THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, HOLY WEEK, AND THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH
I was sitting at work watching CBSN when the news broke. The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was on fire. I watched for the next few hours as the flames rose and the Spire collapsed. I listened as news anchors tied in this tragedy with the coming of Easter and the observation of Holy Week that had just started the day before. I was saddened by the news, but saddened more by this harsh reality: the world thinks that Christians are dependent upon the buildings they fill. As I paid attention, these news anchors continued reminding us that “Christians around the world are devastated at the loss” and that “this is insulting to Christians as they begin Holy Week”. Though my heart goes out to my Catholic friends who have more emotion wrapped around the loss of the Notre Dame than I do, I felt that these observations were a little over dramatic. Will Christians around the world be deeply saddened by this? Will this cause them to doubt God?
As my mind considered this, I realized it wasn’t just the world who had bought into the lie that followers of Christ are reliant on their buildings, but so many who claim Christ as their savior have as well! I thought about how so many people wake up on Sunday to “go to church” instead of “go to worship”. I realized the numerous amounts of Christians who haven’t matured enough in faith to realize that they are the Church. It occurred to me that even for those who do not claim the Notre Dame as their “home church” that this event could cause so many to doubt that God was good and was in control. In turn, how many would begin to ask if God even exists?
My fellow Christians, especially you who are artists and feel the weight of a 900-year-old piece of beautiful history being destroyed, would we hold fast that our God has not forsaken us? Would we be reminded that the rock that Christ built his Church on is not a building, but a people? In the Gospel of Matthew we see an episode where Peter (who later would deny Christ three times, mind you, so we are not destined to be perfect in this life) correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus responds:
“‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'” // Matthew 16:17-18
What is this rock? Depending on your ecclesiology or denominational affiliation, you might have different opinions, but one thing is certain: Peter believed whole-heartedly that Jesus was “The Christ, The Son of the Living God” (Matt. 16:16). This is the greatest foundation we can place our faith. So whether you prefer a cathedral, a basement, a megachurch, or an elementary school cafetorium as your place of worship let’s commit to placing our faith not in these locations but in the one who instituted what the Church is: Jesus, the Christ, The Son of the Living God.
So as I watched this beautiful creation, a major piece of world history and parisian culture, burn I was reminded of the words of the Messiah. “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” needs to be our reminder that even in the deepest of sorrows and strangest of circumstances that Christ’s Church will stand, even if her buildings fall. As we experience Holy Week this year would we be reminded that our faith is not in a man or a creation of this world, but in the uncreated one beyond time and space. The Creator of all creation. Who became like us so that He could relate to us and experience all the experiences of this world and ultimately pay the penalty we deserve on the cross. Finally, He would rise again three days later to affirm His authority over death (Phil. 2:5-9). It is on that solid rock- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ- that we would build our faith so that we would be a part of the indestructible Church: the family of God.
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Kevin McClure has been leading worship in the local church for over 10 years in different capacities of student and adult ministries. As a songwriter, musical artist, and worship leader he has had the honor of touring the United States both as a performer and worship leader over the better part of the last decade. With a heart to see believers learn how to take the act of worship beyond the setting of a group gathering, Kevin is incredibly intentional with his time on and offstage to help teach the practice of worship as a lifestyle. Kevin lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his bride Hailey and his two daughters, Everleigh (8) and Eliska (2). His favorite food is coffee (lifesource), loves bonfires, and is convinced that Jesus is a Chicago Cubs fan.
Kevin McClure 