You #?#@# Kids Get Off My Lawn!
“Old Man Pate” didn’t seem much of a fan of us neighborhood boys. The mere memory of his front yard tirades still raises the hair on the back of my neck!
Ground zero of our conflict centered on the Pate’s award winning front lawn. It was well manicured, plush, deep green, and truly a sight to behold. And yet in the eyes of a bunch of 10-year old boys, it presented an ideal location for all of our sporting aspirations. A literal “field of dreams”!
Sneaking in the occasional football game on the “Pate’s Pitch” was epic. And yet, buyer beware! We all knew there was a heavy price to be paid if discovered. Mr. Pate’s name calling and scolding, questioning of our character and morals, was fire breathing and fierce.
You see the presenting problem was that the beauty and sacredness of this legendary oasis was lost on a bunch of 10-year olds. Discernment and boundaries were yet to be developed in our social skills package. Bottom line, we just wanted to feel the grass beneath our toes and enjoy the comforts afforded by such a cushy turf!
Too often some (not all) churches by their spoken words or actions morph into the character of “Old Man Pate”. They view their chief role in life to ensure that an unruly and worldly group of kids don’t trespass or spoil the pristine lawn of the Kingdom of God. Their simple solution for these neighborhood misfits — adopt and adhere to the “boundaries and rules” portion of the agenda, then we could all get along.
Often the church has adopted the role of societies rules and boundaries enforcer. Our energies and fleeting influence is mustered into rants and shows of force focused on the unruly and out of bounds behaviors of the world. We insist that we Christians have our rights!
But what about the Kingdom Jesus spoke of? What about the GOOD news of the Gospel? Is it available to all? Is the role of class monitor really the role Jesus wants us to embody, bullying and boycotting the world into submission, conforming to our well manicured lives and gatherings?
WHAT IF instead we followed the model of Jesus, this friend of sinners and publicans? WHAT IF we saw our role as WELCOMING tour guides? WHAT IF we invited these “unruly ones” to play with us, to sink their toes into God’s Kingdom turf? WHAT IF they viewed our churches as a field of dreams, a place of welcome?
WHAT IF?
The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled against his disciples. They said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to call righteous people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.” Luke 5
