Somebody thinks your are weird. They think that you are strange because you like to do that. Others think you are freaky because you like to eat that. Still others think you are odd because you collect that item.

I have the opportunity to talk to a large number of people. It seems that everyone I meet has unique hobbies, tastes, collections and obsessions. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, “Wow, that’s unique.”

One good thing about life in the 21st century is that I can go onto the internet and find a tribe like me. Personally I can find whole sites dedicated to metal detecting with forums where “my people” can communicate with one another. There are whole websites dedicated to people who like to hunt bears and other websites dedicated to people who like to catch crappies. The possibilities are almost unlimited.

The local Church is often the exact opposite. We come together each week with almost nothing in common. Yesterday we had a fellowship luncheon and I talked to people are retired, who are self-employed, who are unemployed and those who have had the same job for 20 plus years. I talked to people who have grandchildren, who have adopted children, who have several children and those who have no children. I talked to those who love football and basketball and I talked to people who are very unAmerican 😉 The list could go on and on about the vast diversity that exists in each and every local Church.

The Church is not a group of people brought together because we have similar likes and dislikes. In fact, some of us think some of you are weird.

What brings us together is our common faith in God and His son Jesus Christ. We are brought together by faith in the eternal God who loves us.

The Church is then presented with this one interesting struggle – taking totally unique people and forming them into one community. Sometime it comes easy, but most of the time it is hard. I think for it to work we are going to have to look past each others weirdness and embrace the individual who needs a Savior just like I do.

Just don’t invite me over for green bean casserole, because that is way too weird for me:-)