Thoughts from an "Insider"

Have you ever wondered what Christians look like from the outside?

I once went to a wedding of a friend who was Muslim marrying a Christian. I went dressed as I normally do - khakis and a nice shirt. My wife wore a floral print dress - all of which was "normal" for us. When we arrived we scanned the church to discover we - in that place - were far from normal! All the guys had on suit pants, buttton up shirts, and no ties. All the women had their hair in a bun, no jewelry, and solid earth tone dresses on.

I had never attended a church before that I did not feel comfortable in. You see I grew up in church and am now a college minister - working for my church. Church is such an integral part of my life I never really understood how people from the "outside" would see this strange experience. That is until this point. We sat down and waited for the normal wedding processional music - only to be surprised by someone in the seats beginning to sing and everyone (everyone except us) joined in - seeming to already know the tune.

The ceremony went on with its own quirkiness and then we went to the reception. As we waited in line for our cake and punch, a little boy had looked at me and then turned to his mom and asked - "Mommy, do they let people like that in church?" I had to laugh. I am sure it was my gotee, or perhaps my earings that through this amish-like community off. I didn't have the guts to tell him I was a pastor. We later discovered this church does not have radios or watch TV. Ironically, the bride was using her cell phone when we came to the reception.

We sat at a table by ourselves feeling the eyes around us. No one talked to us until one brave young lady, with her head covered and a smile on her face came over to shake our hands and welcome us. We were taken back when she reached past our hands to our elbows to shake our arms and only said - "peace to you" as she went down our table and walked on. We found ourselves talking more with the family who were Muslim - being able to relate to them a little better than the others. It was in this moment, I finally understood something. I am not normal. People who come to my church may look around with the same hesitation and discomfort. Feeling as though everyone is looking at them because they are different - outsiders.

When I read "Jim and Casper go to Church" I began to gain a far better grasp of what we look like. Matt Casper is both straight forward and honest, and Jim helps to process Matt's perspective with the eyes of an insider. I believe this conference will give us great insight into what we look like to those on the outside and begin to bridge the gap between those who do not yet know Jesus to those of us who follow Him - which ultimately will help us make Jesus real - actually tangible for our friends happily on the outside.