A movie I enjoy seeing again and again is 'Groundhog Day' starring Bill Murray. If you are unfamiliar with the story, It's about a news team that drives to Punxsutawney, PA to report on the annual appearance of the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Long story short, Murray's character finds himself in a cycle, repeating the same day again and again. And nothing he does frees him from this never-ending cycle.
Two things I've learned from this movie. First, we can get caught up in cyclical times. Just ask the ancient Jews. They suffered from what scholars call 'cyclical apostasy.' That is, they repeated the same mistakes over and over. Initially, they devoted themselves to praising and thanking God for their blessings, whether it was victory over an enemy or deliverance from plague or drought, both of which they saw as coming from the hand of God. They would then grow complacent, their devotion waning. This would be followed by stagnation and some sort of calamity in which they would cry out to God and God would deliver them. Guess what? The cycle began again.
Do we do this? Of course we do, both as individuals and as the church. We, too, can find ourselves caught like this. Why do we continue to follow such a pattern when we 'know' beforehand the results? Well, that's the definition - at least, the one I use - of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. It didn't work for the Jews, and it won't work for us. It's like trying to get a square peg to fit a round hole. Ain't going to happen. Of course, we can pound it with a hammer to force it in, but is that the best way?
A church has to examine its direction and priorities. Are we moving in a direction that will yield different results, or can we expect to encounter the same results again and again? If we find ourselves caught in a rut - and a dear friend described a 'rut' as a grave with both ends kicked out, maybe we need to reexamine our priorities. Murray's character didn't 'exit' the cycle until he began changing how he was approaching each day. We might say, he broke the cycle, waking one day not to February 2 but to February 3. That, I believe is what it takes for a church.
So, where are we going? I wish I could tell you. That's something we as a church have to determine. Will we keep doing the same programs and ministries over and over? Some, maybe. Others, it might be time for a change or to look at them again. This is not an overnight process, nor is it one that is 'quick-fix.' Rather, it is intentional, and one where we listen for God's guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit. I said in my sermon last Sunday that God is not our co-pilot. we're not in charge, God is. Unless we're attentive to the SpirIt's leading, and willing to risk by stepping into new arenas, we'll be doomed to repeat past failures over and over. Should we chance that? See you on this journey of discovery.
Grace and peace,
Mike
February 1, 2015