Pool Party

“This may sound crass, but I don’t know a better way to say it: What’s in it for me?” This was the question posed to me during lunch one day. My conversation partner and I had been meeting for lunch periodically as he considers baptism.  He’s genuinely intrigued with what he sees taking place within Christian community, but has questions about the meaning and importance of taking the plunge, so to speak.  He’s not alone.  From what I’ve seen, this question is being asked by those standing on the deck, those bobbing around in the deep end, and those who have given up their pool pass altogether because the last time they were there, someone dropped a Baby Ruth in the water. 

On Monday night, Jon Stewart interviewed HBO “Real Time” host Bill Maher. The following exchange took place:

STEWART: Let me ask you a question -- can you point to that? Are there things that you have advocated over the years that you feel like, you know what, that has had some effect? We have had some issue in the conversation?

MAHER: Absolutely. People used to ask me, would you ever run for office. That’s such a silly question. I could never. And if I did, my slogan would be: Drugs are good and religion is bad.  You can't probably run for office on that in this country, but I feel like the needle has moved on both those. I think people have come over to my way of thinking. Drugs are good and religion is bad. I’m going to stick with that. 

For quite some time now, the number of “pool memberships” in the Christian church has been in steady decline (if not free fall). In my own denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 65% of our congregations are in decline. 50% of our congregations have an average worship attendance of 75 or less. The big news recently has been the data released by LifeWay Research showing the decline within the Southern Baptist Convention.  As denominations struggle to make sense of the shifting landscape and resulting trends, perhaps we ought to figure out how to answer my friend’s question. I don’t think people are adverse to Christianity, per se, just its institutional, religious, and denominational expressions. As many people often claim these days: “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

For those in the Lutheran tribe, let me propose an answer to my friend’s question.  It’s a somewhat biased answer, but rooted in some practical realities. 

The Lutheran church is the most important organization you can be a part of that has the capacity for making a difference in the world. 

Lutherans have a rich history and track record when it comes to responding to real human need in the world.  Lutheran Services in America is one of the largest health and human services networks in the United States.  Last year, one in 50 Americans was touched by the services of a Lutheran health and human service organization. The diverse work of LSA includes:  health and human care, alcohol and drug treatment, disaster response, counseling, employment assistance, housing for those who are homeless, adoption and foster care, developmental disability services, pregnancy counseling, senior adult care, child abuse prevention and others. 

Since retiring, my dad has been actively involved with Metro Lutheran Ministry, a social service ministry here in Kansas City affiliated with LSA. He has served on the Board of Directors and a variety of other capacities, but his greatest joy has been in walking with the folks served by MLM. The other day he shared with me his joy in helping a woman study for and receive her GED. They’re now working on resumes and job applications.  

When storms and natural disasters tear through communities in the U.S. and around the world, Lutheran Disaster Response is there, and remains there long after others have left.

ELCA World Hunger is responding to the needs of the more than 800 million people in our world today who are hungry. This response is made possible by the gifts of people in congregations.

Lutheran World Relief was started after World War II when Lutheran churches in the United States mobilized to help Europe recover from the war’s devastation. The work of LWR has continued to grow and responds to needs around the world.

Every 60 seconds, a child dies from malaria. The ELCA Malaria Campaign works with partners in 13 African countries in an effort to eliminate this preventable disease.   

These are just a few examples of the work that is being done in and through our Lutheran tribe. The work is made possible by people in local congregations offering themselves, their time and their money so that this work can be accomplished. So, what’s in it for you? The opportunity to join them in making a difference in the world, and in so doing be the very embodiment of the love of Jesus in the lives of others. Has the Christian church been a source of pain and destruction over the centuries? To use Mr. Maher’s language, has religion been bad? Sure. But as the Apostle Paul writes: But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. (2 Cor 4:7). Martin Luther said that through baptism we are simultaneously saint and sinner. We are holy and messed up all at the same time. God’s desire is to heal the world. In God’s divine comedy, God calls us into the pool and invites us to participate in that act of healing. Come on in. The water’s great!