After worship a few Sundays ago, a visitor shared the old familiar line: “Pastor, I’m surprised the roof didn’t cave in when I walked through the doors.” Let me give this breaking-news update: it didn’t. It never does. And it never will. If you’ve been away from church for a long time—whether months, years, or decades—please know that the Holy Spirit is far more eager to welcome you home than to judge you for staying away.
Sadly, our social environments and our shared human brokenness often separate us from God more than they draw us closer. Sometimes the church itself falters in genuinely welcoming those who are unchurched or those who have drifted away. Many carry painful memories shaped by doctrines, conflicts, family expectations, or experiences of rejection. For some, it was a teaching on sexuality, reproductive rights, divorce, the death penalty, or family structures. For others, it was a personal disagreement, a church fight, or a rupture in a once-trusted relationship. These wounds are real, and they do not heal easily.
Too often, religious dogma becomes a barrier instead of a bridge. It pushes people away from God rather than inviting them to grace. On top of that, strong family traditions can keep people from exploring new spiritual homes. I’ve had many tell me their parents or grandparents would “turn over in their graves” if they worshiped anywhere other than the tradition they were raised in. My Roman Catholic friends often name this with a smile as “Catholic guilt.”
Although I’m a “cradle to grave” Lutheran, I earned my Master of Divinity degree at a Roman Catholic seminary. That experience widened my heart for Christian traditions different from my own while deepening my gratitude for my Lutheran identity. And let’s be honest: every tradition has its disagreements. I grew up in the Missouri Synod and now serve in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Some see the Missouri Synod as more conservative and the ELCA as more progressive. My personal theology lives somewhere in between, grounded most of all in the grace of God. That is where I stand. Here I stand.
Wherever you are on your faith journey, I invite you to be open to God’s grace. Find a community that feeds you spiritually. Explore something new, or return to a place that once gave you comfort.
A colleague once told me his church has a “revolving door,” and when I asked why, he smiled. He intentionally tells visitors to give his church a few Sundays, and if it’s not the right fit, he encourages them to find a congregation where they do feel God’s presence. His goal is not membership, it’s discipleship.
This Sunday, February 15, at 9:30 AM, we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord at St. John’s. I warmly invite you to join us for this mountaintop moment with Jesus. If you discover God’s grace here, come back again. If not, find a community where God’s love meets you. And wherever you go, rest assured, the roof is not going to cave in!
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
