Church’s Vision?

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Why Does the Church Exist?

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If you were to catch someone on the street and ask them what church is about or why it exists, you’d probably get a bunch of different answers. 

Some people might say it’s a club. Or others might see the church as a group of judgmental people. Still, some might mention churches that work for social justice or other causes in our communities. 

I bet most, however, would say that church has something to do with salvation or teaching people about Jesus.

In other words, what I’d be asking people is about the church’s vision. 

Understanding Our Vision

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A vision answers two questions: 1) For what is the church responsible? and 2) To whom is the church responsible?

Even if I were to ask those specific questions, I’d probably get a bunch of different answers. 

Our Metropolis, during our Strategic Planning sessions, articulated the answers in this way (note, I’m using a different definition of “vision” than the Strategic Planning did–this is, technically, the “why statement”):

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago exists to receive and share unconditional love, mercy, healing, and peace so that life has greater meaning and purpose

For what is the church responsible? For receiving and sharing that love, mercy, healing, and peace. 

To Whom is it responsible? Well … that one’s not clear. It could be responsible for receiving and sharing to the people in the church, or those outside of the church, or even to God! Or even multiple groups of people, which I think is most likely, but makes the whole thing a bit more complex. 

Jesus’s Vision

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We just celebrated the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, and, in Matthew, it’s clear what Jesus’s vision is.

“From that time Jesus began to make his proclamation and to say, ‘Change your hearts; for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near’.”

(Matthew 4:17)

For what is Jesus responsible here? It’s for preaching repentance, a change of hearts.

To whom is Jesus responsible? Here I jump ahead a bit to answer: to sinners.

” … for I came to call not the upright, but sinners.”

(Matthew 9:13)

Putting Jesus’s Vision Into Action

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All this is important because it articulates a vision for the church, the Body of Christ. And, beginning this Sunday, the church embarks on a journey leading us all through a change of heart–we know this as the pre-Lenten Sundays.

Here’s how it works (note this year, the feast of the Presentation interrupts the cycle, but that’s OK). The themes of the Sundays are as follows:

Zacchaeus Sunday, which gives us an image of repentance. Here we are called to be like Zacchaeus, give up our idolatry of money and make amends with those whom we’ve wronged. 

The Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee tells us that a change of heart comes with humbleness and meekness. It isn’t being proud or boastful.

Next is the Sunday of Prodigal Son. In this story, a son rebels (sins) against his father. But, when he has a change of heart, his father welcomes him back home. This is an image of what God is like when we too have a change of heart. 

This is followed by Judgment Sunday, a harsh name! On this day, we read Matthew 25, the story of the sheep and the goats. In other words, we’re encouraged to live a life worthy of that changed heart: caring for the less fortunate. But, this day is also a warning. If we fail to heed the message of the previous Sundays, we may not have a bright future. 

And, finally, the Sunday before Lent properly begins is Forgiveness Sunday. If we haven’t already, we’re now called to action. 

Vision as a Change of Heart

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So, what’s the church’s vision, what is it all about? It’s about preaching repentance and responding to that call with a change of heart. It’s about living a life that matches vision set before us. 

This is what scripture says Jesus’s vision was (preaching repentance), and this is what the Metropolis’s “why statement” is about (experiencing that repentance as love, mercy, healing, and peace).

So, this year, don’t neglect the next couple of Sundays. They are built to guide you on the Christian path and lead you to communion with God and your neighbor. So, mark your calendars now to be in church these next couple of Sundays! 

See you Sunday.