I was on one of my rare shopping trips to the Short Hills Mall,
when I came upon my dear friends, Harry and Judi. I see them socially from time
to time, and they are members of my church. Yes, they are members officially,
but they attend church worship only on Christmas and Easter, so I call them
"C.E.O.'s" ---- Christmas and Easter Only.
I have tried a few times to get them more engaged with the diverse
activities at our church, but they politely decline, or tell me they already
have too full a schedule.
How do we express with honesty and clarity what we hope others will receive
if they really join our community of faith? In theological terms, the
answer might be "a relationship to God through Jesus Christ." For most people
this would not appeal because it is too abstract an answer. And wouldn't that
answer apply to joining any community of faith? What do people need and
want from our church?
Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase says people need to know the peace
that runs deeper than an absence of conflict, the hope that sustains them
even through the most painful periods of grief, the sense of belonging
that blesses them and stretches them and lifts them out of their own
preoccupations.
Furthermore, says Bishop Schnase, people need to learn how to offer and
accept forgiveness, and how to serve and be served. As a "school for love," the
church becomes a group of people who learn from one another how to love. People
need to know that life is not having something to live on, but something to live
for ---- that life comes not from taking for oneself, but by giving of oneself.
People need a sustaining sense of purpose.
Bishop Schnase summarizes, saying people need to know that . .
.
---- God loves them
---- They are of supreme value
---- Their life has significance
---- They are not alone when they face life's
difficulties,
and do not need to solve every problem by
themselves
But wait! Sometimes the greatest strength of church worship and Bible
classes and choirs, is also their greatest weakness. Church members may love
each other so much that their lives become very intertwined, and their interests
interwoven, so that church groups become impenetrable to new people.
Closeness closes out new people who feel like outsiders looking in, and often
those on the inside don't even notice. The church members feel content ----
their own needs are being met! What they forget is their obligation to help
newcomers grow into the Body of Christ. Is this what is blocking the progress
of my friends Harry and Judi?
People are searching for churches that make them feel welcome and loved,
needed and accepted. The work doesn't stop there. When congregations invite
someone to a feast, they can't spend all the time focused on getting the
invitations right. They have to consider what will be served. What are they
inviting them here for?
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These thoughts are brought to you by CPC's Adult Spiritual Development
Team, hoping to encourage you to pursue some personal spiritual growth this
winter at CPC.
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