A Drink for the Baby? No? What?

Yesterday, Martha, Jenaleigh and I decided to go to Ponderosa for lunch. Well, maybe it was Martha and me who decided to do that. Either way, we were going to the buffet.

If you've never been to Ponderosa, let me fill you in. It's a little like Golden Corral. If you've never been to Golden Corral, well, I'm out of comparisons. You pay for your dinner upfront. The hostess takes you to your seat. You feast.

Well, being as Draffenville is a small town, a lot of teenagers work at Ponderosa. In fact, the guy working at the cash register this day looked to be about 16 or 17. But he seemed nice, and was very friendly.

As we walked up to the register to place our order, he nervously glanced down at the baby carrier I was holding, which contained Jenaleigh. He took our order (two buffets and two waters) then asked a couple questions, the answers to which I thought should be obvious.

"Would you like to get her anything to eat?"

Keep in mind, Jenaleigh is a 10 week old at this point. She has absolutely no teeth poking around in that pretty little mouth. Still, I smiled and said, "No thank you!"

He seemed okay with my decision. But then he asked a second question.

"Well, would you like to get something for her to drink?"

"No thank you," I said, smiling again at his silly questions.

This time he seemed genuinely concerned at my response. He had a worried look on his face, as though he was teetering on the edge of thinking I was barbaric for not getting something to drink for my daughter. Still, he checked us out, and passed us on to the hostess, with the same worried look on his face.

Here's the point of this story. Some things can seem blaringly obvious to us, yet slip through the minds of others. This doesn't mean they aren't smart people. They just might be completely unaware of some vital information which could help them in their reasoning. Consider the following this week, especially as it pertains to sharing the gospel.

• You don't know some people's background. For all I know, the teen at the register could have been an only child, with no little cousins, and has never had a chance to be around babies. The same is true of some folks who walk through our doors. Just last week I had two different conversations with people who attend our services regularly. One was a member from a denominational background who had a few questions. The other was not a member, but was from a Catholic upbringing. History shades the present day's perspective. History also illuminates the present day's problems. Keep the person's background in mind when you assess their questions. Let this help you to be understanding towards them. If you don't know their background, ask! I've found that people love to tell their story. Let that knowledge shape how you approach them with the Gospel.

• You don't know the real knowledge level of some people. This is a simple "ask and find out" proposition. Preacher friends, especially the young ones (not that I'm old, but I've had some advantages) please wipe that shocked look off your face when a member of 25 years asks a question that you and I both feel they ought to know the answer to (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14). Some simply haven't done due diligence in their study. Some can't, because they lack the education. You'd be surprised who never finished high school. It’s not your job to condemn, but to help them grow (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).

• Never think something is too obvious. The reason ought to be obvious. What, you don't see it? I guess you'll never learn...

• Avoid the "curse of knowledge." This curse happens when you've done intense study, which you should do. Then, you take that scholarly knowledge and try to explain all the eccentricities of the work of the Holy Spirit to a person who doesn't understand the purpose of miracles to begin with (see Mark 16:17-18). It won't work well for you.

I hope you will try to keep some of this in mind as you are out and about this week. Now go out and help those who don't know to know.

~Daniel Howell