Why Do We Exist, Anyway, Churches (also Synagogues, Mosques and Sanghas)?

Christians delight in the message and practice of Jesus being for “the least of these.” It is lovely that we have programs to strengthen marriages, entertain our children, share great meals, and enjoy our favorite music.  But really, when do we get to why we are here?

People of faith, in general, understand that we are called to love one another, but we need to ensure that we don’t restrict “one another” to the people who think like us, act like us, worship like us… or look like us.

Imagine a religious body that does not relentlessly stand against white supremacy, never even naming it. What if a faith community is silent about transphobia,  homophobia, and ableism? What if we never address exploitative economics, like giving tax breaks to homeowners but not renters. What if we accept paternalistic structures in our homes, businesses, and schools? When do we actually get to “the least of these?”

When we make the main thing the no-thing, then why are we still open? The Good News is that more people are seeing through our institutions’ fraudulence, and they are being liberated, because Truth is liberating the People. Great things lie ahead. Take heart!!!