Who would miss us?

Posted on May 20, 2011 by

Have you heard this question: “If your church closed its doors tomorrow, who would miss it?”

The question is meant to prompt us into making sure the church is reaching out into the community and touching lives in tangible ways. The questions assumes, of course, that the people in the church are not the point of the enterprise. The church exists for the world, the saying goes.

So, let’s broaden this out. If every United Methodist got raptured out of the world tomorrow — which would shock the heck out of a lot of Methodists and non-Methodists alike — who would notice?

People served by church food banks. Groups that meet in church buildings. Those served by UMCOR. Families that use church preschool programs.

When we ask the question that way, it puts the focus on our role as a good works social service organization. It makes the most important mark of the church the things that are least unique to the church. Of all the things we list as the stuff that people would miss, which ones cannot be done just as well if not better by non-religious organizations?

I can’t think of any. Maybe there are some that I am missing.

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3 Responses to Who would miss us?

  1. Mike Hodge says:
    May 20, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    For many years, I worked for the United Methodist Church as a church and community worker. Although I may have denied it then, for much of that time, I thought that “real” ministry happened in the work that I was doing in inner-city neighborhoods — helping residents organize and determine their own future. I frankly didn’t have much use for the local church — although the financial support was good and the interest from some church folks was supportive.

    Then, over time, I started to think differently. I still saw the work I was doing as important, but I also saw the fragile neighborhood organizations that I was helping to create — and they had all the same problems the church did. Only the church had stronger relationships — as dysfunctional as those might be. The church had some clear values — even when these were not realized. The church had commitment to something beyond — and in the best situations, pointed to the Holy. The church also had the expectation that we were ALL being “served” — that in our best moments, we were helping others and expecting them to hear a call from God to serve. We expect that God calls us to be a “beloved community” as Martin Luther King Jr. said.

    So — I would disagree that social service groups can do the work of the church even better. But I would also disagree that all we need to do is “get back to God.” The way you have written the question seems to imply that social service is somehow shallow and on the far end of the spectrum, and that the UMC will be saved if we recognize the “religious” things that the church is “supposed” to do. (OK, I know I’m reading a lot into this one post, but I have been reading some of your others as well.)

    To sum up, who would miss us? WE would miss us — the ones who need help and who need to give help. The ones who want the world and our lives to mean something. The ones who sing and preach and read scripture and follow those ancient Hebrews in attempting to name the Holy. The ones who try to live a sacrificial life as Jesus did — even though they can’t believe lots of religious dogma. The ones who don’t have it all together and never will — but who try to convince one another that a God of suffering love makes sense — and that we are sane in the midst of a crazy world.

    Thanks for a thought-provoking post!

    • John Meunier says:
      May 20, 2011 at 10:43 pm

      Thanks for the great reply.

      I actually wrote the post without a clear idea exactly how I feel about it.

      Thank you for sharing your story and your experiences.

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