Who’s Watching - Brad Anderson
The world is not watching the church.
Perhaps to soften that, it could be said that the world is not watching the church in the ways that we think they ought. Modern observers are more interested in our political leanings of the moment than if we still believe that God is a crucified and resurrected Jesus. Judging by popular podcasts and blog posts, many enjoy watching and hearing about a church that crumbles under egocentric pastors and barely capable ecclesiasticalleadership. They do not look for, see, or report on Christians serving the world in humility. Yet history can still encourage us.
Emperor Julian (~360AD), in his letter to Arsacius, concerning benevolence to the poor and needy, was a bit perturbed by Christians:
“For it is disgraceful when no Jew is a beggar and the impious Galileans [the name given by Julian to Christians] support our poor in addition to their own; everyone is able to see (emphasis mine) that our coreligionists are in want of aid from us. Do not therefore let others outdo us in good deeds while we ourselves are disgraced by laziness; rather, let us not quite abandon our piety toward the gods…” Christians, knowing their God, cared for their own and had no need of help from outsiders. Actually they were so desirous to see humanity flourish that they cared for their own and everyone else in need of aid. People that were persecuted for centuries and shunned by many are recorded as living out the faith passed down to them through generations. It is amazing that history records this.
I think the witness of many local congregations are more like this discussion I’ve had with multiple pastors and church members over the years. When asked “If your church would happen to shut down/burn down/ move away, what would your local community say about your departure?” Sometimes honesty leaks through, and the reply is short and poignant: “They might reply, ‘What church?’”
It does not have to be that way.
I have always appreciated Francis Shaeffer’s “final apologetic” in his book True Spirituality as he examines John 17:21.
What is the final apologetic? ‘That they all may be one, as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ (emphasis original) This is the final apologetic.
In John 13 the point was that if an individual Christian does not show love toward other true Christians, the world has a right to judge that he is not a Christian. Here Jesus is stating something else which is much more cutting, much more profound; we cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians.
If the world does not see this down-to-earth practical love, it will not believe that Christ was sent by the Father. People will not believe only on the basis of the proper answers. The two should not be placed in antithesis. The world must have the proper answers to their honest questions, but at the same time there must be a oneness in love between all true Christians. This is what is needed if men are to know that Jesus was sent by the Father and that Christianity is true.”
In a follow-up appeal in his book The Church Before the Watching World Schaeffer continues to make the connection that the Bride of Christ’s witness is to be both the “bride faithful” and “be the bride of love” – to be the church that exhibits the holiness of God and the love of God. Parallel with that, according to Schaeffer, the church is to practice the “orthodoxy of doctrine and observable orthodoxy of community in the visible church.”
The heart of these sets of principles is to show forth the love of God and the holiness of God simultaneously. If we show either of these without the other, we exhibit not the character, but a caricature of God for the world to see. If we stress the love of God without the holiness of God, it turns out only to be compromise. But if we stress the holiness of God without the love of God, we practice something that is hard and lacks beauty. And it is important to show forth beauty before a lost world and a lost generation. All too often people have not been wrong in saying that the church is ugly. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called upon to show to a watching world and to our own young people that the church is something beautiful. Emphasize one side too much and the compromise is observed.”
Schaeffer tell us we have an in-house issue that can be judged by outsiders. Jesus prayed to that end. Julian, as an outsider, saw the fruit lived out in his society which drowned out his own religious observance and leadership and called to question his own governance. How can this governing authority speak against Christians when they are doing what they are called to do? They are putting God’s character on display, not caricature.
Let’s be clear on this, the unity the world needs to see is a unity based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and that’s very much worth drawing the eye of all cultures around the globe. That said, before we claim the world is watching we need to be sure what they are watching is worthy of the Kingdom. His Kingdom, not ours.
If Julian was frustrated by what “everyone was able to see,” can we aim for the same frustration in modern times? Let’s pray so!Let’s pray that a potentially watching world will come to know Christ.
Let us be encouraged to pray through these Scriptures:
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:1
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:10
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
John 13:34
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:21–23
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Colossians 3:12
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:7–10
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Romans 15:1
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12
for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
2 Corinthians 8:21
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Titus 2:7–8
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16