Shaken, Not Stirred?

               I recently returned from a trip to Washington DC, the center

of the free world for an opportunity like none other. I met with a group of multi-denominational leaders in an effort to shed light on a social issues dear to my heart. In our free time, I asked each and every one from the Dean of the National Cathedral to a pastor in a Baptist Church in the heart of Chinatown DC if the church would be viable in the future.

               Often there answer was more theologically complex, but the

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington's answer was simple, yes, with one caveat, the church will either succeed or it will fail she said, it's simple and complex at the same time. That question rang true throughout my journey in DC, is the church of today viable for tomorrow?

               The new James Bond film, Skyfall is out in theaters right now. In it, the famed 007 and his boss 'M' must confront issues that are apparent within the agency for which James Bond is a part of, MI6. As the future is thrust upon the agency, 'M' is called to testify within the chambers of Parliament to declare that the aging agency is still viable in the future. During that climactic scene, 'M' recites a portion of a poem by Alfred Tennyson, "Though much is taken, much abides; we are not now that strength which in old days moved Heaven and Earth; that which we are we are, we are one equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek to find, and not to yield."

               That poem is a poem every church should recite like we do with the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds. Though much is taken, though church attendance is on the decline, though we aren't the strength we once were, the church is viable in the future. The church must and can survive, we cannot fail, the stakes too great, the price too high for us to fail.

               Friends this is a pivotal moment in church history, like

Augustine, Francis, Wesley, Bonheoffer and the like we stand on the brink of church apathy and irrelevance. What is our mission? What is our ministry? We as a church are caught up in squabbling over issues that miss the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. We must move forward celebrating the past and anticipating God's future. God will bring about God's reign with or without us, but when our time is committed to history, I want to be on the side of God's justice, reign and love. I want to be one of the ones who has been strong to seek, to find and not to yield. People of faith, will you join me?