The Golden Ass

These are photos of a church for sale in Norfolk. I passed it often while working in the area. There's a giant Chantel Rey real estate sign out front. This empty shell of a building stands as a glaringly banal sign of the dying church in North America.

Atheists basically say this means that the right side of history is winning. Progress.

Christians view this as an occasion for anger and panic. "We have to do something! Outlaw abortion; the 10 commandments in public schools! No! Fight with God for civil rights for the marginalized!" Every time I passed this building in the midst of my hurried busy-ness, I was pierced with a twinge of a confusion between, on the one hand, sharing in that antagonistic desperation and, on the other hand, anger at it.

I would like to submit that none of that is what God is really up to here. Actually, God is answering our prayers to make his name holy. "Hallowed by thy name." He's not going to have his name dragged through muddy trenches filled with the stench of death with the world's lust for power, on which the church is drunk and high.

In piercing repentance, there's always the possibility and hope for healing and rejuvenation, for sobriety and humanity, for "justice to roll down like waters."

But, I would remind us that in past situations of similar exile and ruin, God tells us how the story usually goes. Moses, because of his lack of trust, didn't step foot in the promised land. The old generation who trusted in the power, idols, and riches of Egypt's democracy and freedom had to die off. They weren't going to suddenly flip a switch. God could take them out of Egypt, yes. Even - and ESPECIALLY - if they would have found themselves in the middle of a "land flowing with milk and honey," however, He couldn't get the Egypt out of them. It was but a remnant of the old generation of post-exilic Jews who returned from Babylon.

I get staggering contact highs, too. May I not be overcome by the temptation to self-righteous indignation in anger or angst towards the church, nor in argument with progressive atheists (or nostalgic Christians). Instead, Lord, in trust and love, bind me to you, Christ crucified by the powers of Egypt.

* The above was posted originally on Facebook about a week and a half ago HERE.