Thursday, April 3

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 82; Daniel:2:31-49; John 14:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Psalm 60

Back in January I made my very first trip to Las Vegas. Part of the reason we could afford the trip is that Mike and I signed up to attend a time share presentation during our stay. In return for attending the time-share presentation, we received free lodging for the long weekend. I’ll never forget the presentation and the energy in the room that day. The presentation started by showing the demolition of many of the old (translation – affordable) hotels on the strip. As images of the old hotel being demolished were shown, they showed the cost per night of a room in that hotel. Immediately after these pictures they would show images of the brand new hotel that replaced the old one. Again, the cost per night of a room in the new hotel was shown. Hotel prices had increased in most cases 6 fold! The bottom line was this: “Prices as shooting through the roof. Buy a time share now - in the most sought after vacation destination in the world, mind you - and be one of the lucky few who will still be able to get into Vegas!” As each couple sat around a tables with a company representative hearing the sales spiel, horns would go off and balloons would be released when a couple made a commitment to buy a time share. So what’s this got to do with our readings today? In reading today’s passage from John, I realized that if one were to look objectively at much of the evangelism efforts made by Christians over the centuries (especially by Christians in the United States in the last 200 years), those efforts would resemble the time share presentation. There have been appeals, for instance, to buy a share now and take pride in getting something others can’t or won’t. I call this the ego-based approach. There have been appeals based on the “not everyone can get in on the deal so it’s important to ACT NOW – otherwise, you too get shut out of the experience”. I call this the fear-based approach. There have even been responses involving the spiritual equivalents of horns and balloons at the time of a closing to get you too to buy now. I call this the “Don’t-you-want-to-fit-in-with-everybody-else?” approach. Needless to say, these approaches concern me. Instead of buying into this cultural approach, my spirit instead strongly resonates with the opening words from today’s passage from John. In the passage, Jesus is quoted as saying: “Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?” (The Message). Those words are a challenge to some of my sisters and brothers in the Christian community who would like to believe that there are just a few rooms available (not in “Vegas” but in “heaven”). I suppose they are worried that the notion of many rooms being available might bring down the spiritual equivalent of the property values. Today, I invite you to explore your theological approach toward this issue. Are you someone whose spiritual life thrives on the belief that you’re getting something that most others aren’t and that makes you special, or are you someone who basks in the warmth of God’s grace and mercy – knowing that grace and mercy has created a home with enough rooms for everyone? Til next time…