Groups of people take on a personality; every gathering has characters that lend uniqueness. Thus, every congregation engages somewhat differently from one another.
A church personality is important because, unless we intend to keep our rosters closed, we are greeting new people each week. They meet our personality and decide whether it is healthy and accepting, stingy and judgmental, or more like dead on arrival.
Hurting people risk church to find hope. They need to find a safe place to ponder God, where those attending do not appear superior and falsely cheerful, but rather loving and authentic.
Church gives hurting people strength when it says "Hello" and "Come sit with us."
Church gives apprehensive people strength when it assists with every step of way-finding to kids' programs, bathrooms and coffee.
Church gives lost people strength when it points to Jesus through song and teaching.
Church cannot feed the strength of the hurting, the apprehensive and the lost unless it is feeding its own strength by surrendering its mission to God and listening intently for guidance.
If I could hope for any phrase from the imaginary personality appraiser, stamped on the heart of our church, it would be:
Freely gives.That suggests that the heart of Christ is welcomed in our place, and we will do our best to learn to extend it to anyone who walks through the door.
After all, Jesus' very life and the gift of our salvation was and is:
Freely given.Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
