NO TRESPASSING
July 26, 2014
This
afternoon I drove by a church in our fair town that had a sign nailed up by the
entrance which stated in bold red letters:
“NO TRESPASSING.” That sight is
sufficient to spark the sermonizing mind of a preacher.
I
immediately felt an overwhelming sense of the inappropriateness of posting such
a sign on a church. How unwise that
would be for a church to seek to keep people out. But then I thought perhaps the church had
closed and the sign was a needed warming for those who might seek to plunder
through the facilities.
Through
the six years that I have lived here I have probably driven by that church more
than a hundred times. In fact, it is
only four short blocks from the church that I attend.
There
was an article in the local newspaper a couple of months ago, I recall, that
showed a photo of three women conducting a rummage sale at the church. The article gave a history of the church and
did mention the fact that just a few women were trying to keep the church
going. In fact, the rummage sale was to
help pay the insurance and utility bills.
Nothing was mentioned about the possibility of the church closing, but
it was implied.
Either
way, whether the church is still active or closed, the sign was a sudden jolt
to my spiritual sensibilities. It is sad
to see any church have to close, but the truth is that whether a “No
Trespassing” sign is actually posted or not, many churches are not
inviting—they might as well have a sign out by the front door. There’s not much of a welcoming atmosphere
for newcomers, the services are dull, and there is no follow-up or sense of
evangelism among the people.
I am
reminded of the Old Testament scripture that tells of the daughter-in-law of
Eli, the old priest, as recorded in I Samuel, chapter 4, when she was naming her
son called him “Ichabod,” which means, “The glory has departed.” That sign could well be posted on many
churches along with a “No Trespassing” sign.
I am
still disappointed and saddened by what I saw today.
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