I'm A Project

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)