Evidence

I’ve gone to church my entire life. So has Erin.

Growing up in the Assembly of God, we attended Sunday morning church, Sunday morning Sunday School, Sunday evening church, and Wednesday evening church. Every week.

Around third grade, we switched to a non-denominational church.

Which is a funny name for a denomination. Because it is a denomination. But if you put "non" in front of it, it isn’t?

I digress.

We as Christians wave our denomination flags as if they matter.

Here in West Texas, it’s really three questions:

• What’s your name?
• What do you do for a living?
• Where do you go to church?

Boxes. That’s what each of these questions do. Place people in mental boxes. Into tribes.

Are they rich? Are they poor? Oh, a doctor? Oh, a teacher? Oh, you don’t work?

Are they charismatic? Are they Baptist? Catholic? Do they believe in the Holy Spirit? Predestination? Do they even tithe!? Are you in my tribe or not?

And it’s sad really.

I do it too. I’m guilty. Raising my hand. Point the finger at me.

“To the people who sprint toward you in hard times — the kind who love with action, not convenience. Words feel inadequate. Thank you.”

And do you know what is incredible?

Hundreds of people have reached out to help us. Some subtle. And some sprinting toward us. And when the Lord sends people sprinting into your lives, embrace them. Allow it. Receive it.

Maybe the point is this: in the past thirty days, we’ve seen the Church more alive, more kind, and more like Jesus than ever before.

And it’s not about affiliations.

We don’t go to church with most of these people. Honestly, we don’t care if they even go to church. Because Jesus is evident in their actions, not their affiliations.

From the sourdough left on our porch, to the gift cards, to the prayers and encouragement, to the flowers — the many, many flowers — to the books and handwritten letters, we see you, the church, our church, and we see Jesus in all of it.

The church is our neighbors. Our family. Our friends. Near and far. Laboring together in this trial. Even though others are hurting too, they still help. And even though we are in the middle of a cancer fight, we will still help and love and sprint toward others. We will operate in the overflow of His goodness.

His goodness beyond circumstances.

And friends, the world needs us. It needs the church. Not just to tithe and attend church and serve on Sundays.

The world needs us to be neighbors who go above and beyond, to be friends who feel like sunshine, and who lay down our affiliations and tribes to love everyone as we love ourselves.

We should be inconvenienced more. Awakened from our routines and day-to-day repeats.

Sprint toward those in need.

Sprint toward those you love.

And those you don’t.

Because when the church isn’t religious or tribal — it thrives.

And it doesn’t look like a “church” at all.