Let The Light In

I've gone to quite a few churches over the past 25 years and something struck me today that hasn't risen to the surface before. When did windows start disappearing? The church we went to in college was a new construction church and had narrow windows high in the walls surrounding the auditorium. You had to look up to see the outside light. You couldn't look outside (or inside for that matter) through them.

The church we regularly attend, in an older historic church building, has some windows in the balcony, some of them with cool stained glass artwork. But mostly the focus forward is away from them, the backdrop on stage being a dark fabric. Some of the other churches we have attended in Portland don't have any windows at all.

We visited a church today that made me think of this. Don't get me wrong. It was a welcoming church with spiritually connective worship and teaching. The auditorium was big enough to be accommodating, yet small enough to be inclusive. Across the front, behind the stage, hung what appeared to be rich draperies, variously lighted. There were no windows.

I got to thinking: "I wonder what's behind the curtains? Did the Israelites think about that when they went into the temple? Did church architects pattern their worship centers after the descriptions of the way that Israel's temple was described in the Bible? Wait a minute! Most Israelites wouldn't have seen the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies because only the priests were allowed in the part of the temple where that was. And only the High Priest got to go behind the curtain once a year. Anyway, the veil of the temple was torn in two when Christ had finished his work of atonement on the cross. That opened the way for everyone to freely come before God through Jesus. The light inside got blown outward so that the light outside could come in. Why aren't there windows in here, anyway?"

I would like to see more windows in our churches. They don't just let the light in. They let me see out. They also let others see in. Most people are drawn to light-filled places, to what's happening behind light-filled windows. We like to see what life is like in there. It is inviting.

Maybe I need more windows in me.