Last night was Life group.  And for the first time since we merged 2 groups it really felt to me like everyone was connecting.  Conversations were flowing from the start and during our discussion time we hit rabbit trail after rabbit trail (the sign of a close group in my opinion).

But the topic of discussion came from a book our church is reading called “I became a christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt” by Vince Antonucci.  We were discussing our role in God’s plan.  We are called to go out and touch the sick.  We are called to minister to the broken.  We are called to Love the Loveless.  But something holds us back from doing that.  What is it that makes us uncomfortable around people that are different from us?  Why is it so hard to make simple eye contact with the person in the elevator never mind the homeless guy on the street corner?  We don’t even smile at each other anymore.  Think about it…  That last time a complete stranger smiled at you I bet 90% of you thought something like ”wow this guy must be some kind of crazy man, I bet he hears voices.”  Right?  That’s the only logical solution to someone smiling at you is a severe mental illness.  That is the reason we don’t smile or reach out to each other, we are afraid our motives will be questioned.

I know for me it’s a little different.  Perhaps it’s my customer service background.  Perhaps it’s my role as director of first impressions for Fellowship church.  Smiling isn’t hard for me.  Eye contact isn’t hard for me.  I know my motives are pure I know why I am smiling.  If the person on the receiving end is skeptical that’s on them.  I am just gonna keep smiling.  I love God and them… I show it through smiling.

Reaching out on the other hand is difficult for me.  We are called “The Body of Christ.”  We are called to be his hands to reach out and touch the sick.  We are called to be his feet to go a share his Love.  We are called to be his mouth to speak his truth.  But if you are anything like me you want to be God’s right butt cheek. 

I keep my wallet in the right butt pocket of my shorts.  (note to potential pick pockets: I am a ninja don’t mess with me!)  I can only assume since I am made in God’s image that he keeps his wallet in the right butt pocket of his shinning white robe.  You see it is easy for me to pull out my wallet and support people and ministries that are out there on the front lines.  Like these here.  however it is difficult for me to get off of the couch, off of my butt to go out and become a hand, or a foot, or a mouth.  There is risk in putting yourself out there.  Being vulnerable, Loving, Touching, Teaching.  “What if I get it wrong?”  “That’s just not my gift.”  The excuses are easy to come by but that last time I looked though the bible it didn’t offer me any. 

I developed this butt cheek idea when I was young.  The church I grew up in is great.  But I remember every time we would have one of the missionaries we support come to the church every one gushed over the work they were doing.  And rightfully so.  These people were out there being the Body of Christ to those that had never known him.  But there was this sense that “they were different.”  I felt like I was looking at the actual disciples when I would see them.  They were special and the average man or women couldn’t do what they did.  So we gave them money.  

It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and throw money at the problem.  But The world needs more hands.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Now working in ministry I think I am required to say this following statement.  DON’T STOP GIVING.  To effectively communicate the gospel it takes the whole body.  Hands, feet, heart, butt cheeks, to a lesser extent the colon, but you get the idea.  On Judgement day we will all be held accountable for how we invested our “Time, Talent, and Treasure.” 

So, from a butt that wants to be a hand, how are we going to accomplish our mission?

Billy

A submission to Watercooler Wednesday