Waffle House Evangelism

When on the road, I always like to stop by a Huddle House, or a Waffle House. There is no question about what is going to happen when you walk in those doors.  Several people are going to holler out "Good Morning!"  It is a greeting offered to the good looking ones and the ugly ones, people with dirty britches and those with white shirts and ties.  And, of course, there is no mystery about the menu.  Actually, a menu is not needed.  "Two eggs overlight, grits and sausage, dry toast and coffee,"  or something similar is all that is needed.   Whenever I sit down, I know what is coming.  These eaterys are about one thing.  There is no confusion.   

I seldom sit down in one of those places that I do not think about the church.  The church and its leaders could learn something from the cooks and servers at the Waffle House.  It often seems we have gotten confused about what we are doing when people show up on Sunday morning. We flood their senses with a thousand announcememts which mean nothing to them.  We recite the creeds as if everyone has been reciting them since birth.  And surpisingly enough, sometime Jesus barely gets any mention.   

The church is about Jesus.  No one should show up on Sunday morning and leave without an invitation to consider Jesus as the One of singular importance.  About this there should be no confusion.  No doubt.  Jesus is not just the answer.  He is not just one of the many choices on the ecclesiastical menu, but is the only thing.  When the church starts making substitutes, it is on the way down a slippery slope.