Our eyes were opened today to how insensitive and exclusive we can be as Christians toward those who don't follow our same beliefs. Aaron has had the opportunity to spend a good amount of time with Eric, who you may have read about in our monthly newsletters. (For the record, we absolutely LOVE the new church we are attending. This by no means a knock on it and the body of believers who are truly the Church in its Biblical sense, but a calling out the church as an organization. We have learned there are no perfect churches because the people who fill them are imperfect. As a result, we can be prone to "doing church" to fit our tastes and comforts as believers, but often overlook the tastes and comforts of unbelievers who may attend.)
Eric has had some issues with God for quite a few years. He grew up going to church and was even confirmed in middle school. But it was shortly thereafter when he felt betrayed by God, but perhaps mostly by those who carry the tag "Christian." As a 9 year old, some things happened where he felt on the outside of the Christian clique that has become so prevalent in churches. That exclusion lead him to abandon the Christian faith and live his life for himself as his own god, for his own happiness and satisfaction. Now, 13 years later, his search for happiness and completion has lead him back to God, the only place he has yet to look.
He came to church with us today. Aaron invited him earlier in the week and Eric took the initiative to call and say that he would accept the invitation. We went and I thought it was a typical Sunday, the only exceptions being the unashamed atheist sitting to my right and our partaking of Communion as a body of Christ. Worship was great and, out of everything else, the thing that I felt would speak most to Eric. But as I drove him home after the service, I felt like I needed to apologize for some of what he heard. He heard many "churchy" words and phrases that would take a Webster's Dictionary and possibly even a semester of seminary classes to understand. But the biggest turn off to church in Eric's perspective was Communion.
"I just about walked out to go outside and have a cigarette," Eric told me. The pastor leading the Communion time did a great job of explaining it, but while he was doing so, I was nervous for Eric because the Bible exhorts nonbelievers to not partake of Communion (1 Cor 11). How would he respond to this? The pastor made it clear that, "This is only for believers in Christ, so if you are not a Christian, you may not participate in Communion." This is completely right on. But how he said it left Eric feeling singled out because he was unaware this was the case as the Bible lays it out and aren't churches supposed to be welcoming and inclusive? Instead, it brought back old fears and opened up old wounds from his childhood when he felt excluded and driven from the church in the first place.
Granted, a purpose of the church is to build up the believers. But that's not THE purpose. We can't forget nonbelievers also grace the pews of our churches as well as every other compartment of our daily lives. I think we must check ourselves in our conduct towards nonbelievers in our presence. Are we:
1) Excluding and cliquey towards nonbelievers?
2) Using too much "Christianese" not just in church, but also as we share the Gospel, or talk about our Christian lives?
3) Aware of and sensitive to the seekers around us and how our words and conduct may be received by them?
4) Presenting Christian ideas and principles in an understanding way to bring nonbelievers TOWARDS Christ rather than repel them from Christ?
Eric has had some issues with God for quite a few years. He grew up going to church and was even confirmed in middle school. But it was shortly thereafter when he felt betrayed by God, but perhaps mostly by those who carry the tag "Christian." As a 9 year old, some things happened where he felt on the outside of the Christian clique that has become so prevalent in churches. That exclusion lead him to abandon the Christian faith and live his life for himself as his own god, for his own happiness and satisfaction. Now, 13 years later, his search for happiness and completion has lead him back to God, the only place he has yet to look.
He came to church with us today. Aaron invited him earlier in the week and Eric took the initiative to call and say that he would accept the invitation. We went and I thought it was a typical Sunday, the only exceptions being the unashamed atheist sitting to my right and our partaking of Communion as a body of Christ. Worship was great and, out of everything else, the thing that I felt would speak most to Eric. But as I drove him home after the service, I felt like I needed to apologize for some of what he heard. He heard many "churchy" words and phrases that would take a Webster's Dictionary and possibly even a semester of seminary classes to understand. But the biggest turn off to church in Eric's perspective was Communion.
"I just about walked out to go outside and have a cigarette," Eric told me. The pastor leading the Communion time did a great job of explaining it, but while he was doing so, I was nervous for Eric because the Bible exhorts nonbelievers to not partake of Communion (1 Cor 11). How would he respond to this? The pastor made it clear that, "This is only for believers in Christ, so if you are not a Christian, you may not participate in Communion." This is completely right on. But how he said it left Eric feeling singled out because he was unaware this was the case as the Bible lays it out and aren't churches supposed to be welcoming and inclusive? Instead, it brought back old fears and opened up old wounds from his childhood when he felt excluded and driven from the church in the first place.
Granted, a purpose of the church is to build up the believers. But that's not THE purpose. We can't forget nonbelievers also grace the pews of our churches as well as every other compartment of our daily lives. I think we must check ourselves in our conduct towards nonbelievers in our presence. Are we:
1) Excluding and cliquey towards nonbelievers?
2) Using too much "Christianese" not just in church, but also as we share the Gospel, or talk about our Christian lives?
3) Aware of and sensitive to the seekers around us and how our words and conduct may be received by them?
4) Presenting Christian ideas and principles in an understanding way to bring nonbelievers TOWARDS Christ rather than repel them from Christ?
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