Si enem comprehendis, non est Deus
I learned the meaning of the above saying early in my ministry and so was released from trivial theological and personal pursuits that would amount to nothing. I think this is a pretty good place to begin as a minister: If you have grasped something, whatever it is that you have grasped, you can be sure that it is not God. The saying is attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo [354-430 CE]. God is beyond our grasping, finding, re-finding. God is above our understanding. God is not to be had.
Way back in the 1970's Tom Wolfe coined the phrase, "The Me Generation." It referred to the baby boomer generation and the genesis of the Yuppie movement or 'Young Urban Professionals.' It was later popularized by writer, Christopher Lasch, as a generation focused on creating a culture of narcissism. Concepts like self-realization and self-fulfillment became commonplace and the self-help aisle at book stores became the most trafficked. The notion that a strong 'I' and 'Me' would create a strong 'We,' flourished. Unfortunately, the stronger the 'I's' and 'Me's' became, less attention was paid to the 'We's' of community life. Individual fulfillment, accomplishment, and promise became the hallmarks of the good life. During this time seeds were planted which have led to the erosion of communal and congregational life.
Evolving out of this 'Me Generation' mentality was the concept that bigger is better. Many smaller congregations came to view their ministries as less significant than the ministries of larger congregations, setting into motion a sense of congregational inferiority. Meanwhile, large mega churches with star studded pastors were claiming the day as the new religious alternative. Even though the mega church phenomena is still with us, many of the mega churches have boarded up their doors and gone away.
The lesson for me is that the church is all tied up with God. When will we ever learn that we are not at the center of things? God is. And it is God who pursues us, touches our hearts and minds, inspires us to better living, forgives us our sins, and leads us in the way of eternal life. One of the leaders in my former parish used to regularly remind the congregation that it is all about God and not about us. If we can get this one thing right, then regardless of our congregation's size, our pastor's appeal, our budget, or our desire to do it all on our own, God might just have God's day with the church.
I am sure of one thing: If the church has grasped something, whatever it is that it has grasped, you can be sure that it is not God. Instead of grasping, let us set God loose in our congregations. We just might be surprised at what God can do!
Ungrasping-ly yours,
applications for this year through May 31, 2016. There is no minimum request. All proposals for projects that develop, nurture, and strengthen lay or clergy church leadership in Disciples African American congregations will be considered. Funds will be awarded to the chosen projects in Summer 2016.
