Starting Point

I attended a “different” church service last night.  The content was familiar yet the where was new.  The service was in an old, established, and traditional Anglican Church, Holy Trinity Brompton.  The billing was refreshing, informal.  In the context of these two points, I found myself responding to their approach to worship because I could feel one of their core values.  The value I found myself experiencing could be stated as a negative or a positive.  Stated in the negative it could be “Impose no rules, only present the invitation”.  Stated in the positive it could be “Bring everyone to God and try to stay out of the way”.
 
I know theology is important.  Yet, I also know that much of the time theology does not change the way people buy their food, how they drive, or even how they treat the people within their reach.  I wonder if God ever asked anyone to build a wall in our relationship with Divinity.  As I search for a mandate, I cannot find one like this.  When I look for examples, they seem to be constructions of our imagination.  God works to maintain open door even as we seem to try to close it. 
 
A hospital adopted a mission statement of “do no harm”.  They let the mission shape their activities.  The used the words and intent to drive change across every aspect of their organization.  The words may be simple.  The meaning may be obvious.  Yet, the implications are powerful!
 
When wisdom fathers challenged their peers, “So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too?”  (Acts 15.10)  They were challenging those that followed as well.  Why do we insist?
 
Today is unwritten.  You will struggle with things beyond your abilities as well I.  I need all the help that I can get!  I do not need barriers.  I know I need support.  God offers to be present, in your life and mine.  God offers to meet us where we are, anywhere.