Drop the 'C'

Did you know that we YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) now prefers to be known simply as the YW? The YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) is changing it's name to the Y. Drop the C. We don't need it, we don't want it. They feel that the label of 'Christian' is too constricting. It does not mesh with their goals.

And what are the YWCA's goals? I wear them every day on my t-shirt when I go to work. Empowering Women. Eliminating Racism.

Wait a minute. You have to drop the 'Christian' from your name to do that?

It is a sad but true fact that many people today see Christianity as oppressive, instead of uplifting. They see it as exclusive, instead of inclusive. They see an elitist group with their own agenda who want to protect themselves, not a group of people who want to reach out and help the world.

Eliminating racism and empowering women were two goals of the early Church. Women served as priests alongside men in the first century. Paul wrote over and over again to the Jews and Gentiles to get along despite their differences. Jesus broke down barriers, talked to people against all social taboo, included everybody.

These two goals, while they do not define totally the Christan message, are certainly an integral part of what Jesus and his disciples taught. Yet here we are, two thousand years later, and everything is turned around.

There are many secular organizations that do incredibly admirable things. They care for orphans, work for social justice, help to create jobs, heal the sick, feed the hungry. Yet churches will not give these organizations money because they do not have a 'Christian' statement of faith. My sister is currently raising funds for missionary work in Thailand, and has been told by many churches that they can only support missionaries from their own denomination. It doesn't matter if the cause is good, even Godly, and doesn't conflict with their church doctrine. If you don't have the right label, you can't get the cash.

It makes me sad enough to cry, mad enough to put my fist through this computer right now. WAKE UP PEOPLE! When did we become the very thing Jesus preached against? Why can't we work together?

Maybe the YWCA has good reason to think 'Christian' doesn't belong in their name. They have seen the pettiness of the American Church, the internal bickering and politicking, the outright selfishness of people who build giant new gymnasiums and can't manage to find a few hundred dollars for people with real needs. They have seen self-segregated congregations and churches that deny women equal status with men. When they see a steeple, they see oppression, exclusion, and vanity.

Casting Crowns put it well in their song "Does Anybody Hear Her?" "Lofty glances from lofty people...Under the shadows of our steeple, With all the lost and lonely people, Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me." Simply put, the church isn't doing it's job. And the world has noticed.

The American Church has become blind to its history, to its calling, to its true purpose in the world. It has turned into a sort of social club where people go to have a good time, to sing and chitchat about the trivial things that trouble them, to feel cozy and happy and insulated from all of the bad stuff outside. While the secular organizations are rolling up their sleeves to do the work the church left behind.

People don't want to be part of a 'Christian' organization anymore, they don't want to be labeled with the big C. Not because they disagree with the Bible. No, it's because they haven't had a chance to see what the Bible teaches. They don't want to know; the Church has shown them enough.

If we want people to accept 'Christians' if we want to spread Jesus' message, we've go to change our tune. We've got to clean up our churches. We've got to reclaim our name.