We call ourselves Disciples

This past Sunday, and for the next 2 weeks, my messages are about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I know that people don't pick churches because of denomination much any more. That's fine by me--- it just means that a few more people stumble into this wonderful group of folks. I've identified with the CC(DOC) for 20 years now. I have served as a deacon and an elder and the superintendent of the Sunday School, the Chair/Moderator of the Board -- and now I'm a pastor, in spite of all of that. I've taken part in too many "parking lot" meetings and know that most of us feel qualified to run our churches, thank you very much. We're stubborn and opinionated, and sometimes we're even downright mean to one another. If we were a family I'm sure we'd be labeled as dysfunctional.

But I think that can be a good thing -- if we truly are a family, that is.

My family of origin is much the same way as what I've described above. Now that we're the adults, we aren't as mean to each other as we used to be, and we can still have our moments of insensitivity. But we love each other with a passion. We'd do anything we could to help each other out if any one of us was hurting. Now we won't go overboard -- we're not all that sentimental. But we care about each other.... not only because we are related by blood, but because we've grown to like each other too.

That describes the Disciples to me. We are as varied as my family of origin -- in opinion and attitudes toward life, and yes, even in sexual orientation. But our strength is our ability to give space to everyone to be. Space for everyone to explore their faith without limits. At least this is the church that I belong to.

Of course there are also folk within this clan who don't want to let bygones be bygones. They want to make rules and regs as to who can serve and how often and when and where. But I think those folks are the minority, and we do our best to try to accommodate them without letting them run the entire show. It's a delicate balancing act... but I think it's what Jesus wants from us.

The biblical witness to the life of Jesus doesn't portray someone who was into making rules and setting up fences. He didn't seem like the kind who only hung out with the like minded. Jesus spent lots of time healing and urging people to "sin no more," but I don't think he ever turned away someone who wasn't able to live up to that expectation.

We call ourselves Disciples. We're certainly not perfect -- which is good, because I couldn't be here if we were. We don't ask you to check your brain or your opinions at the door. We would like for everyone to play nice, but in our better moments we're able to forgive you when you don't, in the hopes that you'll return the favor.

We call ourselves Disciples. A movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We spend a lot of time collecting food and clothes and funds for those who don't have; we spend lots of energy waiting tables and building houses for those who need food and shelter. We aren't all that good at putting our faith into words (although we're working to get better), but we never hesitate to put our faith into action.

We call ourselves Disciples -- of Jesus of Nazareth. He's a pretty tough act to follow some days, but we're giving it our best shot.

I call myself a Disciple. Thanks for taking me in.