What the Bible and Toy Story have in common

In 2013 I reflected on Pope Francis as the new “pontiff,” a bridge builder, and prayed that he would be such. He was, but we need more. Along with others here, I have called out for unity and cooperation in disagreement. Maybe it is my many years of Catechism that makes the word “belong” ring in my head and heart.

Lament

I lament the brokenness of the church, that many leaders and laity are leaving the Christian Reformed Church and that others are alienated and being told that they are not welcomed. 

I lament power plays and harming others in the name of “truth”. I lament “Christian Nationalism” dishonoring Christ’s name and dividing churches and people. I lament human moralism and political allegiance overtaking the Gospel message of God’s loving action to and for us.

Where we belong

The Gospel gives me hope. This week, a Methodist pastor in Florida compared the Gospel to the themes in the Toy Story movie. It is all about belonging. Andy’s toys have his name on the bottom of their feet. The toys help new ones find their place and identity. They support, cooperate and rescue each other. The pastor made an inadvertent homophonic double entendre when he said, “God’s name is written on our souls [soles].”

That morning, a baby was baptized with parents, grandparents and other family members surrounding the child. The liturgy emphasized the child joining the whole church community. 

At the same time my grandson, Levi, was doing confirmation in his church in Kansas City. The first question was, “Do you know that your primary identity is rooted and established in the love of God?” The second, “Will you be an active participant in the church, the body of Christ?” The third, “Will you root your individual story in God’s bigger story?” Levi shared his desire to be a craftsman and leader for Christ. It was a joy to watch this video, sent to me by his mother, Hope. 

A bigger story

I pray as Paul did. “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3: 17-19)

Let us keep singing together, “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word.” The stanzas tell our, the church’s and God’s story. As churches struggle and denominations morph, we feel loss. Still, we remain part of something bigger. We are part of God’s universal mission in all places and forms. We believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.

As I left the Methodist service, I thanked the pastor for his message and shared with him from my tradition something he had not heard – the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?

“That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”