Test Driving Theology

Have you ever wondered what people really think about you?  I mean like, after the meeting is over…after you leave the room…after you run into someone at the grocery store, or at a restaurant.  After you walk away, do you wonder what they may be thinking or saying about you, behind your back?  

Or have you ever walked into a room and suddenly the conversation stops…and there’s an awkward pause…and you wonder “were they talking about me?”

You’ve probably felt this.  I have. It’s normal…it’s natural…because we all care about what people think of us.  

“What do people think, and say about me?”  This question is at the heart of our Gospel story today. Jesus and his disciples were traveling.  They were walking to Caesarea Philippi, to teach, and heal those in need.  

At one point, Jesus stops, and he turns and asks his disciples a question: “Who do the people say that I am?” He wants to know what the people are saying about him…when he isn’t in the room.  What are they saying, behind his back? The disciples pause, and then respond: “Some say that you are John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ And then Jesus follows up. He asks them, ‘Who do you say that I am?’  I imagine a long pause, before Peter speaks up: ‘Well…you are the Messiah.’ Jesus nods, and then asks them to keep this quiet for a bit longer.  He isn’t ready to go public quite yet.

“Who do people say that I am” is a valuable, important question for us to ask ourselves.  Sometimes the best way to understand who we are, is by understanding how we are seen…how people perceive, and understand us.

This is also true for us as a church.  Sometimes we wonder how the community sees and understands Trinity.  Through our words and our actions, do they know our heart?  Through our words and our actions, do they see Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago, I got a text from Grace Hannover, Trinity’s amazing Director of Communications.  She asked me a question all pastors dread: “Todd, did you see the post about Trinity in the Concerned Citizens Facebook group?”  Ugh.  No.  I haven’t.  So, I quickly grabbed my phone.

The Concerned Citizens group on Facebook is one of those groups where people share their thoughts about the community.  Unfortunately, conversations there often devolve into complaining, or arguing.  These groups are pretty-much social media dumpster fires.

So, someone in this group posted about Trinity’s outdoor worship project.  They said, “What an extravagant project at Trinity!  We have so many homeless people in this city, not to mention kids who go hungry, every day.”  And then came the question that was designed to just stir the pot: “So what do you all think?  Is this a good use of money for our community?”

“Oh Great.  Here we go.”  For about 4/10ths of a second, I thought about responding to the post…but I held back. Responding to these kinds of posts usually just makes it worse.  

And to be fair, the person wasn’t totally wrong.  Our outdoor worship space is a big project.  And it is taking money.  Around 40% of the funds are from estate gifts, 40% from the Trinity Foundation, and about 20% from funds raised from within the congregation for this project, so it’s not taking money out of our general fund or outreach ministries.  But yes, we are spending money on this project.

So, I held back and wondered…would this post just fade away?  Or would it blow up?  

It blew up…but not in the way I’d feared.

People in the group started talking about Trinity, and what it has done…about its role in the community.  And it wasn’t members of the church who were responding…it was mostly people who don’t worship here, but who know something about this church.   I saved a few of the responses:

• One person said: “We are not members of Trinity, but every time I turn around, I see Trinity contributing to our community and inviting all to participate and make use of their time, talent and treasure.  Maybe they have inspired the congregation to contribute to these larger projects because of the inclusive and welcoming environment that they provide for so many.” 

Wait…what?  That’s not a normal Concerned Citizens kind of reply.

• Somone else said “Speaking of hungry people, I know that they offer free meals once a week for anyone in the community to attend.  And they have a student pantry that gives food for families who need them.”
  
• Another person wrote “Trinity literally POURS (all caps) POURS support into Owatonna.  For the elderly, for the grieving, for children, for kids and for families in need.”
  
• Someone else wrote “We aren’t members of any church.  But when my mom died, we wanted her funeral in a church.  The funeral director said that he’d call Trinity…he was sure they’d help.  They did.  We did the service there with one of their pastors, and they hosted the lunch afterwards and their volunteers served.  I’ll always be grateful for that.”  Wow.  

And it kept going.  There were over 100 comments.  Now, there were a few negative comments as well…people being negative about churches in general.  But overall, the comments were so positive…sosupportive.  

I’ll be honest…reading those responses was a powerful thing…I got emotional reading them.  

“Who do they say we are?”  Well, in this moment, a curtain had been lifted, and I saw some of the answers to this question.  And I remember thinking: “It’s working.  What we’re trying to do here…it’s working.”  

To be clear, I’m not talking about trying to impress people, or make people feel good about the church.  It’s not about reputation.  That’s not the goal.  No, the goal is the vision we believe that God has for Trinity, for Owatonna and for the world:

• The vision to care for those whose lives are broken by life’s circumstances.
• The vision to provide direct care for those living on the margins.
• The vision of helping people find meaning in their lives.  

The responses to this post told us:  We’re making progress.  We’re moving the needle.  And people seem to see and understand that.

I’m not saying we’re perfect.  Not by a long shot.  We are human.  We have made mistakes.  In the past, we have said the wrong things.  We’ve made the wrong decisions…and we will make mistakes in the future.  We are all really banking on that grace thing, right?

But as a pastor, when I read those responses from community members, I was so proud of this church, this community.  I was so proud of all of you.

I learned that day:  who do people say we are?  Well, they say that we are generous.

• They say we are generous with our care and compassion. 
• They say we are generous with our building and our space.
• They say we are generous in reflecting God’s love.
• They say that we are generous in our financial resources.
• They say that we have made an impact in this community.

And I hope…I hope they say that we are not done.  Because there is still so much to do.  Much, much to do.  

This fall, we have been talking about what it is to “Be Trinity.”  And this week, I’m asking you…please…to make a financial pledge to the congregation, so we can know, and budget, and plan, for how we can make an impact in the community…so we can continue moving the needle.  

I am inviting you to be a part of the work of the Spirit in our community.  There is so much to do.  I am inviting you to give your time…to give your energy…to give your love and compassion and to give your financial resources to supporting the ministry of this church.  This is work we do together.  It takes all of us.

And we know that it makes an impact.  We have seen it:

• People are being fed.  
• People are being housed.  
• Money is given to disaster relief.  
• Young people are learning of the faith.
• Old people are learning of the faith.
• The church is growing.
• Worship is happening.
• Choirs are singing.
• Mission trips are traveling.  
• People are serving.  
  

It is game on!

And we know that as you give of your time, your love and your financial resources, your own faith…it will continue to deepen.  That’s how it works.  The very act of giving is an act of faith…faith that God will work with what we give to care for God’s people, and faith that God always provides enough. 

Jesus asked the question: “Who do people say that I am?”  Peter gave the correct answer.   He said: “You are the Messiah.”  That is our answer too.  Jesus is the Messiah…the one who brings you life, and love, and forgiveness. Jesus calls you and the Holy Spirit empowers you.

So then, through Jesus’ love, who do people say that we are?  Because of a weird, random Facebook post, we got a tiny glimpse of the answer:  They say that we are the church…we are people who follow Jesus.  We are the hands and feet of God.  We carry the Word of Hope to a broken world.  And we are generous in our love, generous in our time, with our energy, with our money, and in our compassion.

That is what it is to be Trinity.

Thanks be to God!  

Amen.