It’s right there, front and center in our name, “Grace.” It’s a catchy word. A buzzword. One of those words that, unfortunately, has become thin because of flippant use, but certainly not because of its substance. This is seen when we consider its Greek form, Charis (khar’-ece), which carries a range of meanings, including grace, kindness, gratitude, thanks, and favor. This last one, “favor,” when parsed further is beautifully described as “leaning toward to share benefit.” Leaning toward. Welcome to Leaning Toward Baptist Church…? Ready for a name change, anyone? No, I don’t think so; that’s a bit too enigmatic.
Leaning toward what? Leaning toward being Baptist? I hope we’re more than that; our weekly liturgy handily defeats the notion that being Baptist is what is central for us. Leaning toward our worship space, currently a historic and picturesque chapel? Why would a heap of wood, concrete, and nails need grace? Leaning toward our dogma, doctrine, and opinions about God, humanity, and the Gospel? No, these theological abstractions are getting along just fine, thank you, without my kindness, thanks, and favor.
What’s left? How about one another? Leaning toward one another. Might this be how we live up to our namesake, Grace Baptist Church? I’m certain it is, but herein is the difficulty, especially as cultural westerners whose highest goal is often to guard my life, my liberty, and the pursuit of my happiness. I’m not placing a blanket accusation across us in this way, I’m just saying it’s the air we breathe and the water we drink as part of this culture.
But the God we see revealed in the Bible, and more specifically in Jesus Christ, offers another way of being human, a way that calls us to lean toward one another. Our Sunday morning Grace Group is studying N.T. Wright’s Matthew for Everyone. We’ve been meandering through Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” for over a month now, and this way of thinking about “grace” has been a resounding theme for me.
God leans toward unexpected people: the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted.
God calls us to lean toward those with whom we are angry or in disagreement and to seek reconciliation. God calls us to lean toward one another by not dehumanizing the other, even if requires chopping off or gouging out parts of our own body. God calls us to lean toward one another by being simple and straightforward in our speech and maintaining our commitments. God calls us to lean toward one another by not reciprocating hurtful actions and by giving more than we are bound to give.
It’s this last idea that has most preoccupied my thoughts recently. We live in a culture that is concerned with protecting rights, rather than looking for opportunities to take on obligations. But if I’m reading the Bible correctly, God’s people are called to the opposite. We are called to be graceful people, a people who lean toward others, rather than stopping at and defending the boundary line set by one’s rights.
Now, I’d like to end this by – as I’ve heard it said – dipping my finger in your cereal bowl, Grace. Let’s get practical. What does it look like for us to lean toward the parent and child who are having a wrestling match (with mom or dad clearly coming up short) during our morning contemplative worship service? How can we lean toward them? Likewise, what does it look like for a parent with an upset child to lean toward the rest of the congregation?
Moving on to another current issue for us, what does it look like for us to lean toward those who were baptized as Christians when an infant and have never considered themselves otherwise? As we begin discussions about membership and baptism, how can we lean toward them? Likewise, what does it mean for that person baptized as an infant to lean toward those of us who hold the tradition of believer’s baptism by immersion dear to our heart and faith? How does that person lean toward those on the other side?
I know, I know. We all want answers, clear-cut, black-and-white answers to these and other issues that arise when passionate people find themselves on opposing sides of an issue. Well, here’s my answer, simply put: When we lean toward one another, we’ll be surprised at the grace that’s present and pointing us toward the way forward.
May God give us the grace and courage to lean toward one another at this and all times in our church.
Rev. Matthew Hanzelka is the Ministry and Missions Pastor at Grace Baptist Church.