Sometimes, during introductions at a church meeting, we trade data. History, job title, family size. Stats not spirituals. Like the back of a baseball card.
I’ve had the opportunity to visit churches all across the United States. On weeknights and weekends. In church house, school house, and under tents. Different denominations, worship music, and dress codes.
One thing seems to be similar across the board. Unfortunately, it’s not Jesus Christ. It’s human beings.
I hold to a belief that every church gathering is perfect … until I arrive. At that point, I’m showing my own human frailties – and I notice ’em in other folks, too. They wouldn’t have seen mine and I would’ve never known theirs if I hadn’t gone. Perfect, until I get there.
At some level and for the sake of understanding the world and people around us, we tend to meet new folks at church and judge, compare, and label (JCL). Not so much for bad reasons, but to organize our brain.
One way we begin the JCL process is to ask secular questions such as:
- What kind of work do you do?
- Where are you from?
- Family?
- Just visiting?
It’s like an examination of the back of my baseball card. The data. The history. The stats.
Look at the front of the card, or at least deeper into one’s life. Like what is God doing with my life (a testimony), what kind of Kingdom work am I doing or looking for (a ministry), or how would I like to use my gifts (a talent).
It’s different than what we’re used to doing. It’s deeper, spiritually. How many times do you go deep? (Wait, that’s a back of the card number).
Photo on Pixabay by ruthclark
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