Spiritual Connective Tissue
My second year in the dorms at San Diego State, my roommate joined a fraternity. I never did. I had a great group of friends and didn’t feel the need. But I remember my roomie, fresh from pledging, enthusiastically sharing how from then on, if he ever needed a place to find shelter, he could rely on his fraternity brothers to welcome him in. Anywhere, anytime. Of the many virtues of fraternity life that a 19-year-old might find appealing, it strikes me that this is the benefit he pointed to first. The need to belong and to be cared for satisfies something deep and primitive in all of us. And as you can read, that dorm-room conversation has stuck with me all these decades later.
A few years ago, while visiting in-laws out of state for Thanksgiving, I wandered into a small neighborhood church for Sunday service and enjoyed a taste of the unconditional-like acceptance that my old roomie described. Despite not knowing anyone, and belonging to a different denomination in a faraway city, everything was familiar and comfortable in this small neighborhood church- the message, the music, the hope and the bond between us. The little band of worshipers greeted this stranger like a Prodigal Son coming home. I’m certain that if I had needed a hot meal or a warm place to rest, that cold November morning, I would have been taken in and cared for by these brothers and sisters. Just like the fraternity promise that so impressed my old college buddy. This bond between believers is an extension of the unconditional love that God has for all of his children- you and me; it's like spiritual connective tissue. New Testament scholar and pastor John Piper puts it this way: “Fellowship is a mutual bond that Christians have with Christ that puts us in a deep, eternal relationship with one another.”
Scripture (1 John 1:7) says this: “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
The good news is that the love of Jesus binds together all of God’s children. We all can find refuge in that no matter our geographic location or life circumstances. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! The song pairing, “Come In,” is another way of telling this story. Until next time, stay safe, be brave and keep walking in the light.
Come In
Early one morning I heard a voice calling
a sound so sweet to my ears
come in brother, come in brother
come in, you’re welcome here
Thank you I said as I shook my head
I’m just passing through here today
come in once more as he opened the door
and said you’re welcome here anyway
the coffee’s hot & the cake fresh baked
won’t you come on in
come in and join us, come in and join us
first service is about to begin
Now all the same folks asked my name
and where was that I come from
gathering together, come in brother
come in, you’re welcome here son
Sara smiled, ‘San Diego’ she said
as she took my hat and my coat
‘you must know my cousin Jimmy Flynn’
I said sorry ma’am I don’t
Now traveling this road without a home
the story’s sad and kinda funny to me
regrets and grievances are your best friends
and keep you good company
now as I remember the choir sang fine together
the preacher shook my hand at the door
her comforting words washing over me
I could feel my spirts soar
now early this morning I hear church bells calling
a sound so sweet to my ears
come in brother, come in brother…
I said come in, you’re welcome here
I said come in brother, come in brother
come in, you’re welcome here…