Sunday Was an Historic Day as The Gathering Goes to the Movies

Sunday Was an Historic Day as The Gathering Goes to the Movies

Many of you know that Sunday The Gathering, the new church that I am the pastor of here in Nashville, moved into its permanent home at the Regal Cinemas in Green Hills Mall.  It was an historic day for our new little church, but also an exciting day because it reminded me of all that is good and right and necessary, that we work hard to be the church of Jesus Christ in this world.  There are several things that stand out that I thought many of you who read my blog might like to know.

1.    Never underestimate the passion and the excitement generated in the hearts of volunteers who believe they are on a true mission from God.  For me, this past weekend, moving to the Regal with all of its details of signage and sound and moving into spaces we’ve never occupied or even seen before, creating classes for kids, parking cars, serving coffee, loving, laughing and being the church was all exciting, new and incredibly welcoming.  The infectious part of The Gathering is the joy I see in the faces of those who simply give of themselves to be the church in that space on that day; the big difference between just going to church and filling the seats. What I’m seeing in the faces of the volunteers who love and serve and give is the actual act and art of being the church, of being the smile, the handshake, the love, the encouragement, the servant that God has inspired us to be in Jesus Christ.
2.    I am learning that sincerity is truly infectious. The great thing about starting over in a new environment, whose mission is to help non-religious people connect to God and each other, is that the only people who come are the people who want to be there.  And the only people who help make it happen are those who have a sincere joy and sense of mission from God.  There is not a hint of looking in the past, of wringing hands. No one’s standing around looking at another person with suspicion; why are you here and what do you want? There is just an atmosphere of acceptance, love, and a sense of being together that overtakes everything we do.  Doing what we do because we love God and people is outrageously attractive and it draws people in.  I love being in an environment characterized by sincerity of service and of joy.
3.    Simplicity is the power. With The Gathering moving to the Regal we know exactly why we’re there.  We know what we want to do.  We know what we want to achieve.  We’ve simplified our whole strategy around three different activities: to gather together in an accepting and non religious environment to worship God, to welcome everyone into that space, Christian or not, seeker or not, to enjoy that moment where God meets us in His word, where we express our hopes, dreams, and aspirations and are inspired to be the people of God.  After we gather, we are going to learn how to do life together, to grow together, to collaborate, to talk to one another over cups of coffee, to do Bible studies together. You can call them small groups or you can call them anything you want to.  They must never be “holy huddles,” always environments in which we grow together in love, up in Christ, out through the discovery and use of our gifts, and more as God brings about true life change and conversion.
4.    Maybe the most important thing that stood out to me at the Regal was that God can take any situation and turn it around as long as you don’t retreat into your past pain or failures. I am truly remorseful for all of my past failures and sins.  I wish I could go back and do things better, with more love, more grace, with more room in my life for other people to be with me and help me.  But what I am learning is that the past does not have to be a predictor of the future, that people do change and I am one of them.  What I am going through these days is changing me, changing me from the inside out, creating a core of strength that relies on Jesus Christ and others to be the man I know I was created to be.
5.    Let everyone you know discover that being the church of Jesus Christ in whatever environment is one of the greatest privileges in the world.  I’ve given all of my adult life to it, to not just go to church, to not just do church, but be the church, to truly be the people that Jesus Christ creates in community, in love, in service, and in reaching the world and seeking to live free, have fun, and change the world.

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