Bringing God Into It

Recently St. James has been going through a transitional period with our musicians. This is very hard. Someone who is hurt and troubled told me that it was my fault that our congregation is "falling apart." I assured this concerned member that St. James is NOT falling apart, that God is very much present in the midst of our conflict, making a way for us in the wilderness. The angry response was, "Oh, don't bring God into this."

As so often happens, I couldn't think of the right response at the time. But I've thought a lot about this exchange since then, and it has produced much fruit in my Lenten contemplation. I want to share some with you.

1) It is neither possible nor necessary for me to bring God into the struggles at St. James. Or anywhere else. God is already present. In fact, it is God who invites us "into this"--not vice versa. God calls to us, embraces us in our baptisms, and claims us as God's own. Even when we don't reciprocate, still God pursues us, loves us, forgives us, and believes in us.

2) In the story of the temptation, Jesus was driven to the wilderness by the Spirit. That has often troubled me, but now I find it somewhat consoling. The Spirit leads the church and we follow, not the other way around. Even when our circumstances feel as arid and lonely as a desert, we can rest in the assurance that God is there with us, and will nurture and guide us through. Angels will attend to us when we are worn out.

God is in this. God is and has always been in this congregation, this community, this world. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That Word still echoes through the universe. In spite of everything we do that hurts God's beloved creation, God is here. In spite of all the ways we fail, or flounder, or even refuse to try, God is here. What's more, God is here because God chooses here. God chooses us. Thanks be to God!