October 19, 2006
Reasons to criticize the Church?
"There are plenty of reasons to criticize the Church. Too often the Church has been the reason people have turned their backs on God, thinking that the Christian faith has nothing to offer them. This state of affairs is sadly true. It's also true, however, that when the Church opens its doors to the poor and the marginalized, God surprises us by turning the Church into the Good Samaritan who responds to the needs of the other with all the resources of God's Kingdom: faith, hope, and love."
- René Padilla, "Viñetas de una Iglesia Sierva." Misión Magazine #62 (via Amahoro Africa)
Sivin,
What a great quote . . . When I listen to myself sometimes, it's as if all I do is find fault with the Church, pointing out the various shortcomings . . . Then I am reminded that the Church is a an elemental part of God's plan for redeeming His children, for being Christ in the world, and for raising and equipping the saints. Oh that we would put half as much time and energy into helping fix the problems as we did in pointing them out . . .
Love your blog.
Andy, I think your last statement captures what I feel as well ... "Oh that we would put half as much time and energy into helping fix the problems as we did in pointing them out . . ." I make it a conscious practice nowadays if I find myself "pointing out" what I see as flaws in the Church, I point a question back at myself .. "So, what role is God asking me to play with this awareness?" At times, it feels overwhelming, and yet, I know we need to and we can start small somewhere.
Posted by: Sivin at October 20, 2006 09:58 AMSivin,
Thanks for this quote. This is a refreshing reminder that sometimes we spend so much time criticising the church - which usually consist of conflicts in interpersonal relationships, personality conflicts and power plays-that we forget why the church is still on earth.
It is when we reach outside the church to the dirty unwashed smelly poor, the oppressed and the marginalised that we realise how small our own problems are.
shalom
Posted by: Alex Tang at October 21, 2006 01:36 AMI enjoyed thsi article . captures the spirit of what René Padilla has to say :
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/10/whos_more_spiri.html
Enjoy Taiping .. I'm heading off to Penang from Langkawi :)
Posted by: Bob K at October 23, 2006 12:58 PM