I am a regular subscriber to the daily meditation published by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest working out of New Mexico. He is well-known in many circles for his deeply insightful commentary on Christianity and modern life.Recently, in an e-mail sent out to his very large readership on his behalf, he was quoted at length:
"Christianity," he was quoted as saying, "is a lifestyle--a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared and loving. However, we made it into an established 'religion' (and all that goes with that) and avoided actually changing lives. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history and still believe that Jesus is 'personal Lord and Savior." The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great."
Rohr, of course, is a part of one branch of the established religion called Christianity (the Roman Catholic branch) and I am a part of another branch (the Protestant/United Church of Christ branch). I don't think he is suggesting we abandon institutional religion. I think he is suggesting we need to re-examine our institutions. We need to ask our individual churches, and the Church Universal if we are going about the business of transforming lives, or are we simply engaged in institutional maintenance.
I for one, believes the world needs the Church--but only when we are a gathering of those who seek to live the lifestyle Rohr describes. A lifestyle promoted
by Jesus. A lifestyle that leads to a better world, where peace and justice, healing and love, are the norm and not the exception.
I am grateful for thinkers/doers like Rohr who challenge me in how I live out my my faith. I hope you are as well.
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