It Takes An Act of God

Richard Rohr says:
"There is a difference between change and transformation. Change happens when something old dies and something new begins. Transformation is when I change in the process of outer change. I am told that planned change is even more trouiblesome to the ego than unplanned change. The ego wants to find a way to avoid changing if at all possible. God usually has to demand it of us. In fact, we call them 'acts of God' and they more often elicit inner transformation than anything we or others can control. If anybody at all is asking us to change, be it our partner, Congress, the church, the neighborhood association, every form of ego control and resistance will come out in legions to accuse, defined, and oppose. One wonders how we can effect change at all, when no one wants to be transformed."

I don't have to remind you of the dramatic changes that are happening in our culture and church right now. The rapid development of technology has hit us all personally and corporately and demanded that we pay attention. We have been forced to adapt or become an anachronism. With few exceptions, our congregations are so far behind in the manner they communicate that the entire institution is at risk of being seen as a dinosaur. Talk about defense and opposition! My congregational work has revealed to me an amazing lack of urgency to work on our front line communication modes. I think we have a deep sense of complacency in the church because we are satisfied with the status quo. And if we aren't satisfied, we don't value the need to change enough to muster up the energy or resources to do something about it. We are too secure with the familiar, we like who is already inside. To be missionary we must go out. This is not an option. Jesus left us with final words before he ascended into heaven, "Go therefore, make disciples of all nations...". Can our mandate be any clearer?

The Episcopal Church is getting much better at God's commandment for us to love our neighbor. There are more efforts to reach out with the love of Christ, touching human need and seeking social justice then I have ever witnessed in my lifetime in this church. This work never ends, we can always do more and we seem to have the will to do it. However, we have to quit making excuses, we have to become uncomfortable, we have to stretch our personal barriers to get on with Jesus' commission to go out. This will take transformation. This will take personal 'acts of God' because this work is so difficult for us as Episcopalians. Forget the excuses, denial, and rehash of what we are doing well so our leadership egos can feel okay. Our graying congregations tell us otherwise. Transformation is in order. I am personally praying for an 'act of God' to transform my spirit so that my eyes will be opened to the people that God places in my life everyday. So I will no longer use any excuse not to invite them into life of the church. For it is in the coming together, the prayers and breaking of bread that the Holy Spirit can easily be made manifest. The church needs both change and transformation. Our complacency must die in order that a new missionary spirit be born. Faithful leaders are charged with the responsibility to move us out of our denial and comfort. Let's pray for personal 'acts of God' to empower us with the courage to be leaders with hearts for mission.