This morning we were going to church and the radio station we listened to started playing AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell”. Talk about irony. It was no big deal though.
Our favorite radio station was off the air because it was sold and will be changing formats from the hits of the 70s to the 90s to something religious which seems to be further irony.
The church is the church only when it exists for others… not dominating, but helping and serving.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Knoxville, Tennessee. Home of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. I’m here for a meeting of Episcopal parishes in East Tennessee.
It’s crucial for churches to embrace the thought of its members who come from all walks of life and occupations. Many are paycheck-to-paycheck and do what they can to contribute with a mix of service and giving what they can financially. Every person has a responsibility to add to the life of the congregation. I consider myself a blue-collar Episcopalian and that is a concept I feel would be best explored. No matter what is in one’s bank account, what is in their hearts and souls matters most.
This post might be narrow blogging to the team Jesus squad. I hope it doesn’t offend anyone. These are some thoughts and I don’t want to start a debate.
Church and Christianity for that matter should be places of comfort for those who have hearts and souls that need mending after being damaged by various things. Dealing with the reality of life and its ugly stuff is hard work and the church should be a place where you can do that. I want less praise and worship and more blues and gangster rap.
Life is hard enough and Christians should be about helping people on the journey. People of faith are human beings. God is god and when that is realized freedom can be found. It is my hope that my church can be a safe haven for imperfect people. I hope this makes sense.
I have been thinking about my place in the story of Jesus and its one of wanting to share his love in a inclusive and open way. The tradition of Christ being a big tent guy is one that I fully embrace.
No one should be excluded from the opportunity to be loved and to love. There is too much gate keeping, wall building, exclusion of those who are not like us in this world today.
Yes, we live in very troubled times and we are all in need of comfort and grace so without doubt we need to keep God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit from being boxed in by our own fears and issues. It is my belief that without a God of inclusion, love, compassion and yes even occasional sternness I don’t know if this would want to be a part of his community. My fear is too many people are being shut out and told that because they are this or that there is no room at the Inn for them.
We need peace, freedom from conflict and freedom of being who we are and how God created us people of many colors and many orientations. I am thankful for The Episcopal Church and before that the United Methodist Church for informing me its good to be a believer who is open to new things and to question when needed. Thanks be to God.
The Tony Burgess Blog 