The 5^th Sunday of Easter
May 21, 2006
“What Makes a Church a Church?”
John 20:19-31
Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

The 5th Sunday after Easter gives us an opportunity to take a sober look at the earliest church in history. It’s quite a picture, such as it was. And it wasn’t much. But it was the only church there was. It’s a glimpse of church at its worst, the first group of people who called itself “church.” Some people say it’s the story of “doubting Thomas.” But I think John’s a lot more interested in Jesus than Thomas. Besides, I’ve never liked identifying people by their sins or weaknesses, rather than their contributions and strengths. Thomas did a lot of good things. And I think it’s wrong to remember him by his doubts, rather than his faith. Thomas had genuine doubts and Jesus came, not to rebuke them but gave him what he needed -- that he might be able to believe.

But really, the story’s about the church. And raises a good question: What makes a church a church? We could say our faithful efforts make a church a church--showing up at all the meetings, participating in the programs, Sunday School, attending business meetings, worship. Faithful involvement. Is that what makes a church a church? Or is it acts of justice/social ministry? Helping the poor. Sharing our facilities with needy groups, like AA? Does that make us a church?

There’s always the building and it’s prime location, in downtown Providence for almost 3 centuries -- a charming New England structure. And you’ve taken good care of it. Out front the sign reads “The 1st Baptist Church in America.” We call it a church. But what makes it so? The organ, the baptistry? The high and lifted up pulpit? The number of baptisms or size of the budget? What makes a church a church?

This is John’s church. And there wasn’t much to it. Locked in the upper room, in fear and trembling, hoping nobody would notice they existed. You call this a church? The old gospel song says, “Like a mighty army moves the church of God...” But this church was a far cry from a “mighty” anything! Quivering, scarred, downcast, defensive.

What did this church have going for it that would make it a church worth going to? No ads in the Jerusalem Post. How would you market it? An open, friendly church? Nope, the doors were bolted shut! They wouldn’t even invite you into that church. A church on mission? It’s more like the church with sweaty palms and shaky knees! Here’s one we always ask about churches: how many show up for worship? This one, only a handful. This church had no sanctuary, no educational building, no “family life center,” no pulpit from which to preach, no preacher to preach, no choir to sing, no by-laws; not even a parking lot for the camels!

What’s more this church had no convictions from the past, no plans for the future. No New Testament. No nothing. Why in the world would anybody want to be a part of something like that? I hesitate to even call it a church. It didn’t have anything going for it that we think a church has to have, in order to be a church.

Except this: they were together in community and Jesus was there. And that’s the only thing that made it a church. But then, maybe that is every church.

How different from the successfully marketed yuppie churches; the mega-churches. You know the strategy--religious capitalism. And the only problem with capitalism is greedy captialists! Offering slick gimmicks on how to “reach” people with what “works.” Do a survey to find out what the people want in a church. Then all you have to do is provide it. No offering plates. Guitars, but no organs. Levi’s and T-shirts but no ties or robes. No pulpit-barrier between the preacher and people. Boom boxes and wires all over the place; people choking on ice cream microphones. Laid back, watered down, performance, entertainment worship. That’s today’s contemporary post-modern church. “Hey this church stuff oughta be FUN!!”

I’ve never yet discovered how you market a cross. Any takers out there this morning? We wear our crosses. Jesus got nailed to his. And even if you could market it, would that be what makes a church? Look again at the church in John 20, left to its own devices -- the church is nothing: weak, forlorn, hapless, hopeless, timid, confused.

People come to worship to hear a word from the Lord. So we plan for every Sunday’s worship based on the Church Year, telling the story of God and the church “in season and out of season.” We take this hour seriously and coordinate each hymn and prayer to the text of the day. And I’ve discovered in spite of all my years of education and preparation for the ministry and experience and planning for worship...real worship...is not something anybody can drum up or create. It’s a gift.

Like Thomas, we’ll miss the moment if we’re intent on proving God, pushing God, marketing God, making God a consumer-oriented capitalistic success, that we’re unaware of the presence of God. Because that’s the only thing that makes us a church. In fact, I sometimes wonder about all our meeting and planning and selecting and evaluating. Is it just another form of the disciples in the upper room on Easter night? Can we be too contained, controlled, too orderly for a free-Spirited Christ, who risked his life to save others?

The church today is too much like that first one in the upper room. But sometimes by the grace of God, the presence of Christ slips through our own closed doors. And worship happens. And we didn’t create it. It is sheer gift. All we can do is take off our shoes for then we’ve become a church. Without Jesus, I don’t care what a congregation has of a material nature. Money. Buildings. Entertaining music. Valuable property. Paved parking. Successful families with kids all over the place. Without the presence–which makes all our human gatherings the church of God--we will be like that miserable group up in the upper room.

The good news is this. A church with everything can be a church with nothing. And a church with nothing can be a church with everything! Cause it was to this kind of church that Jesus came. And he neither shamed them or castigated them for doubting, or being afraid. Humiliate them for not believing. Or saying, “You call this a church?” Nah, what he said was “Peace, be with you.” That’s what made it a church. A church with nothing, had all it needed to be a church when it had the peace of Christ. He gave them what they needed, when they needed to just chill out. Peace. That’s what makes a church.

He gave them several things. First, he showed them his scars, his hands, his side. He let them touch the wounds. Some people, needed that in order to believe. There are two kinds of believers. 1) Those like Thomas who need proof to believe. And the rest who saw him face to face. 2) And those like us, “who have not seen and yet believe.” Jesus gives us all what we need, not what we want.

But he also gave them a mission. Which is why I wish we could believe in Jesus as much as he believes in us. He called them to mission and sent them out of that cozy room, into the world. He blessed them with his spirit of peace. And breathed on them. John’s Pentecost.

And lastly, he gave them an awesome gift...the power to forgive sins! Or “retain” them. Why on earth somebody would wanta retain somebody’s sins, I can’t understand. But a lot of churches do that. At least our Catholic friends take formal confession seriously. Now look at the church again through Easter eyes. It still had nothing...material. But put these 3gifts together and they are...church! Spirit. Mission. Forgiveness.

And we are a church, although some folks like to call it a museum! But we are a church, to the extent that we embody and share these same gifts. We are not a church because of our address or sanctuary, or size of the budget or programs or history. That’s not what makes us a church. We are a church because and only because...to us, the Christ is among us. And in spite of all the things working against us, he has bestowed upon us his grace-gifts: Peace. Mission. Forgiveness. Along with the call to share these gifts with the world in his name. That’s the only thing that made a church then, and it’s the only thing that makes a church now.

Church happens. Not because people built it, but when it gets breathed upon with the breath of God. When something beyond us comes through our fear-locked doors, offering peace, the Spirit of God, and the forgiveness of sins. Church doesn’t happen from anybody’s hard work; even for 3 centuries of faithful efforts, coming and going. Church happens. It is a God-given intrusion of the living Christ standing in our midst. Church happens when Jesus is here. Even if only “two or three are gathered.” When we least expect him and when we most need him, Jesus shows up to give us what we need.

Have you ever thought about the Christian faith being the only world religion that takes a cross as its logo--a symbol of death? But the central affirmation of Christianity is the resurrection, a symbol of life. And that’s why the church saw fit to extend the Easter Season. 50 days of Easter celebration, all the way through Ascension right up to Pentecost!

That’s because Jesus just keeps appearing, and appearing, and appearing -- to unlock the barriers between faith and doubt, fear and hope, life and death, past and future, meaninglessness and mission.
Jesus keeps on coming, giving his weak, pitiful church the strength it needs, breathing within it the same Spirit that brooded over the deep on creation morning; sending it out to carry on his mission, with the power to forgive people’s sins.

All I’ve gotta say is: Now that’s a church!

Prayer: Because we didn’t make ourselves; and because we don’t keep ourselves; and because we cannot forgive ourselves, good Lord, we have little recourse but to reach out to Thee in worship. You never seem to be in a hurry. Yet you’re never late. Bless us with your poise, your persistence, your peace.

We thank you, that our fears and sorrows are no barrier to your love. Whenever we’ve retreated behind closed doors, you seek us out to strengthen us. We may not have felt the breath like the disciples, but we feel your closeness. Each time your peace dispels anxiety, each time we feel the impulse to serve somebody, or forgive them, you are near.

We thank Thee for springtime in Providence: for hills to climb, burdens to carry, temptation to resist and fears to overcome. For all that helps us make progress in our own pilgrimages: the remembrance of those who walked this way before us and did it well; and our present connection with all who fight the age-old battle of faith on a thousand different fronts; signs of your presence in unlikely places, reminding us we’re not alone. The work of Thy spirit, uniting the Jesus of history with the Christ of faith.

Shine your truth on our less than perfect hearts. Left too long to ourselves, we keep finding a way of befriending self-righteousness and opposing real-righteousness. Lead those who are down on themselves into life experiences in which their worth will be affirmed. Draw near to all who live in fear; refresh the dispirited; restore the lonely to the joy of fellowship; instill faith where there is doubt. Give us an eye for beauty, an ear for truth and a heart that longs for Thee. And send us out to share in this ministry and thereby do our part to help fulfill these prayers. Amen