Pilgrimage Ponderings
Saving the Life of the Church
I've been thinking about two words lately: conserve and preserve. I was wondering how they were different and how they relate to the way we "do" church these days. Conserve means primarily to prevent injury, decay, waste, or loss. Preserve means to keep alive or in existence; to keep safe from harm or injury; to keep up or maintain.
So on the surface, it seems like it might be a good thing to be focused on conserving and preserving the church, on keeping the church safe from harm, on preventing injury to it.
The problem for me is Jesus's words in Matthew: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." We typically think of these words as they apply to individuals seeking to be disciples.
But what if the church must also lose its life for Jesus's sake? How do we do that while also preserving it?
(Anon): Does the church not live because of the sacrifice of Christians? We must preserve and conserve the church to keep it as a light for all. (09/25/10)
J: Conserve means primarily to prevent injury, decay, waste, or loss. Preserve means to keep alive or in existence; to keep safe from harm or injury; to keep up or maintain. You ansewered own question! The Church must not die! (09/25/10)