“Communion with God is replaced by activity for God. There is little time in this outer world for deep questions. Given the right plan, everything in life can be managed . . . except your heart.”
The Sacred Romance , 6-7 by John Eldredge)
Over the years I have struggled with, written about, and preached on the concept of Being versus Doing. I have wrestled with the problem of the Church today wanting, no, requiring, its clergy and laity to “DO” rather than simply BE.
Here-in lies the problem. In “Doing”, we are expected to be results oriented. More church members than last year, better attendance in worship and Sunday school, more money to support the local and national church, more baptisms, more weddings and fewer funerals. And to make sure that this stays within our sights, more forms to fill out for the denominational leadership to ensure that we are meeting our goals.
This sounds far too much like the goals of the local retail store and the manager’s responsibility to ensure increased sales, greater profits, and so on. No wonder more and more pastors feel like the manager of the local Wal-Mart , instead of the shepherd of God’s flock.
On the other hand, to “Be” is so much more, in so many ways. “Be still and know that I am God” says the Lord. “Peace to you,” speaks the Master Shepherd. “Come unto me, all of you who are heavy laden and burdened, and I will give you rest,” says the Holy One of Israel.
The Church says: give more, do more, be more, grow more, expand more, build more and newer buildings and edifices to the kingdom of almighty religion/denominationalism. Where does it all end, when we are to “Do” rather than “Be”?
That is why it is so hard for us to simply be in the presence of God, focused entirely on Jesus, the lover of our souls. We don’t have time to be with God, if we are required to do so much more for God. And who mandated this work? I find no where in scripture where Jesus ever told his disciples to do all that we do in the Church today.
If Jesus gave any instruction on the doing part, it was to go and make disciples of all people. It was to go and proclaim that the Kingdom of God was at hand. It was to go and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was to love God and love one another.
Too simple. We had to go and screw it all up by adding rules and regulations, unlimited interpretations of what God wants, and pointing out to others how wrong they are and how right we are, and how much more holy and righteous than you I am, because of what I do.
How I have grown to dislike the Church today and what it has done to people over the centuries in the quest to be the biggest church in town. I am really trying to balance the demands with the concept of “Being” I am so ready for intimate communion with God, within my own heart, that I am ready to die for it. At least in eternity I shall no longer have to “Do”, I will be able to simply “Be” in God’s eternal presence.
