"A Matter of Life or Death"
The diseases of a church and how to avoid them.
Sermon Preached by
The Rev. Dr. Barry Day
Sunday, May 19, 2002
It was a beautiful spring Sunday morning. As the time drew near for morning worship, a few of the faithful could be seen making their way toward the old stone church. If you had been there watching, you would have seen them approach the entrance, then stop to read a notice tacked up on the door. Quite a few people were there that day, standing around, talking quietly in small groups. People always seem to speak quietly when they're in the presence of death.
And that's what had happened. These good people, on this particular Sunday, were confronted with a death. They had read the notice posted on the door. This is what it said:
THIS CHURCH, HAVING BEEN OF UNSOUND BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT FOR SOME TIME, IS HEREBY PRONOUNCED DEAD. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RECOGNIZES WITH SADNESS AND REGRET THAT IN TRUTH THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL LIFE HERE FOR SOME YEARS. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD NEXT TUESDAY.
The people went away sadly. We are always sad when we learn of the death of one who has been a friend - even if it's the kind of friend with whom we have not been particularly close lately. But after a while the people left, saying to themselves, "I guess there's nothing we can do about it."
Sometimes, of course, there's a reason for the death of a church. If there is no more mission for it to fulfill, then its death, while it may be regretted, would be inevitable, and perhaps even beneficial. But in the case of this particular church, there were still many people who should have been served and helped by it; there were children and young people and adults who needed to hear the Good News and the challenge of the Christian Gospel; many lives that could be changed; many people who could be helped. This church still had a job to do, and people were puzzled at its death. It should have lived on. There was much it could yet accomplish.
Because it all seemed to be so unexpected and premature, an "inquest" was held to determine the cause of death. There had been all sorts of rumours and speculation. Was it some sort of "tired blood" that had done it in? Was it a case of "spiritual arthritis" that had perhaps caused its joints to stiffen and become immobilized? Had that led to its death? Was it a fatal "creeping paralysis?" Nobody knew!
So, specialists in the diseases of churches were called in to analyze and diagnose what they believed might have caused the death of this particular congregation. One interesting thing to note is that people came to the inquest in great numbers… there were more people there than had been to the church for many Easters. It always seems to happen that people turn out better to funerals, and give their bouquets after a friend has died.
The "inquest" came to order.
There was a stir in the room as the first expert in the diseases of churches stood up to speak. He began by pointing out to those gathered for the inquest that in all likelihood no one disease had caused the death by itself - it was probably due to a combination of causes. But he wanted to mention one particular illness that he believed might have been a contributing factor. So listen as the first specialist gives his testimony to those assembled at the inquest:
"In my considered opinion," (he began his diagnosis in a very learned manner), "This death was caused by a clear-cut case of SLEEPING SICKNESS. This disease is characterized in its early stages by sleeping in church. But, of course, it doesn't matter if it's actual sleep or daydreaming or what have you - the deadly symptom is basically non-involvement, inattention in worship or in the life and activity of the church. This disease starts when people just kind of drift along like they are in a dream or are merely spectators and don't really participate."
"Do you mean to say," piped up a voice from the audience, "that just not paying attention in worship is enough to cause the death of a church?"
The expert answered: "The tragic thing is that death by 'sleeping sickness' happens quite frequently. When people get spiritually lazy and do not make contact with God regularly, they soon lose all contact with their Creator and their spiritual life loses its vitality and so does their church. This is why I say that sleeping sickness was one of the contributing factors to the death of this particular church. Where people do not really worship, where they just go through the motions without making their hearts into altars where the fire of God's love and presence can burn, then I assure you there can be only inevitable spiritual death."
"But even more," the expert went on, "'sleeping sickness'" has advanced stages in which the symptoms including sleeping at home without even bothering to come to church to sleep! This stage of the illness is identified by a 'who cares' attitude whenever church and worship are mentioned. And when people do not worship - offering to Almighty God the best that they have and are - then you have the beginning of this insidious sleeping sickness which ultimately leads to a kind of death."
The expert sat down. The people who had not been to church for a while, and those who had not really worshipped for even longer, were strangely silent. After a long pause, the presiding coroner spoke and asked the expert: "Sir, could you give us any suggestion for the prevention or cure of this dread disease?"
And after a few moments thought the specialist said: "I think the prescription is quite simple. Take at least one worship service regularly on Sunday. Give it your full attention - not only by staying awake, but really praising God when you sing the hymns and hear the music, really praying in the periods of prayer, really listening for the Word of God speaking to you as the Bible is read and the sermon is preached. If everyone would take this prescription, then I predict that any church could recover from its symptoms of this disease."
* * * *
As soon as he sat down the presiding officer was calling upon the second expert to testify. This specialist in the diseases of churches stood up and said: "One of the things that most certainly contributed to the death of this particular church," he said, "is a disease called CIRRHOSIS OF THE GIVER."
"Cirrhosis of the GIVER?" someone asked - supposing that surely he must have meant to say "of the LIVER."
"Yes, CIRRHOSIS OF THE GIVER." Then he went on: "The main symptom of this disease is extreme pain around the billfold area… especially on Sunday morning!" He introduced a slight note of humour to the inquest by quoting the old saying: "We all give until it hurts, it's just that some of us are more sensitive to pain than others."
"The victims of this disease," he said, are extremely sensitive to such pain. And sometimes the disease is accompanied by a kind of paralysis - a paralysis that makes a person unable to reach for anything larger than a five-or 10-dollar bill. It is also accompanied by a dulling of the judgement, which allows a person to think that the same amount he or she gave back in the 1960s or 70s is an adequate level of stewardship in today's economy.
"As for a prescription," the specialist said, 'I could only urge that every member of every church in the land have a shot… a shot of new concern for the work of the church and its witness on Christ's behalf. A shot of new concern will even ease that pain around the billfold area; and people will no longer be asking 'How much must I give? (which usually implies, 'How little can I get by with?') when in truth there is only one question: 'How can I ever give enough?'"
As this expert sat down there was a silence in the room… except for the shuffling of feet and the shifting of chairs. Most had the uncomfortable feeling that he had been talking about them.
* * * *
The third specialist in the diseases of churches stood up. "One of the deadly diseases which surely contributed to the death of this church," he said, "was HARDENING OF THE HEART."
Someone asked, "Is that as bad as hardening of the arteries?"
"Much worse!" replied the expert. "When the heart of a church has 'hardened' it no longer cares for those who may be hurting or in need of its help… whether they be fellow members of their own congregation or those people 'out there,' in the world."
He reminded them of what St. Paul had said in the 12th Chapter of his Letter to the Romans: "…by the grace given to me, I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think … as in one body we have many members, and all the members to not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality, he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection …"
The visiting expert was obviously getting warmed up to his subject and he almost shouted as he said: "Be concerned about whatever else you wish, but do not let the great concern of love be crowded out. Because if you do, then hardening of the heart has set in and you will have a dying church."
* * * *
At this point many thought that the inquest must be at an end, because they had heard enough already to put any church to death - spiritually if not physically. But there was one more "expert" who was now rising to speak. He wore very thick glasses.
He started right off by saying, "Perhaps you can see that I need glasses in order to see. I want to speak to you today about poor vision. I think this church died partly because of a deadly kind of blindness. In theological/medical terms it could be called SPIRITUAL MYOPIA or CATARACTS ON THE EYES OF FAITH. I suggest that this dimness of sight can do as much as anything to cause the death of a church."
"The disease I am talking about," he said, "is a deadly spiritual blindness in which people fail to see the power of God at work in everyday life and are blind to the possibilities of new life…either in themselves or in anyone else. We need new vision, with eyes of faith that are always open to see the transforming power of God at work in people… even in people like us here today!"
At this point the crowd began to murmur. And the murmur almost became an uproar. People were saying, "But we believe that God can change lives. We believe in the Gospel."
"Ah, yes," said the specialist. "We all say we believe… but do we really? I tell you that a whole church can wither and die if its members do not couple their beliefs with a sense of vision and purpose. Remember: 'Where there is no vision the people perish!'"
He then sat down, with his head bowed. The people, too, were reverently quiet.
Finally the presiding officer broke the silence with a question: "What do you suggest," he asked, "as a prescription to prevent this sort of spiritual blindness?"
The expert said simply: "The members of every church should have their vision checked -- to make sure that they always see, in their mind's eye, the Christ who came to show us all a better way, the way that leads to abundant life. When the people of God lose that sense of vision, their church will die."
* * * *
At this point the inquest ends… and our story ends, too. It's just a story, of course. I made it up!
The frightening thing is that it could be the story of any church. But it certainly need not be the story of this church!
And besides, today is a time to talk about LIFE, not death. This is Pentecost Sunday. It is celebrated around the Christian world as the "birth" day of the Church, the real beginning of the mission of the followers of Jesus to go out and change the world.
You will remember how it is described in the 2nd Chapter of the Book of Acts: On the day of Pentecost - which was 50 days after the first Easter - the disciples of Jesus were gathered together in a room somewhere in Jerusalem. They were a somewhat discouraged group of people, because it was beginning to look as if maybe it was all over. It had been great while it lasted, but Jesus was no longer with them.
And then, we read:
…suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit …
And that little group of disciples went out into the streets of the city and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ. They were so "charged up," so "alive," so filled with the presence and power of the Spirit that everyone in the city got the message - regardless of who they were or the language they spoke. The disciples were telling everyone about Jesus and what he had meant to them.
And, the Bible says, many were baptized and "there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And the Lord added to their number day by day …"
That's the story of the BIRTH of the Christian Church. It was given life for a purpose - to go out into the streets and into the world and tell the Good News in such a way that it will help transform the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. And that's the story I want you to keep alive in your hearts this day.
It really is a matter of life or death. And it's in your hands! Well … yours and God's together!
Somehow the Spirit of God came upon those first disciples and empowered them and filled them with a sense of new life. May God's Holy Spirit also be with you and grant you the gift of new life, so that through you Timothy Eaton Memorial Church - and all the churches of God - might continue with strong and faithful Christian witness.
This is a verbatim transcription of the original sermon.