These are sandy times in our (PCUSA) denominational life. We have collectively drifted off course and we are clearly in a hazard. Some people feel trapped and others feel stuck.

My golf ball landed in a trap and my uncle Chuck cheerfully said, “Remember, sand is your friend.” It’s one of those lines spoken by someone you love and respect that forever echoes in your mind. From that moment on I have considered the sand on a golf course my friend.

It’s there to provide a soft landing when I’ve driven the ball off course. It’s there to hold me fast when I might have otherwise drifted out of bounds or rolled into deeper trouble. But if you’re in the sand, you’re off the mark. You’ve missed the fairway. You’re in a hazard. And with friends like sand, well, you can finish the thought.

These are sandy times in our (PCUSA) denominational life. We have collectively drifted off course and we are clearly in a hazard. Some people feel trapped and others feel stuck. Some are digging in their heels and taking aim to blast their way out but others have developed a bunker mentality and suggest that everyone simply act like the sand is a sufficient foundation upon which to build a future. There’s a problem with that last option. Sand shifts.

The proverbial line in the sand has been shifting for years. The underlying issues are far more important than any of the presenting issues. It was never really about the ordination of women, inclusive language, church property ownership, a redefinition of Reformed theology, or the denomination’s pursuit of leftist political agendas.

The real issue has always been and continues to be the undermining of the authority of God, failing to submit in thought, word and deed to His revealed Word and will. We don’t like what we find there and so we shift our language, we shift our attention, we shift our … until finally we are no longer standing in the fair Way on the firm foundation of the solid Rock of Jesus Christ. Instead we find ourselves in a very shifty, culturally accommodating sand trap.

If you disagree with the latest liberalization of ordination standards you will be openly called names: bigoted, closed-minded, homophobic, old-fashioned, behind-the-times, out-of-touch.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11 (niv)

People will roll their eyes at you when you point to the Scriptures. Acknowledge in your heart and mind that:

“the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” II Timothy 4:3-4 (niv)

In all this remember that the flaming arrows are not really aimed at you. They are aimed at Him. Consider it a privilege to take the flack for the One who took the nails. Consider these days an opportunity to demonstrate Christ-like humility even as others disregard His sovereignty, undermine His authority and use His sacrifice as a license for continued sin. Speak the truth in love, teach sound doctrine:

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Jude 3 (niv)

Returning to the analogy of the sand, one final thought. Golf course designers strategically place sand traps where the arrogant, prideful and those who think more of their game than they should will be penalized.

Getting out the sand requires a sober mind, a humble spirit, persistent practice and some measure of grace. The goal is to get back on track, back into the fairway, back onto firm footing, progressing toward the goal.

In our denominational life it is yet to be seen just how we get out of the shifting sands of cultural accommodation into which we have now driven.

One thing is clear, we dare not fool ourselves into imagining that we can build a life together on these shifting sands.

Carmen Fowler LaBerge is a Minister in the PCSUA who serves as the President of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of The Layman, the agencies magazine. This commentary first appeared on The Layman Online and is used with permission.

[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced in this article is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]