Home Worship Services Calendar / Events Contact Us

Easter 2 - April 19, 2009

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

What does it mean to be Christian?  Not long ago, several priests of the Episcopal Church were gathered to discuss the meaning of being Mission Shaped.  As the conversation unfolded, one priest described how Gandhi viewed Christianity.  She stated that Gandhi had described a Christian as one who worshiped Christ only rather than being a true disciple for that was too daunting a task.  Her words shocked me, so I determined to see what Gandhi might truly have said.  My research led me to a quote which I discovered among a number of sources. When asked about his feelings about Christianity, Gandhi declared, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”  Christians not Christ-like, how could he say such a thing?  How, indeed!

Apparently Ghandi's rejection of Christianity grew out of an incident that happened when he was a young man practicing law in South Africa. He had become attracted to the Christian faith, had studied the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, and was seriously exploring becoming a Christian. And so he decided to attend a church service. As he came up the steps of the large church where he intended to go, a white South African elder of the church barred his way at the door. "Where do you think you're going, kaffir?" the man asked Ghandi in a belligerent tone of voice.

Ghandi replied, "I'd like to attend worship here."

The church elder snarled at him, "There's no room for kaffirs in this church. Get out of here or I'll have my assistants throw you down the steps."

From that moment, Ghandi said, he decided to adopt what good he found in Christianity, but would never again consider becoming a Christian if it meant being part of the church.

My understanding of the church is expressed clearly in the collect prayed earlier today; the church is the fellowship of Christ’s Body on earth.  We are called to show forth in our lives that which we profess by our faith. Unfortunately, Christianity in America is in decline.  It is not I who says this, but a recent cover of Newsweek magazine. (Newsweek April 13, 2009)

Jon Meachem, an Episcopalian by the way, writes that “Christians are now making up a declining percentage of the American population.”  Post-Christian is being redefined as an understanding that the Christian God is a lesser force in our country’s politics and culture. He further states that during the past two decades, those describing themselves as atheist or agnostic have increased from 1 million to nearly 3.6 million.  Additionally, Meachem believes this is a good thing -- a good thing for both our political culture, and good for Christianity as well.  He feels that “many Christians are rediscovering the virtues of a separation of church and state”.  Two thirds of those Americans responding to a Newsweek poll state that religion is losing influence within our society and less than half of those respondents think that religion can answer the problem’s we face today.

If there is a silver lining to this dark cloud of Christian pessimism, it comes from a belief that Christianity will return to its spiritual roots.  The church will become more focused on becoming more Christ-like.  The life of Jesus will become a model for true Christian living.  Christian involvement in political action will flow from an individual’s living out his/her life in Christ.  Meachem understands this well as he writes, “The Jesus of the Gospels resolutely refuses to use the means of the world - either the clash of arms or the passions of politics - to further his ends.”

The energy of the Church needs to return to becoming the Body of Christ.  As a member of the clergy, I must renew my commitment to the spiritual formation of my flock.  Gandhi may have been correct in asserting that it is easier to worship Christ than to become like Christ; however, the true work of the church is the latter.  Again, Meachem calls for a renewal of Christian thought in America.  “Religion is not only about worshiping your God but about doing godly things, and a central message of the Gospels is the duty of the Christian to transform, as best one can, reality through works of love.”  I agree that the duty of the Christian is to transform reality by love; yet, I also believe that a true Christian becomes transformed through being Christ-like. In this, we discover Christian formation and ministry.

The Gospel we have read today incites us to this new reality.  The resurrected Christ appears to his followers and boldly declares, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Jesus will leave the work he began on earth to those who remain.  The task will not be easy, they will be tormented, they will be persecuted, and they will persevere. Even Thomas, the doubter, who seeks the physical reality of Jesus, becomes transformed in the presence of Christ.  And, to those of us who follow in the way of the early disciples, Jesus speaks.  He declares, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to believe.”  In these words we have our purpose, and our promise. 

Three times Jesus appears and states, “Peace be with you.”  In each appearance, the wounds of Jesus are revealed.  They are a reminder that the peace we receive will not come without a cost.  We will suffer as he did.  We will be rejected as he was.  We will become Christ-like though him who is the Christ.  This is our purpose and this is our promise.  We are not to be conformed to the world; rather, we are to be transformed by the Risen Christ.   

Our newsletter:

• March / April 2009