Why does it

take the government to make us church folks act like Christians? If it

were not for governmental mandates, codes, etc, many people confined to

wheelchairs would take it that they were not welcome in our beautiful

church houses. That's a fact, Jack!

I can remember

my home church. In order to get into the front door, one had to negotiate

five concrete steps. The two back doors were no better. If someone in

a wheel chair did, in fact, make it into the sanctuary and then had to

go the bathroom, he would have to go back down five steps only to discover

a restroom un-accepting of a wheel chair.

The bad, big

brother government comes in with its building codes and says, "Hey,

why don't you put your building plans where your preachments are?"

Preachments like, "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest ..."

Why did it

take the government to command that parking lots allow the nearest spaces

for those who were handicapped? Certainly, we would need a law for such

special parking at malls and restaurants, but why at a church? Why wouldn't

church folks supernaturally reserve the best parking places for its senior

members and those with handicaps? Why does it take a law to make Christians

act like we should? But it does. I find that the strongest, most able-bodied

folks are the very ones to hug parking places nearest the building entrances.

So, rather

than slamming the government be it local, state or national I want to

bless the government for making us church folks act Christian. Just think,

if we were genuine Christian in behavior, we would yield the right of

way without a law; we would stop at a crossroads without a law; we would

give the pedestrian the right of way without a law; we would not change

lanes without advanced notice. And on and on.

My question

this Sunday afternoon is this: where are we still missing it? Where are

we of the church still being insensitive? How are we still ignoring the

needs of those who are often the powerless ones of society?

If you have

ideas that will help your church stay ahead of governmental decree, why

not share it with your pastor, deacons, elders, trustees. Please don't

hesitate and thereby help someone get the wrong idea about the church.

We do care! We do care! Sometimes, however, we are a little dumb and a

little behind the times. Please help us. Speak up.

PS: When you

read this I will be in Uganda on a ministry/mission endeavor. The next

two columns will be dispatched from Kampala, Uganda's capital.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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