Thoughts about CHURCH

An Acronym for Thought:

CHURCH - [Charitable Humanity Utilizing Resources Creating Hospitality]

This, I believe, gives us a forward look toward the future of church. It begins with the individuals that comprise the community of church rather than defining the community into which we all must fit. It solves the age old problem of "placing the cart before the horse." It starts with the "horse power" that drives a church community, charity, rather than the other way around of attempting to convince any group of people to be charitable.

Love may be defined as, "a strong positive emotion of regard and affection," and in Christian scriptures, is said to be "the greatest of all." The word used in many translations of 1 Corinthians 13 is charity. The old saying that "charity begins at home" makes it clear that charity begins with each one of us as persons. This need for love was made popular in a song by Jackie DeShannon, "What the World Needs Now:"

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No, not just for some but for everyone."

Unfortunately there are many religions that, regardless of a possible mention of love, act out in hateful ways against others who do not share their beliefs. Many church doctrines are designed for control and conformity rather than espousing charitable behaviors for inclusion and welcome. Because change is constant and continuous, in the universe and in our world, laws and doctrines, written in former times, often cause conflict and confusion over time. In the well-known poetry of James R. Lowell, "Once to every man and nation," his words highlight this recurring problem:

 "New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth."

Charitable Humanity, utilizing resources that encourage love and understanding, which are up-to-date and timely, is always the powerful engine that enables our moving forward. Creating hospitality is the primary solution to most of our human problems around the world, especially toward those who are or are becoming disenfranchised. Most of our memorable leadership over the ages, in their teaching and by their lifestyle, recognized that all people deprived of their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of the cause, can become a resource for anarchy, "a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)."

Creating hospitality is a primary way of combating such turmoil for both the haves and have nots! A priest, The Rev. Canon Timothy Boggs, while serving at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, wrote, “Hospitality is not merely making space for somebody else, it’s about letting people into your hearts and letting them change you.” When we fear and shun others rather than letting them into our hearts and lives to help us change, we lose out on the positive changes needed to make our communities and world better.

Gerard A. Pisani, Jr.