Volume 33

I’m talking about the world’s very first “motor hotel” or motel, a word coined in 1925 by Los Angeles architect Arthur Heineman who built a place called The Milestone. With a price tag of $80,000, he constructed the motel in San Luis Obispo, California — halfway between L.A. and San Francisco. It was such a new idea that when Heineman put up a billboard announcing construction, he was flooded with calls from people saying he’d misspelled hotel with an m instead of an h. But the motel quickly took root in North America’s language and culture.

When the Milestone first opened, guests paid $1.25 for two rooms with a kitchen and a private garage. Each unit faced a courtyard that included a swimming pool and picnic tables for social events. Originally, Arthur Heineman had planned a chain of motels stretching from L.A. to Seattle but the Depression yanked the financial welcome mat from under him. It didn’t help that motels were widely seen as sinful and sordid.

But after World War Two, car travel was finally going places, thanks to construction of the interstate highway system. All of a sudden, the need for overnight accommodations soared. Though the first motels were promoted as a place where people of all kinds and classes could meet, critics say that was just a myth. The truth was, they were too expensive for many people. In fact, the Milestone had separate servants’ quarters and catered to travellers with money. Motels were also segregated, off-limits to blacks and Mexicans. It was only later that clean, affordable and accepting accommodations made motels respectable and accessible.

In a very real sense, the church is a spiritual equivalent to the motel, a rest-stop on the way to heaven. To those who’ve never had a positive experience with any collection of Christians, the concept of a loving, vibrant and enjoyable church seems like some kind of mistake, a hard concept to imagine, let alone embrace. But God knew we’d all need rest and encouragement on our spiritual journey home. So He envisioned a string of church families that would offer safety, nourishment and social support.

All too often though, a focus on money and the mistakes of members has given the church a negative reputation. In fairness, there’s lots to be critical about, but our sinfulness doesn’t change our world’s exploding need for spiritual rest. God has paved the way to heaven through the blood of his Son, shed to take away our sin and to qualify everyone for entry. All He asks is that we accept that free gift and live a life of grateful service in close, consistent relationship with Jesus. The church is a place where we’re intended to “encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” and to “encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of Jesus’ coming back is drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24,25)

But if that’s going to happen, it must be a place where all are welcome, regardless of income or ethnicity. We must all enter through the servants’ quarters and do our bit to keep the church clean, safe and accessible. In a church like that, there would be no need for reservations.

By Rick Gamble. Published in Cross Current, the weekly newsletter of the followers of Christ congregation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Reprint at will in not-for-profit publications. To subscribe to this free weekly article, send a note to Rick at rgamble@bfree.on.ca