I'm going to share something really personal. I can't find a deodorant that's nice... you know, to my pits. At first when I try one it's fine, at least for the first few hours, but then itching and then burning follow. It's horrible really. A sad story. A man who can't find a reliable deodorant - one that won't keep burning him. So there you have it, a window into my dark, red places. You'll never look at my under arms the same way again. At least now that it's out in the open I might get some help from others who've been through this same struggle.
One day as I was itching and burning - at the same time - a thought came to me. How many people tried the "stick o' church" and ended up getting burnt? How many people have I personally affected in this way? It's an important question to enter into.
Now I know and realize that we can't beat ourselves up over what we did "back there," in the past. And we can't blame ourselves for what others did throughout history. But what I want us to explore and consider is this. If people see the church as a kind of deodorant - a place to come to that can help them not stink anymore - and if the church is a group of people (not a building)- what are we doing individually, personally to assist in the application?
In essence, the Bible says that we are to be a sweet and pleasing aroma. What do we smell like? What aroma are we putting off? Do we think that it's the pastor's message, the church's ministries and events that make up the aroma, or do we believe that we all have an important part that contributes to the overall scent?
Here's another good question to think about. Do I really care about people, and am I willing to step out of the crowd of people that are surrounding me to talk to the couple or person who has no one around them? Sometimes we need to do that. It's hard, and we don't want to, but it's what people coming into our church are looking for. It's what they need most whether they realize it then or not. They're looking for a good person - a good deodorant - that's not going to leave them burnt. They need your aroma, and as you share it, it pleases God.
So go ahead, apply yourself to a stranger, and see what God will do with it.
One day as I was itching and burning - at the same time - a thought came to me. How many people tried the "stick o' church" and ended up getting burnt? How many people have I personally affected in this way? It's an important question to enter into.
Now I know and realize that we can't beat ourselves up over what we did "back there," in the past. And we can't blame ourselves for what others did throughout history. But what I want us to explore and consider is this. If people see the church as a kind of deodorant - a place to come to that can help them not stink anymore - and if the church is a group of people (not a building)- what are we doing individually, personally to assist in the application?
In essence, the Bible says that we are to be a sweet and pleasing aroma. What do we smell like? What aroma are we putting off? Do we think that it's the pastor's message, the church's ministries and events that make up the aroma, or do we believe that we all have an important part that contributes to the overall scent?
Here's another good question to think about. Do I really care about people, and am I willing to step out of the crowd of people that are surrounding me to talk to the couple or person who has no one around them? Sometimes we need to do that. It's hard, and we don't want to, but it's what people coming into our church are looking for. It's what they need most whether they realize it then or not. They're looking for a good person - a good deodorant - that's not going to leave them burnt. They need your aroma, and as you share it, it pleases God.
So go ahead, apply yourself to a stranger, and see what God will do with it.
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