My church motto is this: I refuse to argue with church folks! Nope! Not going to happen. You want this seat? Here have the whole pew. Want to be leader? Have at it ma’am, lead! Just tell me where you want me to put these chairs. You don’t want my help because you got it all? No problem with me sir. Call me in when my services are needed.

I. Will. Not.

It’s just that simple.

The issue is this. Too often with all people, not just church folks, is that we wear our feelings on our sleeve. We are over sensitive to everything except His Holy Spirit. Can’t nobody tell us nothing. No on can tell us NO without damaging relationships. This is a people issue but it’s magnified in the church house because people think since it’s God’s house that everything should go their way and the folks on the outside expect church folks to be perfect.

Crazy expectations. We expect behaviors, thoughts, ideas, just about everything to revolve around us. We barely get our way at home but by golly we better get our way in the church. Like it’s a sin. Commandment number 11…thou shall please everyone in His house says the Lord.

Listen! I’m a believer that God put everything a church needs in it. If a doctor is needed, there is one in the house. If a Police is needed there is at least one in the house. If they need cornbread after service, there is at least one cornbread maker in the house.

So guess what. If you normally make the cornbread and you are not there, they shouldn’t have to fly you in from out of town to make the cornbread. Any other cornbread maker should be able to fill in the gap without fear of retribution! Do you hear me!

Folks getting all bent out of shape because they asked someone else to fix the cornbread. Take a break! Let someone else fix the cornbread! You have a seat and enjoy the services instead of always needing to be needed.

Our sense of relevancy and admiration is not the church’s soul function to validate. When you are in tune with your star player, you don’t require validation from others. That isn’t the pastor’s job.

I refuse to confuse my purpose in God’s house with my personal selfishness. I will not argue over who is the head of what committee, who greets every Sunday, who the pastor calls for assistance, who has what parking space, who sits with the ministers and who doesn’t, who sings what solo all the time, who is in charge of picking the songs, who sweep the floor, nor who is in charge of the kitchen!!!

I. Will. Not.

Worshiping God is the purpose! And I will worship when my feelings are hurt, I will worship when I’m sad, I will worship when my seat is taken!

Listen. It’s all a distraction from our ultimate purpose and that is to give Him the honor and praise that is due Him.

Thank you for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

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