The Titanic has sunk. What do we do now?

Welcome to ‘Spiritual Life with Rosy Keane’, a new monthly column on Salvos Online. Each month, Rosy, the Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, will share her thoughts and reflections on the spiritual issues that shape our lives as Christians, exploring how our faith intersects with our everyday experiences and how we can deepen our relationship with God.

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“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” (2:21). Pirkei Avot (Jewish text Chapters of Our Fathers)

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Recently, my husband and I, along with several other leaders, trekked to a large, old, ramshackle house with about 30 young adults for a weekend retreat.

This time was meant for connection, friendship and food. Ultimately, we hoped the sessions would provide a space for the young adults to confidently wrestle with their identity in Christ, the Church, and our Salvation Army.

One of the sessions we held involved using Post-it notes, which the young people could place on the whiteboard with questions for us to answer. These questions centred on reconciliation with our Indigenous people, belonging, faith practices, identity, and more. One question was on the future of our movement and their place in it.

I reflected that the small replica of the Titanic sitting atop some tired old drawers there reminded me of the current state of the Church as I see it. We’re in the same waters, we’re still on a boat, the surroundings remain unchanged, but our vessel is completely different. We are in the lifeboats, and the Titanic has sunk.

From what I’ve heard, the 1950s to the 1980s were a time when Western society was built around Sunday church attendance and the Christian faith. The pastors resided in a church that you attended, where you sat in the pew, perhaps had a coffee afterwards, and then went home. This is no longer the case. Many churches are closing, and the properties left abandoned are turned into cafes or developments. But our faith is still there. The Gospel is still there. The harvest is still there. We are in the lifeboats now and need to equip all our people to be captains of smaller vessels.

This comes back to the heart of the church in Acts. After Jesus had left them, they must have remembered the crowds of 5000 and more, when Jesus bustled through temples and marketplaces, conjuring the thronging crowds that he had gathered. This was surely a Titanic display of togetherness!

When Jesus left, there were just the 12, sequestered in the upper room; then, people travelled in small groups around the countryside and formed house churches. It must’ve felt like they were fighting for their lives. We know that the Roman persecution of Christians came not long after. And yet it was in this supposed setting of disaster, scattering and wreckage that God grew the Church.

So perhaps, in acknowledging the disarray or the sinking of the Titanic, so to speak, of organised religion or Sunday church, this is where we might find the spreading of the Gospel today! As we take responsibility for navigating our small crew, keeping an eye on its location next to the other little boats, this may remind us of the Scripture where it says, “and there were other little boats with them”.

Maybe there was never supposed to be a ‘super liner.’

A young woman at the retreat had attended a ‘community arts engagement conference’ the year prior and received a word from God. This was then confirmed at a General’s rally [last August/September], and at this retreat, she received her first vision after we explored APEST and the need for the body of Christ.

In her story, I see that we still deeply need all aspects of The Salvation Army to wrap around our people and faithfully respond to the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding and teaching heart of the Christian Church.

I asked the young people to forgive me for the times that we and other leaders spoke as if the Titanic were still there.

The time has come for us to listen to each of the small group leaders, equipping local leadership, local young adults, and local seniors, as we move from the safety and security of ballrooms, kitchens, and one captain who wears the special uniform.

As in the famous line from the movie, “I’m the captain now.”

But instead of this being said in the spirit of wresting control away from the rightful leader, it’s about recognising and responding to the Spirit of God, equipping those who are needed to help us all reach the heavenly shore.

* Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane is the Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development