it's just policy

"We're really sorry but our church doesn't host outside groups". That refrain is growing more and more common these days as each year I try to set up our two week Choir Tour/Mission Trip. Typically on our way to and from our mission site, we perform our worship concert at local ministries in various cities and then sleep on the floor of a local church. For some strange reason, churches in general have begun to decide more and more frequently that they cannot host groups of mission minded youth and adults for one night; no meals, no real set up, just floors and bathrooms, heck we don't even ask for showers but usually use YMCA's.

Have we just totally missed the point when it comes to church? I really have to wonder sometimes. We're not talking about letting us crash for two weeks, use 10,000 gallons of water, trash your place; we're talking one night. One night. One night for kids who have spent the past couple of hours serving homeless folks, leading them in worship. How is there a "policy" pertaining to that? Who decided at some point in the building of multi-million dollar facilities that those very facilities should be a monument to ourselves, to our amazing ability to give ourselves money? It's really been difficult for me to swallow this because it just so seems, for lack of a better word, anti-church. It's the opposite of what I read about in Acts where the believers had "everything in common". They sold their stuff and gave it to the church to help people. Paul resided for months with other local Christians or Jews in the towns to which he traveled.

I realize that some groups can cause some destruction. We've done that a time or two though when it's happened we've made every effort to correct the situation and deal with the trouble makers. Does that mean though that no other group should have a chance? And why is it that this mentality comes typically from the wealthier churches more than any others, the very ones who it seems should be opening their doors to share the blessings God has given them? Not that they don't share in other ways but having done this for almost 10 years, sleeping on some floors requires next to nothing for a church; someone to let you in, tell you where to go, and some light clean up the next day (and any good group will clean up after themselves to minimize that labor).

It just seems like we are teaching our people the wrong mentality when it comes to hosting. We should jump at the chance to host groups that are coming through our communities, ministering to the lost in those communities, and need one mere night of sleep. That's why I've argued against any policy here of charging groups to stay. My church's budget is over 1 million dollars and we're going to quibble over the $100 in water and electricity a group of 40 people might use during a one or two day stay? Are you kidding? I have a friend who is hoping to bring some youth who are not Christians up to Jacksonville to take them to Kona skate park, a mecca of sorts for skateboarders. These are kids that he has developed a relationship with through his skate park ministry at his church and he wants to take them on their first retreat, first to the skate park and then to church the next morning. Wow, wouldn't that be amazing if some of these kids were willing to do it? And do I want their exposure to church to be, "by the way, here's a bill for $5 per person for the water you used in the showers before you came to our church service?" What message does that send? What message does enacting a policy of "outside groups aren't welcome here send?" What does that say about our relationship with God?

I hope that God keeps us from our selfishness. I know I don't need any help in being focused on me so it seems as if my church could help me overcome this by not doing the same thing, focusing on itself.