Full disclosure, I used to think church was supposed to be a fortress.
I don’t anymore.
There was one singular verse (and a whole spiritual reckoning, but that might be less compelling) that changed things for me: Mark 2:17. Jesus says He came that the sick might have a doctor.
Sick people dont go to military bastions. They go to the hospital (if they can afford it………..).
Growing up Adventist, one of the things I was taught about Israel was that they decided to have a fortress mentality. Now, it wasn’t called that, but they tried so hard to protect and treasure their truth and only give it out to those they deemed worthy. I mean, sounds like a fortress to me.
Truth doesn’t need protecting.
Sounds radical, but read it again. Maybe if I switch up the sentence: The Truth doesn’t need protecting. He is fully capable of taking care of Himself. The Way doesn’t need protecting: He is fully capable of protecting Himself. The Way to Salvation doesn’t need protecting; He can protect Himself.
Church is a hospital. It is for sinners. All sinners. Every sinner. Every person.
Taking that metaphor further, it shifts my whole picture of church. Instead of a hospital sometimes I feel like church is more like an insurance company (so sorry ARM/WebTPA!!! plz dont deny my future claims ty). Instead of opening arms and caring for whomever, we create “eligibility” requirements.
A hospital’s purpose (at least in an ideal world) is to help people heal and become whole. A fortress’ purpose is to protect the things inside. This means that it will be extremely choosy about who gets to come in. A hospital lets anyone inside for healing–it doesn’t matter what they look like. And yes, the hospital has security, but–and here’s the key point–it is to protect the patients. It is easy to walk into a hospital–they even have a receiving area. A fortress has a series of difficult traps, walls, and moats to keep people out, including someone standing on the walls monitoring those who might wish to enter. A hospital employs people who are adept at healing including many different types of healers. A fortress employs people whose desire it is to keep people out and protect those already inside the fortress and the valuables. A hospital heals and then sends people back out. A fortress says “you are only safe here.”
We could keep going, but I think we all see the picture.
What is church to you?
-Casey
