A Mantra for the Church in the 21st Centry

A Mantra for the Church in this 21st century!

CHURCH [Charitable Humanity Utilizing Resources Creating Hospitality]

In the universe, without exception, everything changes constantly. The church, however, tries very hard to avoid any change. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why so many churches are losing members as people become "nones," those who affiliate with no church or organized religion.

May I share with you why I believe that this acronym may be helpful in defining a new way to look at church in this 21st century; an acronym that may allow the inclusion of most people who are charitable.

CHURCH [Charitable Humanity Utilizing Resources Creating Hospitality]

As humans we think of ourselves as body, mind, and spirit. Our body is the physical frame and context of many parts that function together enabling our activity in the world. Our mind, the element that enables us to be aware of the world and our experiences, enabling us to think and to feel. Our mind is our faculty of consciousness and thought. Our spirit is the nonphysical part of our personhood that is the seat of emotions and character - the soul.

May I suggest that this acronym for church, similar to the ways we view our humanity of body, mind, and spirit, might be helpful in encouraging and enabling us to function together as a people.

Body: [Charitable Humanity] The people who make up the corpus of a church. When humans come together in any group or community they are the physical frame and context of the diversity of its members.

Mind: [Utilizing Resources] Using the diversity of all the minds of the individuals gathered enables their collective facility to be conscious and thoughtful in serving others and each other.

Spirit: [The emotional energy and character] that excites and drives; the soul equalizing their cause and action; the flexibility and inspiration that helps direct the talent and ability of the whole.

The simple focus of this acronym invites the integration of all groups to join each other by simply engaging Charitable People. This identity eliminates barriers of doctrine, creed, and other titles that cause most of our divisions. The common sense of loving one's neighbor is hardly the cause since most ascribe to love of God and neighbor and in today's world, with so many resources available, that can only give us strength toward interdependence. Since a good majority of religious groups in America ascribe to "serving the common good" and creating hospitality, we are more apt to join together as we drop identity barriers.

The open invitation of Jesus was simply "follow me." As a Jew and an itinerate Rabbi, his teachings and manner of life was emphatically serving others, especially those who were disenfranchised or neglected by the political authorities of his day. The teachings of Jesus, especially in the "Sermon on the Mount," (Matthew chapters 5,6, &7) are held in esteem by many major religions. In John's Gospel we note his compassion and kindness to Folk at a wedding, a Centurion's son whom he healed, conversation with a Samaritan woman, feeding the people who came to hear him, the lepers, blind, lame, all without regard to their religious connections while demonstrating the love of God has for all people, everywhere in all time.

Perhaps this acronym might be a mantra for Jesus People today, following the Jesus of Nazareth, and all who ascribe to "loving your neighbor as you love yourself" in making a tremendous difference toward healing the wounds causing hate and destruction.

Gerard A. Pisani, Jr.