Six-Panel Door

Are you in eyeshot of a six-panel door? If not, see if you can find one. Did you know this style of door is called a Christian door? I didn’t either until a friend of mine recently pointed it out to me. He instructed me to look at the cross at the top half of the door and the open Bible towards the bottom. Now that I’ve noticed it… I can’t unsee it.

Technically, the cross and Bible design is coincidental. The concept did not originate to represent anything religious. Still, it is fun to notice subtle ways to incorporate faith into everyday life. I believe there is an important lesson to learn about these doors as they go largely unrecognized as a religious symbol by most people. Sometimes it is better to be subtly Christian.

While I was in Jersulem, I recall wanting to get a tattoo of a cross in the oldest tattoo parlor in the world. At the last minute, I opted to get a fish tattoo instead. The fish is a subtle way of stating my Christian faith, without the arrogance of thinking that I’m worthy enough to always display the cross to everyone in a permanent way. So, when I’m shouting profanity in a fit of road rage, I’m also not displaying a Cross tattoo.

We are instructed to “whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). This is not suggesting that we should be afraid to publicly proclaim our faith, but instead, we should proclaim our faith in quietly effective ways. The subtle Christian is far more appealing than the obnoxious Christian shouting in a megaphone on the street corner. God is seeking our heart, not our public demonstration.

The world will know that we are Christians by our love. Our cross tattoos, cross necklaces, and plastering “Christian” on our front door will not convincingly show people anything of substance. Like the six-panel door, we are called to be subtly Christian. We are the constant voice behind all the noise that reminds everyone to love one another. We are the soft relentless voice urging people to forgive. Our voice is one of peace. Our actions are geared toward serving others. Our faith ought not be boastful or conceited, instead, constant and unwavering.

The interior doors around the church are six-paneled. The Cross is always there amid our daily ministry. Christ is always present. In the moments of joy, and in the challenging days, I am reminded of God’s constant presence. God is always there, softly and subtly, guiding us from one room into the next. God is there with you too, forever and always.

Subtly,

Pastor Lucas

Photo by Samuel McGarrigle