Wanted: Real Church, Real Leaders

A group from my church is discussing Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren's book, “Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel.” During a recent discussion, it was suggested that we should start using “Fair Trade” coffee at church functions. (Among other things, Fair Trade attempts to assure that producers are paid a fair price for their products, and that the workers are treated fairly.) It was also suggested that we could make an announcement to the church, or perhaps put a small sign near the coffee pots, explaining what Fair Trade was, and why we were using Fair Trade coffee at church functions. One member of the group asked if the church was the appropriate place to be making such a statement.

I was shocked. That a church member could even ask such a question is, to me, yet another indicator of the tremendous failure of churches to do the work of Jesus. The Bible is filled with calls to justice. In Proverbs 21:3 we find, “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice”, and in Isaiah 56:1, “Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness.” What could be more just than purchasing products with a guarantee that the producers have been paid a fair price for their products? What could be more just than purchasing products with a guarantee that the workers producing those products have been paid and treated well? God tells us in Malachi 3:5, “I will be a swift witness ... against those that oppress the hireling in his wages.” When we buy Fair Trade products, we are assured that workers have been paid a fair wage.

And who better to teach these things than the church? The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another”, and in Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” By setting an example for all the Church has an opportunity to teach and to stir up its members.

Martin Luther once said, “If you preach the Gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your time you are not preaching the Gospel at all.” In a world in which we have constant war, poverty and hunger, exploitation of the weak by the powerful, and environmental destruction – and Christians who do nothing about them - a church which does not speak out against these things is not preaching the Gospel. The church must take an active role in seeking out injustice, speaking out against it, and taking action against it. Can you picture Jesus, when presented with an injustice, questioning whether it was appropriate to speak out about it, or take action against it? Of course not. Can you picture Jesus, when presented with a sick person, asking whether it was appropriate to heal the person? Of course not. If the church is to be the “body of Christ”, the church must do as Jesus would have done, and those who claim to be leaders of the church must lead the church in doing the work of Jesus. And now would be a good time to start.

Footnote: While I was writing the above, I came across a few quotations from Aiden Wilson (A.W.) Tozer, which I will include here:

We desperately need seers who can see through the mist---Christian leaders with prophetic vision. Unless they come soon it will be too late for this generation. And if they do come we will no doubt crucify a few of them in the name of our worldly orthodoxy.

Perhaps our greatest present need may be the coming of a prophet to dash the stones at the foot of the mountain and call the Church out to repentance or to judgment.

Could it be that too many of God's true children, and especially the preachers, are sinning against God by guilty silence?...I for one am waiting to hear the loud voices of the prophets and reformers sounding once more over a sluggish and drowsy church. They'll pay a price for their boldness, but the results will be worth it.

To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men. This is such a common truth that one hesitates to mention it, yet it appears to have been overlooked by the majority of Christians today.

Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender.

I see that I am not the first person to notice the failure of the Church to do the work of Jesus. I hope that others will also notice, and will take action.