Confession time – I’ve walked down a different aisle in a store just to avoid talking to someone. I know what you are thinking…what a horrible person! But it’s true. This was the kind of person that a “quick” conversation would have been 15 minutes minimum. I saw them and just did not want to talk. So instead of saying hi and graciously letting this person know I needed to go, I walked down a different aisle. I know, I know…how rude. And you’re right I can be rude, but that’s not the point.

We all have “those” people in our lives. You are probably thinking of one of them right now. The kind that when you see them you’d like to turn and walk the other way. Or your stress levels go up, just by the thought of them. It may be the oversharer, the analytical thinker, or the ADHD person who never seems to be able to stay on topic during a conversation. We all have “those” people in our lives that we’d rather not have to interact with. Yet we still know the right, courteous, and gracious thing to do is interact. Honestly, we see some of “those” people every week at church.

The differences and disagreements that threaten to tear your church apart are opportunities to demonstrate that being “in accord with Christ Jesus” is all we need to be in “harmony with one another.”

Jamie Dunlop

What are we to do with “those” people when we see them? I know love is what is called for, but what might that look like? Do I have to fake my interactions with them? Can’t I just avoid them altogether? Yes, I have thought of all of these things before, which is why I found Jamie Dunlop’s “7 Tips for Loving ‘Those’ People in Your Church” so helpful. I hope you enjoy reading the article, but even more so practicing these tips.

READ THE ARTICLE

Those are 7 great tips for loving people we may find hard to love. Tip #7 really challenges me. What about you? Which tip do you find you do most naturally? Which one is the most difficult for you? I’d encourage you to choose one of the tips to practice this weekend when you walk into church. Find “that” person and choose to love. I’d love to hear how it goes. As always, be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day – and love them – all of them.

Until Next Time…

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash