Thursday, November 02, 2006

WHY ARE WE THERE?

Posted by Reverend Ref + at 10:42 PM

A regular reader commented on my last post about having heart. He didn't offer any recipes, but was more focused on Bob the Barfly. Specifically he said,

I'd like to participate in a conversation with all your readers: "Why are we there" to meet Bob and talk with him?

If you missed it, I had an f-word laden "conversation" with a man at The Stockman Wednesday evening. It was like dealing with a two-year old. Everything I said was met with "Why?" And not that inquisitive "Why," but that, "He's had about five too many beers and is looking for a fight 'Why'."

Mark was right ... he was wayyyy over the limit.

So, allowing for Jim's request, I'll open this up to anyone who wants to comment. Why are we there to meet Bob and talk with him (wherever your "there" is -- the bar, the beach, the gym)?

For me, I'm there for a few reasons (and these are in no particular order):

1) To let people know that I exist. It's kind of hard to have an Episcopal presence in the community if the priest just sits in his office all day.

2) To meet people where they are. Let's face it, people are not apt to wander into a church and question the priest. Heck, they probably aren't apt to wander into a church of their own volition unless they've been invited. So I meet them on their own turf.

3) To simply be available and accessible. This sort of ties in with #2, but it also includes the very intentional reasoning of allowing people to ask me questions about religion, the Episcopal church, football, play a game of pool and buy me a drink. Sometimes all at the same time.

4) To let people know I'm normal. I'm not holier than thou. I'm not better than you. I'm not sin free. I'm just your average 40-something guy without any really memorable features; I just happen to work for the church and can preach a decent sermon from time to time.

So -- that's why I'm at the bar. What about you?

6 comments:

Tripp Hudgins | 7:57 AM, November 03, 2006  

There are mysteries and there are mysteries. My hope is that by being present we no longer mystify those unfamiliar with the Church...No one ever used the word "enigmatic" to describe Christ in the gospels. I hope the same for me and my ministry.

Quotidian. You got it.

Jane Ellen+ | 9:22 AM, November 03, 2006  

Jim also notes that "Bob is the hard nut of the 20% of the population that are difficult to reach; he is the 1% in the tail of the distribution."

As Christians, we are called-- Commissioned, even-- to "make disciples of all nations." To witness (gentle witness-- I am not talking about Wiggly Bible-waving) to the saving grace we find in Jesus. I take that to mean even (or maybe especially) reaching out to that difficult tail of the distribution. We can't accomplish anything by avoidance.

Now, perhaps "Bob" is too drunk, and too busy dropping the "f" bomb to pick up on any invitation. But maybe he won't be next time. Or maybe he will remember the opportunity, and be more receptive, days or weeks or years from now. Or maybe others who see the encounter will take something positive from it.

In any case, we can't witness if we aren't present, and available. So that's why.

Ecgbert | 1:10 PM, November 03, 2006  

Good call, Ref. I was going to add some God-talk about saving souls and all that but Jane Ellen beat me to it. (Making disciples = same thing really.)

Why am I at the bar? To have a pint of porter or black-and-tan or maybe weisse in season. Cheers.

Tripp Hudgins | 4:24 PM, November 03, 2006  

I drink cola at the bar. I get good and caffeinated so that Bob's always talk to slow and quietly for me to be offended..."F-you and your f-ing God!" "I'm sorry, Bob. Would you speak up and stop mumbling man, I cannot understand you at all. Hey! Look! Peanuts!"

I am an evangelist for Jesus, baby!

Jim | 8:57 PM, November 03, 2006  

Last night I was describing to some friends how sad I was that I had never been able to touch (with gentle evangelism, no Bible-wiggling) a good friend who recently left my workplace.

A wise woman in the group, a professional pastoral counselor, said, "Our call is to be faithful, not successful."

She followed up with the wisdom that we can learn from "sitting with" emotions like rejection, and learning as the Spirit helps us wait.

My $0.02 worth. Thanks to the others for speaking up.

EYouthWNY | 2:45 PM, November 06, 2006  

Thanks to RevRef for starting this topic and Jim for his comment. It triggered soemthing I needed to say on my own blog (which you are NOT obligated to go read, I just wanted to recognize the little Godly push you've provided)

Peace
Jay

Post a Comment

First time comments will be moderated.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)