Dear Church

Dear Church,

Lent couldn’t come at a better time this year. Revelations of the depths of our neediness come day after day. We haven’t come clean on our own, so God provided the media. Just when we thought our problems were basically localized in one part of the body, we now realize our problem is metastasized, touching most if not all parts of the body. Many of our secret sins are not secret anymore. The heartbreaking thing is that some of our secrets are still secret. But, they won’t be forever. 

Since I’ve been around, much of the church has had a stance toward the world around it that swings between defensiveness and outrage. Is it any wonder that the world around us finds it unreasonable for us to be either defensive or outraged. Our own behavior has been defenseless and outrageous, but we have justified ourselves or excused ourselves. It is not time for campaigns or crusades. It is time to repent. To shuv. To metanoia.

Joel writes, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (Joel 2.12-13).

Rent hearts receive better than closed ones. Broken hearts have cracks where God can pour in his amazing grace. The world around us needs God. But, Church, make no mistake, we need God. I need God.