This triggered a memory of the time I was baptized. I had been saved only a few weeks. I had been a drug-using, rock musician with hair down to my shoulders. I had my hair cut, but not enough for an independent Baptist little old lady. After my baptism, I was being congratulated by many in the congregation, who were expressing their love and blessings for God's mercy and grace on my behalf. This little lady, who I remember had an angry look on her face, came up to me and said, "Why do you wear your hair like THAT!" I didn't know what to say, I just stammered while my joy was punched in the stomach.
Have you ever had an "awkward encounter" with a Christian or an unbeliever?
It was the first and last time I went to a particular mission meeting...I came excited to meet new people who were planning on supporting a missionary family. A man asked me the typical questions, 'What is your name?' and 'What are you studying?' That opened up a can of worms since I told him that I was studying engineering and planning to use those skills as a missionary. Right when I was about to walk out of the door to leave after the meeting, the same man went out of his way to hurry and tell me something, "You need to quit trying to fit a mold". I thought, 'What in the world are you talking about?' and 'What a discouraging thing to say'. I still cannot believe someone would go out of their way to discourage someone from doing mission work! In a missionary support meeting no less...
ReplyDeleteI go to a Particular Baptist church that is part of the SBC. I also attend a fairly Arminian Southern Baptist institution. At school, I get a lot of flack for my theological leanings from my fellow students, though my professors always commend me for my contribution to classroom discussion. My church is very big on liberty; we have men who wear hats in the building, the average attire for Sunday services is a t-shirt, and beer and cigarettes are seen by some as our major contribution to the Reformation.
ReplyDeleteMy awkward moments began when I decided I was going to start wearing a suit to church on Sundays. The first such situation was when a 19 year old kid walked by me and pointed at my tie, looked me in the eye, and shook his head. Then the questions started. I began to receive questions from people such as, "Are you a mormon, now?" and "Oh. Are you preaching, today?" Finally, I just started telling people, "I just like to be different, and right now, at our church, wearing a suit and tie is different." That seems to put an end to the awkward comments and questions.
Pretty well every time I mention the doctrines of Grace (especially election and Limited atonement)results in an "Awkward Encounter" at my church (at least the minister is a Calvinist!)To illustrate: http://calvinisticcartoons.blogspot.com/2009/caption-contest-14.ht
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm not alone...
the above should have said: http://calvinisticcartoons.blogspot.com/2009/05/caption-contest-14.ht
ReplyDeleteIs THIS it?
ReplyDeletehttp://calvinisticcartoons.blogspot.com/2009/05/caption-contest-14.html
That's better!! Thanks Mr M! Perhaps I'm not predestined to comment on CC.. Back to the Sacred Sandwich!
ReplyDeleteIt's not an either/or situation. It's more like a both/together. Angus is a close friend who saved me from being wounded in the first World War. We be alike in humor...kinda sorta.
ReplyDeleteAny way you look at it...it was nice having you drop by and comment!
My last awkward moment was a few Wednesday nights ago, when the pastor leading a mid-week bible study knew I am intending on planting a church, while taking prayer requests, said, "We need to pray for Gregg that he isn't here on Wednesday nights anymore."
ReplyDeleteThe right side of the request was he hoped I would be teaching my own study soon, but the left hand of the "request" was I was somewhat "challenging" to him in the study. Awkward.
Thanks for the encouragement Eddie, - I've been an avid follower of your blog for 5 months now, would become a follower, but it's too complicated, - consider me a follower in spirit. I don't comment often as the standard of commentating on your blog is way out of my league!!!
ReplyDeleteAs a student in seminary, I had let my hair grow long. We were headed to an Indian reservation to serve, and while there, I still had the shortest hair of any guy on the res. But in school, I was stopped in the hallway by another student and told that I needed to get saved. I also worked for the sound/lighting crew and during one performance while working on some mics up front, I heard a woman say, "I can't believe they let someone like that in the seminary!" Oh, well. I can sympathize with your "hair" story, Bro. Eddie.
ReplyDeleteThis is not my own awkward story, but from a recent commenter at my own blog:
ReplyDelete"I hate this term [sanctuary] because you never know what to say. I asked a local pastor if I could see the “sanctuary” because I didn’t know what they called it at his church and I didn’t want to be offensive. The guy looked at me like I asked him where he kept the holy water before telling me, “We just call it the ‘auditorium.’”
But as soon as I go somewhere and call it an “auditorium,” I know I’m gonna get something like “The SANCTUARY is over here” in the same tone dripping with disdain.
I wish we could just declare a truce on it. Either hang a sign up over the door or just roll with whatever people choose to call it."
Now that I think of it, here's my own story.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, when I was home from college for Christmas break and at my family's charismantidenominational church, this guy comes up to me all sincere, "Brother, I was studying the word, and the Lord impressed upon me that he has a message for you, what do you think of this?"
And then he shows me in his bible the verse that says "Knowledge puffs up..."
In other words, "suck it, college boy!"
Missions can be awkward when you run into a custom you aren't prepared for. The first time I was asked to speak in a church in India I was met with a line of people who wanted me to pray for them - one at a time. Apparently it's a time the people expect to be able to share prayer with the one who brought them a message from God, but it's hard to get past the feeling that they think you're some kind of magic talisman.
ReplyDeleteThis happened when I was volunteering at a parachurch organization: A fellow volunteer got free tickets to a Benny Hinn show and invited me to come along. I thought she was joking with me and said, "Are you kidding?" I should be a puddle of flesh on the carpet if looks could kill because the lady at another desk shot me the most murderous laser beam look. It really, honestly never occurred to me that anyone ever took that guy seriously anymore.
ReplyDeleteHere's a rather awkward moment: A few years ago (about two), we went to visit family up in North Carolina. Well, while up there, we were going to visit my aunt's, err...congregation (Methodist), something. We went on a Sunday morning, where wonderful, extremely annoying, loud, repetitive music was slam, slam, slamming away. That was bad enough, but we could handle that. I had on a nice, big (non-toothy) smile, as could be expected; trying to be friendly after all. That was when the fun started (or continued). A woman came over to my mother to shake her hand, telling her, "Hi, I'm the pastor!" Needless to say, my smile soon turned upside. My father turned to my aunt (his sister) and said, "We don't believe in that stuff. We're leaving." So, we escavaded out of there. Eh heh. A very interesting experience. We attended a Baptist assembly later that morning.
ReplyDeleteI had an interesting encounter with 2 Mormon missionaries. I wonder if I was their first attempt at door-to-door, because they knocked on my door and asked if my parents were home. I was 30 years old at the time. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank God He chose to use us despite that fact that we are messed up and say awkward things.
ReplyDeleteThanks EE for the post.
Well, I've had a few awkward encounters, but none more awkward than when I tried to explain complementarianism to my very domineering, egalitarian mother-in-law! :)
ReplyDeleteSomehow, describing the egalitarian approach as a "two-headed monster" wasn't well received. Go figure.
I attended a Nazarene college, and I am solidly a Southern Baptist. Awkward was an almost daily occurrence but one event sticks out. One particular teacher was going on about how much she liked "the shack". To which I responded by pointing out the theological errors and the danger of the book. She insisted the book helped people understand the Trinity and that God could be anyway He/She chose. I admit, I almost lost it. When called me spiritually stunted because I could not allow God to be a fat black woman I told her if she could not take the Bible for what it says then she was spiritually stunted.
ReplyDeleteI did not get my best grade in that class.