2 of 3

We know the church is the body of Christ in the world today, but why would we think that the world would be able to pick us out from a crowd of other well-meaning organizations? Indeed, "they will know we are Christians by our love"—that is, God works in and through the church to bring people to faith. But the evidence of history and the teaching of Scripture suggest that, this side of the kingdom, we are capable of such love only in fits and spurts. Even when evident, it is not always so evident.

The gospel is a treasure hidden in the field. It is the message given in perplexing parables, so that, as Jesus said, "They may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand" (). It is a message that will forever stupefy the educated, who look to it for cogent insights, and the pragmatic, who look to it to make a difference in the world: "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" ().

Jesus said that in the church weeds would grow up right along with the wheat. He also said there would be people who would look devout—people who would pray, "Lord, Lord!" who would prophesy and cast out demons and do mighty works—and yet who would not have a stitch of faith. Indeed, many will say "I'm an evangelical" or "I'm born again" without knowing Jesus.

Rather than being shocked and appalled by surveys that demonstrate our moral mediocrity, we should yawn. We've known this for 2,000 years. Such studies tell us nothing we don't already know. For his unfathomable reasons, God chooses to disguise himself when he comes to this planet, and there have been few disguises better than the church, a mystifying conglomerate of sin and love.

Yes, God transforms people, and many immoral lives are turned around by the power of the gospel. Sometimes it happens in an instant, but usually only after decades of struggle. The gospel remains the power of God to save. Yet in the church of the Crucified (versus the church of visionaries), we're going to find a King David—that "man after God's own heart" () who still dabbled in adultery and murder. We're also going to see a lot of weeds. And a lot of pious people who display impressive religious behavior and proven effectiveness—what's more effective than casting out demons or doing mighty works? —but don't know Jesus.

Jesus told us not to judge who is in and out of the kingdom, lest we be judged. And he told us not to weed ahead of time, lest we pull out some wheat as well. Instead, he suggests we put aside our grandiose visions of what the church should be and learn to live in the church as the paradoxical thing it is.

That will mean, of course, that we'll always mystify the scientific pollsters and visionary reformers. They'll continue to point to survey after survey and conclude that the church looks pretty much like the rest of the world, and they'll continue to wail and beat their breasts. That's because they do not have eyes to see the treasure lying hidden in the cracked and decayed earthen vessel called the church.

Mark Galli is senior managing editor of Christianity Today. He is the author ofJesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God (Baker). You can comment below or on his blog.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Previous SoulWork columns include:

When a Blessing Is a Curse | Sometimes the most loving prayers are not all that nice. (August 23, 2007)

next page... |  2 of 3

share this page

September (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51