Last week, while visiting Jerusalem at the end of a very meaningful and strenuous mission trip to the Middle East, our group was kicked out of the (supposed) oldest church in all of Christendom (It's a long story- involving a very cranky Syriac Orthodox care-taker with an unfortunate Monty Python type voice, chewing gum, teenagers and uncontrolled giggling).If that were not humiliating enough, today I learned that we protestants have now been kicked out of the Catholic Church. Who knew? In what I guess was to be considered a real news flash for world Christianity, Pope Benedict doesn't think that either the Orthodox or the Protestants have got it right.
I probably would not have given either of these events a second thought if it had not been for the stark contrast between the coldness of such exclusionary angst in the self righteous on the one hand, and the warm embrace of genuine Christianity I have felt in the persecuted Church of North Africa Middle East on the other.
By contrast to the cold dead religiosity of churches that now exist only as monuments, there is a church rising in the land of Promise.
In the past 20 days, I have watched as an Arab Pastor boldly laid hands on and prayed for the healing of a committed Muslim and Islamic teacher who allowed him to pray in the name of Christ for his cancer.
I have observed as a former Muslim who is now a passionate believer in Christ excitedly tell all who will listen what it means to leave the darkness of Islam and to follow the teachings of Jesus.
I watched as an Arab Christian teenager shared the gospel in a room full of Muslim scholars in a country where it is strictly forbidden.
I have watched as one of our missionaries wept over the condition of an abused Bedouin woman who has suffered such humility in a culture she cannot escape.
I have prayed for and with missionaries who have given their lives and futures to serve in one of the most difficult places on earth where spiritual darkness is deep and abiding, and yet their light shines bright and joyful.
I have worshipped with Arab believers who could not understand English as I could not understand their language, and yet, in worship, we were in agreement and unity over our praise of Christ.
I have laughed and joyfully walked with people from half way around the world I have never met before, but because we had Christ in common, felt the incredible bond of fellowship and Christian community.
I am reminded today as I reflect on this contrast, that to be a follower of Christ is to forsake religion with all of it's silly rules and empty promise. The two are not compatible. Religion is the invention of man- the idolatrous attempt to control God and look down on others. It is our attempt to create Him in our image. Religion is the worst form of humanistic atheism- it puts man at the center and elevates our contemptuous pride while piously maintaining self importance.
In Christianity, one kicks self off the throne of the human heart thus making it His building. In religion, one puts self at the center and kicks everyone else out.
Genuine ChristianityI have found is the same in every culture and in every language. It is the abandonment of self. Christianity says, "nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling." Christianity is the freedom of release- the joy of relationship. It is opened arms and warm embraces that knows no cultural or racial barriers. It puts up no false fronts or barriers but bears all things and hopes all things.
It is only by His grace that you and I belong.
And only by His grace, we are not turned away.
(Even if we are chewing gum).
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.
(Joseph Hart, 1759)
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