Does Your Church Smell?
This past Thanksgiving dinner my cousin Connor, who has autism, was able to sit at the table with us during mealtime for the first time. It was a very special moment for all of us. Typically Connor runs around the backyard during our family gatherings and my aunt and uncle spend most of their time following him.
Not so this year. Connor has been in a program that has led to some incredible changes in his social behavior that were so impressive and amazing to witness. He even interacted with me in ways I hadn't experienced since his infancy before the signs of autism began to show.
At one moment he gave me a big wet, open mouth kiss (his mouth was open mine was not!) and then gave my brother Josh a big embrace as we sat on the couch. Surprising as that was, he then stood up, said some words in "Connor speak" (which I have not yet learned to interpret) then blurted the word "CHURCH".
I was totally shocked. Both my brother and I are ordained ministers, my brother is a senior pastor. Had Connor sensed our involvment in ministry?
He looked at his mom, spoke the words only she could understand and then blurted out the word "CHURCH" once again pointing at my brother on the couch.
My aunt laughed and translated, "Connor says you smell like our church. Connor loves church*."
I laughed kind of wondering what "church" smelled like.
That reminded me of a passage in the second letter to the church of Corinth:
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
So...What does your church smell like?
* [Side note] I was kind of surprised that my aunt and uncle were attending church. Ever since Conner was diagnosed with autism it had been very difficult for them to be part of a faith community. My aunt explained that their church has a ministry to families with special needs, which provides people to watch Connor so they can participate too. This ministry has made a significant difference in their lives. Now that is a church that "smells" of the fragrance of life! A big thanks from me to Cornerstone in Simi, CA, pastored by Francis Chan (whose book Crazy Love is worth reading).
About Mark Matlock
Mark is founder of PlanetWisdom.com and the nationwide PlanetWisdom Conferences. For nearly two decades, he has ministered to youth pastors, students, and their parents. Focusing on transferring Biblical wisdom, Mark’s the author of the recent six book series Wisdom On…, What Does God Want From Me?, and Don’t Buy the Lie. In Fall 2008, Mark launched the nation-wide initiative Real World Parents aimed at reclaiming the Biblical role for families across the country. He resides in Dallas with his wife, Jade, and his two children.
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Secondly, I was telling someone the other day how much appreciate you specifically, but really any time someone is able to evaluate the world around them with wisdom from the Scriptures. It’s the Way.
Lastly, I love Francis Chan and crazy love is a conviction field manual. I loved it.
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