Home Sweet Home
You may have noticed some of the improvements we've been making to our church facilities of late. We have new flooring in the front of all three of our buildings, a new handicap ramp between Buildings A & B, and new lighting going in our worship center this week. In the next few months, we will also have some new paint, a new stage, and several other upgrades to our buildings, both functional and cosmetic. Of course, some of these are long overdue, and we are grateful that, since we now own all three buildings, we are able to make these much needed changes.
In the end, however, they are still just buildings, and they don't define us as a church. They are functional necessities for the gathering of large groups of people and the accompanying ministries to preschoolers, children and youth. They are headquarters for the sending-out of the church into the world each week. And whether we have souped-up warehouses or a beautifully decorated cathedral, the bricks and mortar--and carpet and paint--are not what makes us a church.
Even when we tongue-in-cheek call our worship building "the (ware)house of the Lord" we understand that really it's just a warehouse. Whether it is "of the Lord" is determined by who we are and what we do while we are there.
There's a popular song getting lots of airplay on Christian radio these days, by the artist known as Crowder. I have never been a big fan of David Crowder, even when his band was known by his full name, but this song hits the nail on the head when it talks about church. It describes the kind of church that I would hope that we are at Shelby Crossings. In case you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics:
Good morning, has it been a long night?
Maybe been a long year, maybe been a hard life, maybe you're not alright.
If you got a little red in your eyes, you've come to the right place,
People like you, people like me, this is where we all find grace, Come on now...
Bet you'll wanna sing hallelujah, bet you'll say an amen,
Can't help but celebrate being born again.
Somebody who loves you, is waiting at the door,
It's home sweet home here in the house of the Lord.
Take a load off, you're about to find your rest,
It's a crazy world out there, got some hope right here, out of the wilderness.
If you're needing water for your soul, well, you're in the right place,
Doesn't matter if you're rich, you're poor, whoever you are, this is where we all find grace.
Bring your heartache, bring your burden, you can lay them down at the door.
There is no fear, you belong here, step into the house of the Lord.
That's the kind of church I want to be a part of. Where somebody who loves me is waiting at the door. Where I can find grace, rest and refreshment for my soul. Where I can bring my heartache and my burdens and lay them down. Where I belong, home sweet home, in the house of the Lord.
None of that has much to do with carpet and paint and lights and ramps. No, it is about a merciful God and His people who have been touched by His love and are now conduits of that love to others. That is what church is to be--broken sinners who have found hope in Christ, welcoming others to come and experience the same grace. And that all begins with you and me making the choice to "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7)
May the glory of God be displayed in how we do church this week, not just on Sunday, but all through the week. I am thankful for each of you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
