Yesterday, I cut through a large sports park to visit a local Icelandic religious congregation near my campsite. I had been keen on attending, since it was an opportunity to experience my faith in an unfamiliar context, where English would not be spoken and attendance would likely be sparse. For me, practicing Christianity in the US has sometimes become too comfortable, and I wanted to enter in as a stranger rather than a member, a alien rather than a visitor.
I walked inside rather sheepishly, afraid that the congregation might be put off that a foreigner would dare disturb their service. These fears were put off as I met a woman who greeted me warmly, and in walking around I heard the choir fervently warming up their voices in preparation for worship. And as I made my way into a row the pews, I was in awe of the great religious art in this small sanctuary, with the wooden cross in the centre and the incandescent light bulbs hanging strategically from the top. Sitting silently, a handful of well-dressed parishioners walked in, and in a spirit of gentleness, the laity began the service. After the service I talked with the pastor, who was glad that I had come and did not turn away because of cultural discomfort.
When many American believers travel abroad for vacation, they may have little thought in visiting a local religious community, at best opting to attend a chapel service inside the resort. But the Christian faith is a global religion, and believers must understand that it is possible to know God by a different name and admonish Him in a different way. By becoming more aware about the spiritual practices of our sisters and brothers both near and far, we realize the faults in our own local communities and are able to learn from sisters and brothers we might have otherwise perceived as ignorant.
Ultimately, what matters is not the ability to understand every particularity of faith, but coming with a open mind to be rooted in love, trusting that one day restoration will come.
