Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’

Some may have seen the show called “The O.C.” I never really watched it, but it helps my illustration. The ‘poor’ character on the show was supposed to be from a city called Chino Hills, CA. When I heard someone mention that, as they talked about the show, I laughed. You see, I grew up in Pomona, CA, and then in Ontario, CA. Residents of Chino Hills called us poor. Especially in Pomona where there was a large racial mix, the area also had a problem with gang activity. And since we lived in the shadow of the beautiful Laguna Nigel and San Diego, our status was fairly obvious. I mean, even Texas has more attractive landscape.

Now, in spite of its deficiencies, I would probably smack you if you made fun of Pomona or Ontario, unless you also lived there at some point. It’s still my hometown. In the small section of John above, Nathanael has the same outlook that someone from Laguna Nigel would have about a resident of Pomona. Or, in terms I am more familiar with, someone from Chesterfield and Ellisville, MO would probably say the same about someone from East Saint Louis. Of course, let’s be honest. Depending on what was specifically said, they would be right. The same is true for Nathanael. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Well, no… not really.

Many have probably asked the same questions about the church in America. Sitting in cozy, separated chairs, sipping $9 lattes, and remembering that they have to wash their 40-foot suburban after the service, the ghettoized Christian church has left most of us in spiritual bankruptcy. This is especially true with the suburban, republican clubs that have the word ‘church’ in their names. Can anything good come from there? Or is it time to stick our heads in the sand and give up?

I think that the very beginning of John has something to say. We’ve all heard it before: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Ok…am I just being trite? What does that have to do with Pomona, Laguna Nigel, and a venti, extra-hot, white chocolate, double shot, half soy, light whipped cream, mocha with a hint of cinnamon?

Well, do you remember the last time you took part in the Sacrament? When you went up to receive the bread and wine, God’s actual, spoken Word was there in those elements. The Word That Was Spoken to Create the Universe actually walked around in sandals for a while. As painful as it may sound, this Word is present even in the places that spiritually abuse members of its congregation. Because, after all, this Word became flesh, bones, teeth, hair, and blood so that even Christians might be saved.