Once again another moving reflection by Robert Schnase. Imagine watching the man at the hospital walk away alone after loosing his wife, her wedding ring and eyeglasses in an envelope. How sad. Thinking back to my own experiences of loss it is hard for me to imagine not having a supportive community surrounding me while I went through it all. Yet so many people "go it alone." Many because they don't know a loving, caring community/church that would welcome/care for them. I think so many people have written off church because of past experience, past hurt or just because it was never a positive (or any) influence in their lives.
I love the image of the king who says go and invite everyone into the banquet... "Go search the streets and bring them all in!!!" the King shouted. I believe that is God's message to us about our "banquet."
When was the last time you invited someone to church? Not in a preachy way but just in a "I know you are sort of lonely and need some support" way. I know it tends to be hard for us New Englander's to invite someone to church without feeling like the next thing we will be doing is standing on the corner handing out religious fliers. It question is: How will that man who just lost his wife know there is a warm safe place for him to heal if we don't invite him? How will that friend know that there is a larger purpose in his/her life if we don't introduce them to place we heard that message? Again we must face the question: Who does God have, but us?
I await your thoughts on the reflection . Rev. Patty
I agree that many have "written off church" for a variety of reasons....negative past experiences being high on the list. There are folks who worship God in the garden, or at the beach and draw their support from family or friends when in crisis. At least these are some of the unchurched folks that I know. Many I have invited have come and stayed. Others I invite are wary, remembering prior involvement and all the "busy work", but not having experienced the benefit of growing their faith and connecting to the community. For the many who sit in an ER and get sad news....my heart feels heavy.
ReplyDeleteLinda here - this is a tough one for me. There have been a couple of clear opportunities for me to invite people into our church, and I have enthusiastically done so, but not without their expressing that there was a desire to be involved in a church. I am very comfortable putting up yard sale posters at work and have brought my neighbors to the roast beef suppers, etc., but unless they speak first, I am just not comfortable inviting them to attend a worship service. My own son (not Josh) disavows all organized religion (his father does, too), and I feel I have to leave that alone. I guess I need help with this.
ReplyDeleteI agree that many people have been hurt by past church experiences and/or have never had the opportunity to know about church. I think that saying the prayers offered in the reflections many, many times may give me the courage to be a little more "out there". Perhaps just being a listening ear or doing a few kind deeds FIRST, then bring church into the conversation after you have built some trust would be one way to do it. I am sure the many people rebuffed Jesus, so we have to be ready for that, too.
ReplyDeleteYES - I feel enriched by being a follower of Jesus Christ. NO - I probably never actually invited a person to church directly.
ReplyDeleteI am willing to share that church is important to me and that I love it, but there is something so distasteful about evangelism in the world today that I can't do it.
This is a tough one for me for the same reasons as Linda. Aren't we taught from an early age not to discuss two "hot topics" - politics and religion? I can honestly say I have only asked two people to come to church, knowing with both of them that they would come for ME - not in search of anything else. It was not the best or most successful move, for both came with blinders on - "no need for religion in my life", etc.
ReplyDeleteI have asked others to come for "events" or special services; I can only hope that coming to a Christmas Eve service or a roast beef supper or coffee house will spark an interest.
In today's prayer, it says: give me the spirit, the grace, the right timing, the right tone, the right words. I find this particulary fitting, for when and if I DO refer to NCC with a friend or acquaintance, it is so clearly about timing. IF they have said something about their own church, IF they are referring to something as simple yet profoundly relevant as the Golden Rule, IF they start a conversation about religion, then I have no compunction to jump right in. Maybe I should stop waiting for the IFs in life, find the right words and just jump into the conversation and invitation, no matter how uncomfortable it may be the first time?
I suppose if we all reached out more, there would be fewer old men walking the road alone.
I find this topic to be exceedingly challenging in today's society, particularly for my generation. Many of my friends are those that are "unchurched". They were not brought up in a faith community nor have they ever been interesting in establishing or learning more about their faith. In my group of friends I tend to be a little vocal about my faith. (Maybe it is the future preacher in me) I think it's important to let my friends know that I am a person of faith, and that faith is expressed in my belief in Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize that it can be a little daunting here in New England to reach out and talk openly about our faith. I have lived in another part of the country where it was exceptionally different. I used to live in Virginia and usually when you met a new neighbor or someone within the community, the first words out of your mouth or theirs was "What CHURCH do you belong to?!" This is completely different from here in New England. I ask, WHY?!
Why is it that in New England we are labeled as the "frozen chosen"? Why are we so afraid to reach out and share our faith? Why are we not inviting people to church, even if they haven't indicated that they are interested? I am positive many people are interested in learning more about their faith or becoming connected to a faith community; but I am just as positive that those people are as equally scared to reach out as many of us are.
I go back to Gordon's comment: "I am willing to share that church is important to me and that I love it, but there is something so distasteful about evangelism in the world today that I can't do it."
Why is EVANGELISM so distasteful? Why are we so afraid to share our Christian faith? May it be because some Christians have almost stolen the word and have altered it to be a negative act? Could is be some Christians use evangelism to refer to fire and brimstone? Evangelism can be a beautiful thing, something I think many of us need to work on including myself.
This is a topic we've discussed many times in Bible Study. (Yes, we do more than study the Bible and eat.) It's not an easy subject and it makes many folks uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI always keep coming back to Jesus' commission to "not hide our light under a basket". It's what we sing about every week, "This Little Light of Mine".
I know it can be difficult to invite others to church, but Chuck and I have done so. We don't often get an acceptance, but the people we know are aware that we are people of faith. They know not to call us on a Sunday morning because we'll be in church. We both talk freely of our faith and what it means to us.
Ellen is so right when she talks about timing. I think listening is the key, and when the time is right, praying for the right words to say.
I know I was elated when my niece, Sue, in Ohio told me that she is being confirmed in the Catholic Church this coming Easter Sunday. Because of health problems with herself and her son, as well as the divorce of her son, and the loss of significant time with her only grandson, she became an emotional wreck. She knew how church had helped me through the grief process. Sue started going back to church with her great aunt and she started taking confirmation classes. She told me that sitting in church was the only place she could feel at peace. I could so identify with that statement.
I know it's sometimes baby steps and just being lovingly persistent, but it does work. I can't describe the feeling you get when you know you've made a difference. Just keep trying!
I have worked with both extremes in the work force at different times in my life, people who have been hurt or offended and won't be going back to church any time soon as well as people who wore their religion on their shirtsleeve. I say religion because, looking back, I don't know if their practice was spiritual or simply habit.
ReplyDeleteIn those days, it wasn't as important to me as it is now. Today, I don't hesitate to bring up the subject of something that might be currently going on in church or my involvement and the fact that it's an important part of my life. I find it interesting how many people open up about their own church involvement when the subject comes up. I have found that by mentioning the subject first, people will respond in surprising (positive) fashion. Charlette and I regularly invite people to our Church. The people who need something and are ready may not always come to our church but sometimes return to their own church, and that's OK too.
For Eric and I being open about our faith in a college enviornment is often uncomfortable...our friends and peers know that our faith is the driving force and inspiration for our work with social justice. It motivates us and we hope that it will motivate our friends. Growing up in the farm lands of Maryland you did ask people quite openly about Church...since I have come to New England those discussions are secretive for many- but as Eric can atest I am so open about faith that I am not afraid to get in a discussion with customers at work or riders on the T. A large component of our faith is sharing...thats what we do...
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