There is a really bad joke that people often tell when they enter into the church. It’s one that I don’t believe is particularly original and likely one that every, single minister has heard far too often in their time in ministry. It usually begins a little something like this. The person walks into the building, and either makes a demonstrative movement, or simply shifts their eyes upward. The next words they say usually amounts to, “Oh my Lord the building is still standing.” It is as if their very presence will cause God to collapse the building. It’s never been made clear why this is such a moment. Is it how one views oneself that there is no greater a sinner than they? Or is it because they cannot view a God who is forgiving enough to forgive them? Or it may even be something entirely different.
Personally, while I smile at this joke, I’m usually screaming on the inside. The screaming isn’t because of the person but because of how their idea misses the mark. Now we all tell jokes that perhaps land on the wrong audience or maybe they aren’t funny. But this joke has a few issues that we may need to clear up with our friends and even family who crack them.
The first misconception is how God views a sinner entering the building. Not to lean to heavily in this moment on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but for the person cracking the joke I would hope that they would understand that God’s response to them entering the church would be one of joy. Sure you might be there for a meeting, to pick someone up or whatever. But that is never how God sees it. God sees you entering the building as an opportunity, a moment where the irresistible grace of God might start to tap on their shoulder. It could be the opportunity that the Holy Spirit has been waiting for to nudge and guide you to a more active role within a church family maybe not tied to the building that they entered.
Next is the idea about who they are. The misconception here is that somehow you, that is the person joking is the worst to have ever entered the building. Not to in any way speak ill of any who have gone before but to think that there has never, in the history of that church been someone who was a worse sinner than you darken the door is laughable. Of course we are aware of our own shortcomings and have a level of difficulty reckoning with the truth and reality of our past, but with that being said it is highly unlikely that you are the worst sinner. Take a moment and think about the history of each congregation. They don’t have to be a congregation of 1000 to tip the numbers in your favor of not being the greatest sinner, but sheer history and time leans that title away from you.
The last piece is what this all points us toward. And that is that rightly or wrongly there is a perspective problem of the church. We may have all heard the phrase that the church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners, but do we live that out? Do we treat those who enter as if they are the son who was lost but now has been found, rushing to them greeting them with an overwhelming level of joy. Or to behave as if we this building and this body are like the MET? There is something beautiful that happens when one worries about entering a church and is greeted like a lost child who has now been found. May we work to educate, welcome, and love any who come and visit us whatever their reason for their visit may be. Amen