When I grew up our family attended an Orthodox Church. They were very strict, you had to make sure your hair was a certain way, that you were clean, had nice clothes. Once you got in there was all these rituals just to get inside the actual Church. Once inside you were told when to stand, when to kneel, when to sit, what to pray. When it was time to chant, it sounded eerie, I wondered did the people even understand what they are saying or is it just taught that they have to say it?
I felt no connection to God there. That’s a problem. Especially since childhood I had a hunger for God and his teachings.
My Mom sings in the choir above the church so it would usually be just myself, my two brothers and my Dad. One Sunday my Dad wasn’t at Church, he was watching my little brother John who was sick. It was just me and my older rebellious brother, he picked the seats in the back (the one’s under the choir so our Mom couldn’t see us). Then a little into the service he signaled to me to go and we snuck out the side. I went outside with him, after going for a walk we decided to head back in.
But the front doors were locked.
My brother was pretty panicked, his plan perfect plan would fall apart if he couldn’t get back inside by the time our Mom came down for communion. Someone did eventually show up and we got back inside.
Through out the rest of the service all I could think of is, what if Jesus showed up and was trying to open the doors? I had a sad image of Jesus standing at the door knocking, with no one there to open the door. Reminds me of Revelation.
3: 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.”
The question is would they even let him in? His hair might be messy, he certainly wouldn’t be dressed in a suit, what if his sandals were a bit dirty? Of course he would want to invite LOTS of sinners inside. You think my Church would have let him in?
Would your Church let him in?
Have a blessed week and Happy Thanksgiving.
The Good Word 