Deep Dive Bib or Apron

The speaker reflects on the idea of faith and how it is often approached as a consumer rather than an active participant. They discuss the importance of embodying beliefs through actions and serving others. They mention that small acts of compassion can have a significant impact and that serving others can deepen one's own spiritual experience. They emphasize the need to shift from a mindset of receiving to one of giving and suggest that everyone can contribute in their own unique way. The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to take small steps towards living out their faith and making a positive difference in the world. Have you ever, like, really thought about how we do faith? And I don't mean the rituals or anything like that, but more like our core approach to it. You know, Pastor Rose's whole bib or apron thing from last week's sermon, well, it really got me thinking. Yeah, it's such a, it's such a striking image, isn't it? It is. It's like, are we content just showing up to, like, a spiritual potluck with only a fork ready to receive, but not exactly, you know, contributing anything ourselves? Right, exactly. And he called it a crisis of bib-wearing Christians, which, okay, obviously he's not talking about literal bibs, but... But the image is so perfect. It really is. And, you know, it makes you think, because it's not just a religious thing, either, this whole idea of being consumers. It bleeds into so many areas of life. We want the benefits, the comfort, the inspiration, but how often are we, like, flipping the script, asking, okay, what am I actually giving back here? That really resonated with me, because it's so easy to slip into that mindset, you know, seeing faith as something we consume rather than something we actively, I don't know, embody. So how do we even begin to transition from, like, the bib-wearer to the apron-wearer? What does that even look like? Well, I think, for starters, it's about recognizing that faith isn't a passive thing. It's not a spectator sport. It's about embodying, like you were saying, embodying those beliefs in our actions, how we interact with the world around us, how we treat other people. So it's less about just absorbing information and more about, what, putting it into practice. Exactly, yeah. It's about recognizing that real spiritual maturity. You know, it involves this kind of give and take. We receive, absolutely, but we also give back. We're ministered to, but we're also ministers ourselves. And that's where the real growth happens, you know, finding that balance. Okay, so that makes sense, but what does that look like on a practical level? Because I think sometimes we can get caught up in this idea of serving, and it feels overwhelming. Like we have to go on some big mission trip or single-handedly solve all the world's problems. Right, and those are wonderful aspirations, but you're right, I mean, some of the most impactful acts of service are happening right here in our own communities. Like, it's about being present, being aware of what's going on around us, seeing the needs, and just having that willingness to help where we can, however we can. So it's about, like, keeping our eyes open for those everyday opportunities, right, those little things that can actually have a ripple effect. Yeah, exactly. And it's funny you should mention ripple effects, because it makes me think of something Pastor Rose talked about, you know, about being actively involved. Something from James. He was basically saying that faith without action is, like, about as useful as a dead battery. Oh, wow. Yeah. That's, and it makes you kind of want to check if your faith is charged up, or... But you know, speaking of James, you mentioned before that he was actually Jesus's brother. I mean, that's kind of interesting, isn't it? It is, right? Yeah. It's one of those little historical details that often gets overlooked. And the funny thing is, even though James was, you know, Jesus's brother, he wasn't exactly on board with his teachings at first. He was actually pretty skeptical. Really? Whoa. Can you imagine those family dinners? Talk about awkward. So what happened? What changed his mind? Well, the stories vary a bit, but I think it's safe to say that witnessing the resurrected Christ probably had a pretty persuasive effect. Yeah, I'd say so. And, you know, James went on to become a pretty important leader in the early church. And his letter, which we have in the New Testament, it's all about this idea of living faith. Like it's not just something you believe, it's got to be something you actually live out, you know, especially when it comes to how we treat those who are less fortunate. So this idea that true faith, it kind of compels us to act, to actually do something. Yeah. To serve those in need. Exactly. It's not enough to just acknowledge suffering or injustice. Right. But when it comes to true faith, it requires us to respond, to be part of the solution. And those solutions, they don't have to be huge, life-altering things either. Sometimes it's the smallest acts of compassion that have the biggest impact, you know, just being present for someone, lending a listening ear. It's funny how we often wait for these big, dramatic opportunities to make a difference, but maybe it's those small, consistent actions that actually matter most. Totally. And you know, it's interesting, this whole idea of serving others, of our faith being something that's lived out, it's not just a Christian thing either. Think about it. So many traditions, philosophies, they all talk about compassion and service, about taking responsibility for each other. Yeah, that's a really good point. It's like this universal thing that kind of goes beyond any one religion or belief system. We're all connected. And what we do, even the little things, it really can make a difference. Absolutely. There's this quote, I think it's often attributed to Gandhi, that says, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Wow. I've never heard that one before, but it's so true, isn't it? It's like that saying, it's better to give than to receive. I mean, they're both talking about this idea that real fulfillment comes when we focus outward, when we're trying to make a positive impact. And you know, when we approach our faith with that mindset, that kind of, I'm here to serve attitude, it actually ends up deepening our own spiritual experience too. Because when we're not so focused on what we can get, when we shift to giving, it just opens us up in a whole new way. It gives us this incredible sense of purpose and meaning. It's like, we're not just passively receiving anymore, we're active participants. And our faith, it actually becomes a source of strength for ourselves and for others. This whole conversation has really like shifted something for me. I'm realizing now that I probably spent a lot of time in that bidware headspace, worried about what I'm getting out of faith, you know, instead of what I could be giving back. Well, you're not alone, right? It's so easy to fall into that trap, especially in our culture where everything feels so focused on like individual gain. But that's what I appreciate about Pastor Rose's whole bid or apron analogy. It's not about judging ourselves for the path, it's just like this invitation to grow. I like that. No judgment, just growth. So how do we even start? It's got to be more than just saying, okay, I want to do better. Oh, for sure. And it's not like a one size fits all kind of answer either. The how will probably look different for everyone. Okay. So like, what are some examples? Well, for some people, it might be volunteering, right? Or maybe getting involved in some kind of social justice work, something like that. For others, it might be way more low key, like just being more present with their family or doing random acts of kindness, even offering a listening ear to someone who's going through a hard time. That's huge. And I think that's what makes this whole thing so amazing because it really could be anything. It's about finding those unique ways that we can each contribute a hundred percent. And don't underestimate those contributions either. Even the seemingly small stuff, it can make a world of difference. Remember those ripple effects we were talking about? Oh yeah, for sure. That image really stuck with me. Because it's true. Just like that whole butterfly effect thing. Something small happens over here and it ends up having these crazy consequences way over there. Our actions, even the little ones, they have this power to create change way beyond ourselves. So as we kind of wrap up this conversation, I'm wondering, what's one small step we can all take today, right now, to kind of step into that apron wearer mindset? Like how do we move past just receiving and start really participating, becoming part of that web of service and love that connects all of us? That's such a good question. And honestly, I think the answer is going to be a little different for everyone listening. But the main thing is to just start. Take that first step, however small it might seem. Because when we start acting with courage, with kindness, with a spirit of service, even in those small, everyday moments, that's when we really start to live out our faith. That's how we can make a difference, not just in our own lives, but in the world around us, too.