3:163 – Are You In The Know?

#faithbites #faithjourney know

Setting

Call me a control freak, but I like to know what’s going on. I was told that I interject and intervene too much because I need to know everything that is going on. Part of this is because I like to solve problems. Heck, I work at an engineering-infused medical school. Problem-solving is engineering. Part of it is when I know what is going on and I’m involved, it helps my anxiety. I feel, even if it’s not true, I have some control over my life. When I’m not informed, my mind makes things up. Do you ever feel like that?

In our faith, sometimes you feel like you’re in the know and others you aren’t. When I was in college, I dated a Catholic woman and went to mass several times. I had no idea what was going on. During a Christmas Eve service, the priest what walking up the aisle with a smoking thing. I was at a loss for words and turned to my girlfriend and said the first thing that came to mind. I asked if it was the “holy bong”. Everyone got a kick out of that, I felt a bit stupid and learned it was an incense burner.

How many times in our worship service or even in practicing our faith do we either not know why we are doing things or look down on others who may not act as we do. Could it be they don’t know why we do what we do? I’m still learning and want to know more.

Think about it this way: Know Jesus, Know Peace. If we don’t help people know Jesus, including how and why things work, how will they know him?

Scripture

• Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
• 2 Timothy 2:2 – And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Reflection

The key verse is 2 Timothy 2:2. We have been taught the Word of God and the inner workings of our church. We need to be faithful to share that knowledge.

Church: Why do we take communion on certain days? What is the Doxology? Why do we have certain people help with communion and not others? Who gets to read from the Bible at services and not? Who gets “picked” to be on church boards?

Faith: What does Pentecost mean? Why is it called Good Friday? Who is my neighbor? Does the New Testament contradict the Old Testament? Why do we baptize infants?

These are just some of the questions that I have asked. While I’m very open, many aren’t. Imagine if we spoke openly with members and non-members alike about our church and our faith? Have you ever wondered if the “lifers” in the church know the “whys” to these answers? Maybe they just accept the thing and not the why. What if we educated all people, new and old. Could this take away some anxiety in asking questions or being in the know?

Face it, there will always be things we don’t understand or aren’t included in. But if we take the time to communicate, we can lessen that impact on those who want to know.

Challenge

Think of one question you have about your church or about your faith? Be honest. Ask it here. Then answer another one. We can grow together when we ask and answer questions,

Prayer

Father God, thank you for being all-knowing and all-powerful. You are strong and mighty. Help all of your children be welcome in your faith and in your house. Let us be the people to make disciples of all nations by sharing your word and the operations of your church. Let us be inclusive and open about what we believe, how we operate, and why. We ask all of this in your name, Amen.