Have you heard the Parable of the Lifesaving Station? It’s been told in different ways, but this is how I copied it down years ago:
On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks were frequent, a crude little life-saving station was built. It was just a hut, with only one boat, but a few dedicated crewmen kept a constant watch over the sea. Day and night, they sacrificially and tirelessly searched for anyone in need of help. Many lives were saved, and after a while the station became famous. People began to volunteer to help, while others donated money to the cause. New boats were purchased and additional crews were trained.
As the station grew, some of its members became unhappy that the building was so crude. They wanted a larger, nicer place to provide refuge for those who were saved from the sea. So the emergency cots were replaced with hospital beds. The building was refurbished and enlarged and soon became a meeting place for the community. People would come to discuss the work of saving lives, and various committees were formed to analyze each particular aspect. After a while, they hired professional crews to go out and save lives because they were so busy maintaining their buildings and programs.
One day, a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the crews brought in many boatloads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty, bruised and sick. The beautiful new facility was messed up, so the property committee had a shower house built outside where the shipwreck victims could “wash up” before coming inside. At the next meeting there was a split in the club membership. Some of the members wanted to stop the lifesaving activities altogether. They said it was unpleasant and a hindrance to their other activities. Others disagreed and pointed out that their main purpose always had been and always should be “to save lives.”
Unfortunately, those who wanted to save lives were voted down and told to start their “own lifesaving station down the coast somewhere.” So they did. The new station grew until, over time, it too became a “club.” So another group left to found an additional station. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that coast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along the shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent, but most of the people drown.
Of course, that’s a parable about the Church. Instead of saving lives, we get caught up with other noble, but less important things. Our default is to focus on ourselves, so we have to fight against that to stay on mission. God leaves us here to share the live-saving message of forgiveness & eternal life in Jesus Christ!
Businesses try to sell products, so they invest lots of money into advertising to attract people to try out their product or service. And if they have a good one they’ll have satisfied customers who do repeat business & go out and tell their friends. Ads with personal testimonies are still among the most effective. We think, “If it worked for that person, maybe it will work for me.” You may try a great new restaurant or see a fantastic movie-you let people know: “You’ve gotta’ try this!”
Here’s the principle–we don’t have a product to sell in the Church. We’re trying to get the word out about salvation-& it’s free! What’s the best way to get the message out there? It’s still good old word of mouth. What brings people to Jesus, to church? Satisfied “customers” telling people! It’s hard to resist.
That’s the spirit we need to recapture in this culture that’s been affected by pandemic distancing. It seems we’ve pulled back from interacting with others. I can be forgetful & neglectful about reaching out to them. Many are lonely, disconnected, & looking for more & better community. More than that, they’re experiencing distance from God, wandering lost & wondering what’s really true, trapped in destructive beliefs & behaviors, & dragging around heavy chains of sin.
Christmas season is the time of year when people are more open to spiritual things than any other time. Though the secular world does what it can to silence & subdue the real meaning of the holiday, it still breaks through here & there. And though our culture keeps moving father away from its Christian beliefs & traditions, there’s still a bit of a pull toward the powerful person of Jesus.
While more of our neighbors are only vaguely sensing that the “Christ” in Christmas is someone religiously special, & many even have no idea of it’s connection to the Virgin Birth of the Savior, this is still a great opportunity to introduce them to something more purposeful than celebrating elves & reindeers; shopping sprees & stocking stuffers; sentimental movies & songs.
Christians should never contain themselves within the comfort of church fellowship. If we really believe in the Gospel of Jesus, & if we really love people, then we’re compelled to share His message of forgiveness, life, meaning & hope with them!