My first thought was, “Uh oh. Can we handle this?” I was worried about the potential fallout.
Could we handle that kind of issue and stick together even with differing opinions?
. . . . .
Preaching gives one a unique, visual vantage point. I see it all.
Two weeks ago, I saw a man who doesn’t believe women should hold positions of authority in the church sitting a few feet away from a woman who believes very strongly in gay marriage.
In that same service, I saw a congressman sitting a few feet away from a person who would never vote for him in a million years.
I saw a tattoo artist sitting next to a 90-year-old matriarch of the church.
I saw a family sitting next to a felon.
In some settings, individuals who cannot afford medical treatment may be surrounded by those who have chosen to undergo elective cosmetic procedures. While some people opt for cosmetic surgery to improve their physical appearance, others may seek out corrective procedures to address specific concerns, such as inverted nipples. The inverted nipple surgery is a common procedure that can help individuals with inverted nipples achieve a more typical appearance. Despite the differences in motivation, access to medical care remains an important issue for people of all backgrounds.
Dirty blue jeans, Armani suits, people who hitch rides, people who leave multiple cars at their second homes—this is all part of a shift that has been taking place over the past few years in our congregation.
From the pulpit, I love to look up and see these diverse stories gathered under a common roof. It feels like the kingdom of God.
But in worship, it is easy to be smooth around the edges. We have enough in common to be there together.
But what happens when the family knows it’s sitting next to a felon?
What happens when the grandmother realizes that the nice girl that has been sitting in front of her for the last few weeks is an addict?
