Being Church

2 Corinthians 4:5-10

Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan

Here we are, two weeks after Pentecost, moving into the Pentecost season which covers half the year. Over these next months, we will listen to what scripture says to help us understand why Jesus created the Church and what shape we are supposed to take as a church. More than just learning what the early church did, we can focus on what God may be hoping for St. Andrew in our next season of life. So, as we think together about our congregation, let me ask you to please hold me and all of St. Andrew’s leaders in prayer. Ask God to give you and all of us a vision for our future together. And for each member of the St Andrew family, these months may be helpful ones for reconsidering what it means for each of us to be a follower of Jesus Christ. What divine guidance might we receive if we listen?

Today and next week, we’ll listen to portions of Paul’s second letter to the Christians in Corinth. When Paul wrote the letter, he knew various preachers had arrived who were teaching ideas about Jesus which contradicted Paul’s teachings. These evangelists were slick speakers, drawing megachurch crowds. Paul’s letter reminds people they should not follow motivational speeches or the glitz of superstar preachers. Christians follow Jesus Christ. So, Paul says that what most qualifies him to preach Jesus is Paul’s weakness. The priceless treasure of the good news of Jesus Christ is contained in Paul’s puny, human flesh. He claims our human brokenness allows Jesus Christ to be glorified in us, through God’s amazing power. From the letter of Second Corinthians, listen to the word of God. 

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Christians know opposition. People who follow Jesus always face obstacles. In Paul’s day, Christianity was a tiny group of weirdos within Judaism, who faced challenges from within Judaism and from the surrounding society. Paul’s letters often list the hardships he endured – beatings, threats, prison, just for spreading the gospel of the teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For over 2000 years, Christians have faced intermittent threats of persecution, even death, just for following the way of Jesus and proclaiming him Lord of their lives. Most of us wouldn’t know what to do if we suddenly found ourselves in a society where being Christian was illegal, but U.S. churches face declining membership and financial issues. We often hesitate to speak in public of how our faith shapes who we are. Our surrounding society has a mistaken understanding of what it means to be Christian. And sometimes we are uncertain ourselves how to articulate the faith.

A recent poll discovered 52% of Protestants were being taught the Prosperity Gospel, claiming God gives financial blessings to those who tithe or give to charity.[1] Perhaps most disquieting is the growing presence of Christian Nationalism which presents itself as the church, but appears to be nothing more than another name for white racist authoritarianism. And it’s getting stronger. Society essentially ignores Christianity and some parts calling themselves the church appear to have no connection to the teachings of Jesus Christ, so we have to face the reality. We are up against a strong opposition.

Yet Christians still act. The church continues to make a difference in the world around us. Think how many ways Jesus Christ is proclaimed all over the world. There are church sponsored hospitals, many still supported by dedicated Christian groups following the teachings of Jesus to heal the sick. There are schools all over the world, funded by Christian organizations: grammar schools, high schools, colleges, and seminaries. And water wells and purification systems, as well as agricultural projects. Church supported organizations in many areas are teaching people the unconditional love of God and spreading the lessons of Jesus Christ. All these are projects funded by Christians around the world, following the teaching of Jesus to set the captives free, to feed the hungry, and to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the least and the lost.

Often when the opposition is strongest, the church is stirred to push all the harder. When Westview Church in Indianapolis had a fire and was out of their building for 19 months, they set up chairs, wheeled hymnals and an electric keyboard into the daycare center of the nearby Baptist Church every Sunday. Attendance never slumped and giving actually increased. They took in new members and a number of people said the fire was the best thing that ever happened. They found new muscle when they had something to push against.

It can happen anywhere. When Joan Cheever began serving meals to unhoused people in 2006, the city of San Antonio passed a law prohibiting feeding people on the street. When Joan continued, she was fined $2000. Of course, she fought the ruling and won. For 12 years, Joan Cheever served hot lunches and dinners to people who couldn’t afford to pay. When she gave it up, a local minister stepped up. Last I heard they were open to using volunteers from various churches to make sure hungry people in San Antonio were fed. In spite of everything, Christians are out there, all over the world, caring for the least and witnessing to Jesus Christ. Still the Church is mighty. Christians are active.

            Because God provides the power. The engine driving the Church, of course, is the LORD. We’ve heard it from this pulpit many times before, “The power comes from God.” But we need to remind ourselves again, because the situation is becoming critical. Powers against the church are unbelievably strong, but God is stronger. Paul is clear. “…this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” Whenever the church succeeds in ministry, God is the source.

The truth is, we are puny. Fragile vessels made of clay. Didn’t we learn in high school biology class that a person could drown in a tablespoon of water? How vulnerable is that? God must be the One who empowers us. Paul shows we can be afflicted in every way, but we will not be crushed; struck down but not destroyed. J.B. Phillips says: “We may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out!” Every time we are able to get back up, we show the life of Jesus is in us. We are able to get back up by the power of God. Our puniness couldn’t possibly carry all the responsibilities of the Church. We must put on Christ, Paul would say. We might add: put Christ on and in us. Be filled with the power of Christ beyond human abilities.

When the church, any church, steps out in faith, takes on a new challenge, sacrifices for people society considers expendable, we know the source of their strength is God. We’ve heard reports of a parent lifting up a car up to free a child trapped underneath. We say it’s adrenalin. But what about Lutheran pastor, Rev Sally Azar, in Palestine who struggles to keep her 2,500 congregants connected across Palestinian territories and Jordan during a war? Her persistent voice reminds the world Israel is killing civilians.[2] How can she stay and speak so boldly? Must be God.

And Christians in Sudan, who make up only 5% of the population, continue to gather for worship and speak boldly about their faith, even as some of their churches and religious houses are bombed. We easily ignore the Open Doors, 2023 World Watch List that ranked Sudan as 10th on the list of countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution today.[3] Yet still pastors lead and people gather for worship, week after week. How can they? What makes them able? The all-surpassing power comes from God. The strength to stand comes from God.

So what does this teach us about church, people of St Andrew? We are puny little humans. Society is not very interested in making accommodations for us as Christians. If all we had were our own power, the future of St Andrew (and every other congregation) would be pretty grim. But we have Christ within us, filling us with the extraordinary power of Almighty God. If we open our minds and souls to it, Church, we can do anything God calls us to do.

[1]Lifeway Research (Baptist News Global) quoted in “Seen and Heard,” Christian Century, December 2023, 10.

[2] Hanna Vioque, “Palestinians Christians hear empty words in Western churches’ call for cease-fire,” The Christian Century, March 2024, 14.

[3] Patrick Egwu and Ekpali Saint, “Christian groups, leaders provide aid and preach peace in Sudan,” The Christian Century, March 2024, 19.