The anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall came and went this past week.
And I felt Google did such a good job capturing the fall of the Berlin wall – it is worth taking a moment to watch.
I was 10 years old when it fell, and I remember watching on television the people of Berlin joyously tear down the wall.
Walls built in one of the world’s major cities to separate people of differing ideologies seems almost silly in today’s world of global markets and social media. Yet, that is the way it was. For nearly 30 years the people of Berlin were divided by a militarized wall.
That could never happen in our cities today, right?
But are we dividing without walls? And are Christians helping erect these invisible boundaries – or trying to tear them down?
As the people of God we are called to be present in our communities, not walled up under the shadow of our steeples. As a follower of Christ we are to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our Lord. (Micah 6:8)
Are we?
Are we welcoming the weary, oppressed, poor and hungry into our midsts? Are we going out to meet the needs of all people and hear their stories in ministry with them? Or are we putting all of our energies, emphasis, and the bulk of our churchs’ resources towards creating programming to serve the people who fill up the pews and coffers on Sunday mornings?
In 1987 President Reagan gave an impassioned speech at the Gates of Berlin, calling for the gates from East and West Germany to be opened and Berlin Wall to be torn down. In this speech Reagan said to Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev: “Tear down this wall.” I can still hear those words and remember the room where I was sitting where I heard them as a child.
Do our churches have walls that we need to tear down?
Are we walking in the way of Christ?
Red Chair Music 