08-10-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 10, 2024
Why church? This is a question that has come my way many times, and once again, it was brought to me by someone who was genuinely seeking to understand. For those of us who have been doing church all or most of our lives, and for those of us who have sort of made it our profession, sometimes the WHY seems so obvious that it is strangely difficult to answer. As I reflect on how I have answered that question over the years, I realize that my answer has been more fluid than I would have thought. At times, I have needed church more than the church has needed me. That’s to say that I was empty and didn’t bring much with me. Other times, I needed to be a part of something bigger than myself that also had purpose and value for the common good. Of course, answering this question is complicated in that the church is not a building or even a specific group of people meeting at a designated time. The church is so much more, though the question put before me was really asking about Sunday morning. And maybe that is a good place to start, while always recognizing that the church is not bound by location, time of day, or even the number of people gathered. The church is this amazing Spirit inspired and infused body that has pulsating through its veins the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” If our actions can communicate that WHY for existing, I think we are in a pretty good place. 

Inspire our work, O Loving Lord, while always infusing what we do with your love. I pray for that to happen more and more. Amen.