Open

Our denomination’s primary site, http://www.umc.org, says —

The United Methodist Church

is a 12.3-million-strong global church

with open hearts,

open minds

and open doors

— So what?

So this, in my humble opinion:

Open hearts…we care. Jesus says in John 3:17 that he wasn’t sent to condemn the world, and neither are we.

Open minds…we’re still learning. St. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 that we’re to be renewed by the transforming of our minds, and that includes listening and learning together.

Open doors…and they swing both ways. One way is that you’re invited, and bring someone with you. The other way our doors work is when we go out, like Jesus says in Matthew 28:19, “Go into all the world.”

God calls all of us who are The United Methodist Church to be open.

Let’s.