Giving thanks for the church

I saw two three-hour movies in three days.

No intermission.
I’m living to tell the tale.
 
On Saturday morning (which felt particularly decadent), I saw the Taylor Swift concert movie. Technically, it’s called Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour but I thought by repeating Taylor Swift’s name over and over I might be contributing to Taylor Swift overload. But that could never happen. Amirite?

To be clear, it’s a movie with Taylor Swift (but not Travis Kelce) singing…a lot. You can never have too much Taylor Swift! Amirite?
 
Then on Monday afternoon, I saw what had to be the polar opposite of my Saturday adventure: Martin Scorsese’s Flowers of the Killer Moon. A tour de force, it tells the sobering and shameful story of the 1920s-era systematic killing of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma.

By any means necessary, white people – driven by greed and racism – were bent on getting oil rights that belonged to the Osage people. The understated depravity of the murderers (one who quoted scripture) was particularly chilling. The movie should be required watching.
 
Some of you may think this is a stretch, but it strikes me that these two movies reflect the beauty of the church.
 
Here's the official disclaimer: Yes. I know. The church has done horrible, awful things. It is a flawed institution, filled with flawed human beings. It needs work. We need work. But then…
 
Like Swift’s Eras Tour, the church can bring us immeasurable joy. We can, for the most part, be who we are. The music can take us to a place where we sometimes feel we can touch heaven. The fellowship of people can be nurturing and affirming. When the church is “on,” it’s nothing short of amazing.
 
Like Flowers of the Killer Moon, the church can challenge us to be better people and do something about injustice. Certainly not all American Christians have been at the forefront of changing our society, but a good portion of the Church has been there on the front lines for racial equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, women’s rights, and a whole host of other social justice issues.
 
The local church can challenge us to be better people. To work for a better society. To sincerely repent.
 
In this season of gratitude, I want to give thanks for the Church and the (local) church. It has made me a better person – more generous, more aware, more empathetic. It has made me happy and it has broken my heart open. It’s brought me ecstatic joy. And the people who are there beside me week-in-and-week-out for worship, for study, for those long and arduous meetings? They have helped me to grow in faith – even when they drive me crazy.
 
So, like those who call themselves “Swifties” out there, you can call me a cautious yet exuberant fan of the church. I am a fan because I want to feel joy and be challenged to be more like Jesus and to see the face of God in each person I meet. I want to work with people who are “striving toward perfection” even as we stumble too many times.
 
We’ve set for ourselves a high bar. But I have faith that we’re up for it.
 
Happy Thanksgiving.
 
 
Photo credit: Lisett Kruusimae @ pexels.com

Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. When something’s got you down, just go, watch, and listen to my pal Taylor sing Shake It Off (PG-13 version).
 
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
 
Schedule a meeting now.
 
If someone has forwarded this to you and you would like to subscribe to "Inspiring Generosity," click here.  Miss an issue?  Click here.