When trying out a new restaurant, I sometimes try to pore over the menu to figure out what I would like to try, what will be the most satisfying. Sometimes, I ask the waitress or waiter what she or he recommends and order their recommendation. Is this like church?
There are some people who come to a worship service or enter into a Christian community with no idea of what to expect, what they want or what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are also people who enter into these same experiences with a pre-conceived notion of what the experience should be like, how they should feel and what should happen. Some people may think they do not need any guidance about what type of meal their spirit needs at a particular time. Others may not know that their spirit needs food like their body needs food.
In any case, think that there is a great deal of value in a system or program of discipleship that can provide a way to take tangible steps toward becoming a deeply committed Christian – a “menu” of sorts. But a menu without a skilled waiter is just a piece of paper with a myriad of choices. A critical piece to growth in discipleship is a mentor, guide, coach (insert any number of terms here) that will help one grow in grace and in the love of Jesus Christ. Who is the “skilled wait staff” of the church?
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Rev. Andrew Conard 