAGE OF A LIT-
=} | as

TLE, RURAL, WOQDEN CHURCH SWEETLY CALL-
SS et

ING CHILDREN - una THAT ISABOUT_IS A
ried
UNIVERSAL DISAFFECTION WITH THE_REALITY

—

OF THE CHURCH. HE WENT DUTIFULLY, BUT
ncn Sy
NOT WITHOUT CO tarnane. \ Cuunc WAS NOT
at A

HIS FAVORITE PLACE TO BE.\ FROM_IHE WAY

HE a COME, COME TO THE CHURCH
W
IN THE WILDWOOD, | vou WOULD HAVE THOUGHT

THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILD ABOUT IT.

THE TRUTH IS, HE STARTED LOOKING AT HIS

WATCH THE MINUTE WE SAT DOWN AND IF IT
— * oy

WENT ON TOO LONG, \LET US AND EVERYONE
eS ‘

AROUND US KNOW HIS IMPATIENCE WITH DEEP
ae a D

SIGHS, UNTIL FINALLY HE GOT OUT HIS BIG
Ey

RAILROAD POCKET WATCH AND WOUND 3T [A

pe se

LOUD, PENETRATING SOUND, WHICH SIGNALED
eS

Ome lw

EVEN THE PREACHER THAT IT WAS TIME FOR
sipaelintad

Dd

THIS TRAIN TO PULL INTO THE STATION AND
a =

See

STOP.
——

sy A Clings 4
wart. + wy Burts 8 14

THE TRUTH IS THAT HE WASN’T WILD
— _ Lee

—

ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONAL EXPRESSION OF
hea a

ad

THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION - THE CHURCH, \ He
fee

WOULD HAVE HAD A ONE-WORD ANSWER TO THE

QUESTION I HAVE posen.( "DO YOU HAVE TO
BELONG TO THE CHURCH TO BE A CHRISTIAN?”
WwW m
No.
My DAD'S CONDITION, I HAVE SUBSE-
a
QUENTLY LEARNED, IS WIDESPREAD AND DEEP
nrstorrcatty. \ He HAS LOTS OF COMPANY.
Ges Ea
THE CONDITION HAS A NAME. | rr IS CALLED
i eT

("THe SCANDAL OF eT, AND IT

GOES TO THE HEART OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

ee

C. S. Lewrs’s CLASSIC SCREWTAPE

el

LETTERS IS A CORRESPONDENCE, BETWEEN A
SENIOR DEVIL AND HIS NEPHEW ABQUT FIGHT-
ING FOR THE SOUL_OF_A NEW CHRISTIAN.
LISTEN TO THE DEVIL - ON THE TOPIC OF

ay

THE CHURCH:
el

one OF OUR GREAT ALLIES AT PRESENT

ee

IS THE CHURCH ITSELF. | Do NOT MISUNDER-
STAND ME. I DO NOT MEAN THE CHURCH AS
WE SEE HER SPREAD OUT THROUGH ALL TIME.
ALL your (MAN) SEES IS THE HALF FINISHED
SHAM GOTHIC (BUILDING). WHEN HE GOES
INSIDE HE SEES THE LOCAL GROCER WITH A
RATHER OILY EXPRESSION ON HIS FACT_
BUSTLING UP TO OFFER HIM ONE SHINY
LITTLE BOOK CONTAINING A LITURGY NEITHER
OF THEM UNDERSTANDS... WHEN HE GETS TO
HIS PEW AND LOOKS AROUND HIM HE SEES
JUST THAT SELECTION OF HIS NEIGHBORS
WHOM HE HAS HITHERTO AVOIDED. YOU WANT
TO LEAN PRETTY HEAVILY ON THOSE NEIGH-

Bors. MAKE HIS MIND FLIT TO AND FRO

BETWEEN AN EXPRESSION LIKE "THE BODY OF

CHRIST’ AND THE ACTUAL FACES IN THE NEXT

peu.” | [p. 8, 9]
/

ALMOST EVERYBODY, GOES THE ARGU-

eee

MENT, LIKES THE GENERAL IDEA OF Gop AND

Love. EVERYBODY LIKES NOBLE PRINCIPLES.
CHRISTIANITY, HOWEVER, IS NOT ABOUT
ad

NOBLE PRINCIPLES. \IT IS ABOUT A PALES-

Bao

TINIAN JEW BY THE NAME OF_JESU . | THERE

ARE, IN FACT, NO ABSTRACTIONS, NO BROAD
ie
CONCEPTS, NOT EVEN ANY NOBLE PRINCIPLES

IN THE BIBLE.\ THE BIBLE PRESENT

eae

ING PARTICULARITIES: | A PEOPLE, A_HISTO-
ad

RIK-

rv, \a Law| A BIRTH, A LIFE, A DEATH -
= —_——

wer SS

AND THEN A PEOPLE AGAIN, A_ CHURCH.
Air

=

QuTHor ANNIE DILLARD} WHO GREW UP

—y

SS.

8

NC a
we Bosse
i» ws
gor.
gery
ke
wi

Shadyside ~ Pattee

IN A PRESBYTERIAN nunc, puLten BACK
FROM THE WHOLE PROCESS AND RECENTLY
eel é em

JOINED THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, WROTE

AN ESSAY IN A COLLECTION, MODERN AMERI-
el

CAN WRITERS ON THE NEw TESTAMENT (CINCAR~

NATION). DILLARD WROTE:

“WHAT A PITY THAT SO HARD ON THE HEELS
or CHRIST COME THe _Carsrzans. | THERE rs
NO BREATHER. | THE DISCIPLES TURN INTO
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS BETWEEN ONE RUSHED
VERSE AND ANOTHER. WHAT A DISMAYING
PITY... THEY SET OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD, AND THEY PRETTY
MUCH DID IT. THEY CONQUERED EMPERORS,
RAISED ARMIES, LINED THEIR POCKETS WITH
REAL MONEY, DID EVIL THINGS LARGE AXD
SMALL, IN EVERY CENTURY INCLUDING THIS
ONE. THEY ARE SMUG AND BUSY, JUST LIKE
US, AND WHO COULD BELIEVE IN THEM?” [Pp.

36]

wre «bu |
\

a. * eer ©

THE TRUTH IS THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS
enna GSE
BEEN A BIT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT. | THAT IS

THE TREMENDOUS APPEAL OF Fewemeeren “LL. te levamye lots

REItGeen, I THINK. \ YOU CAN HAVE JESUS

WITHOUT THE cnurc.\ You CAN HAVE YOUR
fer] SS

SALVATION WITHOUT ALL THE MESSY NUISANCE
OF STEWARDSHIP AND PLEDGES AND THE
qe Sl See ee
eed Gm
\ IT’S_A GOOD, DEAL
eee

ACTUALLY:\ NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR ARM
Fell

CHAIR,\ CAN HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR,
—

LATEST PARKING LOT ieee AND THE

BOILER MALFUNCTIONI

\ PUSH MUTE WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR

Gente

l=
/ AND THEN, IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT, SEND IN A

CHECK.

THE TRUTH IS THE CHURCH IS NEVER

QUITE WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE,AND NO ONE

KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN CHURCH PEOPLE.
a .

AS A MATTER OF FACT, AFTER THE_ANTI-

INSTITUTIONALISM OF THE PAST FEW DECADES
ae —_ ae

I THINK THERE IS MORE SELFP“RIGHTEOUS

=,

10

RELIGIOUS SMUGNESS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

THAN THERE IS rnsz0e.\ TIME WAS WHEN
CHURCH PEOPLE LOOKED DOWN THEIR NQSES AT

NON-CHURCH PEOPLE. \ TODAY, HOWEVER, THE
el

PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE IS INCLINED TO

sav, I MAY NOT BE PERFECT, BUT AT LEAST
Nag ead
I'm NOT A HYPOCRITICAL CHURCH MEMBER." )

A 7 ?— tw 1869 THE FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL

ed

"EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA SALUS.”" )

=

"THERE IS NO SALVATION OUTSIDE THE C
: ~Bv® Wahs wre eAtlusiw p- ;
CHURCH." ) JOHN CALVIN SAID IT TOO AND

BELIEVED IT.\\ HE MIGHT DEFINE CHURCH
al eT
DIFFERENTLY, BUT HE BELIEVED rv.\\Wrust-
weno —
MON SAYS THAT CHURCH PEOPLE, MORE THAN
Sem

ANYONE ELSE, KNOW THAT IS PATENT NON-

==
SENSE; \ THAT WHEN THE CHURCH SAYS THAT,
eal =
THE CHURCH IS SAYING MORE THAN IT KNOWS.

WE PRESBYTERIANS ARE QUITE HAPPY, ACTU-

ALLY, TO LEAVE THE MATTER OF SALVATION

IN THE HANDS OF OUR GOD WHO WE KNOW AND
TRUST TO BE GRACIOUS, JUST, FORGIVING,

AND LOVING.

AND- LOVING.
3) Ze ticcomtion POSITION IS THAT

OF COURSE THERE IS SALVATION OUTSIDE THE
SoS

cuurcn. | Tyat’s NOT REALLY THE QUESTION

I posep\( "Do YOU HAVE TO BELONG TO THE
ee |
CHURCH TO BE A CHRISTIAN?" AND TO
ANSWER THAT LET'S LOOK BRIEFLY AT WHAT “YW Bock eps

Se@RGPBVRE SAYS ABOUT CHURCH.

IN THE GOSPELS, VERY LITTLE. “WE”

RO THE |
ra

JESUS SAYS TO PETER: you ARE A ROCK
=e

r ii
AND ON THIS ROCK I'LL BUILD A CHURCH,

THE WORD CHURCH IS "EKKLESIA" IN GREEK.

' me ree

It MEANS{ "THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ouT.") IT
: psi

IS USED ONLY THREE TIMES IN THE GOSPELS,

ALL THREE IN MATTHEW. \ BIBLICAL _SCHOLARS

gt

HAVE BEEN EYING IT SUSPICIOUSLY FOR

F
cenTurres.\ MATIHEY IS CLEARLY PETER'S
FRIEND. \ THe ACCOUNT IS WRITTEN PERHAPS

—— ee ee eh
FLETY YEARS AFTER THE FACT, DURING THE
_—

PERIOD OF THE CHURCH'S ORGANIZATION,

—

12

THAT IS TO SAY. | so MAYBE MATTHEW JUST

STICKS THAT IN THERE TO ENHANCE HIS
—— a | QE > eS
FRIEND'S postti0N. \ AND WHEN_YOU KNOW
S POS HEN _)

THE CHURCH AS INTIMATELY AS A MINISTER
A

DOES, YOU DO WONDER ON OCCASION IF THIS
EE aad

COULD POSSIBLY BE WHAT JESUS MEANT.
——

==> I BELIEVE THAT JESUS SAID IT OR
ne

SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO r7.\\ 1 BELIEVE
————— a

HE CALLED PETER A ROCK AND I LIKE TO

a $%
RECALL THAT THE ROCK PETER WAS, WAS
eer Soe
PRETTY ROUGH, \PRETTY_ CRUMBLY AT TIMES;
THAT A CHURCH BUILT ON HIM HAS TO AC-

KNOWLEDGE THAT HE WASN'T EXACTLY CON-

fe
SISTENTLY STRONG AND FAITHFUL: \ 4E WAS
ae (Se
THOROUGHLY HUMAN. \ wna I BELIEVE ABSO-
Geer

LUTELY IS THAT JESUS GATHERED _A COMPANY
OF MEN AND WOMEN.\ THERE IS NO ARGUING
puimiomenancmmnaend ee Ee
THAT A COMPANY GATHERED AROUND HIM,
Ot ea,
FOLLOWED HIM FOR THREE YEARS AS HE
oa)

Ti

WALKED AROUND GALILEE, HELPED_HIM TEACH

AND HEAL, AND IN THE PROCESS OF FOLLOW-

ra St

13

ING BONDED TO ONE ANOTHER IN A UNIQUE
Gears
WAY. \ I AM THOROUGHLY CONVINCED THAT
-_ a

JESUS INVIT D WOMEN TO BECOME

FOLLOWERS.\ I SEE NO EVIDENCE AT ALL
=

THAT HE EVER ASKED ANYBODY TO BELIEVE
wee

THINGS ABOUT HIM AS A PREREQUISITE TO
FOLLOWING. \ I CONCLUDE ON THE BASIS OF
a= ss
THE EVIDENCE THAT MEN AND WOMEN
eee)
BECAME BELIEVERS WHILE THEY WERE FOLLOW-
——————

ERS, | SOME MORE THOROUGHLY THAN OTHERS,
‘

SOME WITH INTELLECTUAL SOPHISTICATION,
el

MANY WITH SIMPLE CHILD-LIKE TRUS ,) AND

THAT WHAT THEY BELIEYED ABOUT HIM WAS

Gee

NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THEIR FOLLOWING,

THEIR BELONGING TO THE COMPANY OF THE
COMMITTED.
—EE
So I THINK MY QUESTION MAKES NO
_—_————————

sexse.\ CHURCH IS WHAT A CHRISTIAN, IS.

A CHRISTIAN IS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS WHO
LOWE! J

BELONGS TO_THE CQMMUNITY, THE COMBANY OF

FOLLOWERS.
_ i 1 Me

FROMA=-GOCR=FREEND AND SUPPORTER OF THIS

CHURCH, WHO IS NOT AN OFFICIAL MEMBER

RTS

FOR REASONS OF THEOLOGY.\ H&-WROTE,.Iom

A-CHRESTFEAN-TO-BE-A-MEMBER=OF THE

core THE NEW TESTAMENT ANSWER
ee

IS SIMPLYTHAT THE CH HE COMPANY

OF THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS \- THAT

A CHRISTIAN IS A FOLLOWER - A FRIEND WHO

IN COMPANY WITH THE_OTHER FOLLOWERS OF
’ eee

JESUS, IS TRYING TO LIVE _IN FAITHFULNESS
re toa

TO HIM.
—————s
CAN'T 1 DOTHAT, ALONE? | Can'T I BE
Sa SE fr eAcecesta
AN INDIVIDUAL FOLLOWER, DOING MY OWN
—————————— lr a_i
THING? \ WHy DO I HAVE TO GET MIXED-UP
ee a] an Coe cs
ITH OTHER peoptet Pre REASON IS THAT

OTHER PEOPLE SEEM TO BE THE POINT OF THE

/ 15

Wh Curt To jut lwo « Fad L.A -
Qom_ WA ea ded. wy Wig Wes

WHOLE rien, | THE HUMAN. COMMUNITY
SEEMS TO_BE—WHY Gop SENT A SON TO LIVE

AMONG US _IN THE FIRST PLACE. \rr WAS

NOT, THAT IS TO SAY, TO MAKE INDIVID ALS

——— _

FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO
fies >

SPEND ETERNITY, SO MUCH AS IT WAS TO

RECREATE THE HUMAN RACE, \To ESTABLISH A

VISIBLE_REMINDER.OF THE CREATOR'S PLAN

FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT TO LOVE PEACE AND
ies ED

PRACTICE JUSTICE.

To BELIEVE IN JESUS a TO TURN TO
Ge

JESUS -\r0 FOLLOW JESUS \ IS, SIMPLY, TO
ee

RECONNECT WITH THE HUMAN RACE. \ TO. KNOW

meee C45 Yn
Qa OAAdets

Jesus CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR IS TO

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOUR BROTHER OR A eV aed
ad iii
srster| AND IT IS CHURCH - THE COMPANY -
a —_—u ———
WHICH IS THE VISIBLE REMINDER, \ AND THE

ae

PLACE WHERE THAT REALITY IS ACTED OUT
roe

EVERY WEEK, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT;\A

nea Bien

COMMUNITY GATHERING IN LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

=

16

'
WES AND FOR AN HOUR AT LEAST - IN Gop's

PRAISE AND ADORATION - BECOMING WHAT GOD

ae _——

INTENDS FOR THE WHOLE crearzon.\\I CAN'T

RESIST MY FAV ARK TWAIN VIGNETTE. -.
| a )

PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS ASKING HIM WHY HE

ne

DIDN'T BELONG TQ A CHURCH. \ TWAIN SAID
———
IF HEAVEN WAS LIKE THE METHODIST CHURCH

Cente

DOWN THE BLOCK, HE WAS GLAD HE WASN'T
al

GOING THERE.\\THE CHURCH CATHOLIC -
es

ee _——

UNIVERSAL - THE CHURCH WHICH, TRANSCENDS

ROMAN - PRESBYTERIAN - LUTHERAN - BAP-
eee RN

TIST - IS THE VISIBLE SIGN OF GoD’sS

RECONCILIATION,| A PICTURE OF THE HUMAN

_. a

FAMILY FORGIVEN, |RECREATED, | REDEEMED AND

NOW POISED TO GO INTO THE WORLD AND SAVE
ee fe eh

IT FROM ITSELF.

OF COURSE, 17's g-scanoat.\ SHOW ME
==,

AN INSTITULION THAT ISN'T ON OCCASION.

ETHICIST JAMES GUSTAVSON HAS WRITTEN
THAT( "THE CHURCH IS NOT ONLY _A DIVINE

COMMUNITY, fr IS ALSO A HUMAN, NATURAL,
eos =

———— sll FEe—e

17

Gnd if we ma
a OLITICAL COMMUNITY."| [TREASURES IN
r il— si
of b} EARTHEN VESSELS] OR AS ONE WAG PUT IT,
gee

THE CHURCH IS LIKE NOAH'’S ARK_IN THE
SS aa

Se

‘ L ‘MIDDLE OF THE FLoop.\ THE_SMELL_INSIDE
ie yw IS SO AWFUL YOU MIGHT LEAVE EXCEPT FOR

Se

N
- Mi WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSID

AM A CHURCHMAN, NOT BECAUSE
————————, aS

URCH IS PERFECT, BUT BECAUSE I’M
One

TRYING TO FOLLOW JESUS. \\AND IN THE SAME

TH

WAY I HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH HIS PAR-
—h
TICULARITY, | HIS HUMANNESS, | THE WORD MADE
FLESH AND DWELLING AMONG us, \so I MUST
See ee
ACCOMMODATE TO THE INSTITUTIONALITY OF
Sree
HIS CHURCH.

I AM RCHMAN IN SPITE OF MY OWN

‘ IDEA \ a QUARREL WITH THE
Vu ,
ow wi CHURCH BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE THE

a ee
\ Wy WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS THE CHURCH, AND
THAT THERE IS A SENSE_IN WHICH THE
yeu? as - *

CHURCH AND THE FAITH IT REPRESENTS [IS
Say

— De
THE WORLD’S ONLY HOPE. IF DO BELIEVE THE

Ble & Pie =
ae real damage "

18

—

er A GOD
ee]

OUT OF SOMETHING - IDEOLOGY, FOR IN-

STANCE; |OR RACE, FOR rnsrance, [or AFFLU-
———— ed

Remy

ENCE, OR SECURITY. WAI BELIEVE THAT
ee ama

=

HISTORY TEACHES A VERY CLEAR LESSON THAT
eal (Bip rh

CIVILIZATIONS HAVE WITHIN THEM :
hee eel

OF THEIR OWN ULTIMATE i Nt ie ed

FROM SOME LOVINGLY CRITICAL AND HOPEFUL -

LY REDEMPTIVE PRESENCE LIKE THE CHURCH.
ae ee

I BELIEVE OUR CULTURE, IF LEFT_TO_ITS

OWN DEVICES, WOULD SIMPLY DESTROY IT-

SELF.\\ APART FROM RELIGIOUS FAITH I SEE
S_FA

LITTLE REASON TO ASSUME THAT THE CULTURE
Desai Wee ero

WILL GENERATE THE ENERGY AND IMPETUS TO
eed ==

BECOME LESS MATERIALISTIC, [LESS GREEDY,
(Gut

LESS NARCISSISTIC \ LESS VIOLENT, AND

MORE COMPASSIONATE, JUST, TOUGH AND
oa eas

RESILIEN ROFESSOR JAMES FOWLER, IN A
—_— old

fe

BOOK ON VALUES PUT IT THIS WAY.
“WHEN WE PREPARE OUR YOUNG FOR THE GOOD

LIFE, THIS IS THE ADVICE OUR CULTURE

mee —e=e

19

erves. | "BE SURE TO MAJOR IN SOMETHING
MARKETABLE. | GET A BACKGROUND THAT
COMBINES BUSINESS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLO-
ev. | KEEP YOUR RESUME ALWAYS READY.| IF
poabasnbs

YOU ARE GOING TO THE TOP YOU MUST BE
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE BY THE TIME YOU
ARE THIRTY-FIVE. | You DON'T HAVE TIME TO
DILLY-DALLY. | Don’ STAY WITH ONE COMPA-
NY TOO LoNG. | LOYALTY CAN BE COUNTER-
PRODUCTIVE IF YOU WANT TO GET AHEAD.
You pon'’T HAVE TIME FOR VOLUNTEER ACTIV-
1Ty.""

THE CHURCH, ON THE OTHER HAND,

“een
FOWLER SAYS, IS A COYUNTER-CULTURE AND

ASKS,.A=YERY DIFFERENT SET OF QUESTIONS.

.. "WHAT SEEM TO BE YOUR GIFTS?! WHAT

KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU DO WELL? WHAT

KINDS OF ACTIVITIES GIVE YOU A SENSE OF

WORTHINESS! | WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU
eee

FEEL THAT YOU AND GOD CAN DO WITH YOUR

LIFE THAT WELL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR

et

20

GOOD IN OUR woRLD?” [BECOMING ADULT,
BECOMING CHRISTIAN, P. 143]
I THINK IN ALL SE ESS, THOSE

QUESTIONS ARE OUR ONLY HOPE, AND THAT
APART FROM A CHURCH TO KEEP ASKING THEM,

= a,

OUR CULTURE IS HEADED FOR SELF-DESTRUC-
aS aad

TION.

I AM A CHURCHMAN BECAUSE I CAN'T DO
IT ALONE I CAN SURVIVE_AND TAKE
ee ed YEA
CARE OF MY I CAN EVEN DO PRETTY

weit.\ But I CERTAINLY CAN'T DO MUCH BY

MYSELF TO FIX THE woRtD,\To BECOME PART

=

OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF PART OF THE
SE

PROBLEM,\ TO HEAL THE sick,\ AND BIND UP

WOUNDS, BY MYSELF. AND I pon'T KNOW HOW
Gear aE

=a

TO BE A LIGHT IN THE CITY OR IN ANY
—————

DARKNESS BY wvserr BuT WHEN TAM WITH

THE cnurca,| 1 AM FIRST OF ALL, ONE_BRIEF
a ee a

VOICE, INA MAGNIFICENT CHORUS OF VOICES

WHICH HAS BEEN SINGING Gop'S PRAISE FOR
ey

THOUSANDS OF vears.\ My POOR PRBY ING AND

21

SINGING AND BELIEVING JOIN THAT WONDER~
ee

as ‘aa

FUL SONG OF PRAISE. | AND WHEN I SAY THE
— — oll ees

CREED, MY VOICE JOINS AN AFFIRMATION
Genre Rete

THAT HAS BEEN MADE EVERY DAY - EVERY

HOUR OF EVERY DAY FOR 2,000 vears.|\ AND

WHEN I BRING MY POOR FAITH TO Gop - MY

SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR - MY MONEY IN THE
| epi

Fd
PLATE - SOMETHING INCREDIBLE HAPPENS.| I
gee

Da

THE HOMELESS, |ANO CLOTHE THE NAKED. MY
baal

LITTLE LIGHT JOINS A BEACON OF LIGHT
ee |

BECOME A HEALER OF THE stck. | 1 HOUSE

WHICH SHINES IN EVERY_| ESS.
Sen,
TI AM A CHURCHMAN ,AND I WILL GIVE MY
HEART, AND MORE OF MY RESOURCES THAN I

Se)

WILL GIVE TO ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE I

BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE HOPE OF

oy

THE WORLD, NOT AS A PHILOSOPHIC ABSTRAC~-
fare
tron. \ BUT I BELIEVE IN THE BODY - THE
GBR
ORGANISM - THE COMMUNITY WHICH LIVES
eae

AND LOVES AND SERVES AND IS THE HOPE OF
———_ —m 0 Sa

THE WORLD'S SALVATION AND REGQNCILIATION

AND. PEACE.

SINEAD O'CONNOR RIPPED UP A_ PICTURE
i

OF THE POPE AND BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME,

BUT
SSS

a
ar ROMAN CATHOLIC BROTHERS THE NIGHT OWA. ps
a \ie a x“
DANTRELL DAVIS,WAS SHOT, DOING WHAT THEY VR’ =
a
DO EVERY NIGHT AT CABRINI GREEN, WALKING

BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS,\ AND WHEN THERE IS

GUNFIRE BETWEEN GANGS, WALKING TOWARD
Fe eee

IT, OFFERING THEIR OWN LIVES IN THE
a ied

PLACE OF CHILDREN LIKE DANTRELL DAVIS

AND THE 120 OTHERS WHO HAVE DIED.\ THAT'S
aiid

WHAT ‘
“ww se utes 3
Or WHE NEW ALBANIA BISHOPS - IN .

AIL FOR 40 YEARS. re 10's ro
JAIL F ARS. teumiaqeng= A et
[te BODY THEY MAY KILL.... GoD’s

TRUTH ABIDETH STILL, ")MARTIN LUTHER

WROTE, AND THE CHURCH HAS DONE THAT TOO:
mer a)

DIETRICH _BONHOEFFER AND CONFESSING
SSS

CHURCH IN GERMANY, STANDING UP, ALONE,
ay

23

TO THE THIRD peru: |anches OSCAR
ROMERO, MURDERED AT MASS IN HIS CATHE-

DRAL IN EL SaLvapor; \MARTIN LUTHER KING,

JR., OUR MARTYR, WHOSE INSPIRATION AND
ome ALLRED

SPIRITUAL HOME WAS ALWAYS THE CHURCH.

THAT'S WHAT CHURCH CAN BE.
SE el

Ano I BELIEVE THE WORLD'S PEACE
Lr eee

DOES COME - AS IT CAME IN AN UNOBTRUSIVE
—————— (OBTRUST

BIRTH IN A REMOTE JUDEAN TOWN CALLED

eat

BETHLEHEM. \ 1 BELIEVE THE WORLD'S AND
THE | Ae

THE CITY'S PEACE BEGINS WHEN CHILDREN

THIS CITY - WHO CARE DEEPLY FOR THEM AND “te Vie |

LOVE THEM AND KNOW THEIR NAMES. Yas WH

I BELIEVE THAT CHURCHES ARE A LIGHT

IN THE cxty.\ 1 DON’T THINK THAT'S A
el
MARKETING SLOGAN. I THINK IT'S THE
Se

TRUTH.

Saas

So Cups? Mu clyct — Keer

\leseed - exe rgereten — ON —

Leia ON yes - Gu buss Wor

For Béins

rf A PART OF THe. cOMPANYA perl YOUR

COMMITMENT, YOUR LOVE AND LOYALTY.

Lh es ONTO

fe

YOUR FAITH, YOUR HOPE. YOUR-DETERMINA-
oS
TION, YOUR YEARNING FOR PEACE. FOR YOUR-

SELF AND FOR THE WO

"ON A ROCK LIKE THIS I WILL BUILD
MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL

NOT PREVAIL AGAINST tT."