Dear beloved of God,

This month we begin again together the season of Lent. Though we often associate Lent with penitential rites and fasting, the historical roots of Lent were a season of preparation for the baptismal festival at Easter when new members of the Christian community would be washed in God’s love. In some times and places it was a rich time when the most trusted members of the community accompanied new converts through process of discovering God’s mysteries. The training was rigorous, but the community supported the newest members with incredible love and care. The bar was quite high – becoming a part of the Christian community in those early centuries of the church was a radical, life-altering decision to join a community of people who shared not only belief, but a profoundly different way of life. They would have to leave certain professions that were not considered in line with faith; they would fast and abstain from all manner of things in preparation; their lives would be examined to ensure they were trustworthy; and often joining could create rifts with family members who did not convert.

Today the process of joining a church has become much less rigorous in most contexts. Though preparation varies, it usually involves a few classes and a meeting with the priest and some leaders of the parish. Then they are baptized or confirmed in what is usually a joyful celebratory time. There are so many reasons we should keep the doors wide open to any who are curious about this mysterious thing we do together as Christian people. The waters of baptism are offered freely as God’s gift. I think we should keep the barriers low. But I think we’ve also lost something when we fail to take seriously the transformation we proclaim takes place at baptism. Once welcomed, we often fail to have high expectations of one another as members of a community of faith.

We often fear that we might turn people off by asking too much or by being too ‘churchy’. Many of our communities have become so fixated on adding people to the pews and dollars to the offering plate that we think the best way to do that is not expect too much of people. We are quick to recruit newcomers to committees or find a volunteer role. But I fear sometimes we get so busy doing church we forget to be the church. We forget that this thing we do together is radical and life-altering. We live in the world differently because of our baptismal call.

We are in a moment as church where reconnecting with who we are as the people of God and living fully into our values is as critical as ever. What if this Lent was an opportunity for all of us to recommit to ourselves, one another, and to God to live into that radically different way of life that our faith and our baptism calls us to? Here are the words from the baptismal covenant:

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect and restore the beauty and integrity of all creation?

I will, with God’s help.

This isn’t just about what we believe about Jesus or just about coming to church on Sunday or even about developing some really good programs or doing good in the community. It’s about a way of life that is truly different from the culture we swim in day in and day out. It’s an invitation to commit to bring our full humanity to the table and recognize the full humanity of others as well as the presence of God in all creation. There are many tasks in doing church. They are important; they require care and attention and the right gifts. But if we lose the heart of why we are church together, we have missed a great gift of deep Christian community.

Maybe this Lent can be a fast from questions about how to attract more people or how to “grow our church” or from worrying about the next big program. Instead, maybe it could be a time of recommitting to this core of who we are as God’s people. Maybe it could be a time of remembering that this thing we do together is truly life-altering. I make no promise that doing so will create a sustainable ministry model for your congregation – maybe it will and maybe it won’t. But God does make a promise to be with you in every death and resurrection, to die with you in the waters of baptism and rise with you into new life. God makes a promise to renew and resurrect you. And if our communities live from that place, I can’t help but imagine the world being transformed.

Peace,