Today we will enter a new section in "Let the Bones Dance" - The Wound of Fear.
Jesus tells us not to be afraid, especially of those who are "other" - like the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42) and our brother and sisters in Christ who play the tambourine to worship God (a reference to a prior story in this chapter). So why are we still so afraid? And what are we afraid of? Our unspoken expectations of conformity reveal themselves in the homogeneity of most mainline congregations. Only 8 percent of all congregations are of mixed ethnicity and race. Historically, Protestant churches have the most unsuccessful record on diversity of any group. Among these mainline churches only 2 percent are of mixed ethnicity and/or racial makeup. One of the more interesting statistics is that 11 percent of whites say they worship in an integrated church, but when survey teams visited those congregations they found in most cases that the diversity had been greatly exaggerated.
There are so many ways that people are made into "others." It may be the way they look - it may be their race - it may be the way they worship - it may be the way they smell - it may be the way they talk. I found that the perceptions noted above are quite on target. From the outside, Redeemer is still viewed as a 'white' church. From the inside, many folks say we have a good mix. From within the ELCA we would also be considered a good mix. And yet, we are quite a white, protestant church. As I write this, I also know that there has been much movement in regard to taking down some of the old prejudices that were used to keep people at a distance. The stranger is still a bit strange so people keep to those they know well. If the stranger is also racially in the minority, it seems like it takes folks even longer to embrace them. And yet, bridges are made and people do 'cross over' and welcome and become friends and work side-by-side. I'm sure that most folks would not call this kind of activity (or inactivity) fear-based. I would say it is good to start with that admission. Deal with what kind of fears are wandering through our lives and then begin to dismantle the fears. It is not easy work - but it is the necessary Good News work of the church.
Connection: How do you approach someone who is not like most people you know? What do you put on "others?" What expectations to lay on yourself?
As you lead us through the wilderness of our fears, O God, we still shake. We are not sure what is the way. We justify our action and inaction in the hope that we will "look good." Make us open-minded so that our lives will be instruments of hospitality and love. Amen.
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