On one hand, true. On the other hand, it's not exactly in the wheelhouse of a church. What should they do about this? It's like expecting Batman to do something about tax evasion.
Granted a lot of mixed marriage problems come from roots of spiritual trouble. But what should the church be doing about this? You can't unscramble an egg.
I'm not a regular comic book reader, but this post reminds me of the few times when I saw those types of characters being used for the greater good.
As a kid, I saw one particular frame that I will never forget. I was too young to understand at the time, but years later, I realized what was really happening -- Batman (and Robin) weren't just stopping a crime -- they were stopping an attempted sexual assault.
I read another comic book in which other various well-known heroes taught kids the warning signals of adults trying to abuse them, and what they can do to protect themselves. I loved that these mediums were being used to address dead-serious topics head-on, when so many other outlets choose silence and looking the other way.
I see the church in much the same way. The world is a mess, and people's lives are messy. The church teaches, to the extent that it can, about the spiritual -- but then it seems to close its eyes and hope that this will magically take care of all the messes people are dealing with automatically.
But in many cases, it doesn't. And something is obviously missing.
I'm probably just a jaded and bitter old soul, but two things I always took to heart as a kid was when Jesus was faced with a crowd of thousands of hungry people listening to His teachings, He didn't belittle them, tell them they didn't want God enough, or that they weren't real believers and that fasting instead would prove how serious they were about their faith (as I hear some believers say about others today.)
No, Jesus told His disciples, "YOU give them something to eat." Now of course, there's a time when we do have to work harder, when we do have to fast, when we do have to work a little more. And of course, Jesus was also setting the stage for a miracle that would stretch the faith of everyone who witnessed it.
But in this particular moment, Jesus was telling them, "Right now, it's important to address the immediate -- and physical -- needs of these people."
Those words have always stuck in my mind, along with the times when Jesus scolded the Pharisees, saying, "You give the people burden after burden (with your teachings,) but you won't lift even a finger to help them!"
To me, Jesus's teachings were clear (and maybe it's just my own interpretation,) but I believe that Jesus was saying that along with teaching, we are to be helping each other carry our daily burdens.
No matter how small that might seem -- like you and I trying to set up a chat on a Friday night for people who might not have anyone else to talk to about their day -- even though everyone can see I'm clumsy and awkward on a mic (and that's why I drag you along!)
Philip Yancey's book, "Where Is God When It Hurts?" concludes by saying that he believes the real question might be, "Where Is The Church When It Hurts?" because a good number of God's actions on this earth occur through His people.
I know there aren't any easy answers (especially with everything turning into a lawsuit these days.)
But I'm at a point where I feel most people are being preached at to death, without anyone in church lifting a finger to actually help them.
Jesus called out the fattened shepherds for living off the backs of the people they were mistreating -- and to say God was displeased with them was an understatement. I have always been fascinated that Jesus's harshest words while He was here usually weren't for the sinners -- rather, He often scolded the very people who claimed to know Him and follow Him the best.
I often wonder of myself -- have I become just a portly, spiritually obese sheep, living too comfortably?
And if so, what I can do to try to help balance out the church's call to service rather than just teaching alone?
