Learning Gospel Inclusion One Conversation at a Time
David Scherer
he/him/his
I will never forget the day that a friend of mine spoke these convincing words to me: “Dave, you have been able to make a career working as a musician and educator in churches across the country. You can walk into almost any church and feel as comfortable as you want. Do you know why that is? Part of the reason is because Women, People of Color, Disabled People, and LGBTQIA+ siblings are often asked to shoulder the discomfort in the room.” Those words have stayed with me to this day. Ever since this humbling experience, Whenever I am feeling comfortable “in the room”, I try to ask the question, “Who is feeling uncomfortable right now and who is missing altogether?”
This critical question should guide those of us learning the skill of Gospel Inclusion. If I feel comfortable in the lunchroom with all my friends, who doesn’t feel as comfortable as I do? Who hasn’t been invited? If I am planning something important, who isn’t present in the room right now? If I am taking up a lot of space in the room, who is being asked to shrink themselves? Once we find the answer to these questions, we can change our actions to help someone feel more welcomed and included. This skill of inclusion was something Jesus modeled for his disciples, and now we are called to reflect it into the world.
In Mark 2:1-12, we read about a group of people who felt very comfortable. They were packed inside a house with their savior and teacher. It was undoubtedly a mountaintop moment for them. Meanwhile, some faithful friends were accompanying a man who was paralyzed. The house was not a space conducive to his needs. So, they cut the roof!
Are there barriers preventing people from feeling fully included in your youth group? Cut the roof! Are there barriers getting in the way of people feeling fully included at school? Cut the roof! Are there barriers preventing people from feeling fully included in your family? Your community? Your country? CUT THE ROOF!!
How many of our stigmatized identities are things that we have very little control over? Skin color? Gender? Class? Abilities? Immigration status? And yet, we live in a world of hierarchy where some bodies are valued more highly than others. When we see this system of exclusion rearing its ugly head, how do we take our knife or shovel, climb up to the roof, and cut a big hole in it so that ALL of God’s children can be reminded that they are included in the kin-dome of God?
It is the grace of God that moves us forward into the world to be roof cutters, removing every barrier that would hinder all of God’s children from experiencing God’s healing love.
Welcome to this Peer Ministry session on being roof cutters