May 2010 Congregational Letter

One of the most amazing abilities Jesus demonstrated was his incredible ability to get along with other people.  Through His words, actions and attitude He created and atmosphere of approachability.  Throughout the Gospels we see Him create an ethos and culture of inclusivity that welcomed people from every strata of society.  Consider some of the people whose lives intersected with His: Zacchaeus the despised tax collector and Roman collaborator; Nicodemus a leader of Israel and teacher of the law; the prostitute who washed His feet with her tears; the untouchable lepers who found a healing touch; the little children who climbed on His lap; the Syrophoenician woman who received far more than a few crumbs from His table.

Jesus demonstrated an unguarded availability and love of others, even for His enemies, that love became the ethic by which the early church thrived (John 13, 1 John 3-4).  Francis Schaeffer called love the, “final apologetic.”  The non-Christian world, observing the church, commented, “See how they love each other” (Tertullian).  In all of history no other religion has crossed as many social and religious barriers as Christianity. Throughout history Christians have, with varying degrees of success, taken seriously the truth expressed by Paul: “that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5.19).

It is this attitude and atmosphere of radical inclusion: that we are all equally in need of salvation and share a common bond as the objects of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross; that is the distinguishing characteristic of every effective disciple-making congregation.

Jesus’ open-hearted availability and love for others stood in stark contrast to the Pharisees whose attitudes, judgments and behavior had the effect of creating and maintaining barriers between men and women and God.  Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“(You) tie up heavy (religious) loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but (you yourselves) are not willing to lift a finger to move them . . . You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.  You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to . . . You travel over land and sea to make a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are (Mt. 23.4,13,15).”

It’s easy for a church to unwittingly fall into the same trap.  I’ve heard colleagues excuse their evangelistic indifference or impotence by saying things like: “We’re focused on depth not breadth.  We’re focused on quality not quantity.  We’re not about to lower the bar of expectation.  If you’re going to come into the kingdom through our church, you’re coming the old fashioned way – with heavy religious loads on your shoulders!”  Of course, they don’t actually say those words, but their actions, their expectations and the atmosphere of their churches clearly communicate this message.

As I read the Bible, the ONLY stumbling block in anyone’s (and everyone’s) spiritual journey ought to be the Person and Message of Jesus Christ.  Of course, as long as we inhabit these bodies and this world we will be unfortunate obstacles.  However, I’d suggest that our job is to tear down barriers – religious, societal, institutional, attitudinal, personal, etc.  We must be in the business of bridge building – bridges of all kinds – to make the gospel accessible to the greatest number of people.

Jesus did.  He lived as an outstretched bridge to world that was at times indifferent, at other times passionate and still again, hostile.  It is Christ alone who by His eternal identity as the Word and His incarnation was anchored in both this world of flesh and blood and the eternal world He has inhabited from all time. He never compromised one dimension in favor of another.  Human weakness did not negate His absolute demands.  Nor did His embrace of holiness distance Him from an unholy humanity. But notice that His personal practice of faith, His innate holiness, was not a stumbling block to the sinner.  Instead, it was a magnet that changed the indifferent to the committed.  C.S. Lewis once commented on how little people know who think that holiness is dull: “When one meets the real thing, it is irresistible.”  Jesus was perfectly and completely holy while being simultaneously welcoming of “untouchables.”

When you take the time and examine your life, time and energy (check your daily planner) and your money (check your checkbook and budget), it is clear that Jesus’ interests are your interests?  Do spiritually indifferent – and perhaps, religiously hostile – people matter to you?  Are you creating an atmosphere in your life, your ministry, St. Andrew’s that declares, “the people who matter to God are welcome here?”

Most of us do this naturally in settings outside of our religious/spiritual life. Think about this: If you were having a party for someone you love and respect what would you do?  Or, what if you were having someone to your home for dinner – what would you do?  Perhaps the following:

• Plan: what do they want, like or need?
• Create an inviting and welcoming setting
• Use your best dishes, glasses and silver
• Greet your guests warmly
• Watch over them, see that they are introduced to others
• Serve them
• Walk them to the door as they leave
• Happily clean up the mess as you enjoy the memory of the evening

So much is simply common sense.  Would you have a party and not invite any guests?  Would you have a party and not prepare?  When your friends and guests arrive would you yell “the door is open come on in” or would you greet them at the door?  Would you escort them into your home or would you leave them  to wander from room to room?

Most folks who are desperately searching for meaning, who are truly searching after God, rarely think of looking at church.  And that’s not all bad.  Why?  Because it creates an opportunity for those “in” Christ to follow their Lord into the world.  Knowing the Great Party that awaits the friends of the Bridegroom there stands for us a great opportunity to go and engage – to “go” and “make” disciples of all people.  How often I think of Andrew, Peter’s brother, who having met the Lord went and found his brother telling him, “we have found the Messiah” and then brought that brother to Jesus.  How often I think our call as a parish is pre-figured in the life of our namesake.

You have the privilege of sharing in the kingdom ministry of Jesus Christ.  May it be done in such a way that it brings glory to Christ and honor to His Name.

In the family,

Steve