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I hate to see a church that is closed. Most churches now are shut unless a service is going on. Afterwards, the congregation goes home and the doors are locked. Many churches are closed except for an hour or two on Sundays. What does this say to the world? That we must worship on a Sunday or not at all?
God doesn't shut, but that is the message we are giving. We are saying that God is only available at certain times - if you happen to work on a Sunday well, sorry, but you can't worship God. And we, the church, we are not available to help you, to teach you, to fellowship with you except at certain times. If you can be there when we want you to be then don't bother coming at all.
God is always here, but we don't seem comfortable with that. We give out the idea that Christianity is a once-a-week faith, that we can shut up shop and forget all about God for the rest of the week.
We have grown too fond of buildings and have forgotten their purpose. We fret that someone might steal from the church. But what can anyone steal that is worth anything?
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." (Matthew 6:19-20 KJV)
Our treasures are free. We have no real need for expensive candlesticks, gold and silver ornaments. Take them from the churches - if they are important to you then you can always put them back at services. Don't put temptation into others' path. We should not encourage anyone to sin. Allow people in. Open the house of God.
Perhaps your fear is of vandalism? What can people do? Dirty the church? It can be washed. Spraypaint the walls? They can be washed. Throw up on the floor? It can be cleaned. Leave litter? We can pick it up. A little cleaning is not oo much to pay in return for allowing everyone to worship wherever they can, for showing people that Christianity is a faith for all our time, for showing them that God works all the time. Open the house of God, let the people in.
Perhaps you fear the homeless will sleep on the pews? What exactly is the harm in that? Jesus said, "...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40 KJV) If we give a homeless person shelter, away from wind and rain and cold, we have done so for Christ. And our compassion for the dispossessed may encourage them to give their lives to God. We are all worth the same, from a millionaire to a homeless man, we are equal in God's sight. Recollect that Jesus Himself was homeless: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20 KJV). Let them in, if they want to come. A church is more than a "sacred space" in which only the appropriately sacred (or, rich) may walk, it is a house for all peoples, rich and poor alike. Sacred space is within us (John 4:23) not in building; the Temple is in the Spirit, not in a building. We cannot offend God by allowing someone to sleep in a church, or drink, or anything. Open the churches.
All are welcome into the physical church, for it is a gateway to the unseen church of the Spirit. Welcome all who choose to enter - they are all, each and every one is a representative of Christ before you. We have no cause to deny them.
Open the churches, let them stand and call to passersby, proclaiming the message that God never sleeps, and is always ready to hear His children.
© Dubhóc MacEògainn, 2005.