Three of us work for churches or ministry groups. One of those girls shared about conflict in her church. Some people had already left the church because they didn't like certain staff members. Other were ready to leave, even though the liked the staff, because they were weary of the negativity and complaining about the staff. My friend reflected that whether or not the complaints about the staff were valid (some probably were and should be addressed, she said), the end result was that a great deal of energy and effort was going into internal conflict. Instead of focusing on outreach, sharing the good news, helping the poor and hungry, members were caught up in fighting among themselves, she said. It was hurting the community and hurting her, she said through her tears.
After we listened to her pain, another friend I'll call Kelli, spoke up. “It's the evil one,” she said. She said that this is how Satan works. He distracts people into fighting and complaining among themselves so that God's word will not be spread and souls will not be saved for Jesus. A couple of other people nodded.
I confess, I inwardly rolled my eyes a little. Kelli is on the other side of the political/theological fence from me on a number of issues. I'm much more certain about the potential for evil that lies inside each of us, more than I'm convinced of a physical being with pointy horns and a tail. I do believe evil is in the world, I'm just not sure that he looks like he belongs in a burning underworld where even the coffee is bad.
As I thought about my friend with the troubled church a few days later, though, I wondered if perhaps Kelli may have a point. Christian community is so hard. It's easy for us here at Central to get distracted, too. Even though we are doing amazing ministry with things like caring ministers, property committee, the homeless shelter and a large Confirmation program (to name just a few), it's easy for us to get side-tracked by complaining and negativity or worry and fear about our financial situation.
Christian community and the life of faith can be really hard. Jesus knew this. That's why he prayed for us.
Today's gospel from John is a passage scholars call the “high priestly prayer,” delivered by Jesus on the night before he died. It's his last message to the disciples but it's also a prayer as he prays not only for those at the table but for all who will dine at his table for eons to come. I wish the lectionary would have included v. 20-21, which read: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” All who will believe! That includes us, you and me, the congregation of Central. Jesus is praying for us, not once, but always.
Notice what he does not pray for. He does not pray that things will be easy or rewarding. He knows it won't necessarily be so. He does not pray for us to fill the pews, increase membership, meet the budget or run successful programs. He doesn't pray for it to be easy but that we might be supported by God amid the challenges and that we may stay in fellowship with each other. That's why this prayer is also called the unity prayer, for those early disciples and for us.
So what does Christian unity look like? We can get some clues from 1 John, which we've been hearing from these past weeks in the Easter season. I John is all about life in community and how to love one another. The author is confronting a community in conflict. In his case there were divergent views on the humanity of Jesus. You can insert your own Christian conflict instead, though, and the message applies. Love one another, despite your differences.
In today's passage, the author talks about the testimony of God, which is God's Son Jesus. The testimony is this, says v. 11-12: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
So what is eternal life? And what does it have to do with Christian community?
Eternal life in the Gospel of John and 1 John is not as much about life after death as it is about being in relationship with God. Being in relationship with God is real life, eternal life. And that life is available here and now, not just after death. Wherever God is, there is eternal life. Eternal life, then, is not just about the length of life but about the quality of it.
The author of 1 John is not trying to get his readers to believe in Christ; he's addressing a community that is already expressly Christian. Rather, he is encouraging them with the knowledge that they already possess eternal life. This is the good news. That life is already among them in ways they have experienced. This kind of life (zoe, in Greek) is the kind of existence that death cannot destroy. This is the good news.
This has already been explored earlier in 1 John. A community already has eternal life if: they love one another (3:14), lay down their lives for each other (3:16), sharing the world's goods with those in need (3:17), obeying Jesus' command, which is to believe in his name and love one another (3:23, 5:3-5).
The most direct evidence of eternal life is seen to the extent that the community walks as Jesus walked (2:5b-6) and demonstrates its love for one another (4:11-12, 20-21).
How do we experience eternal life, then, at Central Lutheran Church?
Pastor Glenn and I have spent quite a bit of time at Providence Hospital this week, as a couple of members have been hospitalized for more than two weeks. I was talking with Doris Petersen there on Thursday, who told me that she has been so grateful for the support of members at Central. There have been visits, phone calls, cards and prayers. She described the people of Central as “amazing.” Doris couldn't say enough, it seemed, about the people of Central. Now that's an experience of eternal life. Another person has mentioned recently how much support she received after the death of a loved one. Again, an experience of eternal life, made manifest in this Christian community.
So how will, we, the saints of Central Lutheran Church, live together in Christian unity and community? Where will we see signs of eternal life in our midst? Where do you need Jesus to pray for you in your life today? How are you being called as a part of this community and the other communities in which you live, work and play?
I mentioned earlier that my college roommates are pretty diverse in our viewpoints, including those who believe in evolution and 6-day literal creation, are pro-choice and pro-life, and strongly agree/disagree with ELCA's decision welcoming gay clergy. Even so, my college roommates and I prayed together and listened to each others' pain. Later, the aforementioned Kelli spent considerable time helping me pick out the right color blouse at the Mall of America. It felt a little bit like eternal life.
Perhaps we have similarly diverse opinions here at Central Lutheran, which can make living in Christian community a challenge. We don't always agree on politics, aspects of our theology or how to run this church. But our faith in God and the love of Jesus Christ is stronger than what divides us. Living together, with you, the people of Central, feels a whole lot like eternal life.
I'd like to ask for you to pray for our Christian community at Central and all churches. And, by the way, please also pray for my friend.
Amen.
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