It is time for the church to be the church

Beloved in Christ,

Our national elections have just concluded. Now is the time for the church to be the church. Now is the time to commit ourselves without hesitation to our calling to proclaim and embody the unconditional love of God for the sake of the world.

Yesterday I wasn’t sure what this would mean. I knew it would certainly include a focus engaging in a ministry of healing and reconciliation. We are a deeply divided nation and people. Being God’s “both/and” people in an “either/or” world, lifting up what unites us rather than what divides us—this is the essence of our calling as the Body of Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, Democrat nor Republican. And without doubt, this remains central to our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.

But given the results, we must now fully embrace our prophetic role as well: to speak and act on behalf of those who are most marginalized, to stand with the most vulnerable in our society. This includes those who are immigrants, refugees, as well as our neighbors with different religious perspectives. This includes people whose economic challenges leave them feeling powerless and disenfranchised. This includes all people of color or those in our LGBTQ community who already feel that they do not have a full place in our society. We dare not be silent or complacent. Jesus calls us to follow him in stepping across every boundary that would divide us from a fellow child of God. This is the very heart of the grace of God that we experience in Jesus.

Today it is also important to remember that we in the church are people of hope. Hope is ours because of a living Word of unfailing love that breaks into our lives. Hope is ours because of baptismal waters that renew us each day, drawing us from death to life. Hope is ours because of a Meal that fills us with the very life of Jesus, making us his Body for the sake of the world. Hope is ours, and in that hope we proclaim and embody God’s love for all.

Now is the time for the church to be the church. I call upon you to join me in living as Christ’s Church, Better Together.

Yours in Faith,

Bishop Jim Gonia

Comments

Anonymous said…

Thank you for your timely and beautifully stated message?

10:08 AM

Unknown said…

Thank you for your profound message, Bishop Gonia. We'll pray for American people.

10:38 AM

Gail Schemm said…

Dear Bishop Gonia,
Have you read the article that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America posted on Facebook a bit ago – an article written by Martin Zimann for Living Lutheran Magazine? I must say, it is much more in line with how I believe/expect our denomination should respond today, than the message you posted. I would not share yours with anyone as representation of me and my affiliation with the ELCA. In my beliefs, the church should be a "safe haven," a place where ANY person can go and expect to be loved, accepted, and not judged - no matter what. You do not present that in your letter. I think it's important for you to remember that some of your members/Children of God may want to be “Better Together,” and some may want to “Make America Great Again!” You are a BISHOP! Where is your impartial, non-judgmental Christian heart?

2:42 PM

Thank you Bishop Gonia for the word of encouragement and for an reiterating our call as Christians. I am inspired and ready to get on with the work that needs to be done.

3:04 PM

Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey said…

Thank you, Bishop Gonia. You acknowledge the pain so many in this church are feeling today. Without your words, I might have been totally lost to despair and stuck in believing "hate has been sanctified," as I wrote in an earlier post.

Thanks for bringing me back from the edge.

3:47 PM

Joel said…

Gail, I am so confused by your comment. I heard the bishop's statement precisely as impartial, non-judgmental, and Christian, in contrast to a louder, more public voice that is anything but. Can you help by elaborating on what you take as offensive here? From his post,"Jesus calls us to follow him in stepping across every boundary that would divide is from a fellow child of God."

4:26 PM

PB said…

Teachings from our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church remind us that the Church of Christ should have "a preferential option for the poor". Thank you for your inspiring message. I intend to share it.

7:59 PM

Thanks, Dad. This is why the Lutheran church means so much to me still.

9:58 PM

Julie LaHam said…

Bishop, thank you for your courageous and timely letter. I do not want my bishop to be impartial. I want my bishop to state the Gospel. The Gospel is not impartial. We have preached the Gospel of Luke this year in which Jesus so clearly embraces those on the margins. It saddened me that, as I preached, some heard the Gospel as a political opinion and therefore objected. It is as if we, called to Word and Sacrament, are challenged in these times NOT to preach the Word lest we offend. May we indeed sometimes offend as Our Lord and Savior did as we too try to teach others to embrace the least among us.

9:48 AM

Carl Hansen said…

Thanks Bishop Jim; well said. Carl Hansen

2:23 PM

Jeanne Phipps said…

Thank you for your words that reflect my faith and your encouragement to God's people regardless of denominational affiliation. We are all in this together as God's children taking His message to the world.

9:00 AM