a window into our hearts

A few weeks after Campbell had finished the new chapel on campus there was a little bit of fuss concerning how distracting the clear windows were during worship. Outside you could plainly see students, their hustle and bustle to class, guys skateboarding and throwing footballs.

Though I have no way of knowing the actual architectural intent, I for one am glad those windows are see through. Too long has the Church hidden behind its stained glass, hiding behind iconic pictures of the God-Man who in reality spent just as much time outside the temple than in. We have turned the church into an impenetrable stronghold, one where insiders feels safe and comfortable and outsiders seem timid to encroach upon. Instead of being a lighthouse on a hill we have become like a young boy playing with a flashlight in his tent.

I am reminded of the song many of us learned growing up which goes, "This little light of mine, I'm going to hide behind some stained glass, my race, my socio-economic status, the way we've always done it, and definitely my comfort." As complex as those lyrics sound, it doesn't seem long for even the youngest of children to learn the song well. Obviously that isn't how the lyrics really go, but listen to the real ones. "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." Even in our kids' music we imply that it is my light, my Church, my Gospel, my Jesus, My God... and not yours. Matthew 5:14-16 says:

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

See that "you" at the beginning of verse 14, and the "your" in verse 16? In the greek these are both plural, not singular. So it's not "This little light of mine" which implies a possessive singular, but it's "This little light of ours." Ours as in the Church's... and light as in Jesus... and we must let Him shine.

Instead of stained glass, Campbell's new chapel has clear windows. Clear windows that seemingly distract, but actually focus us on God's mission and therefore our own. As we look through the windows of our church and see people, and consequently can be seen by those people, we remember that Church is not about us, it's about our God. Our God is about bringing outsiders in, not keeping insiders comfortable.

How about we let our Light shine?