The Preacher's Pen

""No one shook my hand! I'm never going back there again."" How many times have you heard that? Someone visits an assembly of saints and the first thing mentioned about the visit is how many folks spoke to them and shook their hand. This is so commonly done that the ""handshake count"" has become an almost unquestioned standard, a criteria to be shared with all as the most important evaluator of any congregation.

I'd like to suggest that may not be appropriate. Certainly brethren want to be warm and friendly, and care for one another (see Acts 28:15; Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 12:13). However, none of those things may be properly gauged by how many folks speak to me on a given Sunday. All that measures is how many brethren are comfortable talking to a total stranger. Just because brethren are shy, or are distracted with other things this morning, or I got out of the building before some of the more gregarious brethren got to me, really doesn't mean I couldn't build great relationships with these Christians and serve the Lord acceptably.

If I'm ""shopping"" for a congregation shouldn't I be more concerned about whether the lesson was scriptural, do these brethren sincerely try to worship God in spirit and in truth, and is the pattern for the church's work and worship upheld? Is it fair to ask just what folks are looking for when all they can talk about is how many people shook their hand? Are they looking to serve Jesus or for a social club?

Again, while not discounting the importance of the relationships we have with one another in Christ, that is just not the primary purpose for the church. If the brethren are doing what is right don't discount their efforts just because your hand didn't get pumped a great deal one Sunday. Visit again, do your best to introduce yourself to others (I always want to ask the disgruntled ""Just how many people did you speak to?""), and see if you can't place value on worshiping in a place where biblical authority is upheld. Chances are you'll find good brethren along the way.