Getting into the Water

I’m always fascinated by the New Year’s day tradition of polar bear dips that happen in lakes and rivers with hardy souls shivering and shrieking in the freezing water. A group of random people from a variety of walks of life take the plunge, sometimes for charity, and have a common experience that they will never forget.

Last Sunday’s lectionary reading was about Jesus’ baptism, and it occurred to me that He could have chosen for this to be a private ritual. Instead He went to John and was very publicly dunked in the Jordan River, a place of tremendous importance to the story of the Jewish people. He went in the same murky water as all of the sinners who had come to gawk at his cousin in camel hair and leather. He was willing to be with them as His identity was affirmed. And He is willing to be with us in whatever waters we are experiencing.

We also read Sunday from Isaiah 43:1-7, about God’s promises to be with us through the waters, that we won’t drown, and that the fire won’t burn us. Later that day I attended a memorial service for someone who died of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The main floor of the church sanctuary was full of people, most of whom were not from that church, and many I suspected weren’t from any church. There were several heartfelt tributes, some colourful language, and a few raw emotions because of this dreadful way to die.

It got me thinking about how mainline churches in particular will encounter this more and more. The generations after the current church goers (who tend to be seniors) find something like a church funeral a foreign experience. There are many outside of the church who have never experienced it, or haven’t attended apart from Christmas Eve to appease family members, or who stopped coming in high school and never found their way back. And yet these people have needs and hurts and losses and perhaps are seeking a way to process what is happening to them.

Jesus leaped into the water despite John’s protests and allowed Himself to be immersed not just in the river but in the full human experience. We as the body of Christ are challenged to go to great lengths for those who are curious about faith, who feel unqualified or not included, who are confused and hurting from past experiences. We have the challenge of finding a balance between honouring tradition and ritual that create meaning and identity, while not being like the Pharisees on the shoreline taking notes and complaining about those who don’t do things right or follow protocol. We are challenged to create hospitable space for everyone without neglecting or negating our own identity and beliefs.

All those who came to John at the Jordan were intrigued by his message and call to fear, honour and respect God. Many were willing to transform their lives by repenting and beginning again with the identity of being baptized. People who wander into church for a funeral or other service are often unsure of what to expect and perhaps feeling under scrutiny. It takes courage to go into an unknown place or to admit that you need something more than yourself and some direction to fill a void.

I celebrate churches and congregations who deftly roll out the welcome mat, who know who and Whose they are and don’t compromise that identity even as they warmly greet and offer hospitality to newcomers. I celebrate churches with clear signs to help direct people, with volunteers gifted in making people feel at home and who don’t intimidate or demand a lot of information but make others feel valued and at ease. I celebrate congregations who work to make language and rituals accessible, who explain things as part of the liturgy, who don’t expect everyone to know what to do. I celebrate those who are unafraid to get into the water with strangers, inside or outside the church’s walls.

And I celebrate that these congregations do this knowing that these people may never come in the door again. These congregations just know that this is important to do no matter what the ultimate result. We never know how our kindness and welcome might change someone’s life. I celebrate when congregations plan specifically for seekers through programs like Messy Church or a worship service at a different time than Sunday morning acknowledging how busy that time can be for people. I celebrate churches that are courageous enough to draw in everyone, extra programs or not.

How amazing it is that Jesus dove into the waters of life with us, unashamed and unafraid to join the people He would ultimately serve. What does this look like for your congregation? Where do you find people like those standing on the bank wondering if they should respond to John’s invitation? How are visitors and guests made to feel included on Sundays and at special events? How does your hospitality thrive and show the face of Christ to those you don’t know?

In this new year, may a resolution be that we would recognize the immense importance of creating safe and sacred space that draws in the stranger, the seeking, the frightened and the lost. May we take seriously the call to reach out and invite in those who need the gifts of the body of Christ. May we serve and honour our guests as though it was Jesus Himself in our midst, and may we do this secure in the knowledge of who we are in Him.