Randy Wray’s Blog

Yesterday afternoon I was talking to my neighbor (a career Air Force officer) about a wide range of subjects including his service in the military, his assignments, and the neighborhood party we attended the night before. At one point the conversation turned to church and church things. My neighbor began to talk about his frustrations and concerns with his church and his preacher. I just started to smile. I’m thinking, “so this is what it feels like.” For once I was glad to be the listener and not the subject of the conversation!

That being said, My neighbor had some valid points. He talked about the frustration of ministry in this area - specifically the politically correctness and the pushing of political agendas during sermons. I can relate to the political correctness. Two weeks ago I referred to Simon of Cyrene (Cyrene was in North Africa) as an African-American.

Here’s what my neighbor said. “We know the world is in a mess and things are bad. Teach us how to live as people of faith and character.” He went on to talk about those who try to solve the world’s problems without solving their own personal problems. He talked about being wrapped up in “world issues” and neglecting what he called the “neighborhood issues.”

We agreed that Christians learning to be people of faith and character and living as people of faith and character would address the messy issues of their life, their neighborhood and even the world. It seemed to us that the reason for the mess was our neglect to love God with everything and to serve others with everthing. Isn’t that what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Learning to be and living as people of faith and character.

Maybe more of us preachers should spend less time talking to the people and spend more time listening to the people.