Enough with the Holy Huddles

I sat down feeling inspired and excited to write; then Nate came up to me and whined about something, and then his story ended with a story about a new friend of his that used to play with poop when he was little. A small transition to talk about my love for this pope seems a bit...well, not right.

However, having been sick in bed for the last several days with a kidney infection that won't quit has left me precious time to reflect on life, on what it means to love others-even if we don't agree with one another, and whether or not my heart will survive the rising blood pressure that will be brought about due to the 2016 election...and everyone's facebook comments about everything that offends them on our green earth, and why everyone who disagrees with them are idiots/fools. (The answer to that last bit is a definitive no, I won't survive, but I digress.)

But I keep thinking about what I want the church to look like. Who should we be in our current culture that politicizes EVERYTHING, and pits one person against another? One group against another. One religion against another. One opinion against another. Until before we know it, we are in a culture war that continues to escalate. And several groups are marginalized and fearful in a society that prides itself on "freedom."

While we continue to throw stones about immigration, abortion, marriage equality, healthcare, whether global warming is real or not, we forget to LOVE. Love others. Love them in spite of their views. Their race. Their political affiliation. Love them regardless of their sin, their beliefs, their choices. Love.
Choose Kindness. Seek to Understand, Rather Than Be Understood.

I wonder how we got to this place of judgment of others...for everything. And it occurred to me:

We are too busy pretending to be perfect, and pointing our fingers at those that aren't, that we don't have time to get to truly know someone. We're too busy acting like we have it all together.  We deflect our own feelings of inadequacy onto others, "If I can draw attention to their baggage, maybe no one will notice mine."
But that isn't life. That isn't living. And that isn't who we as believers are supposed to be, or how we are to act. We are to LOVE. We are to acknowledge that we are screwed up, and THAT is why we need a loving Savior. Not that we are perfect, and Jesus is lucky to have us on His side. I mean honestly, who do we think we are!
As I was feeling all of these feelings, and not knowing how to quite articulate what I was thinking, I came across a recording of Rend Collective. It's their "Campfire Story," and it perfectly describes what I want to overflow from churches everywhere.

"Is there anything quite like a campfire? The community that is built there by people sharing their stories, singing their songs is truly special.  It's so intimate. It's like being 10 years of age again and sharing all your secrets with your best friend. And that openness and vulnerability is exactly what we should see in the greatest community on earth-the church. There are no walls out here; and there should be no walls of defense toward God, or each other, even if we have been hurt. Worship isn't just confined to the 4 walls in the church building. And it's certainly not exclusive, but it's for every human being on the planet. In the kingdom of God, there are no outsiders.
We need to be careful  not to allow hurt or cynicism to drive us from church. Otherwise we end up like a branch taken from the fire, lifeless and cold. I know the pain we experience in life can be overwhelming, but we aren't meant to go through it alone.

All of us have the divine spark within us, and we so desperately need the breath of God to bring us to light and life. Jesus wants us to set the church on fire so the world can warm themselves around us, and find life and safety. We are here on earth to be a home or refuge for the lost and broken, but first we must learn the art of togetherness and celebration. To welcome people into the party of true freedom found in Jesus, we must first be students of that very way of life. 
We need to learn to celebrate. We need to choose His joy.
We are the church. We are the hope on earth.

To be on a journey as God's family, going through the highs and lows of life, suffering and laughing together, that's what I want; not some holy huddle where we all pretend everything is ok. But a real community who believes in the God of miracles, but also the God of the trials. That's what the world needs too.  So let's give out the invites. Put aside our selfish ways. And celebrate Jesus around the campfire.

It's time for you to start your fire."

-Rend Collective "Campfire Story

I am thankful that this is our church. It is a family. It is full of perfectly imperfect people that love and care for one another.

I don't want that celebration around the campfire to last an hour on Sundays. I want it to permeate our very lives, and the lives of all who know us.
For those who have been wounded by the church, Christ didn't come to condemn, he came to seek and save. Don't allow someone else's failure to keep you from the loving arms of Jesus.
And for the rest of us...let's set the church on fire. Bring Christ's message of love, hope, redemption, and joy to the world.
Let's quit deciding who is worthy of God's love, and love everyone, just as He did.
Let's stop pretending we have it all figured out. We don't.
Let's stop pretending that we don't struggle.
Lets stop pretending we don't stumble.
Let's stop pretending that life doesn't feel soul-crushingly hard sometimes.
God is a God of victory, in triumph, and in suffering. Let's show the world what it means to suffer alongside our Savior; AND celebrate the highs of life with Him as well.
Quit pretending.
Be real.
Stop the Holy huddles.
And let's rejoice that we worship a God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th...chances.

The Joyful and Tired Mom