Get To Know Me

I have to admit, I’ve never been the “cool kid.”  Clothing trends pass me by. Technology is something I wait until it’s nearly outdated to jump on. And frankly it doesn’t bother me.  So, it probably won’t come as a surprise that I’ve never really been a fan of Saturday Night Live. 

Now, in my defense, it’s not entirely my fault.  The “glory years” of Saturday Night Live were before the days I stayed up late enough to watch the show. When I finally did watch it I found there were enough skits that simply made me ask “why is this funny” that I never really made it a habit to watch.

So, it may come as a surprise that as I recently was thinking about something a Saturday Night Live skit popped into my brain.  Here’s the skit.  I confess that it probably is more memorable because John Lovitz’s catch phrase “get to know me” became a bit of a catch phrase for my friends in high school.

But I thought about this phrase because I think it captures the reality of being a Christian today.  In a recent Relevant Magazine Article Marcus Mumford of the popular group Mumford & Sons decries being called “Christian” because of the baggage that the name seems to carry with it. 

I agree that there is a lot of baggage. There are many who have (maybe not intentionally) done their part to smudge the name “Christian.”  It’s not just this generation but generations dating back to the very first Christians.  See, part of the issue is that by virtue of being Christian (that is, a follower of Jesus Christ as your Saviour) we admit to our imperfections and that we are not able to live as we ought. 

There are all kinds of sayings that resonate with this:

“The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners”

“The church would be a great place if it weren’t for the people”

Okay, so there are two sayings that come to mind (I’m sure y’all can come up with more). 

There is a lot being written these days about the Nones.  Basically, it is a demographic group that identifies as having “no religious affiliation.”  As studies will show a large part of the reason is that people in this group don’t like the image that the church has.  They will say they aren’t necessarily opposed to following Jesus, but they are tired of the church.

Many, even those of us in the church, will say, “who can blame them?” The truth is we all have a story that we can tell of when the church or someone calling themselves a “Christian” didn’t exactly act like we expect a Christian to act (see Jesus’ comments on the greatest commandment). 

But when we drill down to it, many of us will also take a moment of pause when we hear the description of “Christians” or “the church” and say “that doesn’t sound like my church.”

The problem becomes those who speak most loudly either through word or action aren’t speaking on behalf of the majority of Christians or most churches.  Or, as my friend Jonathan Rundman wrote in his song, “You Don’t Speak For Me.”

So hears my suggestion.  The next time someone says to you “I’m not a Christian because …” and their reasoning doesn’t sound much like the church you know or Christians you know.  Say to that person “Get to Know Me” or about a church “Get to Know Us.”  Invite people to be a part of what you have come to know and if they accept your invitation then continue the conversation.  Be open to what they may have to say.  It may be that they see something that you don’t because you overlook some of the “issues” because you are part of the group.  It may be that they will be introduced to a “church” or a “Christian” who doesn’t fit their mold, and be inviting them in you will have broken down a barrier and allowed a new relationship with Christ to form.

Excluding when we intend to Include

I got a post-card in the mail today.  Nice graphics, well laid-out, good information.  But I got annoyed when I saw the tagline for this new church it read, “No Perfect People Allowed”

Okay.  I get it.

It’s supposed to make me feel welcome because I know of my imperfections and for too many people the church is a place where we have to put on a “show” we have to wear a “mask” that says “everything’s okay even when everything’s not okay.”

I get it, I really do.  But it also drives me crazy.

I’ve attended churches where they tell me, unapologetically, that “neckties and nylons are not allowed.”  Again, I get it, they’re trying to be witty and tell me that I can dress casually (whatever that means anymore) when I attend this church.

But what if wearing a necktie is who I am?

What if my wife wears nylons? 

Will I be cast out of the church and told I don’t belong?

I heard a radio ad the other day for a restaurant I’ve been to once or twice (they have really good food but aren’t in a neighborhood I spend much time in and their parking can be a challenge, but I digress) and I loved their tagline …

“Where tie-dyes and neckties unite”

How refreshing.  They understand that some people will dress up, others won’t. Some are conservative and others are liberal (if labels must be used).

I love that tagline.  If it weren’t already used by a restaurant in town I’d use it for our church because I think this is exactly what Christ intended for his followers.  Not that we draw lines that divide us, but that we find the common ground and come together.