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Dan Kunz
A few weeks ago, I volunteered to run the projector for our early service at church. The church has two large screens in front, which show the items from the service folder so people can follow the liturgy, hymns, and so on. The projection booth is in a far back corner of the sanctuary, from which one can easily see the entire congregation. An older man, somewhat disheveled, came in a sat in the second last pew just before the service. I’m not sure if he lives on the street, but he might. I don’t believe he is a member. I don’t believe I ever saw him before. After the service, two different men of the congregation walked up to him, shook his hand, and chatted with him for a couple minutes. It was awesome to see how those two men tried to make the man feel welcome!
The experience made me think of a Robert Frost poem which I used to teach in my American Literature class. It’s called, “The Death of the Hired Man”. The basic story line is that an old hired man who is dying, returns to the farm where he worked on and off throughout his life. Evidently, he had worked there enough to consider it “home”. The old man’s name is Silas, his former employer is Warren, and the farmer’s wife is Mary. Mary begs Warren to be kind to Silas, as he is old and sick. Warren at first is somewhat irritated because, in the past, Silas was rather unreliable. As the poem continues, it becomes evident that Silas has come “home” to die. Perhaps the most memorable line from the poem is this: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”
Isn’t that a perfect description of a church, a congregation, a gathering of believers? Like the hired man, we are all old, sick, and dying, regardless of our current situation in life. Also, like the hired man, we have a home where we can go, and they have to take us in! It’s one of the many blessings of a church. 2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we came to this conclusion: One died for all; therefore, all died.” Because Christ died for all of us, we are all united. We are all brothers and sisters. We are all part of the same family. Because we’re all in the same family, we are all compelled by the love of Christ to care for and about one another. A church is a home, a family. It is a place where all should be welcome and welcomed! Is your church welcoming? Are you welcoming?
Just like earthly families, we don’t always get along. We don’t always like each other. We don’t always love each other. That’s a result of sin, but that’s not how it should be. As God tells us through the Apostle Paul, Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone.” Throughout his life, Jesus showed his love for all people in countless ways. He healed the sick. He fed the poor. He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. Ultimately, he died for every single unlovable person on earth because he loved them, and we should too!
To paraphrase Frost, “(Church) is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” We all have such a home, and we should all share it with our brothers and sisters!