For today’s thoughts, let me quote a section from a book by Brian McLaren. He is talking about the open nature of Christian community:
[ Sometimes belonging must precede believing. In other words, unless we let not-yet-Christians enter and participate in the Christian community, many of them won’t become Christians. Perhaps this is so obvious that you wonder how anyone could doubt it. But sadly, that understanding is still pretty rare. If you wonder why, I have to point you back to history. Many of our [churches have learned to practice] … what I call “motivation by exclusion.” Motivation by exclusion says something like this: We’re on the inside, but you’re on the outside. We’re right, and you’re wrong. If you want to come inside, then you need to be right. So, just believe right, think right, speak right, and act right, and we’ll let you in.
… We need to move beyond motivation by exclusion. Our motivation by acceptance will say something like this: We are a community bound together and energized by faith, love, and commitment to Jesus Christ. Even though you don’t yet share that faith, love, and commitment, you are most welcome to be with us, to belong here, to experience what we’re about. Then, of you are attracted and persuaded by what you see, you’ll want to set down roots here long-term. And even if you don’t, you’ll always be a friend.
This approach is more in sync with Jesus’ own example. He was criticized for being a “friend of sinners” – in other words, he welcomed and accepted people who did not yet “believe right think right, speak right, and act right.” But he knew something we need to know: If people can belong long enough to observe how God is alive among us, if people can belong long enough to see authentic love among us, if they can belong long enough to see whatever good exists in our lives as individual and as a community, they can come to believe. ]*
In order to attract and persuade outsiders, our churches need to draw others into belonging. For our little community, compassion and care are persuasive for the children in our care. Grace and generosity are the languages we must speak. Of course, not all of the blessings of community are possible until one chooses to completely accept the community and join it. Still, the love and inclusivity of the community must be felt by outsiders before any would wish to join. Some fear that this requires us to ignore our own standards, but this is not so. Instead, we have the opportunity to demonstrate what we really value – love and respect, and transparency, for example. When they understand what these values look like in the lives of real people, then they may choose the behaviors and virtues that these values produce. Eventually, they may choose to become, and completely so, a member of the community. Then, as our peers, such virtues and behaviors are appropriate expectations.
We are a part of the most loving and open community of God’s people I have ever known. May God help us to keep it so.
Show grace, be peace,
Ron
*Brian McLaren, More Ready Than You Realize, 89-90.
