Across the Pastor's Desk - March 24, 2006

Institutions have been much in the news lately. Certainly a great deal has been spoken of the institution of marriage, but that discussion raises issues about other institutions and their roles as well, such as the institution of the church and the institution of the government. These discussions might lead an uninformed person to believe that institutions are somehow sacred and set in stone. It is as if the invocation of any of these institutions should be enough to silence any critic and to secure the safety of the general populace forever.

Institutions get their start by being created for the convenience of the people who make use of them. However, it can be said that it does not take long for the institution to take on a life of its own. At that point it looses some of its purpose of serving people and takes on the purpose of self-preservation. When one considers many of the institutions of today, it can be noted that often the institutional response to any given situation is not what is right or best but rather how will it look, what will people think and say. Institutions and their inhabitants become fearful of new ways of looking at things because the comfort and security of the past are too inviting. Politicians worry that they may loose votes. Churches fear that they might loose members. Fear begins to rule the day rather than truth and justice for the sake of all of God’s children.

Last Sunday, many Christians heard the story of Jesus cleansing the temple as recorded in the Gospel of St. John. This event indicates that Jesus had some suspicions when it came to institutions, particularly institutions that had lost sight of what their purpose was in the world. Jesus’ concern was not first and foremost what will people say and think and how will the institution look. Rather Jesus’ concern was for the relationship that God desired with God’s people and Jesus took issue with anything that began to be held in higher regard than that relationship. Jesus called people to new and renewed relationships with God and with God’s people not to relationships with institutions. He did not figure in the popularity index when he was willing to give himself for the sake of the whole world. Jesus clearly knew that institutions are not sacred but that people are and called people to live a life shaped by that reality.

Institutions that serve their purpose are always living, growing, and changing. As a result sometimes doing the right thing is not the popular thing to do at all. Sometimes it will mean that politicians will loose votes. Sometimes it means that churches will loose members. For Jesus it meant the cleansing of the temple and his death on a cross. However, because of that his followers have life to share with the whole world. Hopefully, that will never be lost for the sake of an institution.