It seems today

that the church serves as a platform to distinguish the haves from the

have-nots, contrary to its intentional moorings. Read on.

First, within

the gathered congregation, we are called to acknowledge the differences

between the faithful and the unfaithful. Usually by selected criteria,

believers are divided into two camps: the ones who show up all the time,

pay their tithe and the ones who show up irregularly and hardly pay a

tithe. Some have faithfulness and some don't. Most of us know in which

camp we have been placed.

Second, there's

the divide between the spiritual and the carnal. The spiritual are moving

toward Christ-likeness in behavior and spirit. The carnal act like little

children tending toward division and schism. The Apostle Paul lifts up

this distinction which gives it great validity; however, too many embrace

the "spiritual" characterization as a put down to the carnal

ones: "Thank God I am not like those carnal Christians."

Third, the

"charismatic gifts" further divide the church into those who

have the gift of tongues and those who do not have the gift of tongues.

Of course, I believe all gifts of the Holy Spirit are still operative

today, as they were 2000 years ago. But, this distinction facilitates

pride among some believers: "I have been baptized in the Spirit and

have the gift of tongues." Regardless of the reality of such, it

often engenders two classes of church folks: those who have gone on to

an upper level of spirituality and those who are still on the floor of

faith.

Fourth, the

concept of prosperity provides a rather recent fork in the road to Christian

maturity. Now, many pulpits pontificate that if you, literally, do not

have, your faith is weak and wanting. On the other hand, if you are driving

a Mercedes, living in a $300,000 house, and are wearing the right labels,

indeed you are growing in your relationship with God. Indeed, you are

moving on up!

So, believers

are gathering into camps. Churches are becoming known for what kind of

camp claptrap they communicate. We are beginning to define the parameters

with whom we have fellowship by virtue of those who believe within our

camp. This is anathema to the Christian faith. I want to refer to Dr.

Karl Barth, respected theologian and Bible scholar of the 20th century.

He said, "Genuine fellowship is grounded upon a negative: it is grounded

upon what men lack. Precisely when we recognize that we are sinners do

we perceive that we are brothers."

Barth indicated

in the same writing that there exists no positive possession of humankind

that can be used to bring us together. All possessions tend toward division

with the worldwide Body of Christ: it divides the haves from the have-nots.

Some questions:

what is common to all people? That we are sinners by nature and choice.

The fact that we are all sinners provides the most common and inclusive

"have" of all people everywhere. It unites a believer living

in a mud hut in the middle of Africa with a fat rich cat of the Christian

kind living in Buckhead. That we are sinners unites a tongue-speaking

Charismatic with a backslidden Baptist.

Remember the

Biblical scene as Jesus saw two men at prayer: one was a pride-filled

Pharisee who prayed, ""God, I thank you I am not like other

people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector."

The tax collector would not even lift his eyes as he prayed, "God,

be merciful to me, the sinner."

Jesus said

that the tax collector went to his house justified and not the Pharisee,

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles

himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:10-14).

How about a

piece of humble pie? I think many of us need to have some!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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