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Social Activity Is A Second Chance
One of the common discussions among pastors is the manner in which our churches conduct social functions. This doesn’t sound like an interesting topic, but keep in mind that one of the cardinal rules we learned (years ago) is that social functions cannot occur at church without specific devotions, studies, and prayers. In other words, lots of pastors were taught (by our seminaries and church elders) that all church activities MUST have a spiritual thread within them.
Boring topic, right? Don’t hang up, yet, because the Chapel often hosts social activities that don’t have an underlying spiritual theme. In some churches, this is taboo and the very consideration of it is blasphemous. The Chapel appears to be breaking that old cardinal rule.
Obviously, I’m not worried about it. This is God’s House, plain and simple. But does God require me to pray at every Chapel activity? Does God require me to teach a Bible lesson every time I encounter someone in the garden? Are we required to invite every customer at the Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Shop to attend worship with us? The answer to all of these questions is, “No.”
No, God doesn’t require us to force religion upon people at Chapel-sponsored events, activities, or whatever. Plenty of us do talk about Faith, church, and religion, but we do that because we want to. We don’t always talk about church when we’re at church. We sometimes host social events that don’t have a spiritual theme or goal, which might offend some church people.
At the Chapel, we think differently. We think the Chapel is a great, safe, and healthy place for people to gather. We like to meet new people and develop meaningful relationships. We also think that God is pleased with our outgoing nature, not because we’re all extraverts (we aren’t), but because we know social activity is good for the heart, mind, body and soul. Chapel-hosted and sponsored events are always fun because the events involve lots of folks who are striving to live life forward in healthy and meaningful ways.
We recognize that we can’t always be happy. We understand (as much as anyone) that we can’t always smile, but we also understand that putting ourselves around other people who are trying to do things right is helpful, as well as healthy.
Do we have all the answers? Nope, we don’t even have most of them. We do, however, have lots of experience of finding joy in difficult situations. We also know how to make new friends and develop relationships that are meaningful.
I think that’s why we don’t require people to be “churchy” when they come to the Chapel. People don’t have to believe a certain thing before they attend a Chapel meal or party. Really, we just want them to feel safe and at home, somewhere. All the God-related stuff is important, but Jesus didn’t hire bouncers to keep the doors closed. Instead, the doors remained open, unconditionally, because social activity is the only way some people got a second chance.
Come as you are. God made you, not me or the Chapel, but God made all of us for community.
Blessings,
Rev. Brock
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