Crooked Lines in the Church (and How We Straighten Them)

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?” C.S. Lewis

Glen Scrivener uses this quote of Lewis’ in his book “The Air We Breathe”. In the book he seeks to show how Western society (at least) has been profoundly shaped by the teachings of Christ. So much so, that even when we criticize the church, we are using the teachings of Christ as the “straight line” to correct the “crooked”. 

I love the church for many reasons, one of which is because Jesus loves the church – but I often wrestle with the church’s sins. The theme in Scrivener’s book has helped me rest my faith where it truly belongs – Jesus – while still loving the church. 

Keep in mind that there are also “false prophets” and wolves in sheep’s clothing that use the name of Jesus to commit crimes against humanity and “by their fruits shall you know them” (Matthew 7:15-16). Nevertheless, even true Christians cannot claim complete innocence. As a whole, and individually, we’ve made big mistakes throughout history. We’ve also done a lot of good (but that’s a different point which you can also read about in “The Air We Breathe”). 

I want to quote Scrivener at some length below on this theme. Be warned this passage is from the last chapter of the book so you might consider this a spoiler alert. I highly recommend reading the book cover to cover. 

“Let me assure you that I can sympathize with critiques of the institutional church. Honest Christians ought to have plenty of those… 

Let me list some widespread criticisms of the church, and as I do, let me put each of them in the first person, because Christians too wrestle with these issues. Here is the point though... we wrestle with them for Christian reasons. 

If I don’t like the violence of Old Testament wars, or of church history in the last 2000 years, its probably because I’ve absorbed the teachings of the one who said, “Put away your sword”. 

If I recoil at Israel’s (and the world’s*) ancient practice of slavery, its almost certainly because I’ve inherited biblical notions of redemption, freedom and equality. 

If I’m devastated by church abuse scandals, I’m standing with Christ and against the misuse of sex and power endemic to human cultures. 

If I abhor the instances of the church mistreating minorities, I‘m assigning a sacred (and distinctly Christian) value to the weak, the poor and the oppressed. 

If I consider the church to be on the wrong side of history, I’m considering history and progress in thoroughly biblical ways. 

If I hate the bullish colonialism that has at times accompanied the growth of the church, I’m agreeing with profoundly Christian ideals – that rulers should serve, not dominate, and that differences should be valued, not dissolved.” 

Scrivener goes on to share this thought: 

“John Dickson uses the analogy of a song and its singers. Jesus has given the world a beautiful song. His people have often sung it out of tune – sometimes we’ve been the most discordant voices of all. But the song remains good and beautiful. And if you’ve truly heard it, you won’t be able to get it out of your head (or heart*).” 

 *My addition to the quote.