The Church in the Dumpster
The
Church in the dumpster is there because we (meaning Christian congregations) put more energy in preserving what
have rather than being who Jesus calls us to be.
The
Church in the dumpster is there because when we serve with Love, everyone—no exceptions,
we could reclaim a dumpster for our building and tradition and we could
flourish.
The
church is in the dumpster… does it describe what is or what could be?
“Love
one another”, “Love the stranger”, “Love
your enemy,” I hear Jesus say.
Then I
listen to my sisters and brothers argue over entrances, dollars, preferences,
traditions, and opinions without ever asking what following Jesus in this place
would look like. I hear too often hear ultimatums
and too seldom here self-less love. That
feels harsh to write, and harsher to live.
The
church is in the dumpster is my vision. Yes,
it’s in the low places, the hard places, the places I’m reluctant to go … the
places Jesus hung out loving, and serving.
He did say, “The
first will be last and the last first” so why is that so hard to apply to
traditions, buildings, worship styles, habits and patterns? (That’s
a whole book!)
We
could put a steeple on our dumpster and love people radically, serve people
authentically, and walk with people humbly and grow a community of Jesus
followers, a church. Yet, when we
preserve our buildings, preferences, traditions and habits, the church shrinks. Anyone else getting the hint? What do you think?
10,000 Joys on the
Journey, Dave the Wobbly Disciple of Jesus.
P.S. I’m going to be thinking more about “The Radical Sayings of Jesus” over the
next few weeks as I tell others Good News and invite us all to serve with
love. Tune in to the podcasts or join me
in our gatherings for worship.
PSPS. A colleague, Pastor Lynn Hackman, wrote an interesting related
blog post.
