Doors

Zion National Park

I think it is interesting how different people see and approach things differently.  I was looking at something - either on Youtube or Instagram the other day.  The picture was of a lovely door in a garden - the door was closed.  The poster said that it symbolized the future - how through the door was what was next.

You might see it that way.  Or you might see a closed door.  A door that blocks the way - an obstacle - or a barrier to inclusiveness.

I think we need to keep in mind that how we see something is not how everyone would see it. A door communicates something to everyone. It might be an invitation to what is beyond or a locked door.  I think we would all see it differently.  What is in our churches that we, who are the insiders, see one way, and those who are outside see another way. 

And it really doesn't matter what we intend. Other people's perceptions are their reality. It's useless of us to blame them for "misinterpreting."

I think it is helpful to visit other churches and look around. See what you see. Is there anything you see that gives you ideas about what your church is "saying" to those who visit?

Who is Lost?

 Read this from Luke 15:25-32:

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

I'm reading Short Stories by Jesus written by Amy-Jill Levine.  The parables in Luke 15 -- The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal and his brother -- is Chapter 1.  I highly recommend this book.  I'm not going to write a post explaining the entire first chapter (I have written a post or two already about it); you should get the book and read it yourself.

Have you ever noticed that when the older son comes in from the field, the celebration of his younger son's return is already happening? Think for a minute.  Imagine that one of your family members returns home after being gone - thought to be gone forever.  It's time to celebrate! What do you do? Before you gather the ingredients for the meal or set the table? You tell the rest of the family so that they can share in the joy.

Why hadn't anyone gone to the fields to tell the older brother that the younger one had returned? To share the joy and bring him back for the celebration?

Could it be that the lost brother is the one in the field? Who among us is lost? Who, right in front of us, is excluded? And what will we do about it?

Tricky

I've been thinking about the post from last week called Stop.  Just stop.  The premise of the poem was that our ability to stop seeing  people with whom we disagree as people - but instead as objects to ridicule is a barrier other people (and to ourselves if we are honest) in seeing God.

I read yesterday that meanness (or a similar word) is never a fruit of the spirit.

But, although I believe all of that to be true, what I didn't mean to assert was that we shouldn't struggle with what we disagree about.  I think we should engage our brothers and sisters - we should stand up for what we believe is right.

It's just that I think we should stand up with open minds and loving hearts, knowing that the person with whom we disagree is a child of God.

I believe that God wants the church to be inclusive.  Of all.  Of everyone.  And I think efforts to bring that about should be pursued.

The problem is that everyone means everyone - all of the children of God - even those with whom I vehemently disagree.

I believe we should love everyone - all of the children of God - even those with whom I vehemently disagree.

Faith is a tricky thing, don't you think?

The De-Churched

In a sermon last Sunday, Alan asked, "How have we blocked Christ from those who might be called the "de-churched?"

First of all, I've never heard of the term de-churched, but as he said it, I knew who he was talking about.  This isn't the unchurched.  This is not those who have never made church a part of their lives. This is those who used to attend; who maybe came regularly, or semi-regularly, and now just are a part at all, or very peripherally.  These are the people who know and now miss.  What happened?

He asks, "How have we blocked Christ from these people?"

It's an important question.  Have we been less than inclusive?  Less than hospitable?  Have we been judgmental or hypocritical?  Has worship been less than engaging?  Have we failed to be supportive? Have we kept Christ to ourselves and not shared?  What other ways have we blocked Christ's love and light?

It might not be a question to ask ourselves or fellow members of our churches.  I'm not sure we know the answer.  The people to ask are those who are no longer with us - those that we miss.  How can we do that?

Love is an open door

Have you seen the movie "Frozen"?  It's a great movie.  Go see it, or I guess by now I should say, "Go rent it."  It's a great story.  Even though it's animated, don't wait around for a young person to give you an excuse.  Just watch it.

One of the songs in the movie is called Love is an Open Door.  I really like the song.  I don't want to write any spoilers, but there are reasons that at the end of the movie that you might NOT like the song. Even so, I love the idea of the song.  Love is an open door.

Think about the United Methodist statement of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors (I never get them in the right order, so excuse that).  What are they really saying?  I think it is the same -- Love is an open door.

Love opens our hearts, it opens our minds and it should open our doors.  Doors become automatically open when love comes in.  We open the doors to let people in, and we open the doors so that we can go out. Love opens the doors.

Has love opened the doors of your church?  Of your home?  Of your heart and mind?  What doors still need to be opened?