There's more to the story (introduction)

Now, if you are still reading the second half of this introduction to my book, here’s my question to each of you: IF there is nothing to “sell” when it comes to living and doing Christianity, expressing and sharing the gift of God’s love “given freely,” then WHY are so many Christians spending so much time, effort and money trying to peddle it to everyone, everywhere like medicine hucksters of the wild, wild west?

Before offering the “rest of the introduction” to my book (yes, the last segment was only the first half), I want to be clear about my intent here. I am and will challenge some, not all, of the paradigms associated with Christianity and faith in general for that matter. I believe there is far more good in the world, than evil. I have far more hope, than despair. I am committed to being a part of the solution, not simply standing on the sidelines throwing rocks of generalization. Am I theologically qualified to challenge the church or its leaders’ intents or methodologies? Logically, no. Based on what I see and feel and experience within the context of my work and interactions, yes. They are my experiences, and as such I own them. I do not profess to say my point of view should be yours. I humbly set them out there more as questions, than answers. To challenge our thinking. To stir our pots of complacency. To ignite honest and vigorous dialogue.

 To anyone who feels insulted or personally attacked, those who honor me by reading my writings, I ask you to consider this: question your reaction. What is it specifically I have said that gives you this emotional uprising? Might this not be an opportunity to look inward and listen for the quiet whisper in your ears, instead of dismissing me as a heretic, kook or even worse? I certainly do not have the answers. I struggle with the same questions we all struggle with as we feel along the scary and jagged walls of the cave; looking to simply find our way.

 

BOOK INTRODUCTION, PART 2

The gift of God’s eternal and covenantal love has been here and remains here for all time.

 If it is given freely…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If the promise has been here since before time…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If Jesus’ twelve societal misfits could have bungled along, their hearts changed by and through his unconditional love, and then somehow helped change the world before Gutenburg, Zondervan, Powerpoint, and televangelists…oh yes, and before there were Christians (I believe the disciples first referred to themselves as Christ Followers)…there is likely nothing to sell.

 If what, in many instances, seems to be a few challenges with the Church’s customer service, customer-centric behavior and over-pitching so-called eternal guarantees… there is likely nothing to sell.

 If people are not lining up outside your door, like they do every time Apple launches a new iPod or iPhone… there is likely nothing to sell.

 If people are not buying….

In case you think this is going nowhere of any redemptive or hopeful value, let me reassure you through some proven, statistical facts: there has never been a time in mankind where so many people from every culture and societal level are hurting, scared, desperate, lonely, confused, hungry, wandering and apprehensively looking for answers to life’s most challenging questions… than today.

They want the story of their life to mean something. They want to join a story that enables them to play a meaningful part with their life, and woven together with the life of others they love. They want to be seen. Heard. Felt. Loved. To know that they matter.

As faith leaders, and more so merely as children of God we should consider seeking to glorify Him through the expression of our lives; opportunities to exhibit all that’s in store for other people by opening the doors of our heart, displaying the goods of our soul, listening to what they are looking for and offering (open-handed) some relevant options that are in store for them. And never, never forgetting that the final decision as to what to take away from being in your store… is theirs.

In reading the following pages, I ask you to consider an expanded meaning in one word: Transaction. My subtle enhancement: TransActional Communications. Even IF there is nothing to sell in living effectively as a Christ Follower/Faith-Full man or woman, I do believe that a healthy and rewarding life path does require exceptional trans-actions. Play this out with me: consider the genesis of my thinking, which came from working with a client whose ministry, Q Place, is helping people who are looking for answers to life’s most challenging questions; helping them address their personal questions by leading them to the answers in the Bible. Not in a church, but in casual and comfortable settings where people naturally gather. Here’s the way she conveyed their positioning to me:

 “Jesus went out into the open market, among groups of people and interacted with them in the real places they gathered. Their places. He asked great questions. He listened intently. And then he shared compelling stories that they could apply to their lives.

      Q Place is where people come together in small groups to ask great questions about life. In the real places they             gather. To listen intently. And then share compelling stories from the Bible that they can consider, and apply to             their lives.”

The key point to this, as I see it, is that Jesus and the disciples did go out into the business community. Where commerce happened. But, unlike the many people buying and selling their wares or services, they took the time to be fully present in the life of each person to whom they were speaking. Their TRANS (prefix: 1. Across, the other side of, beyond) – ACTION (noun: 1. Doing something toward a goal, 2. Something done, 3. Movement) led to people feeling seen, heard, encouraged and loved. As such, through the bridge that was built between each other, they were able to exhange their goods, were willing to exchange presence between each other, and consider a new way to move forward (a direction or way) with their life; one filled with a promise of hope, love and grace.

 I, too, believe we are each conducting life commerce in the marketplaces every day. We, too, come in contact with people who are looking to find good values and things that really matter. So many, most really, don’t know where to go to find them. What a great chance we have to let them browse our aisles and sample our goods at their time and pace. The trans (move across) action (a movement to the other side) will come when they’ve had the genuine experience and chance to try you on, kick your tires, take you out for a test drive, listen to a bit of your song, read a snippet of your story or watch the trailer for your film.

 What might “doing Christianity” look like in such an environment? In what type of location would you position your store? What would your front windows look like? How would you present your in-store displays? What would your store layout look like? What would your (no)sales staff say and do when someone comes through the front door?

      

The name of my book: “No thanks, I’m just looking.”

More to come…. 

For emphasis – (b)