When is Whenever in Whenever You Come Together?
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “When you come together… let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV) The “when” that begins that sentence is a subordinating conjunction that is often translated “whenever.”
But, what does Paul mean by “whenever”… or, perhaps it would be better to ask it this way: “When” does Paul mean by the term “whenever”?
In stating “whenever you come together…,” Paul helps us begin setting boundaries for his state. With “you” being plural and the verb “come together,” Paul is definitely talking about times when more than one believer is present. (Remember, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, not to anyone in Corinth.)
But, is Paul only talking about times when “the whole church” comes together as he says in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25? It is possible. However, there seems to be a paragraph break between 1 Corinthians 14:25 and 1 Corinthians 14:26 because of the question and the address “brothers and sisters.” So, it is not necessary to connect “the whole church comes together” in 1 Corinthians 14:23 and “when you come together” in 1 Corinthians 14:26. (Also, 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 appear to be a hypothetical situation, even if it is stated in a way that indicates it could actually happen, while 1 Corinthians 14:26 is stated as a command.)
So, can we specify when is “whenever” beyond an occasion when more than one follower of Jesus Christ is together? I don’t think so. In fact, I think that Paul left this command (and many others) vague so that readers could not become too technical and picky. For example, I could imagine someone saying, “I don’t have to follow Paul’s instructions in this situation because it doesn’t match us specifically with what he said.” In fact, it is easy to imagine this because it happens often. 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 is perhaps one of the passages that is least applied to the church today, and yet it is the most specific (even though it is general) in the way we should meet together.
In the case of this passage, “whenever” is broad and inclusive. Are you together with at least one other brother or sister in Christ? If so, then are you seeking to build up one another? I believe this is Paul’s emphasis.
I was reminded of this passage and the inclusiveness of “whenever” a few days ago. As I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog, I start exercising a couple of months ago by walking (then running). Last weekend, a friend and I decided to run together.
As we were running through a local park, we talked with one another, asking questions, responding to questions, encouraging and helping one another… all the while running for exercise. We had decided (without discussion, by the way) that “whenever” (a la 1 Corinthians 14:26) included that moment while we were exercising.
Can you imagine how much life (and maturity) would be different if we seriously sought to build up one another any time we were with other believers? Yes, I think that the church (in general) has a long way to go to work toward mutual edification during our normal meetings (i.e., Sunday morning). However, that time is only the tip of the iceberg. That time of gathering together is only a few minutes of the “whenever” that Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 14:26.
Is that time included in the “whenever” of 1 Corinthians 14:26? Yes, I think so. But, the “whenever” is certainly not limited to that time of gathering together.
So, like Paul said, I encourage you, “Do all things to build up one another… whenever you come together.”
The Church of the Greasy Spoon
As soon as I stepped through the door, I hated the place. The interior was almost as dirty as the exterior, and the place smelled of bacon and old grease… or maybe it was bacon IN old grease.
I followed my new friend Mike through the diner past several tables covered in plastic gingham and dirty dishes. He spoke to an old lady wearing an apron and a chubby cook behind the counter, and they both greeted him. Finally, we settled into a corner table at the back of the small dining room… would you call this place a dining room?
Two men were already seated at the table when we slid into the book. Mike introduced me and told me their names were Fred and Henry… or was it Ed? No, I think it was Fred. The older of the two men – Henry – immediately asked Mike about his new job, which is where I had met him. Mike started working in our department just a few weeks ago. It was exciting to learn that Mike was a Christian, and even more exciting when he went to church with me last Sunday.
Then, he invited me here. Who has ever heard of going to church in a greasy spoon at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings? But, I kinda felt like I owed it to Mike, since he came to my church. He and his family even invited us to lunch after the Sunday morning worship service. We declined, of course, but I still felt like I owed it to him to go to church with him. I was praying that Mike would see how great our church was and start coming with us regularly.
Mike was telling Ed/Fred and Henry about working in our department. I was half listening while cleaning off my silverware with a napkin, which seemed clean enough. The older lady, who turned out to be the only waitress in the place, brought the other three guys coffee, each one fixed differently, and asked me what I would like to drink. I noticed she had a name tag that read “Mildred.”
After she headed back to the coffee pot to get my order, I heard Mike saying that he had prayed with Trish.
“Wait,” I interrupted, “You prayed with Trish, our boss?” I was listening carefully now.
“Yeah,” Mike said. “She’s going through some tough things in her family.”
“Did you know she’s an atheist?” I asked.
“She told me that,” Mike answered. “But I asked her if I could pray for her, and she said, ‘Yes’.”
Before I could say anything else, a big guy burst through the front door. “Hellooooo, Mil,” he said much too loudly for this little place. He hugged the waitress and spun her around. He called out to the man behind the counter, who grinned and waved back. “Jim, I’m gonna have to sing this morning. But, I’ll try to keep it short.” The cook nodded and turned back to his grill.
“Oh God,” I thought, “Don’t let him come to this table.” I already didn’t like this man. He was so loud and impolite.
But, of course, he came to our table. Each of the other men stood and hugged the big guy, then Mike introduced him to me as Walt. I quickly stuck out my hand, and Walt shook it enthusiastically.
As we sat back down, I was suddenly stunned to hear a burly, deep, off-key voice beginning to bellow “Amazing Grace.” I looked up, and Walt was singing, if you can call it singing. The others guys were all smiling, but I was trying to sink back into the bench. People were staring, especially a man in a suit at a nearby table. I felt so embarrassed.
The other three guys at our table (including Mike), joined Walt in singing the last few lines of the song. The guy in the suit started a slow, sarcastic clap in response. He started laughing, and I turned even redder.
“I’m sorry that I bothered you,” Walt said… and he seemed sincere. “I won’t sing again.”
“That’s good,” the man said.
“Walt just got some incredible news,” Henry said to the man. “He and his wife separate just over a year ago, and she filed for divorce last month. Yesterday, she dropped the divorce, and wants to work it out. Walt just wants to praise Jesus for that.”
“Well, I’m glad it worked for you,” the man said looking toward Walt. “All of us aren’t that lucky. I guess Jesus didn’t want me to stay married.” The man turned back to his coffee and newspaper.
“Boys, nature is calling,” Walt said, still a little too loud for my liking. “Time to visit the little boys’ room.” He walked through a door beside the counter while the other three men picked up their small talk.
I was beginning to wonder if Mildred was going to take our food order when Walt came back into the dining room. He paused beside the man in the suit and asked him if he could sit with him for a moment. The other men didn’t seem to notice and continued talking about families and work and friends and Jesus.
I sat there for several minutes, fidgeting in my seat. “So,” I asked finally, “When does church start?”
Worship, Jesus Christ, and Gathering with the Church
Several years ago, when I was still in the middle of my MDiv studies at Southeastern, two books in particular were very influential on me. The books were not necessarily influential on my thoughts and understanding about God or the church. Instead, these two books and authors helped me realize that it was possible to present what I was learning about the church in an academic or scholarly manner.
Those two books were Paul’s Idea of Community by Robert Banks and Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship by David Peterson. I still count these two books among my favorites. Recently, I was reading through Peterson’s conclusion, and I found these two paragraphs:
The uniqueness and total adequacy of Christ’s work is obscured by any doctrine of human priesthood, charged with some form of sacrificial ministry in the Christian congregation. There are no special buildings where God is especially present in the gospel era. There is no divinely ordained ritual of approach to God for believers under the new covenant. Nevertheless, several texts suggest that God presences himself in a distinctive way in the Christian meeting through his word and the operation of his Spirit.
The purpose of Christian gatherings is the edification or building up of the body of Christ. We minister to one another as we teach and exhort one another on the basis of his word, using the gifts that the Spirit has given us, in the way that Scripture directs. Edification is to be our concern even when we sing or pray to God in the congregation. All this is not a purely human activity, however, for God is at work in the midst of his people as they minister in this way. Edification is first and foremost the responsibility of Christ as the ‘head’, but he achieves his purpose as the various members of the body are motivated and equipped by him to play their part. We meet together to draw on the resources of Christ and to take our part in the edification of his church.
There are several important aspects of these paragraphs. First, remember that Peterson included this in the conclusion of his book on the topic of worship. He covered the topic from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Second, in that context, we can see that “worshiping God” in the “gospel era” (as Peterson calls it) includes both our private response to God through Jesus Christ and our public response by building up the body of Christ.
Third, God has placed us among his children – our brothers and sisters – because he wants to use EACH ONE of us to build up (edify) his church. Every believer is necessary and important to the work that God is doing to build up the body of Christ.
Fourth, our particular role is NOT passive. While the primary work of edification belongs to Christ, he does his work THROUGH us. If we do not take our part (or “do our share” depending on the particular translation of Ephesians 4:16), then the church is not built up.
Fifth, this work of edification – the work that we do in the Spirit – is worship.
Let me repeat that… Edifying the church is worship.
Refusing to participate in the work of building up the church is the same as refusing to worship.
Inhibiting or preventing others from doing their part in edifying the church is the same as stopping others from worshiping and attempting to block the worship that God is due. (Yes, even unintentionally.)
This is an important topic. The church of God grows when ALL of God’s children take part in the work of edification… and that work is worship to God.
A spinning cog in the Rube Goldberg machinery
You’ve heard of a “Rube Goldberg Machine,” right? You know, one of those contraptions with complex wheels and slides and pulleys and levels and the occasional animal which is designed to carry out a simple function. (A good example is the 1960’s board game “Mouse Trap.”)
In a Rube Goldberg machine, each piece may be turning or sliding or rolling or falling and expending tremendous amounts of energy to do that work. But, in the big scheme of theme, the piece may be doing very little to accomplish the purpose of the machine.
It is possible (and perhaps probably in some cases) that our lives can be caught up being a spinning cog in a Rube Goldberg Machine, even as Christian among the church. It’s possible (and sometimes probable) that we are expending alot of energy doing alot of stuff but actually getting very little accomplished.
In fact, sometimes Christians are taught and encouraged that their purpose is in being that spinning cog.
By the way, don’t think that I’m only talking about large, institutional, or traditional churches. I’m not. The same thing can happen small, simple, or organic churches.
Anytime we forget our purpose as a follower of Jesus Christ and as a brother and sister to those around us, we can get caught up in activities and programs while actually doing little or nothing toward our purpose. Busy… working hard… even successfully… but at what?
Sometimes, the best thing we can do for the church (although not necessarily for the machine) is to stop spinning. Stop being a cog and start living out your purpose in Christ.
What is that purpose? Well, you may need to stop being a cog and start listening to God to figure that one out. But, I know that it would include abiding in Christ and discipling others. What that looks like and how that will happen, I can’t tell you. And, in fact, while others may help you hear what God is directing you to do, no one else can actually tell you what God is calling you to do either.
So, what is going to be? Continue being a spinning cog? Or stop spinning and start living in and demonstrating Christ’s love.
(By the way, after writing this, I saw this post called “Hooray for Shaun King!” Also, check the links at the bottom of that post. In one of them, Shaun makes the following statement:
What I am saying is that church attendance, Sunday morning services, sermon-listening (or even sermon preaching), song-singing, hand-clapping, amen-saying and all of the things that “Christ-ians” have lifted up so high look so little like Christ himself that I am utterly convinced that we are completely off base with what discipleship means.
Whether you agree with his conclusions or not – and I do – it is clear that Shaun is tired of being a cog in a Rube Goldberg Machine – even tired of being the head cog.)
When equippers don’t equip
Recently, I had a very interesting conversation with a friend on Ephesians 4 – specifically Ephesians 4:11-12 – “And he [Jesus Christ] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV)
While I’ve written several posts about the list in Ephesians 4:11. For example, one of my most read posts of all time deals with whether Paul intended to list four or five different types of gifted individuals in the list. Also, I’ve written posts about whether this post in simply a sample of gifted individuals (like all of the other spiritual gift lists) or whether this list in exhaustive.
But, in this post, I want to focus on something else: the purpose of the spiritually gifted individuals listed in Ephesians 4:11. Paul tells us why Jesus Christ gives spiritual gifted individuals to the church in verse 12: “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:12 ESV)
Thus, the work of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, and shepherd-teacher includes equipping (preparing) the church for works of service. While these gifted individuals will naturally work within their giftings, they are also supposed to equip the saints to carry out those same functions.
This is best seen in the spiritually gifted evangelist. From the name “evangelist,” it seems clear that this individually is somehow spiritually gifted to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, evangelism is not “equipping the saints for the work of service.” The evangelist does not carry out this function until he or she is almost helping other believers to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The evangelist, then, is not carrying out the evangelist’s function ONLY by sharing the gospel. Instead, the work of the evangelist includes teaching and showing others how to share the gospel.
Now, take this same idea into the realm of the apostle, prophet, and shepherd/teacher. Again, these individuals should function within the realm of their particular gifting (by being sent, prophesying, or caring/teaching), but their functions do not end there. They are also to help others understand and live as being sent, to help others listen to God and prophesy, and to help others care and teach.
An apostle who is always going but is never helping others to go is not doing the work of an apostle. A prophet who is always prophesying but is never helping others to prophesy is not doing the work of a prophet. An evangelist who is always sharing the gospel but is never helping others to share the gospel is not doing the work of an evangelist. A shepherd/teacher who is always caring/teaching but it never helping others care/teach is not doing the work of a shepherd/teacher.
The spiritually gifted individuals listed in Ephesians 4:11 are given to the church both to function within their own giftings AND to help others function within those giftings as well. (I would argue this is true for other spiritual gifts also.)
So, how can we tell if we are equipping others? Well, we could start by asking if we are always doing the work that we are gifted at doing, or are we showing others how and giving them opportunities to do the same work.
By the way, if we continue reading in this same passage, we see why it is so important for these individuals to equip the church to do works of service. In Ephesians 4:16, Paul says that the church grows only when the whole church is working together. The church does not grow when only those listed in Ephesians 4:11 are working.
It’s time for equippers to stop doing all the work and start equipping others to work. This means that at times the equippers needs to step out of the way so others can function as God has gifted and prepared them. (If we never feel others are ready, it’s because WE are not equipping them.)
The Ekklesia: the assembling of those in Christ
I enjoy reading John’s blog. His posts are always encouraging and usually stretch me in thinking about Jesus Christ. His latest post is no different: “Getting Reacquainted with the Ekklesia.”
At the beginning of the post, John explains why he has decided not to use the English term “church,” and instead to use the transliteration “ekklesia.” While I do continue to use the word “church,” I can certainly understand and appreciate his reasoning and decision.
The remainder of the post is a “fleshing” out, if you will, of the ekklesia, primarily as it refers to the body of Christ. For example, consider this excellent paragraph:
Another wonderful picture is given to us of this assembling of those in Christ, a picture of a body with a Head. The brothers and sisters have the living God by the Spirit dwelling in them and are “hidden with Christ in God” and not only that but Christ is now our life! (Col. 3:3-4) This body, when it gathers together with Christ as Head, is in truth assembling our Lord together. “Christ is the head of the ekklesia, his body, of which he is the Savior.” (Eph. 5:23) Every brother and sister must live by the life of Christ in the gathering, the ekklesia, in order for the fullness of the Lord to be assembled, for Christ to be made manifest in glory. He must be the Head, the Source, the King in her midst. The brothers and sisters “gather to eat” (1 Cor. 11:33) to feed on Christ, who is life. For “the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” (John 6:57,63) When “the whole ekklesia comes together” it is for the purpose of being “built up” to “be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (1 Cor. 14:23,26; Rom. 1:12). This is following “the way of love.” (1 Cor. 14:1) It is loving one another by the life of Christ, according to the measure of the gift given to each. Each brother and sister freely functioning by the Spirit in them to one another, through one another; that is to say through Christ in them, to Christ in them, and for Christ in them. “In all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Cor. 12:6) So like a body which is assembled and works organically, hidden as it were, by the source of its head so to the body of Christ when it assembles functions organically by the spiritual life of Christ, its Source, its Head. And what is amazing is that the Father already sees the ekklesia already assembled with the Son as Head! The Father has already “placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the ekklesia, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Eph. 1:22-23) So as the body assembles together we are in reality manifesting what the Father already sees assembled in His Son. As we assemble together may “we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13) Brothers and sisters the Lord has an assembled body in view not a disassembled body of believers. May we have such a view of the ekkelsia, His body.
I would echo John’s wish/prayer, “May we have such a view of the ekklesia, His body,” and then add, “And may we live among one another and the world as the ekklesia, His body.”
Thanks, John!
The church and our role among the brothers and sisters
Jonathan at “Jon’s Journey” has written many good posts. But, his last two posts are right on the mark.
In the first post, “Recognize Church,” he lists various common misconceptions concerning what defines the church… things like buildings, Sunday morning events, organization… and you could add leadership, or membership, or many other things.
So, what does define the church? What makes a group the church?
This is Jonathan’s answer:
Jesus talks simply of when two or three are gathered in His name. Church (ecclesia) was a word used to refer to an assembly or democratic gathering. We see in other New Testament passages the early believers also used the term church to refer to all the believers in a geographical area. So in my mind church is simply believers and whenever they get together.
The question then becomes: As the church, what do we do when we gather together with other brothers and sisters in Christ?
Jonathan answers this question in his next post “My Role with Church.”
He looks at several different passages of Scripture and concludes with this:
That the whole body works together, to build up the body to become mature and more like Christ. So that we can be Christ’s living body in our world today.
And I think that is the role for each of us as we get together with other believers (the church – whenever and wherever).
I think Jonathan is on to something with both of these posts. Instead of trying to distinguish ourselves from other Christians, what if we sought to help one another grow in maturity in Christ no matter who, when, and where we are meeting together?
Replay: Saturday Church?
Three years ago, I wrote a post called “Saturday Church.” In the post, I describe several opportunities that we had to meet with the church on a Saturday. A Saturday? Yes, a Saturday. In Scripture, we see more examples of the church meeting day-to-day than we see the church meeting only on Sunday. Plus, these “church meetings” may not have looked like what you expect…
———————————–
We met with the church several times last Saturday. Several times? Yes, several times. Saturday? Yes, Saturday. And, in a couple of instances, we were meeting as the church going into the world, instead of meeting as the church separated from the world. (See my post “The church meets here“.)
Saturday morning, our family and some friends went to a low income neighborhood where one of our friends lives. (See “Opportunities to serve” and “God works through my wife too“.) Did someone lead singing? No. Did someone “preach a sermon”? No. But, when the church met, we dealt with people’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We only introduced ourselves to some people, and spent alot of time with other people. We helped people understand Scripture, and we prayed with people. Some people reacted with tears, some with smiles, some with gratitude, some with indifference. We attempted to demonstrate God’s love regardless of the people’s reactions.
Saturday afternoon, our family and some friends went to the nursing home to visit with Mrs. Jenny. (See I think we’ve been adopted” and “She said, ‘I’m very close’“.) Again, no one led us in songs, and no one preached a sermon. But we all loved on her and listened to her talk about her week. After a few minutes, everyone left except Margaret and me. We talked to her a little longer, giving her the opportunity to ask us questions about Christ and faith. For the most part, she did not want to ask questions that day. However, she spent several minutes telling us how God had been drawing her to himself. It was almost as if she were evangelizing us!
Saturday evening, some friends invited us and another family to their house for a pancake dinner. Each family brought a griddle, and cooked piles of pancakes, sausage, and bacon. After everyone ate their fill, we sat around and talked about what’s going on in our lives. It is amazing to see how God is at work, in different way in the lives of different people. Again, there was no organized singing or preaching. But, this was certainly an edifying time.
No singing… no preaching… and yet when we met together, we met as brothers and sisters in Christ, with a desire to build up one another toward maturity in Christ and with a desire to demonstrate the love of God toward each other and toward others. I came away from these Saturday meetings with a song in my heart and being taught by word and example how to better follow Jesus Christ – with a better understanding of the Scriptures and what it means to trust God – with a better understanding of what the Spirit of God is doing in my brothers and sisters and in the world around us.
“Whenever you come together… let everything be done for edification.” (1 Cor 14:26)
Replay: My sister spoke during the church meeting
Three years ago, I wrote a post called “My sister spoke during the church meeting.” I realize there is disagreement about whether or not women should speak when the church meets. For those who think women should never speak, then you probably don’t want to read this post. Otherwise, I hope this post encourages and challenges you.
————————————-
Each Sunday, for our church meeting, someone is scheduled to teach from a certain passage of Scripture. Last Sunday was no exception, as I taught from Matthew 8:1-17. After the scheduled teaching, we encourage others to teach from what they had studied during the week, or to share what God has been doing in their lives. Why? Because we want to give all present the opportunity to build up one another toward maturity in Christ as a way of glorifying God.
Last Sunday, after I taught, my sister in Christ spoke during the church meeting. She had made comments before, but I think this is the first time she has spoken in this manner. She told us about her neighbor. She has been building a relationship with this neighbor. She told us that she is concerned because her neighbor is not a follower of Jesus.
My sister has been demonstrating the life changing message of the Good News of Jesus Christ to her neighbor, both in word and in deed. She said that she is concerned about her neighbor because we never know when the end will come, and her neighbor doesn’t know Christ.
This sister in Christ challenged us with her testimony of evangelism and care for someone who is not a believer. This sister encouraged us with her request for prayer for her neighbor, trusting God to transform her neighbor and to reconcile her to himself.
My sister in Christ – the one who spoke in the church meeting Sunday morning – the one who is so concerned about her neighbor – the one who wanted to share this with us in order to build us up toward maturity in Christ – the one who asked for prayer that God would save her neighbor – my sister in Christ is ten years old.
Some would say she’s not qualified or trained enough to speak during the meeting of the church. I thank God that we gave her the opportunity to speak, and that He chose to teach us so much through her obedience.
Our Sundays are better than Dairy Queen (Part 2)
(This is a fictional story, inspired by a sign in front of a church building near my home. Here is “Part 1.”)
“Our Sundays are better than Dairy Queen.”
I drove by the sign in front of the church building as I pulled into the line of cars headed out of the parking lot and onto the highway. I had experienced their “Sunday,” and I hoped they would consider my “Sundae” as well.
It only took our small caravan a few minutes to drive to the first traffic, turn right on the bypass, then pull into the Dairy Queen. It was only when I stepped out of the car that I realized there was a problem. I didn’t have enough money.
I had planned to buy everyone an ice cream sundae from DQ, but I did not know that our trip would turn into lunch as well as sundaes. Catching up to the group, I explained my predicament. They all smiled and assured me that they would buy their own lunch, and they even said that I did not have to buy the ice cream. But, I did insist on that.
And, who knew! Dairy Queen makes pretty good chicken fingers. I decided to go with the chicken instead of the hamburger or hot dog. Something about the sign just looked a little more appetizing.
We found a table outside under one of the big red and white umbrellas and began to get to know each other better. Well, to be honest, I started to get to know them, and they began to get to know each other better. It was a fun group – some single, some married, but none with children unfortunately. I love children, and I love how children always brighten up a group.
It turned out that two of the people actually lived in my subdivision… which gave me a great idea. But, I would save that for later.
Eventually, I told the story that I thought about when the pastor was presenting his sermon. I was hoping that the story would be helpful, and it seemed to be. Several people used the story as a jumping off point to discuss their own walk with Jesus, both the positives and the negatives, the ups and the downs.
One lady began crying as she shared about problems at work. Another sitting near her hugged her and encouraged her. I’d always found that eating together and talking together was a great way to get people to open up about themselves so we can help one another deal with the real issues, and that was proving true in this case as well.
At some point, one of the young men said, “What about that ice cream?” Everyone else laughed, and I quickly grabbed all the papers and trays and napkins and tossed them in the trashcan near our table.
“Is hot fudge sundaes okay with everyone?” I asked, and was relieved when they all nodded. That made ordering easier, although I was certainly open to taking special requests.
It only took a few minutes for the DQ staff to fix our sundaes, and I took them back out to our table. Just then, the pastor and his family walked up.
“Sorry,” he started, “it took us a little longer than usual to eat dinner. The kids were too excited about the ice cream.”
“You’re not late,” I replied. “You’re right on time. Let’s get that ice cream.”
He asked if we could get kiddie cones for his children, and he accompanied me back inside while his wife joined the group and the kids played around the table. When we returned, I sat his wife’s sundae down in front of her and noticed that they were deep in conversation… serious conversation. The pastor noticed too and motioned to me that he and the kids would sit at a nearby table.
I joined them and laughed and joked with the children while they gobbled up their ice cream cones. They were great children – very happy, social, and well-behaved – and I could tell that they were showered with love by their parents.
Between chats and jokes with the kids, I was able to get to know the pastor better. He had only been in this area for a couple of years, having moved down from a previous church that was a couple of hundred miles north. I told him that I had just moved from another city that was a couple of hundred miles south.
As expected, he asked me about my church background, and I explained as much as possible without getting into too many details.
“Well, you really seem to have hit it off with the people here,” the pastor continued, nodding toward the group of people nearby and finishing off his sundae.
“Yeah, they’re great people,” I answered. I scraped the bottom of my bowl and made a sad face at one of the kids who giggled in response.
About that time, several people began standing and preparing to leave. I jumped up and thanked them for joining me. I told them that they truly made me feel welcomed and accepted. I also thanked them for sharing their stories with me.
“So, does that mean that we will see you again next Sunday?” the pastor asked.
Everyone stopped and waited for my answer.
“I’m not going to make any promises. But, I have decided that I’m going to invite some of my neighbors to my house for ice cream this Tuesday.” I had been paying attention to their schedules as much as possible, and it seemed that Tuesday was the least busy day – at least as far as the church calendar was concerned. “I’d love to have you all join me.” I especially looked at the two guys who lived near me, and I was glad to see at least one nod.
“Well, that’s all great,” the pastor continued, “but we’d love to have you as part of our church, too.”
“I appreciate that very much,” I said. “I’d like to talk to you about this more sometime, maybe after we get to know each other better.”
I paused a moment and looked around at the group of people who were still gathering their belongings.
“You see,” I said, turning back to the pastor, and waving my hand at the people around us, “I prefer this type of Sundae to the other kind.”