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Trevor Gore
Trevor Gore's blog
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Un-Lock the Doors?
1 star|3 comments|November 10, 2008|414 reads
 

I do not believe that it is the Clergy's responsibility to drag us kicking and screaming into what is expected of us as a "Church".

I am reminded of a conversation with my secretary on election day. She assumed that I voted a particular way and brought up the fact the Obama stayed at his church for 20 years, while disagreeing with the Pastor. Before I knew it I said, "you're Baptist aren't you?" This statement was not well received. She said that if you did not like the Pastor you should leave. I explained to her that the "Church" was so much more that the pastor. Granted he/SHE (another point of contention with her) is a vital part, but just that a part, not the sum total of the Church.

I say that to make this point, we talk a lot about being a welcoming church, but we do not exactly walk the walk. I say let's take off the chains and speak frankly about what are our real problems.

Let's be welcoming first to our current church members...What? I get a little tired of the games that are played... "us against them", "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", and my personal favorite, "our way of worship is better."

We will never be a "CHURCH" if we can not get passed our petty differences. In the whole scheme of things are these "Kingdom Issues"?

News flash "Our Church" is not the Traditional, Contemporary, Youth or the Hispanic congregation. We together form the Church. We care about the Youth because they are us. We care about the struggles of our Hispanic brothers and sisters because they are us! We care about the Elderly and their needs because they are us.

We care about the Prison Ministry because hey aren't we all prisoners of something? We might not be locked up behind bars but we all have things that prevent us from being free. 

The Clergy is not the Church. I am not the Church. You are not the Church. We are the Church. This brings me back to my opening statement, " I do not believe that it is the Clergy's responsibility to drag us kicking and screaming into what is expected of us as a "Church".

So let's start a dialog of that is expected of the Church. I will start...

Love God... Love People...


12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

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Mike n Laura
 Mike n Laura
November 10, 2008

"We are the Church." Amen to that!

What is expected? How about being a reflection of JESUS!?! (Granted it takes time to improve that reflection, I pray we're all moving in that direction!!)

Trevor Gore
 Trevor Gore
November 10, 2008

Great! After all it's supposed to be all about him anyway... who else?

Claudia
 Claudia
November 10, 2008
Be truly open, not just say that "the church" is open. I've spoken to some guests who have felt the church was too exclusive for them, that they didn't feel "welcomed" or that they "fit in". Is this the impression we as a church should make? No way!