BUILDING THE BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CHURCH, THE WORLD AND GOD’S PEOPLE

Do you remember that time when you first learned that at some point the whole world was connected? The Pangaea theory believes that a supercontinent, called Pangaea, existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic era. The theory supports that the land started to shift to form the modern day continents. Although the theory originally received much skepticism, today the theory receives much support due to increased evidence.

It’s difficult to even begin to comprehend the world connected. In Greek, Pangaea means all land. I begin to think of all the things that divide the land. Some are cultural, some racial, some religious and some social-economical. But one thing is clear, there is a divide. The world is not connected. Pangaea does not exist. We are not connected.

Is there an answer to this divide of race, culture and class?

Harbor Presbyterian Church began as they accepted that this divide is present in the world, in the nation, and in San Diego and Tijuana. As we hear the prophecy, “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands” (Rev 7:9) Harbor Church asked the question, ‘why not now?’

Harbor Presbyterian Church is a “multi-site, multi-ethnic church with worship services” throughout San Diego and Tijuani. Each site’s unique personality shines through their distinctive website and mission. Harbor Church Mid-City worships in a zip code where over 80 different languages are heard. As they hear the question why not now, they are drawn to the metaphor of a bridge. “We live in a city of isolated, fragmented people who need to be reconnected (or bridged).”

I have spent the past semester studying the prophets of the Old Testament. Throughout their story we see the people need to be reconnected to God. Evil has become so much part of our life that Jeremiah shares with the people, Can Ethiopians change their skin or leopards their spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil” (Jer 13:12). Evil is what divines the people and we wonder can there identity ever change.

Today we are very much identified with what makes us different that the very idea of bridging ourselves to one another, even those who are closest to us, seems like an impossible task. It seems impossible to even imagine a world that is connected. A world that all tribes will gather and will speak the name of the Lord.

I begin to think of all the bridges that need to be created. And this is no little task. There is a bridge to re-connect the church to the world, people to people, our community to the community over, church to church, mother to child. This list of what needs to be reconnected seems neverending. The task to build bridges is not a task that can happen with the snap of the finger. And Harbor Church is not looking for an overnight miracle.

Harbor Church Uptown faces this reality with a “Loving Our Neighbors” visioning plan, because like I have mentioned before, even the very idea of loving our neighbor has been linked to a process or equation. During the January, February and March of 2011 they had a focus of growing deeper in love for Jesus, His Church, and the world he came to save. Each month then has a focus of either prayer, engage or do something. As one is called to deepen their relationship with Christ, the Church and the World, individuals are
given a goal, action and resources to help them. Each goal begins with the words, “get convinced that…”

What do we need to get convinced of? Harbor Church gets that we need to convince people that the world is divided. That there needs to be re-connected. Harbor Church Uptown tells their members, “Get convinced that Jesus is relevant to your non-Christian friends. Their needs are not so different from yours.”

It is this idea that we are not all that different. We share a divide. Whether it be language or race, or even education or family, there is a divide. Growing up in a two-parent home divides me from others, and in the same way my non-Scandinavia heritage divides me from others. I recognize that which divides. I embrace those divides. I know they are part of my identity, but I do not let them isolate me.

In order for us to begin to build bridges, there needs to be a recognition that there is a divide. Harbor Church in no ways denies that there is a divide. They realize that when Martin Luther King Jr. shared that 11:00 am on Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in American History, he was right. They realize that the Gospel has the ability to to connect people that suffer from segregation. And not only are they talking about it, they are doing something about at it.

Why would I visit?
There is so much to learn from Harbor Presbyterian Church. I have spent the past four days watching videos and shifting through material on their website. One thing is very apparent, they very much have a sense of hope that things can be different. It is also apparent that a sense of hope can only come with knowing that a change can happen. I like that.

I also really like that they are not just talking about making a difference, but doing something about it. For example, the Visioning Process of Uptown shows very realistic goals for its members, and like authentic community, they are keeping one another accountable for their actions. Change cannot happen until we do something, and part of that is keeping one another accountable for their actions.

They very idea of diversity makes me overjoyed. I have struggled with churches holding an identity by the people inside the doors. For example, this is the congregation that professionals attend or this congregation is busting at the doors with young adults or a latino populations. I very much appreciate that congregations minister to those present, but I also dream of being part of a place that is filled with diversity. I do not want to be spectator of this kind of community, but I want to be part of it. Harbor Church’s mission, values and story make it apparent that this diversity is just a little glimpse into heaven on earth.

What can they tell us about urban community in five words/phrases:
1. renewal
2. bridging the Gospel to society
3. hope
4. diversity
5. belonging

Information is taken from:
Harbor Church - Mid City
Harbor Presbyterian Church - Uptown
The Pangaea Theory