For the Use of the Lord

Yesterday I was walking past a church in my downtown that has a large sign on the lawn with a slowly scrolling message in red. Some of the lights down the left side have apparently burnt out, so what used to say “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” now says “…Let us go into the use of the Lord”.

I like the original words from Psalm 122, but I was struck by the difference in meaning with those two key letters gone. This Sunday in Presbyterian circles is Mission Awareness Sunday. Churches will be highlighting denominational missions and projects, missionaries and outreach work. I’m looking at the similarities and differences in the gospels of Jesus’ final words to the disciples ahead of His ascension - the Great Commission from Matthew and, from John, His words of reassurance to the disciples and how He sent them as God has sent Him.

As we gather in churches in community each week, we are warmed by the presence of each other and by Jesus showing up in a variety of ways. Sometimes people can feel as though that’s enough. They are engaged in work and activities through the week and their faith occupies that spot on Sunday morning and perhaps a prayer before bed or at meals. Much of their spiritual life revolves around being in God’s house, whether worshiping or serving. Like the disciples finding comfort in being together after Jesus’ death in that locked room (likely where they had celebrated the Passover meal) as they hid from the scary outside world, churchgoers can want that comfort of the perceived safety of being at church.

But being resurrection people doesn’t allow just being in our buildings where we are safe and comfortable. Resurrection is modeled by Jesus as being out in the world, walking alongside others, eating with them, bringing Good News and celebrating life being changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined. To stay cooped up inside is to settle for a life in what can become a tomb, rather than breaking free from all that holds us captive.

I was reading a commentary recently and it spoke about the season of Easter in the church needing to not be about proving the Resurrection’s historical merit. Ultimately, we can’t conclusively prove that it happened. Instead, as people of faith, we should be talking about how we have experienced and live out resurrection. Are we following Jesus’ example of going to those who need to hear the story, embracing those who doubt (and it wasn’t just Thomas) with patience, and reminding people to look and think beyond themselves to the needs of others?

There are resurrection stories all around us if we have eyes to see, whether through the miracle of new plants poking up from the soil and butterflies flitting in gardens, or people having breakthroughs in their mental, spiritual or physical struggles, or a church that thought its life was over being renewed and filled with the Spirit. What if worship in the season of Easter was about people sharing where they had seen the Lord, in their own lives and the life of others? What if testimonies were given of how Jesus had shown up for them in their darkest moments and walked beside them, whether through a sense of His abiding presence within or through people allowing Him to shine through them?

We are supposed to come together for worship to refuel, but then Jesus sends us out. The Good News can’t and shouldn’t be contained within a building. We were created for the use of the Lord, not for ourselves. We were made to serve the One who served us. The mission field is vast with people who are discouraged, walking home in despair or isolated and alone in the dark. And as we step outside our walls to share the faith we carry within us in words and action so that others can experience it, we remember that He is with us always.