“Bridging the Gap”
Relationships. New ones. Widening our circle of friends. Stretching our comfort zones. Knowing and being known. Caring and sharing Christ. Inviting and welcoming others. It’s all about relationships. That’s the idea behind this essay.
Look around our beautiful sanctuary any Sunday morning. Who do you see? You’ll see kids and teens, young adults, mid-year adults, mature adults and senior adults. Our church has no fewer than five generations. Who are we?
Generation One: The “Greatest Generation”—born before 1926, shaped by the Great Depression, industrialization, urbanization, great resourcefulness, self-reliance, hard work, patriotism and service for God and country--preserving Democracy in WW II.
Generation Two: The Builders—born between 1927 and 1945, were shaped by the War and Post-War era, further industrialization, suburbanization, the popularity of radio and the advent of television, building a modern society with traditional community concern, high church attendance and family values.
Generation Three: The Boomers—born between 1946 and 1964, were once typified by rebellion and reaction to traditional values, but now as they pass through mid-life and toward retirement, many have mellowed, becoming quite conservative.
Generation Four: The Busters—also known as Generation “X”, born between 1965 and 1983, following in the wake of the boomers’ dismantling of social mores. Sometimes referred to as the first “post-Christian generation” and the most jaded, distrustful and cynical generation largely due to their Boomer parent’s divorces.
Generation Five: The Millennials—born between 1983 and 2001. They are the Class of 2000 and beyond. They are the most plugged-in generation ever with their palm pilots, laptops and internet use. For many Millennials, their electronic world has become the heart of their life and community, creating a sense of family for them.
Given the generational diversity within our church family, it seems that one of our greatest challenges is to creatively and constructively bridge this five-level generation gap (pardon my boomer language!). This leads, naturally, to the question: How can we bridge this gap? How can we move beyond the old attitudes of “us” and “them”?
Without question, we will always have our different styles, our different worship and music preferences, our many cultural influences and icons, but generation to generation Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. How, then, can we bridge the gap? The fact is, we can’t. But Christ can.
Recall Jesus’ response to the rich young man’s question, “Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16ff). Jesus told this man to sell all that he had, give the money to the poor and so acquire treasure in heaven, “then come, follow me”. The young man turned away from Jesus, as Matthew notes, because “he had many possessions”. It was at this point that Jesus informed his disciples “it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven” and with rich hyperbole he said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle”. The disciples were incredulous and asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?”
Jesus’ response to his disciples that day seems to well-apply to our question, “how can we bridge the gap?”. Matthew notes, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” (Matt. 19:26). Humanly speaking, to bridge the gap is impossible. But when Jesus Christ is Leader, Builder and Director, all things are possible! When we are reconciled and fully devoted to Christ, old generational walls are broken down. When we are committed to Jesus Christ, all “gaps” are bridged in Him because at the Cross He became the bridge.
The Good News of a dark Friday noon and a brilliant Easter dawn is carried forth by a new people, with new power and new purpose. It’s no longer the old us and them.
Churches where Christians are growing in membership, maturity, ministry and mission are churches that welcome all seekers and embrace all believers. Churches that are bridging the gap are churches where young and old and everyone in between celebrate different life experiences, appreciate different viewpoints and incorporate different gifts and abilities in worshiping and serving Christ.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he, as much as anyone, was aware of matters of social standing and status. Before giving his life to Christ, he considered himself religiously superior. He was of an elite class, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. With this in mind, Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:19 form a testimony to the remarkable and inclusive grace of God in his life. “... No longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. ” What is Paul saying here? Paul is saying that the church Christ died for and the church Christ longs for is a church that welcomes all people of all generations and of all backgrounds.
Notice that in the church no one is to be a foreigner or stranger. The isolation and loneliness that many first century Christians experienced (such as Paul and other missionaries) was ministered unto by caring hospitality (Lydia, Gaius and others).
In our own modest way, like Lydia and Gaius, we seek to reach out and care for the guests and members in our church family. Our First Baptist Bible Fellowships and Ministry Teams provide hospitality following worship, and our Make-A-Meal Ministry as part of Membership and Care offers support to many facing health and personal needs.
We are seeking to bridge the gap in our church through caring fellowship. But what about that greater gap and disconnect between our church and our community?
Without question, one of the real needs in our high-tech culture is connection and relationship. That is one reason why we are embarking on our second one half-year of Marketplace Ministry on Sunday, May 2. Our objective, to borrow a familiar slogan, is to “reach out and touch someone”. I hope that you will take part, perhaps along with others in your FBBF, in helping to staff our Howell Sunday Farmers’ Market booth. If you have questions or ideas to share, please speak with Teresa and Jim Brun, our Marketplace Ministry directors. You are also invited to come to the orientation hosted by Evangelism and Growth Ministry on Monday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the parlor.
Loneliness. Disconnection. The ache is real, whatever your age or stage in life. But the antidote to that ache is the same: A relationship with Christ and a growing relationship with Christian brothers and sisters in the church. The poet Robert Frost once wrote, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Ephesians 2:19 reminds us that the church Christ longs for is a place where no one ever feels like a stranger. To paraphrase Robert Frost, may our church be a place where, when you go there, you are welcomed and you know that you really belong.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Gary Bruland
News and Notes for April
Sunday Morning Celebrations during April are focusing on the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the theme “Come, Worship the King!”
“Bow the Knee” is a dramatic Easter musical to be presented by the First Baptist choir and drama team under the direction of Mary Jane Mihalek on Palm Sunday, April 4 at 10:45 a.m. and on Good Friday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. Please invite family, friends and neighbors and bring them with you on Palm Sunday morning and Good Friday evening!
First Baptist Bible Fellowships are meeting Sunday mornings and during the week. Check the new Spring Quarter FBBF small group listings on the foyer bulletin board!
M.A.L.T.—Monthly Advanced Leadership Training will be held on Monday, April 5 from 7:00 to 7:40 p.m. in the church parlor. The focus: “A Ministry that Pleases God”.
The Board of Ministry will meet on Monday, April 5 from 7:45 to 9:00 p.m. in the parlor.
Maundy Thursday Communion will feature worship hymns, Scripture, meditation and a gathering at the Lord’s Table on Thursday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Please note that the Wednesday FBBF adult small group Bible study in Romans will not meet on April 7th.)
The Community Good Friday Service hosted by the Howell Ministerial Association will be held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9 at First Presbyterian Church in Howell.
Easter Sunday Worship Celebrations will feature FBBF and Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; and worship at 10:45 a.m. Join us!
The Mission of the Month for April FBBF and Sunday School prayer and weekly offerings supports the university outreach ministry of Jon Rittenhouse with Campus Crusade for Christ with college students in California.
The Spring Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 18, following worship at 12:30 p.m. Ministry reports and church business matters will be presented. All members and friends are encouraged to attend.
“Marketplace Ministry” is our community outreach to the Howell Sunday Farmers’ Market coordinated by the Evangelism and Growth Ministry. Marketplace Ministry will resume on Sunday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Evangelism and Growth will hold an orientation meeting for all interested in serving in this year’s outreach on Monday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. Questions? See M.M. Directors Jim and Teresa Brun.