Don't Make A Scene

Matthew 10: The First Commission
Each day this week, I'll be posting comments on the 10th Chapter of Matthew, as a follow-up study from our February 3 service. You can listen to the service in its entirety on our website, www.cometothesprings.com

Matthew 10:11-15 (The Message)
When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now.

This has to be the worst sales force training speech ever. Modest. Content. Courteous. Gentle. Quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way--You've got to be kidding! What happened to "don't take no for an answer?" Where is "sell, sell , sell?" These guys couldn't move Girl Scout cookies with a strategy like this. But that's exactly how Jesus sent his disciples out, and therein lies a crucial message for 21st-century Christians.

Many of our well-intentioned outreach strategies could be accurately labelled, "Make a scene for Christ." We're convinced that we have to do something dramatic to draw attention to ourselves so our message--His message--will be heard. But in an increasingly skeptical world, the flamboyant approach is not usually the most effective. God's still, small voice can cut through the noise better than our bullhorn. A friend or neighbor who truly cares can make a difference when a pastor with great charisma can't make a dent. A gentle offer with no strings attached is often accepted by a person who would reject a more forceful approach.

This should be a great encouragement to those of us who aren't extroverts. Charisma is not a job requirement in the kingdom. Our calling--and Jesus' strategy--is not for us to become the center of attention or the social coordinators of our community. Our job is merely to engage people, and each of us can do that according to the personality and gifts God has given us. For some of us, that might be parties and houses full of people. For others, that may be one-on-one conversations over coffee that change someone's life. For still others, that may be helping a single mom or elderly neighbor with heavy lifting around the house or minor car repairs. The gospel gets a hearing when people see proof of its power in someone's life, especially someone they know. You don't have to make a scene to make a difference.