Who Is Welcome in Church?

"We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no hablo Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.  We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism.  We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.

We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” because many of us have been there too.  If you blew all your offering money last night at the club, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.  We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!  EVERYONE ACCEPTED, UNCONDITIONALLY!"

I'm putting the above welcome on the front cover of the bulletin this Sunday.  It's not original as many of you may know.  It was "borrowed" from another church and has probably metamorphosized along its internet journey.  As I conclude a five week sermon series on Peter and Cornelius, it seems fitting.  I can see Peter endorsing this statement, as well as the Holy Spirit.  When did the church start becoming a "members only" club?  When did the church start putting restrictions on who is in and who is out?  Is this statement really that radical?  Is it really that strange for the church to welcome ALL people? 

I suppose for some it is.  I suppose Jesus' teaching is radical, radical enough to get him killed.  And although we think we have advanced so much as a human race, the things that are really the measure of society: acceptance, love, compassion, have not increased all that much in 2,000.  So while I should not be surprised that the welcome statement on the front cover of the bulletin this Sunday will be a complete shock and most likely cause some criticism, I will be.  I will be because I believe if Jesus were alive today, he would have "liked" this facebook status.  What about you?

Church: Bringing Different People Together?

The story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10-11 is my new favorite Bible story.  Maybe that's because I'm preaching on it for five weeks in a row and see so many ways it relates to life today.  The basic premise is that Peter is going from town to town sharing the Gospel when he and Cornelius have visions.  Cornelius' vision is to send for Peter and listen what he has to say.  Peter's vision is to eat the forbidden animals that appear on a white sheet.  But what's hard for us to really understand is that this devout Jew and devout Gentile weren't supposed to associate with each other.  Not talk to each other.  Not go into each other's houses.  They were as different as different could be in race, economics, religion, profession, and on and on.  Except for one thing.  They both had faith in God.

Seems to me that that's what church and faith and Christianity should be all about: bringing different people together.  People you might normally never associate with, or run into, or talk with.  That's what the early church did.  Rich and poor.  Jew and Gentile.  Slave and free.  Male and female.  Christianity brought really different people together.

I'm not sure Christianity in America still does that today.  Sociologists have called Sunday mornings the most segregated time in America.  Stories abound of homeless people coming into wealthy churches only to be told to go away.  When you walk in to a majority of churches, they are homogeneous.  Similar skin colors.  Similar backgrounds.  Similar class.  Why?  Well, birds of a feather...

Even when the issue is raised to consciousness, people withdrawal with excuses, "Well, THEY have their own worship style.  THEY have their own churches."  THEY could refer to old or young, black or white, English speaking or Spanish speaking, gay or straight, poor or rich, etc.  THEY simply means anyone who is different. 

How about we go back to Peter's day when he came to the realization, "God shows no partiality" and (I might add) neither should we?  If the Spirit was all about bringing different kinds of people together back then, shouldn't it be so today? 

So if you go to a church or are looking for a church, make sure it's one that is intentionally inclusive of ALL people or at least moving in that direction.  That's the only way this vision will become a reality.  As Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world," and (might I add) in the church.  

Between the Dreaming and Coming True

We all have hopes and dreams.  Dreams of what we want to be when we grow up.  Dreams of who we will marry.  Dreams of our children and their lives.  Dreams of certain accomplishments in life.  Dreams of how this world should be.  Dreams of how we can improve our lives, our houses, our families, our careers. 

I have lots of dreams.  Dreams of serving a vibrant, healthy, active, growing church that welcomes all people.  Dreams for my children to be healthy and discover God's love and purpose in their life.  Dreams for myself of being a more faithful follower of Christ.   

But the very nature of dreams means they are not a reality, at least not yet.  So what happens between the dreaming and the coming true?  Naturally, we're supposed to work toward making that dream a reality.  If we have a dream of graduating from college, we work hard for four (or more) years in order for that dream to come true.  But is making our dreams a reality just about hard work and our own efforts?

Between the dreaming and the coming true, there's something else we need to do.  Pray.  I don't mean pray that our dreams will come true, although some people do and I don't judge them for that.  But maybe our prayers should be more about if our dream is in line with God's dream and intentions for our lives.  I mean, lots of people dream of being rich and have all their material needs and wants met, but God knows that is usually not the path to being happy or finding purpose in life.  Maybe between the dreaming and the coming true we must focus on aligning our dreams with God's will for our lives and this world.

What our your dreams for your life, your family, your church, your neighborhood?  Have you asked God if those dreams fit into God's plan for you?  Are those dreams really in your best interest?  Or might there be another plan yet to be revealed?  Can you pray, "Not my will but your will be done, O Lord"?

Keep dreaming and praying...and praying and dreaming, with lots of faith and trust and hard work, you might be blessed to see that dream come true.  If not, then you'll be blessed anyway!

Why Is It So Hard to Love?

Do you remember those black billboards with white lettering that had "messages from God"?  I think my favorite was, "That love thy neighbor thing...I meant that." - God.  And yet 2,000 years later, it's still so hard to love our neighbor.  I'm not talking about smiling and saying hello and "being nice."  I'm talking about really loving each and every person because they are made in the image of God.  I'm talking about seeing and treating each person as a worthwhile, inherently good human being that deserves my love and respect.

The PCUSA, of which I am a member, has just had its General Assembly, a bi-annual national gathering.  Nowhere is that "Love Thy Neighbor" thing missing more than at that meeting.  While I did not attend, I watched some of it live and read first hand accounts of the experience.  I am ashamed to admit I did not see a lot of love, real love that shows compassion and demands justice for all people.  Sure, many talked about love, how they love all people, but actions failed to back up their words.  How can we love our Palestinean neighbors and yet not divest from companies that are literally tearing their houses apart?  How can we love our gay and lesbian neighbors and not allow their pastors to perfom wedding ceremonies legal in their home states?  How can we love the nominated vice moderator and then literally blackmail the General Assembly in threats until she resigns?   How can we love those who hold opposite opinions than "us" and then demonize them?

Why is it so hard to love?  At both the national level and local level.  In my experience, trying to intentionally create a church of love and acceptance has ironically led to anger and withdrawal.  O Lord, help us all.  Save us from ourselves.  And give us the strength to love our neighbors, ALL our neighbors.  Everyone loved, unconditionally.  Everyone accepted, unconditionally.  May it be so.  Amen.