I was passing through a lovely, small town and saw a stately
but older United Methodist Church. I pulled over and tried to open the doors,
they were locked. From across the street a nice woman, who I discovered was the
lay leader of the congregation, came over and asked if I wanted to see inside.
She escorted me inside to view the amazing stained glass windows and we
discussed the health of the congregation. She let me know that they had about
seventeen worshippers in church each Sunday and were “doing pretty well,
surviving as best we can.” This phrase made me sad, since when is survival
enough? One of the windows was the famous picture of Jesus standing outside of
a door and knocking to come in. This window is a powerful statement of why
surviving is not enough. It shows that Jesus is active in seeking out others,
is working to connect with the disconnected, and is willing to do whatever it
takes to serve those God has called us to serve, not just get them into the
church.
The picture of Jesus knocking on the door reminds us that
Christ calls us to be active in seeking out our neighbors for intentional and
meaningful relationship. It is our responsibility to be engaged with the people
in our communities and go to them first, without expectation of them coming to
us.
Secondly, the picture reminds us that making the connection
is our responsibility if we want to be like Christ. “Behold I stand at the door
and knock.” It is not enough to open the church doors on Sunday morning and
expect people to show up or to have merely passing relationships, we have to be
out knocking on doors and discover where the needs are in our community. We
have to invite people into our homes and our hearts long before we invite them
to worship. We have to get out of our buildings and into the street to discover
the places where God has uniquely placed us to make a connection. Get out there
and get to know your neighbors.
Lastly we have to do whatever it takes to be in relationship
with those to whom God has called us to serve. While visiting the church the
lay leader explained that the people in the community didn’t appreciate the way
they worshiped. It seems to me that its time to change the worship style to
reach the people to need Jesus. Mike Slaughter has often said that he knows a
lot of people who would die for their children or grandchildren, but wouldn’t
change their worship style to keep them from going to hell. Once a church
ceases to exist for the purpose of reaching those outside the church, it ceases
to be the church. Let us lay aside any weight that hinders us from reaching the
people just outside of our doors.
Its only a matter of time. Seventeen faithful, senior souls
continue to worship in that beautiful worship space and fellowship in the
lovely community hall, but in a few years, with a few deaths, they will no
longer be able to keep the lights on and pay the bills. Survival is not enough.
Unless there is a radical shift in focus in this, and so many other
congregations, the doors will be closed, the property sold, and the legacy of
faithfulness abandoned. Let us leave the comfort of our pews and go out and
knock on the doors, discover the needs, and serve those God has called us to
serve right outside of our churches.
Consumed by the Call,
Marty
