The Piano Lesson - Music Appreciation (Part Deux)

The Piano Lesson - Music Appreciation (Part Deux)

NOT EVERYONE needs their soul saved today. Some just need lunch.

Steve and I belong to the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. We made the decision to join the church based on two important facts: (1) Pastor Joe is not only a straight shooter, he’s brilliant, and (2) our church feeds people. Hundreds of people, three times a day.

The First Presbyterian Church of Dallas is famous in our community for the Stewpot that began in 1975 to feed a hot meal, once a day, to our city’s homeless. Situated in the heart of downtown Dallas, the congregation couldn’t look past the least of these, because they were their neighbors. When Dallas opened the Bridge, a shelter for these poor souls, the Stewpot stepped up and said, “We’ll feed ’em.” In fact, in May 2008 we moved our food service to the Bridge’s new facility and began serving three meals a day. By the middle of that July, we’d served a total of 100,000 meals—all because an associate pastor opened the door to a homeless person and listened with his heart.

Now, I’m not dissing evangelism. I believe that we’re to “go therefore and teach all nations” and all that stuff. Shoot! I’ve led numerous children and adults to Christ. But first, I made sure their stomachs weren’t growling and they trusted me as their friend. And to get to that point, I had to listen with my heart, bite my tongue, and meet them where they were that day.

Rather than allowing a lost or hurting soul the opportunity to be heard, Christians sometimes jump in too quickly with our own point of view. We usually mess up when we start talking before we’ve fed the growling stomach. Why, as a group of people, are we so determined to have the first and the last word . . . and every word in between?

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Not everything needs to be said in every encounter. In Colossians 4:6 (NASB), Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace as though seasoned with salt.” Chili powder is not mentioned in the recipe, but I’m pretty sure offering a bowl of chili wouldn’t hurt.