Devotion - Wednesday, August 11

I was in a conversation yesterday with one of my travel partners. (I am on my way to Chicago for the National Campus Ministry Conference.) She spoke of an older brother and sister-in-law who have come to the conclusion that the Church has nothing to offer them. It isn’t that they have no appreciation for God, rather that the community which bears witness to Jesus does not (in their experience) accurately reflect God’s Word.

The conversation continued to two levels: First is care for the conversation partner. Regardless of what the siblings might think, believe, or do – the conversation is about her feelings. That is all we really know and share. Second, there is the discussion about the nature of the Church and the realities of the Church.

All of this was rumbling around in my head as I turned to the lessons appointed for this day. The Epistle reading is Acts 1:1-14. How appropriate, that yesterday’s conversation, and the immanent start of our year together would be matched with readings from the book in the Bible which traces the establishment of the Church.

I will have opportunity, in the weeks to come, to share insights from this book. For today, let me simply say that the honesty of Acts acknowledges that the Church has always struggled with being the community which bears the name of Christ. This is a difficult name to live up to. It isn’t that the Church has it right, rather that the members of the Church understand our need for one another. That need includes having others to guide us into the way of truth, having others assist us in our discipleship, and being open to the critique of those who observe our actions. The Church assures us that we aren’t going off on our own, thinking thoughts and saying things which are inconsistent with scripture.

Of course, opportunities for correcting only arise when there are missteps. And those missteps, when committed by others, are disappointing.

The first followers of Jesus came to the conviction that they needed others to accompany them in their journey. Those of us who feel the same way continue to gather in the Church established by those early believers. While it can be disappointing, it more often proves helpful.