Hey Michael,

OK, I admit up front that I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box and I don't have a degree from a fancy school like you do. But I'm not sure I'm following you. Can I ask a couple of questions/give a couple of thoughts? Maybe you can clarify your argument for me.

1. Of course everyone in the church isn't called to love your wife as you do. But doesn't the church qua church (excellent use of "qua", Thabiti! I'm also going to try to work in "vis-a-vis" here.) have a responsibility to and an interest in promoting healthy marriages? Don't you, in your pastoral capacity, do marriage counseling? Would it be inappropriate for a church to do a sermon series on marriage? I think this is an example of something where the church has some responsibility for the way a person discharges their individual responsibility.

2. It seems that the church as a whole can't do anything unless individuals actually do it. The church can't preach the gospel unless some individual stands up and actually opens their mouth. The church can't assemble together unless individuals get out of bed and show up. Mercy ministry (for the lack of a better term) seems to me to be the same way. It will be executed by individuals, but it is the concern of the church as a whole. If no one in your church is being merciful to those in need around them, that's a problem that you as a pastor need to address. It is a sign that the church lacks health, no?

3. I am not suggesting that all churches have to show mercy in the same way. You all are located in a city, so I imagine that there would naturally be opportunities to engage poverty, homelessness, and racial tensions. Out here in the suburbs we see opportunities with divorce, immigration, and people whose BMW's need a shine. But we should both be praying and strategizing as a church and as church leaders about how we can help meet those needs and alleviate suffering in the name of Christ.

I think ultimately we need to stand back and ask (with trembling): are we doing it? Are our churches (or the people in our churches, if you're more comfortable with that language) merciful? If not, there's a real problem.

As Bono once said, "The world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape." Wait, that's stupid. Never mind.