I am not surprised at these things because the Church in America has, by and large, ceased to talk of things like sin, and redemption. In our attempts to "live in peace with our neighbor" we have denied them the promise of the Gospel by not showing them their need for Jesus Christ. In our culture of indulgence we have denied the truth of Scripture by avoiding passages and texts that confront our social and cultural understandings of faith, and morality. In short, we have left the religion of Jesus, and pursued the religion of Self. I think this has happened in two major, and vary insidious ways.
We, instead of looking into the moral implication of our faith, have been tickled and drawn after causes of social justice, and matters of economical equality. Rather than speaking of the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ we banter over wells in Africa, or low cost huts for the American Homeless. Don't get me wrong, the Church ought to be concerned with these things. But, they are a means to an end. Not an end in and of themselves
On the other hand, when we do tend to speak of sin we do so in some pretty interesting ways. We're quick to speak of cultural sins, but we balk and defend ourselves when confronted with our own issues. Rather than engaging our neighbors with the promise of the Gospel many of us have retreated. Taking a faith that is durable, and meant to be used and wrapping it in bubble wrap and cellophane to protect it from outside corruption. We have retreated into blind political allegiances, into home schooling, into self-gratifying displays of the Pentecostal gifts, into theological obfuscations of a simple Gospel, into denominational pissing matches, and the prosperity Gospel. When it comes down to the brass tacks of our faith (our sin and deliverance in Jesus Christ) we would rather stay silent and give somebody a latte with a pretty design in it. We would rather extol the benefits of classical education. We would rather hand out a bowl of soup; warming a stomach, and ignoring hearts full of sin and shame.
These horrifying events have happened because we (you, and I...the Church) have used these things to avoid our own sin. While we sit back, bemoaning the sinful state of our culture, Jesus sits before the Father bemoaning our sin, and interceding for our reconciliation. God is near to the lowly, and contrite of heart because they acknowledge their need for him. It is tempting to swiftly condemn these individuals, and their actions without seeing their reflection in us, and our reflection in them. But that is no solution.
[23] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. [24] You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
[25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
[26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
(Matthew 23:23-26 ESV)
