We, the church of Christ, has entered the time of Lent. It is the journey to the cross and thus a challenging time; because we face the question: Why did Jesus suffer and why was he killed? Has that in any way anything to do with us, with me?
'The church' has been in the headlines of the news with many priests and even bishops violating and sexually abusing children, nuns and women. Yes, I know, it happened in ‘some’ churches, but when people judge from the outside, they point at ‘the church’ – and according to Paul (1. Corinthians 12) perhaps rightly so: if one member of the body hurts or is hurting others, the whole body hurts, the whole body is hurting others. 'The church' has violated the essence of what the church stands for. Many are deeply shocked and call for justice, many are leaving the church, for many it is a sign of entrenched abuse of power and trust.
For me the worst is that those who were called to witness to the truth and love of God, who with their lives have vouched to portray the gospel, have betrayed not only ‘the church’, not only the faithful, not only God but their victims whom they leave deeply scarred for life. Their actions have fed the critics of church institutions but worse, they have broken the trust – and perhaps even the faith – of many. Not only 'the church' but the gospel is at stake!
Having entered the time of lent, it is time for the church to take a look in the mirror, to take responsibility for the abuse on all levels, to face the past and the victims, to understand the devastating consequences for the victims, many of whom – in a certain sense – have been ‘sentenced for life’.
The journey to admit one’s guilt, the journey of repentance and looking for ways that allow for the many affected to heal and restore, will be a long and a challenging one. That journey is a Lenten journey. What is true for the church is true for all of us - that we are being confronted with ourselves, our shortcomings and vulnerabilities. It might indeed be easier to leave the church and join those who accuse, who judge and rightfully point fingers, those, who are deeply troubled by what has happened. It is tempting, I admit.
But it also highlights the focus of many biblical stories and especially the truth of the gospel: that we people are exposed as who we are – with our shortcomings, our vulnerabilities, our wrongdoings - and deeply dependant on a compassionate God. The suffering Christ – who is put to death by the authorities - resembles the victims, the suffering of many, the hurt, the pain and the despair. It was, and has been, a long and dark journey. It has been nights of agony and wrestling; nights of silence and deep mourning – until a new dawn breaks forth, new hope and the promise of new beginnings.
Leaving the church? Judging from the outside? It looks like the easy way out. At the same time, ‘church’ is the only place where the gospel is still proclaimed, where forgiveness is granted, where the bread is broken and the wine shared; it is the place where the cry goes out and the pain is uttered in prayers to the one who promised to hold on to us – even if it cost him his own life. And that makes the church still a place of hope – because of the God she proclaims, who sides with the poor and suffering, who holds on to his people and brings about justice.
As we journey through the season of Lent may God meet us that we, too, turn around and follow the path that allows for taking ownership and responsibility so that relationships can be healed and restored, and peace prevail – that we find ourselves, one day – at the break of a new dawn that shares new light and beginnings on us and our Christian community.
Pastor Silke
