Build or Go or Both

I don’t watch many movies, at least not in a theater.  Most of the movies I’ve see have been on airplanes or in hotel rooms. I’m not sure where I was when I first saw, “A Field of Dreams” nor am I sure how many times I’ve watched it. This much I know for sure – every time I watch it, I shed a few tears.  Were it just about baseball, it would be one of my favorites, but it is more.  It is about fathers and sons and baseball. Before God called my Dad into the ministry, he was a semi-pro baseball player in Central Texas. Thus, “having a catch” with my Dad was more than a thrill.  Having him attend my games and critique me following, was something I treasured.  “If you build it they will come” was a great line for building a baseball stadium.  For a church, not so much.  We are not called to build so they will come.  We are called to go, and as they come, we build to minister to them.  The repeated word from Jesus was, “go” (Matthew 28:19), not “build,” So the movie does not have a primary church application. It’s still one of my all-time favorites.  Last week I watched the annual major league game played in the new stadium on the grounds of the movie.  It brought back memories – and yes, a few tears.