Open Source
Mike Riddle’s article “Found Fragments: Open Source/Open Sores” in Wikiklesia Volume One, includes fifteen definitions of the word “open.” Since the Republican Executive Branch has said that churches should be open “this weekend,” I thought it would be helpful to examine the definitions and see what is really open and closed in the world of churches.
Here’s the article’s fifteen definitions of “open”
Open means…Not closed or barred.(Okay, this one we are closed)- Open means…Affording free passage, access, view.
- Open means…Not sealed, fastened, or wrapped up.
- Open means…Having the interior part accessible.
- Open means…Extended, expanded, or unfolded.
- Open means…Ready for business or interactions.
- Open means…Able to be obtained, available.
- Open means…Unobstructed by buildings.
- Open means…Free to all to join, enter, use.
- Open means…Not decided or finalized.
- Open means…Ready to entertain new ideas, not biased or prejudiced.
- Open means…Liberal or generous.
- Open means…Extended or eager to receive.
- Open means…Undefended.
- Open means…Exposed to the air (like a wound).
Looks like my church is pretty open, even though the building is closed. Feel free to use these definitions in a “You have heard it said that the churches are not open, but I say to you that our church has always been open in this way…” format.
May your church be as open as it can be, and still be safe at home so that when we do gather again, no one is missing.
Your Turn
Thoughts? How open is your church in this season?
Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing on social media.
For a very small church open means remaining extant so we can continue to serve, continue to be a place for folks to be made whole
We’ve done all we can but, acting on advice from many sources, but still can get close to numbers we had in 70’s. But other denominations here have same problems, well except for a couple of independent churches nearby
So during the pause going heavy with number 11. Is there something we have not done, some other way be can serve with what we have?
We do have a little problem with number 15 but as soon as things dry off will get up on the roof and do some patching
Even if the shrines or churches or chapels are closed, we can still continue to serve and worship God and share his words through social media or any other mediums as we are all confined in our homes as of this time during this pandemic! As we already have known or what the priests have always said, “We are the Church.” It doesn’t matter if the building is closed, we are the ones who make it a “Church”, not the building that we are supposed to be inside to do worship and serving.