Rev. Richard Smith
September 30, 2024
Matthew 25:40 (Words of Jesus)
‘When you have shown real compassion for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it for me’
We all know the name and witness of Dietrich Bonhoffer. Before and after his death by the Nazis in 1945, he was one of the most revered theologians in Christianity. My guess is that each of you reading this reflection has read one or more of his works. He is esteemed as much or more now than he was when he died.
One of his quotes which reflects the heart of the Christian witness is this:
God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would not expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken. (God Is In The Manger)
A penetrating question for the modern church is to what extent our congregations exude a spirit of openness to those in our communities who are “unseemly”, “neglected”, “excluded”. When we review a typical Sunday morning in our respective churches, what is the makeup of the people?
A common refrain is that they’re not here because they don’t feel comfortable. There’s a certain truth here. But, again, if “God loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded”, as we believe He does, then why aren’t we connecting with them and discerning ministries which help them feel welcome and included.
These thoughts aren’t meant to be condemning of the contemporary church. They do reflect, I think, an issue we must address if we are going to be a Jesus Church.
I work weekly with the unhoused here in Frankfort and Franklin County Kentucky through First Methodist Church. They are honest in their perception that they don’t to a large extent fit in. I’ve come to realize that if they are going to enter our spaces, we must develop options outside the regular Sunday morning, Wednesday night, etc. offerings. I’ve begun intentionally to lovingly press them to give us insight as to what experiences would help them feel included and needed. We will see what happens over the coming weeks.
The question does remain, doesn’t it? Why do the “lost, unseemly, neglected, excluded” not feel our space and happenings can include them? Worth pondering, isn’t it?
