It’s All About the Image

In a meeting; in an otherwise unremarkable congregation.
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“Please come in. We need to talk.”
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“Oh course. May I ask what this is about?”
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“Well, not to put too fine a point on it…your name has come up in a lot of…disturbing conversations.”
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“Oh?”
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“Now…now it’s not all bad. Of course your name comes up in Bible Study, and especially with the children. Your visitations to the shut-ins and the nursing homes has not gone unnoticed.”
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“And?”
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“Its just that your name comes up in other not so church-like places.”
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“Like?”
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“You know.”
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“No, I really don’t. Un-church like places? Could you spell it out for me which places might those be?”
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(silence)
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“And I hate to say it, but you’ve been seen at some bars, in the company of…just not our kind of people. Let’s not even speak of the ex-cons and gang members you hang out with…”
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(silence)
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“Um…(pause). Ok. The abandoned house at the end of the block that drug users have taken over. You’ve been seen hanging around the place.”
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(silence)
“And all those protests. You seem to show up at every single one!”
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“Now I’m not one to judge…and we could overlook those things…we really could. But … you have also been seen in that seedy motel at the edge of town…around, shall we say, people of questionable morals and those who … frequent.. them.”
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(silence)
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“So you see. We really can’t have our image as a church damaged by your behavior. Its sends the wrong message. I mean, you are suppose to be the model for the rest of us…and this business just makes it awfully difficult to do that with you.”
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“I see. I am seen in not-so-Churchlike places?
And doing not so church-like things with not-so-churchlike people?”
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“Yes yes. Exactly. I am glad you get it.”
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“So what I hear you saying is that you want me to stick to the work of the church?”
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“You got it!”
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“Then I assure you, I am all about the work of the church. I promise to do nothing else but the work of the church.”
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“Oh great. I knew we could clear this up. I am sorry for being so harsh with you…but we have an image to uphold. You understand. It’s all about the image.”
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It is in deed.” replied Christ.