Francis Friday: Rethink Church

Yesterday on my morning drive to studio, I was listening to the radio and heard that Pope Francis was opening a barber shop at the Vatican. Folks, Pope Francis has done it again; he has taken an ordinary, often un-appreciated, act and recognized its potential service to others. The first day the showers and barber shop/ hair salon were opened, 40 people showed up for their free shower, haircut and shave, plus a complimentary toiletry package. (read more about this great initiative here!) My first thought was why has no one done this before? Showers are such a basic part of my day that I never really think about those who do not have access to them. Now that this service has been such a success, I hope more of them pop up in more communities around the world.
If you have been on instagram lately you may have noticed posts with the hashtag #rethinkchurch. Rethink church is a United Methodist Communications initiative to "rethink" various aspects of the church. Church should be more than just something to do on Sunday. If you are just going to sit in this large building with a bunch of acquaintances that you call your family one morning a week, and nothing else in your life is altered, than you are doing it wrong. Sorry, that was harsh, but that was not me chastising you, that was me yelling at me. I often find myself going to church, granted I go about 3 or 4 times a week, and not getting it. Maybe I have been doing it too long that I am glazing over the important parts. 
Rethink Church has three main points that seem to burst with life and color, bleeding over an otherwise grey, jaded, glazed-over perspective. These points are things I truly believe but sometimes forget when I am caught up with the tasks of just going to church but not actually living church. 
1. We think the church should unconditionally love Everyone. Everywhere.
Pope Francis is grat at this. He loves the poor, he loves the outcasts. He shows love when he is in his home country or at the very pretentious Vatican, where the power could pretty easily get to ones head.
2. God is Big enough to handle all our questions, and we think the church is a place to explore them together.
God is bigger than the boogie man.
He's bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV.
Oh, God is bigger than the boogie man,
And he's watching out for you and me.
He's watching out for you and me.
Watching, watching, watching!
Out for you and meee! Yeah! (thank you Veggie Tales)
Though God is huge and holding us in the palm of His hand, we still seem to get lost of how worries and doubts, this is where the Church comes in. The church is the perfect support system and community, placed in our lives to be poured into by and in turn pour into.

3. We think the church should allow anyone to join the wonderful community it offers.