Attracting Bugs and Believers!

The past several Sundays I have focused on making 2009 a year of change for the church. That happens by us changing our behavior to some degree, engaging others so they might meet the risen Christ. As United Methodists, we are to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”…that is our world. We have the power and knowledge to accomplish this (both come from the Holy Spirit), however we often lack the will to do it. Oh, I know we will say we want to reach out to others and we want others to come to our church, but quite honestly that is not always the case. You know what happens during the summer months in the evenings when we turn on the lights…we get bugs: swarming, biting, annoying bugs! Too often, when we shine the light of Jesus Christ into our community we will draw people to the Church that are frustrating and annoying…not at all like us! And rather than allow Jesus Christ the time to transform them (which is part of our mission statement) we want to immediately chase them away (or worse yet, zap them!). They’re too much trouble, they don’t fit in, they aren’t sincere, and they aren’t like us. Seems it’s much easier to make excuses than it is to be Christ-like. Unfortunately, by definition, as the “body of Christ” we are to look like Jesus! So does that happen? When others look at you or your church do they see Jesus? I pray we would take advantage of the times to reach lives for Jesus Christ…not chase them away.