Movements and Institutions

One of the problems with churches, is that they become institutions.  For example, in the beginning Methodism was not regarded as a denomination, but a movement that sparked renewal in a country where spirituality had disappeared within the established church. John Wesley, the father of the Methodist movement in England, could never have imagined the denominational institution which would come into being as the centuries passed.  What he did fear was that the movement might one day become  lifeless and empty of power.

 

What he feared back in the 18th century seems to be the fate of spiritual movements that become institutionalized.  Maybe the impetus which carries movement to institution is inevitable and unavoidable.  Movements are concerned about spiritual vitality and institutions are concerned about self-preservation.  When the movement allows issues of spirituality to be replaced by issues of self-preservation, the dotted line on the death certificate has been signed.  It may not be a sudden death, but more likely a slow, painful, and agonizing one. 

 

Jesus spoke about losing life by seeking to save it and saving it by losing it.  If self-preservation was high on His divine agenda, we would have no cross narratives in the gospels.  Getting to a place where spirituality  is the main business is a hard road for the institutional church to go.  Maybe it becomes impossible once the primary business of the church becomes self-preservation.  Self-preservation focuses on  maintaining the externals while spiritual vitality focuses on the invisible and impossible to measure matters of the heart.  Is there any hope for an institutional community that calls itself the people of God?  The gospel is the story of Jesus living midst such a community which sheds some light on the direction which must be walked.