Earlier this week, I was basking/sweating in the sun at Wheaton College’s annual Church Fair. This is when the college invites local churches to come and help students start to find a church home while they’re at college. I had some really nice conversations with a few students, but there was one moment in particular that stuck with me. At first it made me laugh, and then it really made me think.
Every church got half a table so I shared a table with folks from another local church. I won’t say their name, but you might be able to figure it out—not because I’m trying to be clever, but because of the nature of the story itself.
Lots of churches give out free stuff at this event—candy, mugs, notebooks, etc. A couple years ago, we gave out homemade cookies if you remember. The church next to me was no different, giving away several things including little plastic compasses.
Now, I’m not against gimmicky giveaways. I’m a fan of a good gimmick. If you remember, I too gave away compass charms not too long ago to help remind us how we’re to orient ourselves in the world. But I had to laugh at what the pastor of this church said when he handed out these compasses. It went something along the lines of, “Here take a compass. You might not want to rely on it if you get lost in the woods, but it’s pretty cool.” Oh, the irony! I had to laugh. Here’s a thing that looks like a tool that’s meant to provide direction; a tool that can help you find your way if you ever get turned around; a tool that could literally save your life if you ever got really lost, but it only LOOKS the part. It can’t really do any of those things so don’t rely on it.
Like I said, at first I laughed at the irony, but at some point, I realized it’s also a fairly accurate critique of the church. Not this church in particular, but the Church as a whole. It made me think that we, as the church, are only as good as the tools, and the teaching, and the training we provide. It made me think how important it is for churches to provide the things that can actually help people when they’re lost, not just things that look good sitting on a shelf.
A real compass will tell you how to find your way despite what you may “feel” is the right direction. A real compass points to true north, not what some people say is north or what popular opinion suggests is north. Similarly, the Church should give folks tools that will actually help them orient themselves to Christ rather than false prophets spreading misinformation and deceptive idols wrapped in religious sounding language.
At some point, we all will need help navigating through the messy and confusing parts of life. My hope is that we, as the church, are building a community and living into a hope that points to a Truth beyond reproach—A Truth that calls us to love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds. A Truth that invites us to love our neighbor as ourselves. For that is the Truth that will set us on the right path. The Truth that will set us free and help us find our way through the wilderness.
In Love,
Pastor Annette