Let’s say a guy is about to get a 90-day performance review. Just for kicks, we’ll say his name is Myron Bizzydo. Myron walks confidently into his boss’ office, sits down quite at ease, and waits to be praised. Surely he has exceeded the company's expectations! No one sweeps and mops the kitchen area better (or more frequently) than he does! No one wipes counters as clean (or as often) as he does! No one unloads shipments on the dock as fast, no one cooks tastier breakfast omelets for the staff or bakes better cupcakes for employees’ birthdays! It’s no secret to Myron or anyone else that if you need a piece of tech to work correctly, he’s the most knowledgeable dude in the whole building. Also, he is the best-dressed, most professional, most courteous, and most likely to shovel the front walk when it snows.
The boss clears his throat: “Mr. Bizzydo, I’m sure this comes as no surprise, but you’re fired.”
Myron, of course, IS surprised and begins to list all the amazing things he has done during his 90-day employment.
“I don’t care about any of that!” the boss interjects. “You were hired to be a Customer Service Rep. You’re never on your phone and you haven’t serviced a single account! You. Are. Fired!”
Myron, for all his activities and excellence, is a disappointment and a failure because he didn’t do the things he was SUPPOSED to do. And as they say, it doesn’t matter what you do if you don’t do what you should do.
I hope I’m not Myron.
I hope our church isn’t Myron.
This pandemic is our grand appraisal.
I have heard it said that the church you would have if the building disappeared is actually the church you have now. For many of us, that stings. Forget the lights and the fog. Forget any sort of show. Lose the coffee shop, the merchandise, the “official” events, and anything building-centric. What in the world is left?
Just the people. People who, if we have been doing our actual job, are full of God and the Fruit of the Spirit and know how to love each other well in an authentic Jesus-centered community.
That, and ONLY THAT, is what the church is anyway.
How are we doing?