I find that I am often frustrated by Christians' response to things. I'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for what we believe in, or that we shouldn't have the freedom to speak our minds. I'm not. There are plenty of things I feel strongly about, and I'm certainly entitled to my opinion, and I'm equally entitled to speak about those things (based on the Constitution of this country where I live), and I'm equally entitled to "take a stand" about those things. (and i'm entitled to write run-on, grammatically incorrect sentences when I feel passionately about something!)
But what I am not entitled to do is to be hateful. I am not entitled to be hurtful. I am not entitled to misrepresent Jesus and His love for ALL mankind, regardless of race, or gender, or political orientation. I am not entitled to make you feel like you are less than me because we do not share the same religious beliefs. I am not entitled to judge you.
I am called to be different. I am called to use my powers for good ("Do not withhold good to those whom it is due when it is in your power to do so.") I am called to love, unconditionally, unequivocally, without reservation or regard to political or religious or any another persuasion.
So if I am going to rise up and cry out and want to make a difference in the world . . .
If I am going to put my energy someplace . . .
If I am going to try to change the world to be what I believe God would want . . .
I'm going to rescue babies, and help dig water wells, and help rescue modern day slaves, and feed the poor, or at the very least I'm gonna spend some time getting to know my neighbors and loving them better.
I could go on. But I won't. I don't want to join the melee. (I think I just did).
I just want to say that I love Jesus. And I love people. And if my love for Jesus and you isn't the *first* thing you notice about me, then I need to work on myself before I even THINK about what you need to change about you.
All that to say, before you act . . .before you speak . . . ask yourself, "Is what I am about to say or do going to be a beautiful reflection of Jesus or a hateful reflection of myself?" My answer to that question should drive who I am and how I act in the world that I am called to love.
Why You Need to Cut Your Church Staff Some Slack at Christmas
If you've never worked in a church at Christmastime, or had a spouse or parent who worked at a church at Christmastime, then you may not know the immense amount of STRESS that comes with this holiday.
In the Christian church world, Christmas Eve is the Super Bowl. It's the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world. It's a month long building of events and concerts and plays and markets and parties and dinners, all culminating in THE EVENT, Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is the single most attended service of the year in churches, by Christians and non-Christians alike. And I have to tell you, that's a lot of pressure for a church staff. In many cases, it's the only chance people will give the church, so you gotta get it right.
Keep in mind that people who work at a church also have families, and family parties, and neighbors and traditions, and school events, and shopping and all the things everyone else has to do. (Yes, I know other people have jobs at Christmastime, but trust me, it's different! I've been on both sides of the fence. It's different!)
And when your family is dressing up all cute and feeling all warm and snuggly and festive as you attend the Christmas Eve service together, keep in mind that the folks who work at the church are attending ALL of the services while their family is most likely at home, celebrating without them, or "making the most of" the fact that their family member isn't there with them.
And they've probably been there for hours getting ready for the service. No details have been left to chance. The candles, the music, the lights, the message. It's all been thought about for a long time. Even if your church does it simply, it's still a massive undertaking for the staff.
Why am I writing all of this? It's not because I'm counting my blessings that I don't work in a church anymore. I loved working there and often miss it. (Well, parts of it.)
I'm writing this because this Christmas I want you to cut your church staff some slack. I want you to shower them with grace. I want you to withhold how you wish they'd put real trees up instead of artsy lighted tree branches. And don't feel the need to critique the marketing of the Women's Christmas dinner that you missed. I want you to be thankful that there WAS a Children's Choir performance and that your child got to sing in it, even if they didn't have a solo.
I want you to appreciate that someone had to set up and tear down and set up and tear down and set up and tear down the insane amount of extra events that people seem to want to plan AT church at Christmastime.
Please, take the time to send them a card and write a meaningful note in it. Not just for your Senior Pastor (though he's clearly important) but to any staff member that you interact with regularly. Or give them a gift card (even it's $5 to Starbucks) or just do something nice for them! Mow their yard. I don't know and it doesn't really matter. Just be thoughtful is my point.
And best of all, when they ask you to, or better yet, BEFORE they ask, volunteer to serve. You'll have plenty of chances. There will be Children's events and Student events and Women's events, and OF COURSE Christmas Eve.
All that to say, this Christmas, let your church staff (if you have one) inhale the beauty of the season by helping them a little bit more.
In the Christian church world, Christmas Eve is the Super Bowl. It's the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world. It's a month long building of events and concerts and plays and markets and parties and dinners, all culminating in THE EVENT, Christmas Eve.
Keep in mind that people who work at a church also have families, and family parties, and neighbors and traditions, and school events, and shopping and all the things everyone else has to do. (Yes, I know other people have jobs at Christmastime, but trust me, it's different! I've been on both sides of the fence. It's different!)
And when your family is dressing up all cute and feeling all warm and snuggly and festive as you attend the Christmas Eve service together, keep in mind that the folks who work at the church are attending ALL of the services while their family is most likely at home, celebrating without them, or "making the most of" the fact that their family member isn't there with them.
And they've probably been there for hours getting ready for the service. No details have been left to chance. The candles, the music, the lights, the message. It's all been thought about for a long time. Even if your church does it simply, it's still a massive undertaking for the staff.
Why am I writing all of this? It's not because I'm counting my blessings that I don't work in a church anymore. I loved working there and often miss it. (Well, parts of it.)
I'm writing this because this Christmas I want you to cut your church staff some slack. I want you to shower them with grace. I want you to withhold how you wish they'd put real trees up instead of artsy lighted tree branches. And don't feel the need to critique the marketing of the Women's Christmas dinner that you missed. I want you to be thankful that there WAS a Children's Choir performance and that your child got to sing in it, even if they didn't have a solo.
I want you to appreciate that someone had to set up and tear down and set up and tear down and set up and tear down the insane amount of extra events that people seem to want to plan AT church at Christmastime.
Please, take the time to send them a card and write a meaningful note in it. Not just for your Senior Pastor (though he's clearly important) but to any staff member that you interact with regularly. Or give them a gift card (even it's $5 to Starbucks) or just do something nice for them! Mow their yard. I don't know and it doesn't really matter. Just be thoughtful is my point.
And best of all, when they ask you to, or better yet, BEFORE they ask, volunteer to serve. You'll have plenty of chances. There will be Children's events and Student events and Women's events, and OF COURSE Christmas Eve.
All that to say, this Christmas, let your church staff (if you have one) inhale the beauty of the season by helping them a little bit more.
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