My family attends a homeschool co-op on Fridays in Newburgh. 7 times out of 10, when we merge from 69 onto the Lloyd, I start singing the song from Aladdin: “Make waaaaaaaay for Prince Ali!” This has been my way of teaching them how important it is to become aware of other drivers who need to get in so they will switch lanes when they need to. It’s rather humorous if you ask me. I think it’s hilarious to watch them as I place both hands on the steering wheel, sit up in my seat so I can see better, and focus my full attention on the merge. I think, at times aloud, “I’m coming in like Aladdin and Genie, not like a wrecking ball.” There is a notable difference!
Some drivers are paying attention and move as soon as they can. The lane they’re in isn’t theirs, and they know it. Some drivers rely on their ability to speed up or slow down by guesstimating when I’ll be coming in by how fast I’m going.
Other drivers aren’t paying a lick of attention and believe the world revolves around them, so obviously, all other drivers should see how important they are on the road, too. Perhaps they’re too busy on an important phone call to give their full attention to these potentially life-or-death situations. Or maybe these drivers are so caught up in the music with their eyes closed (since they’re focused on deep, spiritual matters) that they never see others coming or going. Or maybe someone even told them that, no matter what, they need to stay in their own lane.
By now, you’ve probably noticed that I’m not just talking about merging drivers on the road. The Good Lord has given each person unique gifts to use to strengthen the church. But staying in our own area of expertise all the time isn’t what qualifies us to use our gifts rightly; following the rules of the road does. Recognizing that the road doesn’t belong to us is the first step towards becoming a responsible steward of the roads we share in life.
Additionally, Experienced drivers don’t expect perfection from other drivers. They know they have had to learn things from experience, just as others will have to. Mature drivers are defensive drivers and their increased awareness and provisions for how other people drive help make it that much safer on the road for everyone.
Have you ever seen a car try to merge into traffic with a driver who thinks they own the road? It’s not pretty. In fact, it’s pretty scary. If these drivers don’t learn to share and let others in, they’re setting themselves and those around them up to wreck. I admit, for a long time, I hated merging onto the Lloyd because of this. I’d often find myself planning routes to avoid merging altogether. This thinking kept me on the side roads and out of crowded places. Maybe that’s why I prefer being part of churches that feel small and help other believers feel like they belong.
There’s a difference between fitting in and belonging. Have you ever thought of that? I’ve tried to make myself fit into many places where I never felt like I belonged in the first place. While there are a lot of factors involved, I’d like to talk about one in particular. Sometimes, people feel like they don’t belong because nobody makes room for them and their gifts when they come to church.
I’m not going to pretend making room for others is always easy. It takes courage, skill, planning, and willingness to yield. People have to be willing to listen to others and value who they are. Our churches are built up when their people are built up! It might be easy to make room for people we can understand, for people who look and think like us. But it’s not always easy when we don’t.
Scripture discusses the many gifts God has given to strengthen the body of Christ. He’s given apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists to the church for this purpose. But the gifts don’t stop there; there are also gifts of exhortation, leadership, giving, mercy, and so forth. Today, let’s narrow our focus to those who generally fall into the teacher category: theologians.
Theologians recognize that before they are teachers, they are first students. They constantly wrestle with thoughts and ideas. When they recognize inconsistencies in doctrine, they don’t rest well until they can get to the bottom of whatever it is for themselves.
They’re often misunderstood and perceived to be adversarial for being committed and growing in what they’re good at and for asking questions to do just that.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
They’re passionately pursuing God’s truth, which they know will truly set people free.
When others hear arguing, they hear chains rattling.
What others see as divisive, they see God’s word penetrating to the depths of soul and spirit.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
When there are accusations fired their way for being judgmental, they trust God’s word to judge the thoughts and intents of the human heart.
They meditate on the law of the Lord, and even when the gaps feel like they’re being eaten alive, they find delight in it.
These are the teachers gifted to the Church. They know they will be held accountable for how they steward their strengths.
They don’t apologize for having high standards because they know the standards are, in fact, high.
Make room for the thinkers, even if they make you feel uncomfortable. Make room for the challengers, even if they rock your boat. Make room for the wrestlers, even if you don’t like the ring. Make room for the theologians, even if you feel like they’re splitting hairs. Because, if you think about it, there’s really only one way to the Father anyway; there’s only one lane we must all follow, and friends, it’s narrow. I’d like to encourage you to read the passage I’ve linked below to Ephesians 4, and friends, make room for the teachers!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204&version=CEV
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