Elders At The Gates

"Why do you like Panera so much, John?" No one is really asking but I thought I might answer anyway.

In Old Testament times the Elders, the spiritual leaders of the town, would meet at the gates of the city. Deut 22:5 Deut 25:7 Josh 20:4.

There were a number of practical reasons for this. For one, it made them easy to find. Everyone knew where the gates were and the also knew the Elders would be there. Another reason was that they could oversee what was going on in the city by watching the traffic in and out of the gates. This practice was so prevalent, that it was considered a drawback when it didn't occur Lam 5:14

I think there was more to it than that, though. I believe that they were there because the people were there. Let me explain: When I came on staff at WBF, I used to go walking downtown with one of the other staff members. We would sit in front of Earthly Paradise (remember that place?), we would stroll up and down Main St and, inevitably, he would ask, "Why are we doing this? We have a lot to do back at the church?" I always responded, "Because this is where the people we are called to serve are." We were walking where people lived, out in the town.

I love that feeling. Being immersed in the folks and the environment we live in. There's so much activity, so much life in the conversations that rise up and the sounds of people just fellowshipping with each other and sharing their lives.

I think that's what the Elders in the OT were experiencing...life. Life, moving around them, surrounding them, flowing to them and past them as they received the blessing of watching it all occur. God had called them to lead and serve those people and they were out there living life with them.

Cities don't have those types of gates anymore. The communities that do, have them as a means of keeping people out instead of letting them in. Today, we have new types of gates. They don't look like gates but they serve the same function. They are places where the townspeople can go to be with other people. Places where life and energy rise up and fill the room with the sounds of people talking and sharing.

Panera is one of those places. There are others around town. Places where you can go and, if you are patient for just a little while, see someone you know. Almost every one of these places will have, at any given time, one or more of the Elders or Pastors of the city sitting there, having a cup of coffee and sharing with someone.

They are familiar places, comfortable places, safe places. They are neutral ground and the are usually warm and inviting. The staff gets to know you and you get to become familiar with them. There's always an opportunity to portray Christ to someone, somehow. The Holy Spirit opens the doors and meanwhile, you can while away the day there just watching the town come and go.

So. Maybe I'll see you there. IHOP, Starbucks, Panera, and Safeway are my favorites. There are others; Cafe Torino, Waterloo Cafe, Black Wolf Coffee Shop and more. Join me for a cup of coffee. Refills are usually free, Wi-Fi is generally available and the fellowship is great. We can watch Warrenton come alive. It is where we, as a church, are called to minister, not just inside the walls of 46 Winchester St, but out there where people are living.