Only for church members?

Before I begin to rant about anything I just want to say that I love Evan Neal (and Ashlyn and Camryn and Lana for that matter)!  Evan enlightened me of a conversation that he had with a teacher of his right before leaving for spring break Thursday afternoon:

(As he is leaving this teacher's classroom) Evan: "Mrs. (I forgot her name), I hope you have the greatest spring break!"

Teacher: You know what would really make this spring break great? (At this point I was expecting her to reply to Evan's "what's that" with something like not having you hellion kids around or comparable.)

(So, obviously) Evan: What's that?

Teacher: It would be great if ya'll at Forest Park would allow my kids to play on your really nice playground...

Evan: They're welcome to play on it at any time!

Teacher: Really?

Evan: Of course!

Teacher: Are you sure? I thought it was only for church members...?

Evan: No, Mrs. (sorry again), you can bring 'em by at any time!

Teacher: Really?

I was flabbergasted by one HUGE implication in his teacher's question.

• Only kids who are Christians can...check that...
• Only kids who are Christians of parents who are Christians can...check that...
• Only kids who are Christians of parents who are Christians who attend Forest Park...check that ONE MORE TIME...
• Only kids who are Christians of parents who are Christians who attend AND ARE MEMBERS of Forest Park can play on the playground 

Here are the thoughts that cross my mind:

1. Very few little kids are Christians (don't tell me otherwise, they bite worse than Chihuahuas, cry worse than European soccer players to get their way and hoard more than Exxon Mobile's CEO)
2. Do we consider the "our" in our playground to mean those of us who are members of Forest Park or for anyone in "our" community/city? Would a church be greedy enough to think that they build such facilities as a basketball court, playground, etc. only for members of their "club" or faith community?
3. If so, what's the point of sharing your faith if you're not going to share any of the physical blessings that God has given to you? You can't change a person's life without enriching it, as well!
4. What did that teacher expect to happen if she was on the playground?  Would someone come out and ask her, "Ma'am can you show me some documentation proving your family's membership to FPC?"  Would she get run off the property?
5. What would her kids think of church/Christians/JESUS if this were to actually happen?

For her to have this assumption, number 4 had to have happened at some point to someone (why else would she have this fear?), which I think is completely and UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!

God and I both find pleasure when people who have no ties to the church come and play basketball.  Bring on the guys with the piercings and tattoos who struggle with foul language on the court.  Of course you can challenge them to discipline themselves because of the presence of children, but the worst thing you can do is kick them out!

If you do that, you might as well tell them we don't allow any imperfect, non-Christians on our property.  And if you do that, you might as well say that we don't allow any imperfect, non-Christians in our services.  Again, I say all this because when moral deficiencies/failures Christians tend to overreact, amen? It happens.

What Scott said yesterday was so true...when someone is obviously screwed up, the common "church" doesn't want anything to do with them.  That person might pollute your children, steal something, leave trash or God forbid a cigarette butt.

I take pleasure in seeing that many imperfect people (Christians and seekers, alike) play on those playgrounds, basketball courts, football fields!  They have fun here because life is usually a chore to too many people.  If we can be a refuge, that's a great thing because our God is, too!

If we don't want that, we might as well take up member dues instead of an "offering," change our "churches" to clubs and our "Christians" to isolationists.  But thankfully, FPC is not that place.  It is a place where all are welcome.  Where the family that wants nothing but a playground to bring their kids to can come without fear of the moral police.

Our playground, our facilities are OUR gifts to OUR community, OUR city! Come enjoy it as we do!