As a PK, I've been to many
different kinds of churches. One thing they ALL have in common is that
they require people to run them. We have the worship team, ushers,
Sunday school teachers, parking team, the greeter, the creepy guy that
sits in the back, and even the pastor - all people! The bigger the
church, the more people in it! Some are really great people... some are not so good... But ALL imperfect people!!
Unfortunately,
that is the greatest problem we have in the Church Body today - we have
to deal with people. I believe most people would rather deal with
adjusting to a theology and/or rules than being hurt by a person. That
can be devastating! As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet that the
#1 reason people leave church is due to an interaction with a who??
DING!! DING!!DING!!! You guessed it! A person.
It
reminds me of that Dr. Pepper commercial from back in the days... "I'm a
pepper, he's a pepper, she's a pepper, we're a pepper wouldn't you
like to be a pepper too?" Check it out!
So
what do we do? We can't have our churches run by robots. Here are 3
things I try keep in mind to help me deal with people in church or
life in general:
1. Nobody is perfect - my
father is a closest demonstration of God's perfect love toward people
that I have ever witnessed. Not only as a pastor but also and, more
importantly, as a father & husband. I know because I got to see the
"behind the scenes". No matter what the circumstances in life would
bring him, he would always react in love and taught us to do the same.
But even he is not perfect. Nor am I. Nor are you. Remembering that
nobody is perfect helps me. Try it!
Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23 GWT)
2.
The Struggle - There is this constant fight between our spirit man and
our flesh that I like to call The Struggle. Our personalities,
characteristics, upbringings, past experiences and other things fuel our
flesh to war against our spirit man. We read the bible and pray to God
but there is force that wants to do the opposite based on a personality
trait or past experiences. Everyone has that one area in their life they
struggle with the most. There's a struggle in all of us. Unfortunately,
the evidence of the struggle will occasionally be released during our
interactions with one another.
For the flesh desires what is
contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever
you want. (Galatians 5:17 NIV)
3. Dealing with
UCP's - just because we are saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy
Ghost doesn't mean we are a completed project. We are what I like to
call UCP's or Under Construction Projects. Being saved is the beginning
of the project God performs in us and one day we will be a finished
project - can I get an amen?!! The problem is that there is work to be
done here on earth for God's kingdom. We have to use the talents and
gifts that God has given us to do that work WHILE we are still UCP's!!
So keep in mind that those UCP's you run into in church are using their
God-given gifts and talents to work in God's kingdom and serve The
Lord.
I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in
you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6 GWT)
Now, there are 2 sides to the coin:
1.
You may be the person coming into church and interacting with the
people who are serving in church who and doing their best to not mess
up. But sometimes they do.
2. You may be the person serving
in church trying your best to get it right and have interactions with
those people attending church. Either way, keep these things in mind
during these interactions.
Here's a thought...
the next time you come across an unpleasant interaction in church or
life in general just begin to sing that Dr. Pepper song but with a
remix... "I'm a project, he's a project, she's a project, we're a
project, wouldn't you like to be a project too?"
Now
you [collectively] are Christ's body and [individually] you are members
of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and
function]. (1 Corinthians 12:27 AMP)
