Why Weren't They There?

"You keep saying you've got something for me.
something you call love, but confess.
You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you."

In the 1920s the Christians walked away from education. In the 1930s and 40s we walked away from science and academia. In the 1960s we walked away from culture.  In 2010 it appears we have, by and large, we are in danger walking away from our communities.

Today I spent the day at a local hospital which was hosting an international taste festival and a world impact expo.  The organizer sought to provide opportunity for ten congregations or organizations from each of the world's three dominant faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to highlight their mission efforts around the world.  Only four Christian churches committed to participating.  One backed out and one was a no show the day of the event.

The Jewish communities and Islamic communities had their full compliment and then some because the Christians were no shows.

The Christians were no shows.

Over the last few years I have read and heard a lot of rhetoric and polemic about Islam and its negative influence in the world. Christians have felt threatened.  There has been a renewed zeal "evangelize" the "Muslim world". There is great concern about Muslim extremists blowing things up.

But, in their own backyard the Christians were no shows.

We have to show up.  When I worked with Campus Crusade for Christ we talked about how 90% of movement building was showing up.

Boots on the ground.

Being there.

I love that I am part of a church community that showed up.  A movement is building. God is at work. We got to see it because we showed up.

I hope that our boots are made for walking and that we won't walk out but we will walk in and show up.