In one of Philip Yancey’s best-selling books, What’s So Amazing About Grace, he talks about the two churches he encountered when he lived in Chicago: the church upstairs and the church downstairs. The upstairs church was where the traditional congregation met in their Sunday best, with polite nods and an out-of-pitch choir. There might be stained glass or newly installed strobe lights. There might be extending of the peace and collection plates or emotional altar calls and fiery baptisms. There might be friendliness and niceties and “I’m praying for you” and sometimes “Welcome.”
The church downstairs that Yancey learned about was a 12-step fellowship where people struggling with alcoholism and addiction met. The room was dark and reminded him of a small cafeteria with retired, stained office chairs. The air smelled like cheap coffee and cigarettes. Yancey went with a friend several times to the room downstairs where chairs were arranged in an open circle. No option but to look one another in the eyes. What surprised Yancey most was the radical honesty.
He reflects: “One day I asked my friend Bob if he’d ever thought about visiting the upstairs church some Sunday. A look of alarm crossed his face. “Oh, I’d never go there!” he said. “Those people have their lives together. They dress so well, they have jobs, they show up on time. We’re just a bunch of alcoholics. We smoke cigarettes, drink coffee, and try to keep each other from falling apart.”
How sad that Bob saw church as a place for people who have everything together. Somehow, we Christians can give off those vibes, when actually we gather in church because we know we’ve failed, and we need God’s grace and forgiveness. Like the downstairs church, we need a Higher Power that only comes from God and from the supportive community around us. God can only work with us when we admit our need. We must have open hands.[i]
Love this 🩵