memorials

I saw a mission-style building across the street. I went over to investigate.

The small chapel was designated as a special building by the State of California. It was built in 1912 and was inspired by the California missions. It was beautiful and clean and well-kept. And it was empty and locked up. There wasn't a single car in the parking lot.

Ironically, a statue of the Virgin Mary "who welcomes all" had just been placed at the site in May 2012 to mark the centennial of the building of this chapel. Obviously, this chapel meant something special to some group of people. But the legacy of this chapel was in the past. It was no longer a place of welcome. I know: I tried all the doors.

Churches can become memorials to the past. It's easy to look back on a time when things were really alive, when we welcomed people, when people came because they knew the Spirit was moving. But God doesn't want the Church to be about legacies. He wants the Church to be alive with the transforming power of the Spirit. Instead of erecting memorials to past times, let's cooperate with what God is doing today. And let's welcome people to join us as we participate in the transforming work of the Spirit.