On False Alarms

Darn it!

Even on my spring break, I can't help but do some theological reflection.  Chalk it up to just who I am.

Today, my mother-in-law was doing the bulk of fixing dinner.

I got off easy.  All I had to do was bake asparagus.

My mother-in-law decided to pan sear some spinach.  Very hot pan plus canned spinach entering equals copious amounts of smoke.

The fire alarm immediately went off.

And it wasn't one of those cheapo jobs you get in Wal-Mart or Home Depot.  This fire alarm was actually attached to my in-law's home security system.  You couldn't just open the darn thing up, remove the battery until the smoke cleared, and go about your business.  Nope.  Not with this one.  It's hard wired both to electricity and the security system.  This is an important piece of information.

Why?

Well, the blasted thing wouldn't turn off.  We opened up the house.  Fanned the darn thing.  Got a hair dryer out and tried to blow the air clean. 

And it continued to wail and beep.

There must have been some sort of malfunction in the alarm system as well.  The burglar alarm started going off at intervals too.

It was interesting watching and sensing all the anxiety starting to rise in the house.

Would the security company notify the fire department?

Would the police make an appearance?

Why wasn't the security company calling?

Could we shut the d@mn noise off?

A call was placed to the office.  The office notified a technician.  The technician phoned the house and talked us through resetting the system.

Obligatory questioning of why the office didn't call followed by a call to the offices to get the low down.

All in all, a whole lot of energy expended and anxiety wasted on a problem that wasn't a problem to begin with.

Ah, how often do our lives reflect such phenomena?  How often do our churches react to such things?

I've been an ordained pastor for 10 years.

I've been attending Synod Assemblies, Theological Conferences, and other as sundry church functions for more than 15 years.

It's been a steady drum beat during that entire time, "The church much change or die."

Yep.  Kind of like that annoying buzzing sound out of that alarm system.  And no matter how hard you try, you can't shut it off.

"The church must change or die."

There's all sorts of facts and figures thrown around.  My own denomination has been on a steady downhill slope for more than a few years.  In fact, if I remember correctly, there are only two or three years since 1987 since the ELCA has actually grown in size and scope.  That's not exactly encouraging.

"So the church must change or die."

Well, I guess in one way, it's true.  The ELCA might eventually die a very slow and maybe painful death.

But the church is going to be just fine, if you ask me.

It might not look ELCA-ish, but God's Word will continue to take root in hearts and minds throughout the world.  It is already doing so in Africa, Asia, and South America in amazing ways.

"But the church must change or die.  We've got to do something."

Do we really? 

Well, I guess we do need to do something.

How about focus and concentrate on spreading the good news of Jesus Christ?  How about digging out that dreaded word "evangelism"?  How about loving one's neighbor as one's self?  How about genuinely welcoming folks as they seek to connect to Christ?

"But we've got to change the church and change the world, or we will die."

I highly doubt it.

That's just a false alarm; it might get your attention for a while, but in the end it just gets annoying to listen to.

Trust God.

Do as He says.

Don't worry.

In reality, everything really is O.K.