This is a continuation of the post from yesterday. <Click there to check it out. Some of this will not make sense without first reading that.
First of all, let me calm some nerves. Within 3 minutes of the post yesterday, I had 4 emails. One of em practically begging me not to do this one and the others asking me to please not mention names. Well, I’m not sure what they thought was coming, but I have never and will never use this as a tool to call people out. Of course I will not mention names here. I don’t think I need to.
Secondly, this IS my blog and if you’re offended or bothered by something you read here, you have probably missed the point. I’m not in the business of making people angry. If you’re mad about anything you read below or have read previously, there is probably something to that….hint, hint! You’re also more than welcome to voice YOUR opinion in the comment section, via email or to just not click the link that brought you here. The title of this blog is What’s This Life For, NOT What Makes Christians Happy.
Now then, I have thought and thought of how to do this. I have all of these things moving around in my head and I’m not quite sure what to do with them. I have prayed for a long time between the last paragraph and this one and I’m just gonna let it flow and trust that He is in control of how it is received. I know it’s easy to be a critic, especially for someone who is close to the situation. Like I stated, my goal is only to try and make the place I go to Worship Christ a more welcoming environment. Most of us, who have been in church for awhile or have been Christians for awhile may not need it, but for those that “the church” was built for, THEY DO.
I am new to the military life. Almost just as new to Christian life. When ya add that up, you get that I am a rookie military Christian. I’d like to think I can fit in to most any situation and have done that here, with this community, in this church. I have voiced some of my concerns to very few people. I have done that with the thought that, “they can’t do anything about it, so why not.” I’m tired of that CRAP. They CAN do something about it; I can do something about it and I’m going to. They can join me if they’d like. The shame of it is, they probably won’t. Ya see, this is a military community and most people here have short-timers disease from the time they get here. They know they are not going to be here long term, so they don’t wanna rattle the cage. They don’t want to be involved in anything that causes change. They think change is bad and assume that the church doesn’t need changed cuz there are people in the seats on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, they get involved: They sing, they join boards and groups, but when things happen that THEY KNOW shouldn’t happen within a church, they turn their head. I can hear em now, just like I have heard them many times, “oh, just be patient…things will change.” WILL THEY? WHEN? When did you become Nostradamus? What they’re really saying is, “SOMEONE ELSE will change it.” Ahhh, isn’t that much easier? Let’s sit in our nice, quiet and perfect place in the world and count on someone else to do what is necessary. After all, if it was supposed to change, God would change it.
HA! I laugh at that and I think He would too. Some people actually believe that, but “free will” is another topic for another day.
I said yesterday that I would get “more specific”, so let’s do that: I’m sick because:
PROBLEM
- Rude people should stay home. Really, it’s that simple. I’m not talking about the “average Joe” churchgoer. I’m talking about the person who has been there for a long time and is considered a leader of the church. If you can’t wipe that smug look off of your face for the length of time you’re going to be at church, STAY HOME! YOU put people in a bad mood and since I appear to be someone people can unload their concerns on, they come to me asking why you act like you’re too good to speak. I welcome being there for them, but not to answer questions about YOU.
SOLUTION
- Uhhhh, #1, you’re not too good. If someone told you that, they lied. If your spouse makes you feel like you are, he or she is GOOD, but you’re taking it too far. You’re a leader! I don’t care if you lead the finance team or the clean up team or if you’re the lowest ranking member on either team, in the eyes of new folks, YOU’RE A LEADER! Act like it! For those of us who have sit back and watch this rudeness and said nothing, WE ARE part of the problem. You don’t have to get nasty, but say something. Maybe that’s their natural look and they are overly preoccupied. Maybe they don’t realize they’re being rude. I firmly believe that is NOT the case, but tell them! From this day forward, I certainly will!
PROBLEM
- GOSSIP! The definition of gossip is the idle talk or rumors about the personal affairs of others. I’m not talking about 2 friends discussing things. I understand these things, but lemme tell ya, there is no greater gossip machine than the one here. What’s even more sad is I play a large role in it. I’m there 6 days a week, so I get it from all angles, about all people. That leads to the….
SOLUTION
- NO MORE! STOP! If you have a problem with me, tell me, NOT someone else. Also, if you have a problem with someone else, TELL THEM, NOT ME! I guarantee you they can’t change me and I can’t change them. You’re much better off presenting your issues with the person causing the issue for you.
PROBLEM
- LIARS! Maybe this hits me extra hard because in a previous life I couldn’t tell the truth to save my life, but there’s a different kind of liar here. I’m not gonna go into details of this problem, but…..
SOLUTION
- Uhhhh tell the truth? I won’t tell ya you look good if ya don’t, you sound good if you don’t, your sermon was good if it wasn’t. I won’t act like there isn’t a problem if there is one, I won’t tell you something is going to happen if I know that it’s not. As a matter of fact, I won’t tell ya it’s gonna happen unless I’m ABSOLUTELY SURE it’s gonna happen. Please return the favor and follow along. Oh, and being FAKE makes you a liar too. That’s all I have to say about that.
We are in a unique situation here. It’s not like there are lots of churches go choose from. So, we end up having, not only different personalities, but different beliefs under one roof. Some people have told me to leave and go to another, more contemporary church. Some have said that maybe the Baptists are not for me and I should try another denomination or a non-denominational church. Yeah, they’re around and I could do that, but why? A mentor of mine once told me that if I’m looking for a church that will be perfect for me, I’ll always be looking. I’m not gonna run from the problems presented here, but I’m not going to pretend they don’t exist either. Maybe nothing will change. There’s a great chance they won’t. I am only one man. But these aren’t issues that require great theological debate. I’m sure we can all agree on at least one line in the Bible: Love thy neighbor! LOVE, people, LOVE! I promise you that I am in that building 10 times as much as most of you, but while I’m there, I’m completely accessible to anyone who needs me. If I see a face that I have not seen before, I stop and introduce myself. On Sunday, when the pastor asks if there is anyone there for their first time, I pay attention so I can seek those people out and say HI! Again, I’m just a screw up and no better than the next guy, but what if we all did that? I’ll tell ya what if….We would have no choice but to build a bigger building or add service times. Yeah, I think if the music changed more people would come. I think there are several things to be done to make it more attractive to the largest demographic here, but that’s irrelevant at this point. We must begin with how we treat people. Respect, love and kindness. My church, your church, OUR church.
I have so much more to say, but I’m sure I have lost everyone except my Mom by now
. Another day, another post, I guess.
The bottom line, I suppose, as I tell my kids 437 times a day….
BE NICE
