Connection

Soccer is a religion in England! This may seem hyperbolic, but there is something deeply spiritual happening before the opening whistle at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. Masses of people collectively sing “You'll Never Walk Alone” made popular by Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1963. What is a secular song turns into a religious experience because the masses of people are longing to be in relationship with something transcendent. They are united together in that moment in a way that brings goosebumps.

The crowd signing at the top of their lungs became a tradition in 1989, just after the Hillsborough disaster. During the semi-final game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, 97 people were fatally crushed due to overcrowding. The tragic day lives on in infamy as fans gather to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before every game. Whenever they sing together, God is certainly present.

There is nothing intrinsically divine about earthly objects and experiences. Instead, we choose to observe God in the process of making things meaningful to us. This is a good lesson for us in the Church. Wine is just wine and bread is just bread. But, when we choose to invite God into the eucharistic experience, then these elements become the reception of Christ into our lives. Together, we take something lame and turn it into a religious encounter. The secular world is not our enemy, it is an opportunity to connect people with God.

One of the difficulties about the Church is that we often get bogged down by our traditions. While traditions can sometimes make it easier to experience God, they can also be a barrier. Drawing from the emotional and nostalgic connections that with have with our traditions, we make them meaningful to us. However, if the secular world does not share those connections, then our traditions become uninviting. More and more, we hear statistics about the younger generation not attending Worship. My response is blunt, but honest… “why would they?” If our traditions do not translate into an encounter with God for people, then what’s their purpose? We have two options, either browbeat our traditions in an attempt to force a relationship with God through them. Or, we practice discovering new ways to experience the divine. It’s less about the vehicle of the tradition and more about creating that spiritual experience.

Don’t worry, I’m not really advocating that we should sell our building and start Worshiping in a soccer stadium. What I’m inviting us to do is wrestle with the question, “what does it mean to meet people where they are?” If people are going to have a spiritual experience singing before a soccer game, then let’s throw in a little Scripture, brake bread together, and suddenly… we’re Worshiping.

People are always going to long for a relationship with God. As humans, we are hardwired with a spiritual curiosity. Our job as the Church is to help people cultivate that spirituality. We help people ask the right questions about how to draw meaning out of life and how to have a positive impact in the world. Though the Church does not have a monopoly on God, we do have a wealth of experiences to draw from. We have a toolbox of methods to help us find meaning. We have been cultivating our wisdom for thousands of years. More importantly, we have the most powerful story that has ever to be told! We have the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ. I want to tell that story, but tell it in new and exciting ways. When we become a part of the work that God is already doing in the world, that is when the Gospel sings.

Joining hands, singing songs, and encountering Christ,

Pr. Lucas