Being There

“The church is only the church when it is there for others.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I haven’t written much lately. I’ve been writing sermons, of course. As we say in my line of work, “Sunday comes every seven days.” But I haven’t been writing much on this site, or for our church’s blog, or on my other writing project. To put it candidly, I haven’t known exactly what to say.

One thing I do know: We are—almost to a person—angry.

And we are angry because we are divided—deeply divided.

Like many of you, I’ve watched the happenings around our nation over the last few months with alternating moments of astonishment, fascination, and horror. We seem to have a national split personality—capable of both the heroic and the grotesque. We move seamlessly from shouting to serving.

Perhaps it has always been this way. Perhaps our better angels, as Lincoln called them, are simply in sharper relief against the background of our more angry impulses. Perhaps this is the way it is in a world marred by the Fall.

And, to a degree, this is the certainly the case.

But why does it feel worse than at any time in recent memory? Why do we hear talk of an impending Civil War in some social media circles? Why do we believe the worst about those with whom we disagree? Why have we so quickly shifted from believing those with differing ideas are racist or fascist or socialist or communist or terrorist?

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In August of 1944, Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was less than a year from being hanged by the Nazis at Flossenbürg concentration camp. He didn’t know this, of course, so he was busy working on a short book. Although the book was never finished, we know a little bit about it. He gave a brief overview in the outline he produced. “I would like to write an essay—not more than one hundred pages in length,” he said.

What did he hope to achieve in this little book?

Bonhoeffer hoped to re-envision the German church that had failed so spectacularly under Nazi rule. The church had failed the German people, in his way of thinking, and they needed a fresh start to become effective again.

There is much in this book outline to consider, but there is one sentence that always jumps out at me. In the concluding chapter of the outline, he flatly states, “The church is only the church when it is there for others.”

This is, I think, why many American Christians are angry and divided right now.

We have forgotten to be there for others.

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In 2017 our church was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. It was an intensely difficult time for our church and city.

It was exceptionally difficult. In fact, prior to 2020, I would have said that it was the most difficult leadership challenge I had ever faced.

As difficult as it was, it was never demoralizing.

We were unified in our desire to serve others.

The church was the church because it was there for others.

I don’t know how 2020 is going to play out. I don’t know what the future holds with COVID or politics. But I know this: I want to be part of the healing process in our city, and I know that begins by caring for others. As a pastor, I’m recommitting my vision to serve others. As a neighbor, I’m recommitting to know and love others. As a family member, I’m remembering to check in on others. I’m going to stop worrying. I’m going to stop thinking about myself first. I’m going to be there for others, as best I can.

Would you join me? Would you be willing to raise your gaze a bit? Off of your own concerns and onto that of your neighbor, your church, your school, your city? Would you be willing to think less of what is best for you and what is best for someone else? I do not know why, but when we stop thinking of ourselves, we start experiencing healing.

I’m ready for some healing.

Let’s heal together. Let’s look to be there for others.