About UMC

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church

Pastor's Message

March 2010 | E-Mail Bryce Johnson

ReThink, Re-Imagine

As a child of the late 60’s and early 70’s I remember singing along to John Lennon’s, Imagine.
The song begins:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

The song concludes: “I hope someday, you’ll join us and the world will live as
one.” What strikes me now is Lennon’s line “no religion too.” According to him, a
major obstacle to a peaceful world is religion.

In some respects he is right. Throughout history religion has often been a barrier rather
than a bridge; a sentiment that still holds true for many. Recent national surveys point
to a growing disinterest in organized religion, especially among young people. Many
today will say, “I am spiritual, but not religious.” By that they mean they believe in a
God, but do not desire to participate in a religious institution. They are intrigued by
Jesus, his teachings, his compassion, and his efforts to bring peace and justice to the
world; it is the church that troubles them. And they will point to abuses of power; of
wars in the name of God; of self-serving rather than self-giving.

I would point out that without the work of religious institutions our community would be
a poorer place. The majority of the hospitals in the Twin Cities have their origins in
religious communities; most scout troops originated in churches; the homeless find
food and shelter in churches or centers started by people of faith; and church is home
for the majority of AA groups.

I say this not to defend the church, but to remind us that—at our best—we are a people
who bring the compassion of a heavenly God to people here and now. From the beginning
Jesus asked his followers to feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, care for the ill
(Matt. 25:31-46). He imagined the church as a banquet feast where the left-out are
welcomed in (Matt. 22:1-10). We do much of this at White Bear Lake UMC, yet we
have room to grow in outreach and compassion.

Our Lenten theme is ReThink Church. As one man put it to me Sunday, “This is a time
for all of us to re-imagine church.” Let us together imagine a world which lives in peace
because there are religious communities like White Bear Lake United Methodist
Church.

Blessings,
Bryce