Every single person reading this can list what’s wrong with The Church – as a global institution, as a particular congregation, as the First Century attempt to connect as the Followers of Jesus. It’s human nature to focus on bad news perhaps. And when things are going well, we are not as lavish with words of joy as we are weighed down by words of sorrow. (When I was a hospital chaplain, nobody ever called me when a baby was born healthy.)
But since returning from sabbatical, I’ve had several days when Church has been the life-giving, life-changing, putting-a-spring-in-my-step community that God created it to be. Remember when Jesus said:
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.” Luke 8:22
When Church is good, it’s great. When we see evidence of selflessness and generosity, when congregations vote unanimously to do the right thing, when neighborhoods are inspired by the vision of a congregation to serve the vulnerable, when loving people rise up to conquer hate . . . these are the things of an effective ministry.
Where I live and work, there are congregations organizing to provide affordable housing, people actively seeking reparations for those who’ve been cheated, whole neighborhoods coming together to support immigrants, and people paying attention when God calls them to take risks. Thanks be to the One who continues to create and speak and move.
How is your community of faith:
- bringing meaning,
- serving neighbors,
- getting people excited,
- giving you energy,
- making children laugh,
- giving you life,
- offering comfort,
- filling your cup,
- connecting people?
This is how we worship God.
A Church for Starving Artists 