what are you passionate about?
An editorial from Monte McClain – Pastor, Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

PASSION. It’s what makes us tick. It’s what motivates us. At times it’s what consumes us. For some it’s what eludes us. May 27th is Pentecost: the birth day of the church, the affirmation of Christian community, and the Holy Spirit given mandate for the church to be a community of faith characterized as multicultural, intergenerational, diverse and by its passion. As I reflect on where we are as a church and our Pentecostal call to be a passionate church I wonder what we’re passionate about? Looking at our nation and world today I see that we’re passionate about a great many diverse things. We’re passionate about giving the surge in Iraq more of a chance, to bring the soldiers home now, for a particular party, for a particular approach to immigration in our country, or for the new summer blockbuster movies that begin arriving this weekend. We’re passionate about the car we drive & how many miles it gets to the gallon. We’re passionate about recycling, saving money, staying healthy, losing weight, improving our neighborhood, educating our children and youth, and even the Golden State Warriors in their fairy-tale-end-of-the-season.

But what are we passionate about both as individual Christians and as a gathered community of Christian faith (a church)? In reading the Oakland Tribune this past week I was struck by the story of an East Bay Church that seems to be most passionate about spanking children so that they can be corrected and raised in the wisdom of the Lord. The article grabbed my attention, as intended, and made me wonder about my own passion and the passion of our
church community here at Fruitvale. I was troubled that the passion of a church community would be focused seemingly in its entirety around the notion of spanking as essential. It just seems to un-essential in terms of what it means to be a follower of Jesus the Christ in our massively un-churched world. Why not be passionate about serving the poor, advocating for more affordable housing, fighting the spread of AIDS in Africa, freedom in Darfur, Immigrant Rights, or the full inclusion of all people in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church?

So I thought about Fruitvale Presbyterian Church. What are we – what are you – passionate about? For some of us it’s that church needs to start on time, or the use of the organ in worship or how our liturgy is inclusive of our multiculturality; maybe it’s what is served at coffee hour, maybe it’s who is serving communion and how it’s done, maybe it’s about a particular mission project (NEST, COPE, Tilden School), maybe it’s what scripture is being presented and lifted up in worship, the emerging community groups, the monthly peace vigil or our efforts to reach out to our immediate neighborhoods; maybe it’s the art that’s on the walls of the sanctuary, or the artwork that shouldn’t be on the walls, maybe it’s about who will be at worship, or summer camp, or Godly Play, or what the amount in the offering plate will be. What are we passionate about? I’m not sure. What I mean is that I can picture the faces of each person who is passionate about the things listed above, but what are we passionate about as an entire congregation? Are we passionate about something that’s essential to us all or are we divided among our diverse passions for our particular pet projects or purposes? What do you think is our common passion?

Peace to you and yours, Monte

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