God welcomes all
"God welcomes all, strangers and friends! God's love is strong and it never ends." That's one of my favorite songs that we sing in our Trinity Day School Chapel, and occasionally in church on Sunday. It is beautiful in its simplicity, and points to the reality of Grace we experience as Christians. An even deeper appreciation comes when one learns that it originated in the Townships of Apartheid South Africa; it is a song of tremendous hope and love from a seemingly hopeless and apparently loveless situation.
It occurred to me to share the words of that song because of a few recent conversations I've had with people around town. In one form or another, this question has bubbled up: "Is it okay for me to go to church?" The answer is simple: "Yes!" And, I believe that is the answer for all churches (not just the Episcopal.) Not only is it okay, but it is God's desire to welcome each of us, God's Children, into relationship. (My belief is that we have so many denominations because we have so many different personalities: find the church that suits your spiritual life best, and get connected.)
Part of that question, "Is it okay for me to go to church?", may have to do with church membership practices of 50 or so years ago; the church is evolving and has changed in many ways as has our culture. So, from the church's perspective, you are welcome to attend a church whenever you are ready.
The deeper, spiritual pondering that is behind that question may be a question of personal worthiness. Timidity about stepping foot in a church may be about the reality that we all carry our histories within us. The weight of past sins and fear of inadequacy lurks in each of our hearts. Then may come the question of judgement from the already-gathered church community. We may have the misconceptions that the ones in the church are "better-than-me" and wonder if they will see and know my sins, and cast judgement?
The reality of the people inside the church is the same as the reality of people outside the church: we all have our sins and our fears of inadequacy, and we all carry some level of fear of judgement. But here is the good news: "God welcomes all, strangers and friends! God's love is strong and it never ends." God loves us, forgives us, and makes us new. God made us and knows all-too-well our tendencies to fall away from our full good potential; so God doesn't wait around for us to become good enough, God comes to us. Throughout scripture it is God's righteousness and God's faith that is constant and eternal. For Christians the ultimate expression of that is found in Jesus Christ who came to us while we were still sinners.
Because of God's action in Jesus, instead of judgement, what we find in healthy church communities is forgiveness. We forgive one another as a response to being forgiven by God. Accepting God's forgiveness helps us to let go of the weight of our histories that we may be lugging around with us. When we are tempted to judge one another, we need only to look in the mirror, and to remember our own shortcomings; then get out of God's way, once again.
If you have ever wondered, regarding any church, "Is it okay for me to go to church?" Know that the answer is "Yes!" and "Get there soon!" You can find a schedule of local church services on this page somewhere. All of us are in the process of becoming God's friends; none of us has earned God's love by our own merit. It is only by God's Grace that we are welcomed in to learn just how strong God's love is, and to grow to know that it never ends.
Originally published in the South Jetty
It occurred to me to share the words of that song because of a few recent conversations I've had with people around town. In one form or another, this question has bubbled up: "Is it okay for me to go to church?" The answer is simple: "Yes!" And, I believe that is the answer for all churches (not just the Episcopal.) Not only is it okay, but it is God's desire to welcome each of us, God's Children, into relationship. (My belief is that we have so many denominations because we have so many different personalities: find the church that suits your spiritual life best, and get connected.)
Part of that question, "Is it okay for me to go to church?", may have to do with church membership practices of 50 or so years ago; the church is evolving and has changed in many ways as has our culture. So, from the church's perspective, you are welcome to attend a church whenever you are ready.
The deeper, spiritual pondering that is behind that question may be a question of personal worthiness. Timidity about stepping foot in a church may be about the reality that we all carry our histories within us. The weight of past sins and fear of inadequacy lurks in each of our hearts. Then may come the question of judgement from the already-gathered church community. We may have the misconceptions that the ones in the church are "better-than-me" and wonder if they will see and know my sins, and cast judgement?
The reality of the people inside the church is the same as the reality of people outside the church: we all have our sins and our fears of inadequacy, and we all carry some level of fear of judgement. But here is the good news: "God welcomes all, strangers and friends! God's love is strong and it never ends." God loves us, forgives us, and makes us new. God made us and knows all-too-well our tendencies to fall away from our full good potential; so God doesn't wait around for us to become good enough, God comes to us. Throughout scripture it is God's righteousness and God's faith that is constant and eternal. For Christians the ultimate expression of that is found in Jesus Christ who came to us while we were still sinners.
Because of God's action in Jesus, instead of judgement, what we find in healthy church communities is forgiveness. We forgive one another as a response to being forgiven by God. Accepting God's forgiveness helps us to let go of the weight of our histories that we may be lugging around with us. When we are tempted to judge one another, we need only to look in the mirror, and to remember our own shortcomings; then get out of God's way, once again.
If you have ever wondered, regarding any church, "Is it okay for me to go to church?" Know that the answer is "Yes!" and "Get there soon!" You can find a schedule of local church services on this page somewhere. All of us are in the process of becoming God's friends; none of us has earned God's love by our own merit. It is only by God's Grace that we are welcomed in to learn just how strong God's love is, and to grow to know that it never ends.
Originally published in the South Jetty
Comments
Post a Comment