Ponderings on the spiritual state and future of the church.

It is an interesting thing to dwell on “The spiritual state and future of the church” in the country you have been called to be a missionary in. 

But having a fond interest in society, history and its repeated cycles (especially in the context of Christianity) I can’t help but wonder aloud at where Uganda’s church may be headed.

I write this with tired eyes after being kept awake all night by the local Anglican church (which has more of a charismatic feel to it) who ran an ‘Easter special’ overnight prayer and worship service.

I once read an article that said in the Congo, brothels where calling up the police and complaining about local churches making too much noise all night. The article was showing an ironic twist that in Africa the church has more passion and fun during the night then the brothels. Although living next to many churches I can see a different side to it, and although I do not advocate for brothels in anyway, perhaps I can feel a little bit of their pain.

I noticed the Anglican Church setting up around 6.00 pm on Friday. They had hired some great big monstrous speakers for their overnight affair. I felt a pang of worry as I saw them set the giant speakers up outside, facing towards the community, instead of inside towards the church.

As expected it was impossible to sleep during the night, as the loud speakers pulsated their singing, chanting and strange wild animal noises (the charismatic flavor to the Anglican Church) right across the local village, and right into my bedroom.

I had wrote a rather sarcastic comment on my facebook page early this morning about “representing Jesus in the quest to love your neighbor as yourself” .. But after pondering on the fact that the post was written in a spirit of smugness and some sort of ineffective revenge, I had to remove it.

Sometimes the self-conviction of being a follower of Jesus can be hard.

But the issue still remains. Overnight prayer meetings are fantastic for sure! But the attitude of “you’re going to hear us worship all night whether you like it or not” towards the outside community has you wondering ‘what spirit of Christ is this?’

I believe it stems from a deeper issue within the church here in Uganda. One that follows rules, customs and actions that say “I am a good Christian, can’t you see”. Yet it can sometimes seem like a church culture very devoid of the Christ shown in scriptures.

And believe me, as a youth worker here, I can see it is something the next generation are starting to pick up on.

Often history repeats itself and I can’t help but see similarities with what has happened to the church (or Christendom for that matter) in the west, or mainly the U.S, and what may slowly happen here.

Uganda's church could be compared to the church in the west a few decades ago. It’s rather easy to be a Christian in Uganda. Pastors are still held with a high level of respect, even above others (which I must say dangerously leads to people aiming to be a pastor for the wrong reasons). No one will mock you or ridicule you on your Christian beliefs of salvation, sexuality, or the afterlife. And the name of Jesus would most likely be heard more than once during the day (and not in a swear word may I add).

Yet as often, this highly Christianized state can be lacking in Christ like mindedness.

Just like in the 90’s in America, the prosperity gospel is rampant! I have so often heard pastors claiming things like
“If you just place your hand on your chest, and declare prosperity, health and wealth over your life, In Jesus name, all your hearts desires will be granted to you by God”

Where such teaching can be found in the scriptures, I am still struggling to find.

The incredibly dangerous thing about this gospel, that perhaps wrecks more havoc here in Africa then in America, is the fact that people are living in abject poverty. Everyone wants to hear the prosperity gospel here! The lie that if you just accept Jesus, everything will go the way you want it.
It is a doctrine that encourages idolatry and is sure to disappoint and leave a bitter taste in people’s mouths when they realize that they are still living as the poorest people in the world.

Perhaps they would best be taught the truth of scripture that says “One of the great hopes of this present life in Christ, is not that in following Jesus everything will go your way! But that through your suffering Jesus is enough to sustain you no matter the circumstances”

And more than that, perhaps these great prosperity preachers with their big crusades and flashy cars may best represent Jesus by laying down their life for the poor, instead of exploiting them.

I have to keep in mind that it is always easy to judge others, without first looking at your own heart and trying to clean up the selfish greed and mess within oneself.

But still, it can’t help but be noticed (especially by the younger generation) that this movement of charismatic prosperity churches are rife with sexual and financial scandals. Whether a pastor has impregnated ten young girls in his church, or has stolen money from the widows fund, I have heard it all.

And lastly, the one which really pushes away the youth, is the self-righteous legalism that runs rampant. If you are a sinner (that includes anyone who drinks, smokes, listens to secular music or has sex) you will be vilified and humiliated by the 'oh so righteous' pharisees whose sins are swept under the carpet (which include greed for money and power, self-righteousness, hypocrisy and harsh judgement)

I can’t help but see the similarities to what has happened in the church in the west, to what may happen in the future of Uganda.

The west has shaken loose its shackles of Christendom (and I do not necessarily think this is a bad thing) and many people, fed up with the behaviors they have seen, have walked away from the church and Christianity with ‘justified’ frustration. But tragically they have walked away from the eternal life giving hope of Jesus, all in the supposed name of liberation. And perhaps we as the church have some serious explaining to do as a result of this.

Recently I saw a humorous (yet a bit dark) quote on facebook that said “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it”

Is that what will happen with the church in Uganda? Will the same thing happen with the next generation? Especially when they become more and more westernized and are influenced by outside ideas.

This post has a large negative stream to it, but I believe there is still hope. Of course that is what the Christian life thrives on.

Hope.

Jesus said two thousand years ago that he was going to build his church “and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”.
The Christendom church here may eventually grow weaker, but in doing so, a purging and purifying act may happen.

It may make the Christians left, more Christ-like then before.

Although I do see many dissatisfied youth with the church as they have experienced it, I still see a deep longing and desire for God.

I run a bible study class here every second Sunday, and so often it gets filled with passionate youth yearning to learn what the bible has to teach. I don’t provide any bowls of snacks, or soft drinks, or fun activities to start the session of with, just pure solid teaching touching on some of the heavier and deeper topics of faith. And yet they come! How different to the seeker sensitive youth culture of the west.

I see young people who are desperate for the truth of Christ in scriptures, who want a life that is wholly submitted to him, instead of some outside appearance of a good Christian girl or boy.

Instead they want Jesus as their treasure! They want heart transformation, not trivial behavioral alignment.

They want the meat of scripture, not continuous distorted milk being fed to them.

And then I see a handful of faithful pastors of truth and integrity. Men who may have nothing to offer by the worlds standards, but have a deep passion to teach what is right, and to live by what is right.

I see Christ centered NGO's and schools, that conduct themselves with honesty, love and compassion.

I see many passionate people who may be vulnerable to being led astray, yet if taught with truth and love, will have the seed of spiritual growth nurtured and watered in their hearts.

As tattered as the church may be, there is always hope.

I once heard Tony Campolo give a controversial quote. He said “The church is a whore, but she is my mother”

With all her faults and unfaithfulness the church is still the one that has carried this glorious message of the gospel throughout the generations.

We may do well to look into our own hearts, and see the religious self-righteousness that dwells in all of us, and that must be fought daily with scripture, prayer and acts of love and grace.

After all, the body is made up of a people on this side of glory. We will still sin and make mistakes. And that is why we need the Gospel, that is why we need the blood of Jesus to purify us. Not one of us is without sin, and so we strive for truth and love as we recognize our own salvation and rescue from our sinful hearts and the deserving punishment.

The church, to some on the outside world, may look like she is wearing the garments of a whore, but because of the blood of Christ, He will cloth her with His righteous robes. He will prepare His bride to be the glory and splendor that He has been working on since the beginning of man.