I ran into Barnes and Noble today, which is always one of my favorite stops. Typically, I like to go there for hours and strike up conversations, but today wasn’t one of those days. I went in with one mission to find one book that I still can’t locate. You would think in a big city like this I could track it down, but another strike came today. However, the trip wasn’t at all a waste because I was able to have one random conversation.
Chris was one of the guys that worked there and he asked me about 4 or 5 times if he could help me find something. Those guys can be persistent. He asked me 4 or 5 times because even though I was looking for one particular book, I was too stubborn to ask for help. That’s why they alphabetize things and put them in genres so you don’t have to ask for help. After the fourth time, I promised myself if he cornered me again, I would swallow my pride. Dang his persistence.
Finally I told him the name of the book and he knew exactly the one I was talking about. He led me to a totally different section but yet again, no luck. He told me he had actually wanted to start the series I mentioned but just hadn’t gotten around to it. Since the ice was broken, the conversation just went on from there. We talked about different books we found interesting and other entertainment media, until finally the big question came. He asked me what I did. I don’t typically shy away from this question, but something told me to slow play it. I just told him I was kind of like a consultant and shifted the focus back to him.
He told me how he enjoyed the bookstore but it wasn’t his last stop by any means. He is hoping to open his own business after a couple of years in the “corporate world” and is excited about his vision. Then the conversation shifted back to me and he asked what type of consulting I did. I told him about the Philippines and my overseas missions as well as my heart for the local church and outreach. He whole demeanor changed and I could tell he was ready to get out of the conversation.
I just ducked my head and went for it. “Why did you just shut down when I said that?” He beat around the bush for a few seconds and finally told me that he didn’t have the same heart I did for the church. I wasn’t shocked by his story because the church tends to have a history of isolating people that don’t quite cut it morally. Now he chooses not to return because he knows he will never be welcomed.
What would it be like to have a church that left the condemning up to God? I always thought that the church would be a lot more popular and appealing if it weren’t for Christians. I actually got a little laugh out of him with that one. I just left him with the idea that people in the church may have the right answer, but it doesn’t mean they’re acting on it.
I apologized to him for how we had treated him. He told me it had nothing to do with me, but I didn’t quite buy that. We’re a body, we’re all broken, and we all need forgiveness just as much as everyone else. I find it easy to get discouraged about the church when I hear stories like this, but part of me invites the challenge. I truly believe that there’s an awakening happening and this religious intent is beginning to be shed all over the world.
My prayer is that we would just leave the condemning to God and instead just love like we were originally intended to do (1 John 4). Idealistic? Maybe. Optimistic? Sure. Impossible? Well, if I just start with me then that’s all I would encourage you to do and we’ll see what happens…
