Can you say “evangelists”? I think that “spiritual tour guides” is more accurate, rolls off the tongue better. By simply sharing our own journeys of faith, we may get more receptivity in this wacky post-modern age. We are still sharing the Gospel – that is our Great Commission from Jesus. 

 We are guides because we confess that we don’t have all the answers. We are all seekers of what is holy, what is divine. We are to point people towards the light of Christ, the same way that John the Baptist and St. Paul did. In our vision here at Joy Lutheran Church, we identify as a spiritual community sharing Christ in a challenging world. We speak of what we know to be true, good, and hopeful. It is that easy, but we tend to overthink it. We can have greater effect when we come from a place of humility, searching, and acknowledgment of our own weakness and deficiency in the presence of an Almighty God. Remember it is the same Almighty God who also comes to us as a human body broken in solidarity with us. It is the same Almighty God who comes to us imperceptibly, subliminally as Holy Spirit. Angels attend to each of us unconsciously, undetected yet felt.   

Maybe none of this makes a lick of sense. Can we claim an identity as a spiritual tour guide, with all responsibility that entails? There is a lot of pressure we could put on ourselves, like a concierge at Disney World. Some church members (like Magic Kingdom Club members) can feel a sense of entitlement. God will show us how to be graceful, respectful. As long as we truly wish to invite people to catch a glimpse of the kingdom, unconditional love will always be given.

Pastor Art