Admiration

This Sunday morning, if you sit outside the Richardson East Church of Christ in Richardson, TX you might see some people entering in less than their Sunday best. This is not because the church members don’t have nicer clothes to wear. It is not because the church is trying to attract the young non-church-goers of the Dallas area. On most Sundays you will find people attending Richardson East in nice, business casual clothes; you might even find a tie or two.

This Sunday, however, Richardson East Church of Christ is participating in what they call “The Church Has Left the Building.” Instead of their regular worship service, they will be heading out into the community to serve. They will be doing yard work, cleaning up alleys, painting, changing oil in the cars of elderly people and single mothers, etc.

I don’t attend a Church of Christ. My beliefs don’t line up well. But who can disagree with this kind of Christianity? I’ve been thinking for a while now that Jesus’ message was one of the simplest messages ever taught: treat others how you would like to be treated (simple not easy). It seems like a few churches are finally getting the idea that Jesus didn’t talk about church, Jesus didn’t talk about praise bands or worship music, the frequency of the Eucharist or ecclesiastical structures. He talked about being connected to God through loving and serving others.

I don’t attend a Church of Christ, but if you ever see me going into one it will probably be Richardson East Church of Christ, and I will probably be dressed in my painting clothes.