Yesterday I completed my reading of The Underground Church by Robin Meyers* – a wonderfully exquisite and compelling book that EVERYONE should have the privilege of reading in the coming days and weeks.
Toward the end of the book Robin offers the following descriptive language that describes his vision for the Underground Church:
“When the Underground Church gathers, it may be in a traditional church building or in a retreat center. It may be in people’s homes or in coffee chops. It may march under the banner of classical Christian liturgy and music, or it may march to the beat of a compoletely differend drummer. It may employ ordained ministers or be led by devoted laypersons with a vision of what it means to love God and neighbor. But it will stand out in a world of hyperpolemics and partisan rancor by quietly demonstrating that what is born of love and acts in love can always unite what is divided by human conceptions of purity. Conservatives and liberals alike will find their religious and political identitites taking a backseat to their desire to love this world, to heal this world, to live as gracious members of one human family.
The Underground Church is not a building but meets as a joyful collection of grateful souls, knowing how much we do not know – but knowing enough about the redemptive power of love to invite everyone into the conversation. We may not pray the same way, sing the same songs, or agree on what constitutes a ‘great’ sermon. But this much we know: God requires justice for all creation, and hospitality is an open table, with enough for everyone and no reserved seating.” (243)
E’en so Lord Jesus quickly come. Amen – so let it be!
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