The Dentist and Church
I went
to the Dentist last week (Monday the 29th). My vehement dislike for dental procedures
(including cleanings) meant that I had not been to the Dentist in 4 or 5 years
(I would not recommend waiting that long in between visits). I felt so sorry for the girl cleaning my
teeth that I continued to apologize to her.
I felt bad that my teeth had not been professionally cleaned in a long
time because I know it made her job harder than it should have been. She was sweet and assured me that she had
seen worse. While my teeth felt smooth
and polished afterwards, my gums were sore (I was quite disappointed at myself
for not taking better care of my gums).
I have since promised myself that I would not wait 5 years to visit the
Dentist again and that I would be more consistent in flossing my teeth.
I
imagine the experience I had at the Dentist must be similar to the experience first
time visitors (or even long time non-attenders) have when they attend a church
service: disappointment. They have
finally answered God’s prompting to attend a church service and when they do
they just end up being disappointed: either at themselves or at the
church. They don’t like the feeling they
get at the church service so they don’t go back to a service for a few years or
possibly even ever.
It’s
possible that the person just didn’t attend the right church for them, but
often it’s the church’s fault when someone has a bad experience. Sometimes the congregation can make a visitor
or a long time non-attender feel like they don’t belong. Instead of welcoming them home like the
father did to the wayward son in the parable of the prodigal son, they act
superior and holier and make the person feel unwelcome and unwanted. Or maybe the pastor goes on and on about sin
and judgment and God’s wrath without ever talking about God’s grace and mercy. So the person just feels shame and guilt and
never wants to come back.
Maybe
it took more courage than we realize for that person to even step foot in a
church. It took courage for me to go the
Dentist after not going for a few years.
I had fears and reservations about going but I knew it was important for
my health. Maybe the visitor felt the
same way. They had fears and worries
about what their experience would be like but decide to take the chance anyway. When they take that chance what kind of
experience do they have?
The
answer to that question is up to all of us who attend church consistently. And by the way, if you are a member of a
church, any church, you should attend consistently. If you are a member of a United Methodist
church you made a vow (among other promises) that you would support the church
with your presence. That means you
attend the worship services when you are able to do so…not just when it’s
convenient for you. If you feel bad
after reading the last three sentences then God must be prompting you to get
back in church on a regular basis.
Back
to the topic…It is up to those of us who attend church services on a consistent
basis to make those who don’t attend services regularly have the best
experience possible when they do show up.
We are the Church (captiol “C”), we are the body of Christ, it’s up to
us to let people know they are loved and welcome when they make the effort to
attend our church (little “c”) services.
Lets make every effort to be the kind of “C”hurch God wants us to be so
that people who attend “c”hurch feel invited, welcomed, included and
accepted. As for my part to play…I’m
going to start by flossing my teeth!
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