The Dictionary defines distraction as: “Having the attention diverted” or “Suffering conflicting emotions; distraught.” From an online Thesaurus the following notation was offered, “having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety.” I am intrigued by these definitions because I believe this season in the church’s life is awash in distractions. Our attention needs to stay focused tightly on our mission – “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” That is to be the focus! This is our primarily mission! Let me deliberately repeat. Our attention and focus needs to stay fixed on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!” (Matthew 28:16-20).
And yet, consider all the worthy (and unworthy) distractions. We might wander off into deep social commentary about the gridlock and shutdown in Washington D.C., about a concern for health care or immigration reform or any other type of reform we care to image. Time might be justly exercised on returning to civil society and respecting those who disagree or fighting poverty, in justice or any of a host of social problems. Conversely we can, with some merit, be distracted by the moral relativism of our time, the lack of social cohesion, the breakdown in marriage and parental responsibility. We might justly tackle deep and corrosive issues like the dearth of biblical knowledge, the failure of leadership, or the decline of worship attendance. One could rightly argue that our attention needs to be fixed on ministry with the poor, combating AIDS/HIV and-or Imagine No Malaria, starting new churches, leadership development, or the Call to Action. A current distraction is the ongoing fight in the denomination and larger society around issues of same sex union (marriage), ordination, and civil rights for all people. We might, in the local church focus our time and attention taking care of our members and raising the budget (stewardship), supporting the next mission trip or lifting up children and youth. We might let our attention wander into ….
The list could go on and on. If you read carefully, virtually everything listed above merits engagement. Furthermore, if you read carefully, virtually everything listed above reflects in some way on the issue of discipleship. They are all good things in some manner but they are not the main thing! Crying out over the whole is the question of lordship – who really rules our lives as individuals and as a church?
I do believe we must both speak and live gracefully into the issues that confront our day and time. At stake is the question of how we so speak and live gracefully in this time of distraction. My contention is straightforward. Local churches (pastors and lay leaders) need to stay focused on making disciples. Disciples of Jesus Christ by definition are grace-filled and graceful in relationship to these and other tough, trying issues. We need more talk about Christ, His rule and reign in our lives and our churches - not less. We need more sharing of the good news of God’s love and presence - not less. We need more, much more, evangelistic outreach that invites every single person to put their life under the reign and rule of Christ. We need more world transforming actions of love, justice, and mercy - not less.
I am intrigued that a key definition of distraction relates to having our “attention diverted especially because of anxiety.” The driver of anxiety is our timidity (failure?) in really trusting the Lord. In times of similar societal tumult, the Methodist Movement thrived because at its heart we Methodists lived the connection of spirituality and faithfulness that blooms from true discipleship to Christ. We need in these times of distraction to move closer to embracing again (or maybe for the first time) what it means to be a radical Christ follower (i.e. a disciple).
Allow me to close by offering two simple resources. First, embrace quiet time and prayer by laying your life before the Lord. Recently I’ve taken to praying a song lifted up at Taize and sung at Arborlawn UMC. “In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice! Look to God, do not be afraid. Lift up your voices, the Lord is near, Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.” Try praying and meditating on that every day at the start of the day for 5 minutes (or just 2 minutes!). It will change your perspective and your life. I promise you if you spend 5 minutes at the start of the day praying and meditating on that song you will be blessed beyond measure. Your own walk of discipleship to Christ will take on a different hue and tone.
Second, let me suggest that we continue to recover what it means to be a Wesleyan Christian in the fullness of the original discipleship vision of the Wesleyan Movement. Cokesbury has recently put out an outstanding resource that any small group or Sunday School class would benefit from. It is entitled The Wesleyan Way: A Faith That Matters and is authored by Bishop Scott Jones of the Great Plains Episcopal Area (Nebraska & Kansas). Just go to www.cokesbury.com.
Whatever we do individually and together: stay calm; stay focused. Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Remember, “The Lord is near.”